The survey results suggested that recruiters should appeal to
“savvy altruism,” meaning both the benefits of working for the
federal government such as insurance and job security, as
well as “altruistic” motives such as wanting to make a
difference through public service, said PPS.
It said 60 percent cited benefits as the best reasons for
pursuing a federal career while 40 percent cited the desire to
affect change.
“This combination of altruism and self-interest appeals to a
population that may be drawn to public service but has been
turned off by images of a work force that is perceived to be
unlike them, and in need of reform,” said PPS.
A little over half said the main reason to avoid a federal
career is “too much bureaucracy,” something that should be
remedied by publicizing innovations such as merit-based pay
and countering the perception that federal workers are
“unlike” the creative and innovative people respondents think
of themselves to be.
“The research showed that a significant number of people view
government workers as fundamentally different than themselves:
while 75 percent of people agree with the statement “there
are great jobs for regular people in the federal government,”
only 51 percent agree with the statement “there are great
jobs for people like me in the federal government.” Unless
concrete steps are taken to let people know that there are
creative, talented, motivated people like them in government,
the influx of new talent will continue to be a trickle, not
a flood,” said PPS.
It said another challenge revealed by the survey is the need
to recruit generally uninterested mid-career professionals,
and Hispanics, 58 percent of whom said they viewed government
workers favorably.
