Umbrella company contractors that have spent the majority of their time working in the public sector may need to learn a new language if they want to survive in the business world.
This month we will see the government austerity measures really start to bite and it is inevitable that a large number of public sector workers will find themselves without a job. Some of them will probably consider either becoming a freelancer or seeking employment in the private sector.
Mark Staniland, the MD of career transition at Hays, warns that they may not find the transition easy. The commercial world not only operates differently but it speaks a different language to the public sector, he explained. Candidates need to demonstrate their understanding of the workings of the private sector and show that their experience is relevant.
Many people assume that the two sectors are completely alien to each other but there are similarities, he continued. However, candidates will have to work hard to demonstrate this and they will also need the support of their current employer if they hope to find employment in a more business orientated environment, he concluded.
The New Economics foundation has predicted that up to 1.4 million individuals could stay unemployed once they’ve left the public sector. Senior executives in particular could have problems finding a new position if a new report from InterExec is to be believed.
According to InterExec’s research, 92% of headhunters claim it is harder to place senior executives from the public sector than their counterparts in the private sector. InterExec’s MD, Kit Scott-Brown, said that ex-public sector workers face challenges and often need advice on the best way to access private sector employers.
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Image: I think I’m turning Japanese by Travis Isaacs
