10 Proven Ways to Recruit Top Talent in Government
Michael Hurwitz is the Co-founder and President of Careers In Government, one of the nation’s largest recruitment marketing agencies for state and local government. Since 1996, he has led the company’s AI, social media, and advertising strategies, helping thousands of public sector organizations and executive recruiters attract top talent. Careers In Government has been recognized multiple times by Forbes as the premier site for public sector hiring.
Recruiting top talent in government is no longer about posting a job and waiting for applicants. In 2025, public sector hiring is defined by speed, clarity, and candidate experience. While the hiring landscape has improved since 2023, challenges remain. HR leaders must adapt to shifting expectations, skills-based hiring, and the demand for flexible work if they want to attract the best candidates.
Government job seekers today want purpose-driven roles, faster applications, and transparent communication. Agencies that embrace these principles not only strengthen their pipelines but also stand out in a competitive labor market. Here are 10 proven strategies to help your organization recruit top talent in government.
Lead with Mission and Impact
Government candidates value purpose. Instead of starting a posting with generic task lists, highlight why the role matters. For example, a public health nurse posting might lead with: “Help reduce preventable ER visits by 15% in underserved neighborhoods.”
By connecting jobs to community outcomes, agencies attract candidates motivated by impact, not just pay.
Humanize the Team
Job seekers want to know who they’ll be working with. Add employee quotes or short videos to your job postings and careers pages. A wastewater operator describing how they helped prevent a spill during training paints a real picture of the role.
Humanizing the workplace builds trust and helps candidates imagine themselves on your team.
Embrace Skills-Based Hiring
Degree requirements often eliminate capable applicants. More states are dropping unnecessary degree barriers, leading to higher application volume and more diverse pipelines.
Instead of requiring a bachelor’s degree, list the skills and equivalent experience needed. For example, a cybersecurity analyst posting might prioritize scripting skills, incident response, and certifications over formal education.
Write in Plain Language
Complex jargon discourages applicants and lowers search visibility. Federal guidelines now require plain language, and it’s a best practice for recruitment marketing.
Keep postings at an 8th to 10th grade reading level, limit sentences to under 20 words, and avoid unexplained acronyms. Clear writing makes your postings easier to find—and easier to apply to.
Remove Application Friction
Long, complicated applications are the number one reason candidates drop off. To recruit top talent in government, agencies should aim for a mobile-friendly process that takes 10 minutes or less.
Resume uploads, auto-filled fields, and optional cover letters create a smoother experience. Tracking where applicants abandon the process helps identify and fix problem areas.
Boost Visibility with SEO and Distribution
Even the best job posting won’t work if no one sees it. Cross-posting on CareersInGovernment.com, which reaches over 1 million monthly visitors, significantly improves visibility.
Use keyword-rich phrases—like public sector hiring, city planning jobs, or government careers—within the first 150 words of a posting. Share openings on LinkedIn, association boards, and niche communities to widen reach.
Government job seekers today want purpose-driven roles, faster applications, and transparent communication.
MICHAEL HURWITZ
Be Transparent About Flexibility
Candidates want to know work location expectations upfront. Whether the role is on-site, hybrid, or remote, clarity reduces attrition and improves trust.
List the number of on-site days, remote eligibility, and scheduling options such as 4x10s. Transparency around flexibility is now a competitive advantage in public sector hiring.
Share a Hiring Timeline
Applicants frequently abandon processes when they don’t hear back. Posting a clear hiring timeline sets expectations and keeps candidates engaged.
Even simple updates like “We’re still reviewing” reassure applicants and improve the candidate experience. Federal benchmarks show time-to-hire averages 70–94 days depending on the role, but state and local governments can move faster by streamlining their processes.
Prioritize Inclusivity and Compliance
Accessibility, pay transparency, and fair-chance practices should be built into every job posting. Adding salary ranges, accommodation information, and ADA-compliant design signals fairness and inclusivity.
As AI tools become more common in screening, human oversight is essential to prevent bias and maintain compliance with evolving regulations.
Communicate Like Public Service
Communication is part of the candidate experience. Instead of robotic auto-replies, agencies should send warm, plain-language updates at every stage.
For example: “Thank you for applying for [Role]. We’ll update you by [Date]. If you need accommodations, please let us know.” Respectful communication builds goodwill—even with candidates who don’t receive an offer.
Building a Stronger Government Talent Pipeline
Beyond these strategies, agencies can strengthen recruitment by creating apprenticeships, showing career ladders, building a clear employer value proposition, and explaining benefits in plain, comparative terms. Government employees highly value retirement, health benefits, and stability—but only when they understand the full picture.
When agencies combine impact-driven job descriptions, streamlined applications, transparent timelines, and inclusive practices, they show respect for candidates’ time while reinforcing the mission of public service.
For organizations ready to take their recruitment strategy further, publishing on CareersInGovernment.com ensures postings reach serious job seekers nationwide. With unmatched reach, targeted distribution, and the latest recruitment tools, Careers In Government helps agencies turn job postings into successful hires.
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