With more and more jobs in the private sector at risk as the economic downturn continues to hurt small and medium businesses, more people are looking at public sector jobs as a career alternative. But what are the benefits and how easy is it to stand out considering the competitive nature of the current job market?

Perhaps the primary benefit of working in the public sector is the sense that you are contributing something back to society through your work rather than generating profit for your faceless corporate masters. But it’s not all altruistic, in general public sector wages are higher than the national average. This is also coupled with an attractive benefits package and stable pension scheme. Flexi-time and other flexible work arrangements are also prevalent, allowing busy people a better chance to maintain a work life balance.

There are a wide range of careers available in the public sector, so being able to find a job that utilises your skills should not be a problem. The public sector is increasingly aware of the benefits of employing someone with private sector skills. In fact the main drawback sited of working in the public sector is that you can often feel like you have stepped into an arcane world of bureaucracy and red tape. But fear not, with increased pressure to not waste tax payers money, the ability to recognise waste and streamline working practice will lend you a distinct advantage over other candidates.

So how can you stand out in the job market? Employers are not short of applicants for available posts in the current climate. In fact a recent store opening in Nottingham attracted 1800 applicants for just 20 positions. This means it’s important to make yourself unique and present a clear case to a prospective employer to justify why you are the best person for the role.

Perhaps the smartest way to do this is to let someone else do the donkey work for you. Identify a specialist in public sector recruitment and meet with them to ensure they understand your skills and what sort of role you are after. You are looking to give them the detail that helps bring your C.V. to life and allows them to go out and present you as the well-rounded employee that you are.

Rather than wasting time applying for dozens of ill-suited roles, working with a recruitment professional will help you to land that dream public sector job.