2,300 posts remain open for this year, and interest seems lower than expected, said officials. Last year, the government recruited 3,200 employees, but in light of the country’s growing population, administrations have to be further expanded.
Competition with the private sector is not to be underestimated, underlined Minister for the Civil Service Marc Hansen: “Naturally the government is aware of how difficult recruiting has become. There are positions that take a significant amount of time to fill.”
Young people look for flexibility in particular, explained Minister Hansen: “New employees have to be inspired. We need to show them that they can have a diverse career, switch between different administrations, and receive further training.”
The new recruitment campaign is thus designed to inspire young people to become civil servants. In a video, 22 government employees talk about their passion for their work.
René Nilles, who has been a civil servant for close to 30 years, says there is nothing to the cliché that the government stops working after 4.00 p.m.: “That is not the case at the Ministry of State. We are reachable until six o’clock in the evening, with a minimum of one person at the office. And if the State Minister tells you there is work, you don’t just go home.”
Monique Barthels recommends working at the national library: “The library is so diverse and every year, we also offer exciting student jobs. This allows people to familiarise themselves with our work.”
Minister Hansen also addressed the returning issue of opening up government positions to non-nationals, which he believes is not a necessary step at this point: “The same thing was said about the police due to a lack of officers. However, new campaigns were launched and police managed to find many new recruits.”
Whether or not other government branches will be as successful with their recruitment campaigns remains to be seen.
