Public health workforce development: Key considerations and successful strategies for hiring effective public health professionals

The global economic downturn has impacted hiring practices across virtually every sector of the economy, including public health, where recent reductions in public and private funding have resulted in a contraction of the field. Many organizations have reduced the size of their workforce, either actively or through passive attrition, and the pace of hiring has slowed. The combined impact of these trends has been a significant increase in the quantity and quality of public health professionals applying for a limited number of positions. In light of this larger market context, it might seem reasonable to expect that hiring processes have become simpler and easier; however, the recent experiences of many hiring managers and human resources directors suggests that the opposite is true, hiring decisions have become more complex, as decision-makers attempt to evaluate a larger and more diverse pool of candidates. This presentation will explore key considerations and successful strategies for navigating these challenges. Issues discussed will include: developing robust job specifications; identifying key criteria for candidates; competency-based interviewing; referencing; compensation; and negotiation. When to seek the assistance of a professional search firm and how to partner effectively with the firm throughout the search process will also be discussed. Conditions in the current job market offer an unprecedented opportunity for organizations to hire high quality public health professionals, but doing so will require more sophisticated hiring processes and decision-making. This presentation will provide a concrete framework for organizations seeking to optimize their internal processes to recruit top caliber talent.