Reference no: EM133829191

Question

In the overview, Kettl discusses the challenges of ensuring fair and merit-based hiring within the government. While the idea is simple, selecting the most qualified candidates is the idea, however not always the reality. The recruitment process has and can be hampered by cumbersome applications, and ineffective recruitment systems, such as I have personally experienced. I currently work for a local city and have experienced first hand the recruitment process. Typically, people begin their local government careers at a part time or temporary employee status, and build the way up to becoming hired on full time. The temporary emloyee position can be difficult at times, no benefits, pay is not equal as to one who is a full time employee for the city. There is one benefit, although potentially contradicting. Being you are a part time employee, you are technically considerd on the "inside" of the organization. Being hired on as a part time to full time is an easier process because managers, directors and city staff know you, your work ethic and more than likely the position is already set aside for you, rather than hiring someone completely new and unfamiliar to the city and processes.

This inefficiency has at times lead to the loss of top talent, who seek for the opportunity and not given a fair chance. In Chapter 9, Kettl also highlights the tension between the aspiration for a just and efficient hiring process and the practical difficulties in achieving it.