Public Sector versus Private Sector?

[oopsIdiditagaintoo]

Are they really that different? My friend has just been told, by a recruiter, that she's really unlikely to get a job in the private sector because her whole career has been in the public sector. She's only early 30s so a bit shocked to hear that a whole sector is closed off to her.

She's in marketing, so I'm thinking is this relevant across all corporate functions. I'm aware that teachers can move from state to private, medics can move from NHS to private.

Having never given it much thought before I moved to public sector last September. You do need transferable skills of course.

Recruitment people spout any old shite though so don't take it to heart

Yes they're very different. But no, she's not cut off from any public sector jobs, that was a load of rubbish (been recruiting since 2004).

I’ve worked in both so recruiter is not accurate. However, they are VERY different.

@Buildingthefuture

I’ve worked in both so recruiter is not accurate. However, they are VERY different.

Can you explain how different?

I had a manager, in the private sector, who wouldn't employ career public sector workers. His reasons were that productivity is lower than in the private sector and public sector workers take more sick leave. I'd always thought it was just him and perhaps he'd had a bad experience. It interested me when the recruiter said that to my friend, as I wondered if that opinion was more prevalent than I'd thought.

I think the recruiter is correct in that some private sector companies won't contemplate hiring a public sector worker. I say this as someone whose career has been in the public sector.

I currently work for a private company that does work for the public sector and it works well as I understand what our clients want.

Working in the third sector, as charities have definitely become more commercially minded.

Or try smaller, local companies rather than big known companies, as they may not have the same number of applicants for their roles.