Using digital to improve government recruiting.

Did you know the Victorian public sector is one of the biggest employers in the state? There’s no doubt then that recruiting for government roles is an involved process, taking up precious time and resources.

The Victorian Public Sector Commission (VPSC) wanted to find a way to make writing position descriptions and interviewing candidates more efficient. The solution? Take what used to be a static deck of cards, and create an interactive online resource that’s the go-to when recruiting for government roles.

Last month, the VPSC launched the online Capability Dictionary. It aides people in selecting the capabilities relevant to the role they are needing to fill.

The Capability Dictionary is a useful resource for all managers in the public sector who need to develop a position description, interview framework or better understand career development skills.

Device is no barrier when it comes to using the dictionary. People can access it on their mobile, tablet or desktop, and are delivered a consistent responsive experience.

When creating the online version of this dictionary, our aim was to deliver an awesome digital government experience. One that showcased the depth of information in the dictionary, but made navigation easy.

The cards are neatly positioned in a grid format. The clear icons guide you to find more information and functionality, such as adding a card to your shortlist. Side panels slide in from the left or right depending on whether you want more information or would like to add the capability to your shortlist collection.

The transitions are smooth and seamless. The design uses the Victorian Public Sector Commission colour palette and are within the WCAG 2.0 AA guidelines.

The impact of taking the dictionary online helps the Victorian public sector operate more efficiently and transparently when it comes to recruitment. It also makes what is normally a tedious and time-consuming job, fun and interactive.

So, how does it work?

Using the dictionary is easy and convenient.

Select and build the position description you need by clicking on the cards and adding them to your shortlist. Once you’ve created the position you need, review your shortlist of cards and email it out. How easy is that?

You can also use the search tool to find exactly what you’re looking for straight away. If you need to come back to cards, you can bookmark them for later. The dictionary also gives you the ability to recommend cards to colleagues that you’re working with.

Check out the Capability Dictionary next time you need to create a position description or want to find out more about required skills in a role.