From Brain Drain to Brain Gain: Fixing U.S. Government College Recruitment

From Brain Drain to Brain Gain:

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Work Product for:Author: Stephen Ander,MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy SchoolAdvisor: Professor Steve KelmanPolicy-Area Advisor: Dean John Haigh

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary.......................................................................................................4

Introduction ....................................................................................................................7

Client........................................................................................................................................7

Purpose, Objective, and Scope.............................................................................................8

Document Organization .........................................................................................................9

Background ..................................................................................................................10

Methodology and Data.................................................................................................12

Methodology..........................................................................................................................12

Data........................................................................................................................................12

Assumptions and Limitations..............................................................................................13

Frameworks..................................................................................................................14

Operations.............................................................................................................................14

Marketing...............................................................................................................................15

Findings ........................................................................................................................17

Operations.............................................................................................................................17

Marketing...............................................................................................................................19

Recommendations.......................................................................................................25

Short-Term.............................................................................................................................25

Medium-Term ........................................................................................................................26

Long-Term.............................................................................................................................28

Conclusion....................................................................................................................30

Appendix 1: Methodology and Data...........................................................................32

Exhibit 1a: School Descriptions for Career Service Interviews .......................................32

Exhibit 1b: Career Services Interview Protocol.................................................................32

Exhibit 2a: Agency Characteristics for Government Interviews......................................33

Exhibit 2b: Government Human Resources Interview Protocol ......................................33

Exhibit 3: Literature and Website Review ..........................................................................35

Exhibit 4a: School Descriptions for Student Focus Groups ............................................38

Exhibit 4b: Student Focus Group Protocol........................................................................38

Appendix 2: Implementation Plan...............................................................................40

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSI could not have created this report without the significant help of many others. I’d like tothank the Partnership for Public Service’s Vice President for Policy, John Palguta;Harvard Kennedy School Deans John Haigh, Sarah Wald, and Debbie Isaacsen;Harvard Kennedy School Professors Steve Kelman, Julie Wilson, Sheila Burke, andGuy Stuart; the cover artist, Patricia Angelo; my mother, Phyllis Ander; and lastly, myfiancé, Stephanie Garrison.