Graduate Recruitment In the Australian Public Sector

Abstract

What are the main factors in the public sector workplace that are likely to attract university graduates to seek public sector employment? This research on final-year Australian university students examines the importance that they attach to three areas in the workplace – extrinsic rewards, intrinsic rewards and line managers – and the reasons behind their views. This article utilizes the psychological contract theory to help explain their expectations about the availability of these three factors by prospective employers. It also analyses whether their emphasis on these three factors are shaped by disciplinary background and prior employment experience.

Key words:

• Graduates
• management
• work motivation