As a consultant in the interim, internal communications recruitment practice, I have met and talked to my fair share of candidates who have strategically taken different career paths and a regular topic of conversation is making the move between the public and private sector.

With the job market looking much brighter this year, candidates now have the confidence to gain different sector experience and make the leap typically from public to private sector working. The general assumption is that the grass is greener on the other side; there are good opportunities in the public sector for development and progression (flexible hours, childcare options, and better pension provision etc), however, the value of having corporate, sector experience, often with performance related pay is appealing. Why do communication professionals have 'sector envy’? Here are the common misconceptions:

• The public sector is unstable and, due to budget cuts, opportunities are hard to come by

• The private sector is cut throat, focussing on profit over people