Cust to the public sector are having a profound impact on the UK job market and more importantly will enforce sharp career changes on many public sector employees.

Hays predicted last year that 600,000 public sector workers were set to enter the job market, and the transition is often a tricky task for both employer and employee.

Public sector workers also seemingly suffer from an image crisis, highlighted in a recent survey by energy brokerage, uSwithforbusiness.

Their survey of 240 small business owners employing between one and 50 people showed that only 2% of company employers would actively seek to recruit public sector workers, while a quarter of small businesses would only employ a public sector worker if it was a role they were struggling to fill and 10% won't consider it at all.

Erikka Askeland, writing in the Scotsman, said: "This presents grim reading for government employees fearing the chop, but also for the coalition which is expecting the private sector to eagerly soak up those tipped out of town halls and other public sector establishments."

Mark Staniland, managing director of Hays career transition services commented: "There is a lot of stereotyping about working life in both sectors, which both sides will have to overcome. Having a clear idea about your career goals, understanding your skills and how you can add value to a prospective employer are always essential in a job search, but it is even more critical that you can convey them in the current climate and when making the transition from the public to the private sector."

A Hays survey of 1,435 employees and 348 employers showed 87% of private sector employers believe candidates from the public sector need to better identify and convey their skills to potential employers. They say candidates lack sufficient market insight and are unrealistic about the differences between the two sectors. Meanwhile employers struggle to accurately assess candidates coming from the public sector, with over half reporting difficulties in identifying potential employees because of different job titles.

Job candidates attending interviews in the private sector expect them to be similar to those in the public sector, but 29% expect them to be both harder and more structured and over 20% report they need help with interview skills.

In addition, workers feel that salaries, benefits and career opportunities are better in the private sector, but see work-life balance as worse than the public sector. Employers say that career progression is more informal in the private sector, and that hours are longer. Over two-thirds of employers, however, feel benefits are actually worse in the private sector.