What’s the best way to switch between government and private sector jobs? How can you make your experience in one sector appeal to employers in the other?
Making a career switch between public service and corporate work requires strategic planning and careful presentation of your skills. The Federal Resume Guidebook by Kathryn Troutman offers valuable insights for professionals seeking to translate their experience effectively between sectors.
Keep reading to learn how to make your transition from government to private sector (or vice versa) smooth and successful.
Transitions Between Government and Private Sector
Career transitions between the private and public sectors can be both challenging and rewarding. While these sectors operate under different frameworks and priorities, the skills and experience gained in one sector can be valuable assets in the other. Successfully navigating the transition from government to private sector—and vice versa—requires understanding how to effectively translate your experience, highlight transferable skills, and adapt your presentation to meet the expectations of your target employer.
Success in such transitions often depends on highlighting your transferable skills and accomplishments. For example, Eric successfully transitioned to a Material Handler position at the Department of Defense by leveraging his military background and driving expertise. Similarly, Milton made an effective switch from auto insurance claims management to FEMA by emphasizing skills directly applicable to disaster response coordination. Margaret’s journey from social work to becoming a Park Ranger demonstrates how transferable skills, including those gained through academic studies and emergency response experience, can facilitate career transitions.
Private to Public Sector Transition
When transitioning from private sector to government positions, it’s crucial to translate your professional experience into relevant skills that match government job requirements. Understanding the Federal occupational series and career paths is essential for this transition. The Office of Personnel Management has established various job categories and related clusters that can help you align your private sector experience with federal positions. To gain a better understanding of government job classifications, review agency human resources requirements and examine the General Schedule pay scales.
Public to Private Sector Transition
When moving from public service to the private sector, your resume needs to be tailored to meet corporate expectations. Create a concise yet thorough resume, limiting it to two pages. Avoid including government-specific details such as weekly hours worked and previous salary information. Instead, focus on quantifiable achievements and their impact on organizational effectiveness. For instance, highlighting significant accomplishments – such as reducing inventory costs by $4 million through process improvements – in bold text can create a lasting impression. Those transitioning from federal work to corporate positions must present their government-acquired skills and achievements in a way that resonates with business recruiters, demonstrating how their public sector experience applies to private industry needs.
