From public to private sector: Job search tips for former federal employees

A recent Partnership for Public Service FedSupport webinar focused on translating public-sector skills to the private sector and building effective private-sector resumes. 

Moderated by Partnership Vice President of Government Affairs Jenny Mattingley, the session’s featured speakers have deep experience in the private, federal, academic and social sectors, and are experts in executive coaching, business development and career services. 

Here are some key themes from the webinar: 

Reframe your thinking—your next job does not have to be your last job, or even your dream job 

Consider lateral moves instead of focusing solely on moving up. You may also reframe your thinking around your job search. Consider who, and what industries, may be looking for your skill set, rather than just looking for work. 

Make a plan—it may have been a while since your last job search 

Your career is a journey, not a destination. Design a career-search roadmap that includes:  

• Defining your personal brand
• Developing your elevator pitch
• Understanding your “bigger life picture”—what do you want your career to look like in the greater context of your life?
• Conducting a skills assessment
• Accessing your resources and network—former colleagues, mentors and professional affiliations
• Updating your resume, cover letter template and LinkedIn profile

Network. People can’t help you unless you ask—tell them what you need 

Start with your “tier 1” network— trusted mentors and people you worked with closely in the past. Share what you are seeking and ask for their support. Make sure they know you are looking for a new job. 

You can also use LinkedIn to explore beyond your direct connections. Reach out to those with careers you find interesting. Informational interviews are a powerful tool to research and understand your options during a job search.

Consider volunteering  

While your job search is likely your highest priority, consider volunteering a few hours a week. This can offer meaning and purpose during uncertain times, and it may address resume gaps and open doors through networking.

Understand the differences in salary and total compensation  

Private-sector compensation differs from federal salary and pay structures. Expect more variation and less transparency, meaning you’ll need to do salary research. Top tips for salary negotiation in the nonfederal sector include: 

• Know your rights. Some states and localities make it illegal to ask for salary history and/or require employers to publish a salary range on job postings.
• If possible, don’t share salary history. If an interviewer asks about your salary expectations, deflect and ask about what is being budgeted for the position.
• Do your research. State and local government jobs, as well as public universities, often publish salaries.
• Factor in total compensation. What other benefits are included?

Top tips for writing a nonfederal resume 

• The purpose of your resume is to get you an interview. Tailor it to the employer’s mission and the specific job. 

• Update your resume. Private-sector resumes are very different from federal ones. Create a “rolling resume”—an internal document of all your professional experience—to draw content for concise, one- to two-page resumes tailored to each application. 

• Nonfederal resumes are shorter, typically one to two pages. Hiring managers often review resumes for less than a minute, so make your points quickly and strategically. 

• Keep the format and font simple. Plain fonts such as Times New Roman or Calibri, black and white, left-to-right reading. Avoid text boxes, images or excessive design that applicant-tracking systems might block or that human reviewers might find less accessible. 

• Customize each resume. Extract only the most relevant experience for each specific role. You do not need to include every detail, only the most relevant.

What can you do next?  

Former and current federal employees exploring new career paths should consider enrolling in the Partnership’s Career Pivot Bootcamp—a free online course designed to streamline your career transition. 

The bootcamp covers key topics such as networking, resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn tips, interviewing and salary negotiation. It also includes a module for job seekers 50 and older. Participants have 30 days of self-paced access to all seven modules. 

For more resources, explore our FedSupport hub.

Katy Hogan leads the Partnership's strategy to inspire the next generation to consider a career in public service. Katy previously taught professional development courses at Ohio State for both undergraduate and graduate students with curriculum focused on federal careers.

Kristen Carroll manages the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program and supports the Partnership's Call to Serve Network.