How to find a private sector job

[Anonymous]

I’ve been a fed for 20+ years and a GS-15 step 8. I have another 15 years to go to MRA. I would like to know how to make my skillset and resume more attractive for a job that pays 300+ in the private sector. Who do I consult with? Where do I find them?

[Anonymous]

If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Or just conditioned by the system

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, it’s nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

NP. I would say it depends on the job. If there is a direct counterpart role in the private sector, then sure, but sometimes the roles are different enough that it is a harder sell (this is especially true when you work in policy). Also, if you are senior enough in your field you may find opportunities in the private sector at a high level. But no other experience can definitely go against you for a lot of employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

Its common for people to go private when they actually are eligible to retire -- then they are drawing a pension, and they are senior enough to lateral to an executive role (SES to VP for instance).

OP sounds like a GS15 line employee, and in your 40s there is huge age discrimination. Further, this is a LIFETIME Fed employee -- never had a private sector job? Unless you have deep contacts to assist in business development, this is usually a tough transition for both parties (govt is more risk adverse, hierarchical, stable and slow -- by design, while business tends to be faster pace, more willing to fail and toss out employees, and expects more autonomy from employees -- hence why they are paid more).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

Its common for people to go private when they actually are eligible to retire -- then they are drawing a pension, and they are senior enough to lateral to an executive role (SES to VP for instance).

OP sounds like a GS15 line employee, and in your 40s there is huge age discrimination. Further, this is a LIFETIME Fed employee -- never had a private sector job? Unless you have deep contacts to assist in business development, this is usually a tough transition for both parties (govt is more risk adverse, hierarchical, stable and slow -- by design, while business tends to be faster pace, more willing to fail and toss out employees, and expects more autonomy from employees -- hence why they are paid more).

The other elephant in the room is that it's possible they have 20+ years by buying back military time, which, combined with ONLY federal experience may mean that they have no college education, or only a degree from the degree-mills that give cost breaks to working feds. So no commercial experience at all, in their 40s, with a possibly shady education history and possibly only grunt-level military experience. doesn't seem like a good launching spot to a stable $300k+ private income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

Its common for people to go private when they actually are eligible to retire -- then they are drawing a pension, and they are senior enough to lateral to an executive role (SES to VP for instance).

OP sounds like a GS15 line employee, and in your 40s there is huge age discrimination. Further, this is a LIFETIME Fed employee -- never had a private sector job? Unless you have deep contacts to assist in business development, this is usually a tough transition for both parties (govt is more risk adverse, hierarchical, stable and slow -- by design, while business tends to be faster pace, more willing to fail and toss out employees, and expects more autonomy from employees -- hence why they are paid more).

The other elephant in the room is that it's possible they have 20+ years by buying back military time, which, combined with ONLY federal experience may mean that they have no college education, or only a degree from the degree-mills that give cost breaks to working feds. So no commercial experience at all, in their 40s, with a possibly shady education history and possibly only grunt-level military experience. doesn't seem like a good launching spot to a stable $300k+ private income.

OP here. No that’s not me. I’m an Ivy League undergrad and Gtown grad who felt the call to serve after 9/11.. I’ve since gone through the ranks, deployed as a civilian multiple times with those grunts you’re talking about derisively, and led large organizations of 150+ people and oversaw multimillion dollar programs.

I get what others are saying about risk averse and age and having no hustle. Got it. But what I won’t stand by is someone speaking lowly of those who served and had “shady” education, etc. They got stuff done and are incredibly versatile and adaptable. So please leave them out of this conversation. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

Its common for people to go private when they actually are eligible to retire -- then they are drawing a pension, and they are senior enough to lateral to an executive role (SES to VP for instance).

OP sounds like a GS15 line employee, and in your 40s there is huge age discrimination. Further, this is a LIFETIME Fed employee -- never had a private sector job? Unless you have deep contacts to assist in business development, this is usually a tough transition for both parties (govt is more risk adverse, hierarchical, stable and slow -- by design, while business tends to be faster pace, more willing to fail and toss out employees, and expects more autonomy from employees -- hence why they are paid more).

The other elephant in the room is that it's possible they have 20+ years by buying back military time, which, combined with ONLY federal experience may mean that they have no college education, or only a degree from the degree-mills that give cost breaks to working feds. So no commercial experience at all, in their 40s, with a possibly shady education history and possibly only grunt-level military experience. doesn't seem like a good launching spot to a stable $300k+ private income.

OP here. No that’s not me. I’m an Ivy League undergrad and Gtown grad who felt the call to serve after 9/11.. I’ve since gone through the ranks, deployed as a civilian multiple times with those grunts you’re talking about derisively, and led large organizations of 150+ people and oversaw multimillion dollar programs.

I get what others are saying about risk averse and age and having no hustle. Got it. But what I won’t stand by is someone speaking lowly of those who served and had “shady” education, etc. They got stuff done and are incredibly versatile and adaptable. So please leave them out of this conversation. Thanks.

Thank you, OP. Well said. -College educated Fed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

Its common for people to go private when they actually are eligible to retire -- then they are drawing a pension, and they are senior enough to lateral to an executive role (SES to VP for instance).

OP sounds like a GS15 line employee, and in your 40s there is huge age discrimination. Further, this is a LIFETIME Fed employee -- never had a private sector job? Unless you have deep contacts to assist in business development, this is usually a tough transition for both parties (govt is more risk adverse, hierarchical, stable and slow -- by design, while business tends to be faster pace, more willing to fail and toss out employees, and expects more autonomy from employees -- hence why they are paid more).

The other elephant in the room is that it's possible they have 20+ years by buying back military time, which, combined with ONLY federal experience may mean that they have no college education, or only a degree from the degree-mills that give cost breaks to working feds. So no commercial experience at all, in their 40s, with a possibly shady education history and possibly only grunt-level military experience. doesn't seem like a good launching spot to a stable $300k+ private income.

OP here. No that’s not me. I’m an Ivy League undergrad and Gtown grad who felt the call to serve after 9/11.. I’ve since gone through the ranks, deployed as a civilian multiple times with those grunts you’re talking about derisively, and led large organizations of 150+ people and oversaw multimillion dollar programs.

I get what others are saying about risk averse and age and having no hustle. Got it. But what I won’t stand by is someone speaking lowly of those who served and had “shady” education, etc. They got stuff done and are incredibly versatile and adaptable. So please leave them out of this conversation. Thanks.

I agree many capable non-college educated employees in government, they learn on the job and are dedicated and many rise to leadership roles.

But 20 years out from an Ivy degree is still not huge value in the jobs marketplace for $300k jobs. Leading gov programs is so different than private industry.

Thank you for your service, sorry you probably ended up dragged into a preemptive war on false pretenses beyond the original 9/11 genesis.

With that background, a big 5 defense contractor is your best bet; veteran preference is a huge boost for them, and probably you can find a slot in BD. Maybe get an MBA and start putting out feelers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t know how to do this, why do you think you are worth $300k? What is your field and skill set, show us the business value you will bring to a company.

This - no hustle. SMH. OP is a low-effort troll

Probably a troll, because they say they have 15 years to MRA (which is likely 57 in their case), which makes them 42? If they worked 20+ years, its nonsense. But let's assume its 20 years, which means THEY started as a Fed at 22 right out of college. 20+ implies they are lying, though I will give the outside case that they interned in college and went right to the Fed in some niche field and never left. But people who have never known any life but a Federal employee -- going private in middle age is WAY WAY too late. This whole post smells fishy.

NP. Agree with everything but not understanding why it’s be way too late?

+1
I have a spouse who is planning on going private (early age in their case - 50) -- what is the problem? Isn't that often a typical path?

Its common for people to go private when they actually are eligible to retire -- then they are drawing a pension, and they are senior enough to lateral to an executive role (SES to VP for instance).

OP sounds like a GS15 line employee, and in your 40s there is huge age discrimination. Further, this is a LIFETIME Fed employee -- never had a private sector job? Unless you have deep contacts to assist in business development, this is usually a tough transition for both parties (govt is more risk adverse, hierarchical, stable and slow -- by design, while business tends to be faster pace, more willing to fail and toss out employees, and expects more autonomy from employees -- hence why they are paid more).

The other elephant in the room is that it's possible they have 20+ years by buying back military time, which, combined with ONLY federal experience may mean that they have no college education, or only a degree from the degree-mills that give cost breaks to working feds. So no commercial experience at all, in their 40s, with a possibly shady education history and possibly only grunt-level military experience. doesn't seem like a good launching spot to a stable $300k+ private income.

OP here. No that’s not me. I’m an Ivy League undergrad and Gtown grad who felt the call to serve after 9/11.. I’ve since gone through the ranks, deployed as a civilian multiple times with those grunts you’re talking about derisively, and led large organizations of 150+ people and oversaw multimillion dollar programs.

I get what others are saying about risk averse and age and having no hustle. Got it. But what I won’t stand by is someone speaking lowly of those who served and had “shady” education, etc. They got stuff done and are incredibly versatile and adaptable. So please leave them out of this conversation. Thanks.

Look, I'm not speaking "lowly" or "derisively" of anyone who decided to go the military, non-officer route right out of high school. Several friends and family members have done exactly that. I *am* saying that it would be an incredibly far-fetched pivot for any of them to try to go private in their 40s, especially seeking $300k+ jobs, for several reasons. First, the very things that preference veterans for federal jobs tend to be disadvantages in seeking private employment, and people are absolutely discriminated against for having the wrong degree from the wrong college on the commercial side. As a fed, more than half of my colleagues are veterans. There is a comfort in being around other veterans, and acceptance of the value of service. There's also understanding that college degrees were probably acquired while working full-time. In the private sector, most of the people around you will not have served in the military or even the civil service, and far from valuing it they may look down on it or just be puzzled by it.

As was pointed out upthread, the math wasn't mathing. If you're 15 years out from MRA, then you are 42. If you did an ivy leave undergrad before starting service, then you barely have 20 years in service, and the + (normally implying something like 22-24 years) is a fudge. If, on the other hand, you went into the armed services at 18, and then went fed rather than re-enlist at some point, then you'd have more like 24 years of service. But then you'd likely have the disadvantages enumerated above that wouldn't set you up for an executive-level job, and no useful network.

Finally, age discrimination is real, but rarely in a way that is actionable. 40+ folks that successfully land an executive role in the $300+ realm are going to be under real pressure to perform, and are going to be the first ones cut loose in any corporate shakeup, whether due to "culture fit", performance, or a bias for younger management.

If you truly want to pivot to private, you're going to have to use your network, which apparently consists of an Ivy League college and Georgetown. But if you went to an Ivy and Georgetown, you already know this, which is why folks are clocking you as a troll. If you just want more money, you're probably going to have a lot more success trying to seek out SO or SES roles, or a FIRREA agency. Network with appointees and Senior Officers, ask what you should be doing to work towards more senior roles.