Andaman Strategic Advisors reposted this
Board Member | Strategic Advisor | Innovation Champion | Keynote Speaker | Applying insights gained through a lengthy career in national security to help strengthen America's competitiveness on the world stage.
Transitioning from government to the private sector isn’t just about what you’ve done—it’s about how you present your work and yourself. Many professionals underestimate the role of networking, resume strategy, and personal branding, yet these are key to standing out in competitive job markets. In my latest article, I share practical strategies for: 🔹 Defining and refining your value proposition 🔹 Translating government experience into private-sector language 🔹 Building a strong network and industry connections 🔹 Establishing a personal brand that enhances career opportunities Your expertise and leadership are valuable, but success in the private sector requires positioning yourself effectively. With the right approach, you can turn this transition into an opportunity for growth and impact. For those who have made this transition—what was the most important lesson you learned? #CareerTransition #Networking #PersonalBranding #PrivateSector
Jennifer Ewbank This is an excellent resource that I will add to my collection, thank you. I could list many more, but hope these may help someone starting now. Top 5 lessons learned: 1) Most of corporate America is not conversant in military and/or intelligence community jargon. You can use it, but they don’t know what you’re saying. 2) It’s a new sandbox, try not to compare it to your service so much. It’s not totally the same thing. 3) Your boss is probably not gonna tell you want to do, it’s probably more like your job to tell him/her what you are doing. 4) Make friends and networks that make sense, not because you both worked at DIA, XYZ Army USMC unit. Time to move on. 5) Have fun, enjoy the ride, and you can expect it to get bumpy.
Dan Adkins
1w
I couldn’t agree more! I had several plain resumes and bad interviews where there was a disconnect in how my talent could be leveraged. I put a graphic on my resume, and it grabbed the attention of executives in every company I applied. The graphic was 3 concentric rings with me in the middle, my government experience in diverse roles on the middle ring, and roles that I could champion in the business sector on the outer. Profoundly changed how I was perceived! Interviewers were excited to meet with me! We didn’t market at all in the government. Now I need to work on spicing up my LinkedIn-in posts like yours! Well done Jennifer and thanks for all you do to help govies transition to the commercial sector!
A. N. Myers
1w
I love the lighthouse, image.
This is an insightful take useful in any transitions in the professional setting. I’m currently undergoing a career transition myself from one country to another and the strategy resonates well on my experiences. Thank you for sharing! 🙌
Jennifer- Patience, persistence, and a growth mindset!
Garrett M.
1w
While I have learned a lot since retiring from government service, two points stand out. First, take the time to understand what you do and do not like doing, even if you’re already deep into a job that doesn’t meet those needs. It’s a continuous self assessment. And two, it’s always about the people, whether you work with them or trying to sell to them, taking care of those around you always yields positive outcomes. Thank you for your post, Jennifer. I hope you are still thriving.
President/Founder, RAINCLOUD/RAIN Defense Distinguished Fellow National Defense University (Former), Lawyer, GlobalScot, Washington + Abu Dhabi (Canadian/American)
1wIt’s so great you take the time to share these insights for the larger community. Bravo!