Careers in Cyber

For those leaving the national security community, transitioning to the private sector can be both an exciting and daunting process. At this time of dynamic change, I’ll provide a few thoughts for my former colleagues in the CIA and other government officials contemplating the next phase of their professional lives. The skills and experiences you’ve gained in government service are highly valuable. However, the process of securing a private-sector job that is a good fit—whether with a government contractor, consulting firm, or commercial enterprise—requires a strategic approach.

A Personal Reflection on Transition

I’ve been through this transition myself. After decades of public service, leaving that world behind a year ago felt like more than just a career shift—it was a shift in identity. The work of the CIA is more than just a job; it’s a mission, a calling, and for many, a defining part of who we are. Moving on can bring challenges, including a sense of loss and uncertainty about the future. But remember it is also an opportunity: a chance to reflect on past accomplishments, embrace new possibilities, and redefine how your skills and experience can contribute to a new mission.

When I transitioned from my final role in government as CIA’s Deputy Director for Digital Innovation, I found that embracing change with gratitude for my time with the Agency, as well as an open heart and receptive mind, allowed me to discover new professional and personal fulfillment. Instead of seeing the shift as a loss, I reframed it as a transformation—an evolution into a new phase where my expertise could be applied in different but still meaningful ways. If you are making this transition now, whatever your circumstances, I encourage you to take this moment to step back, appreciate what has been, reframe your priorities for the next chapter, and craft a future that blends renewed purpose with new opportunities.

This brief introductory article is intended to provide a roadmap to assist Intelligence Community and other personnel who are transitioning to the private sector, hopefully providing practical advice that will help as you seek reemployment and long-term career success in the private sector. Much of what follows is common sense or common knowledge, but I found it helpful as a reference document during my own transition. Other articles will follow.

Understanding the Private Sector Job Market

Unlike the structured career ladders and promotion schedules in government, the private sector operates on a different set of expectations:

• Results-Oriented Hiring: Employers prioritize candidates who can demonstrate immediate impact—meaning you need to clearly communicate your contributions and skills – your value proposition. More on that later.
• Networking is Key: Private-sector hiring relies heavily on professional relationships, far more than in government. Take every introduction that is offered and approach each conversation as an opportunity to learn. Over the course of these discussions, you will come to better understand how your own experience translates to the private sector, and you will refine your value proposition.
• Faster, Competitive Hiring: Hiring cycles in the private sector can move much faster, even within weeks, requiring a proactive job search strategy. At the same time, you can also find yourself going through five or more rounds of interviews before reaching the point of an offer. Stay flexible and focused.
• Salary Negotiation Matters: Compensation structures are different from GS pay scales, often involving bonuses, equity, and performance-based incentives. Do your homework and, when the time comes, be prepared to negotiate. It’s usually the wrong move to provide a specific target salary before hearing an offer.

Step 1: Assess Your Career Goals and Strengths

Before applying for jobs, take time to assess:

✅ What type of work do you truly want to do? (Technical, leadership, consulting, advisory, etc.) Is this unexpected transition a blessing in disguise, allowing you to pursue a long-held dream?

✅ Do you want to remain in national security, or pivot to another industry?

✅ What industries interest you? (Defense contractors, finance, healthcare, tech firms, etc.)

✅ Do you want to leverage your security clearance and stay close to the national security community, or move into an uncleared role focused on purely commercial activities?

✅ Do you want a full-time position, or would you prefer a portfolio of consulting or other roles?

✅ If you plan to stick close to the national security community in a contractor role, keep track of changes in mission priorities, funding, or staffing, all of which may affect contracting opportunities.

Step 2: Translate Your Resume for the Private Sector

Many government resumes focus on responsibilities and job titles, rather than results. To stand out in the private sector, rewrite your resume to emphasize:

• Achievements Over Duties: Instead of “Served as a branch chief in cybersecurity,” say “Led a cybersecurity program reducing security risks by 30%.”
• Skills Over Titles: Beyond “Group Chief in Open Source,” you might explain what skills that entails, “Led and developed a team of OSINT analysts, overseeing intelligence gathering, risk assessments, and geopolitical threat analysis.”
• Private Sector Terminology: Translate government jargon into business-friendly language. For example:
  • “Oversaw interagency collaboration” → “Led cross-functional teams.”
  • “Classified intelligence analysis” → “Data-driven risk assessment.”
• Concise, Impactful Descriptions: Prepare a long form resume capturing your experiences in government but also polish up a brief one-to-two-page resume, which you are likely to use most frequently. Also consider an even shorter narrative biography of under a page to capture who you are and the value you can bring to a company.

Step 3: Leverage Networking and Industry Connections

Networking is one of the most effective ways to find a job in the private sector. Here’s how to approach it:

• Use LinkedIn: Ensure your profile is up to date, with a professional photo, work history (within reason, given any classification concerns), and a compelling summary highlighting your strengths.
• Connect with Former Colleagues: Many government professionals transition to industry—reach out to them for insights and referrals. Graciously accept every introduction as an opportunity to expand your network.
• Attend Industry Events: Organizations like AFCEA, INSA, and ClearanceJobs career fairs can put you in front of recruiters, hiring managers, and government alumni who are happy to help you expand your network.
• Join Professional Associations: These groups offer networking opportunities and help you stay informed about industry trends.

Leveraging AI to Support Your Job Search

Once outside the confines of a SCIF, you may be surprised by how useful AI tools can be to streamline and enhance different aspects of the job search. Large language models (LLMs) can help rewrite and optimize resumes, ensuring that government-heavy language translates into business-relevant terminology. AI resume review platforms analyze job descriptions and suggest improvements to align with industry standards.

AI research tools can help you quickly pull together profiles of companies you are targeting. With the right prompt and tool, you can dig deep into a company’s history, leadership team, strategy, financial investments (for private equity), key product differentiators, and the competitive landscape.

AI-powered job-matching platforms can identify opportunities tailored to your background, while AI-driven networking insights on LinkedIn and elsewhere can suggest strategic connections based on your skills and previous work experience. AI tools can even help you prepare with mock interviews and feedback. While AI should never replace the human elements of networking, outreach, and strategic career planning, it can be an invaluable complement to refining applications, improving visibility, and accelerating the transition process.

⚠️ An Important Counterintelligence Reminder:

For those leaving roles in the national security community, remember that you remain of interest to adversarial nations. Think deeply about whether and how you publicly share information about your security clearance and how you convey the nature of your responsibilities while in government. Scrub your existing social media for content that could be of use to an adversary and remain alert to unusual connection requests. Trust your instincts. If something seems unusual, it probably is. Your responsibilities to protect sensitive information do not end with your departure from government.

Embracing the Next Chapter with Purpose

Transitioning to the private sector is not just about finding a job—it’s about redefining your mission and embracing new challenges with clarity and confidence. Leaving government service is a major transition, and it’s normal to feel uncertain at first. But if I’ve learned anything from my own experience, it’s that we are not leaving behind our purpose—we are expanding it. Whether your next step is with a defense contractor, in the corporate tech sector, a consulting opportunity, or starting your own LLC, your skills and experiences are valuable. By networking effectively, remaining open to new opportunities, and strategically using available tools, you can navigate this transition with purpose and success.

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This article was originally published by Jennifer Ewbank on LinkedIn.