Leaving a federal government role and embarking on a new career journey is an understandably daunting experience. With the right tools and strategies, you can position yourself for a successful transition that acknowledges your federal experience and aligns with your future career goals.

Here are the highlights of what we covered in our recent Federal Employee in Transition Workshops.

Best Practices for Transitioning to the Private Sector

Tailor your résumé to each job. The days of being able to send off a generic résumé and yield success are long over. You must employ tactics to successfully match your skills and experience to the specific requirements of each job posting, or you may not even make it past an initial screening. 

• Identify the key skills and experiences mentioned in the job description and reflect those in your résumé.
• Use industry-specific language that resonates with hiring managers.
• Experiment with apps and AI tools (e.g., JobScan) that help match keywords in job descriptions with your résumé, ensuring that your application stands out in applicant tracking systems.
• Don’t miss your chance to include a cover letter — it can highlight what you personally bring to the table.

Leverage LinkedIn. One of the key tools in today’s job market is LinkedIn, which helps showcase your qualifications, expand your professional network, and connect with potential employers.

• Ensure your LinkedIn profile reflects your federal experience, highlighting transferable skills that appeal to private sector employers, such as project management, grants management, or program management.
• Regularly engage your network by posting stories (e.g., stakeholders you helped, grants you managed to successful outcomes), participating in discussions, and following companies of interest. 
• Invest some time and energy in updating your LinkedIn profile photo. Take advantage of free headshot sessions with the Free Library of Philadelphia!

Expand your network and job search. Networking can provide insider knowledge about job openings that might not be posted publicly and can give you valuable insights into company cultures.

• Reach out to former colleagues.
• Attend industry networking events.
• Connect with professionals in your desired field through LinkedIn.

Job Sites and Support for Federal Workers

• CivicMatch: CivicMatch is a free, nonpartisan talent-matching program that connects federal workers with meaningful state and local government roles nationwide.
• Careers in State Government for Federal Employees: Former federal employees with valuable experience can more easily apply for relevant commonwealth jobs thanks to Executive Order 2025-01, which directs that federal government experience will be treated as equivalent to commonwealth work experience for identified critical vacancies.
• Careers with the City of Philadelphia for Federal Employees: Hundreds of openings with the City — civil service and exempt positions — are posted to the jobs board at phila.gov/jobs. 

Free Library Services and Workshops

For more information about these services and workshops, visit freelibrary.org/jobseekers.

• PA CareerLink®: In addition to PA CareerLink® Centers, Community Workforce Connectors offer free one-on-one assistance and résumé review at many library locations. Find upcoming times at a library near you or call PA CareerLink® for additional assistance at 1-833-750-JOBS. 
• Free Headshots: Take a professional headshot for your LinkedIn profile. Available at Parkway Central Library on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., or at the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library on first Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. and first Saturdays at 2:30 p.m.
• Virtual Training Sessions: Join us for our free virtual workshops, covering valuable job search topics. Register at the links provided.
• Career Exploration Workshops: Join us for a career exploration workshop this fall, or check out our Career Training Database for available training opportunities. Visit the events page of the Free Library’s website for locations and dates of upcoming workshops.

Online Resume Resources

Improve your résumé using these trusted online sources:

• Philadelphia Works Résumé Builder: This tool provides job descriptions from the O*NET OnLine service and produces a Microsoft Word document that can be downloaded and edited.
• Homework Help Online: Submit a résumé or cover letter for feedback and connect with a live tutor for one-on-one job search assistance — available through the Free Library’s website with a library card.