Government Jobs: Myth Debunking 101: You can’t switch jobs between the private and government sectors

While changing jobs within the same sector is common, many people are often reluctant to change jobs between the public and private sectors due to differences in skill demands, culture and growth paths. This hesitation is not without merit, but making such a change is not impossible and can be successfully accomplished if done well. That’s why it’s important to dispel this line of thinking.

Switching jobs from the government to the private sector can be tricky, but it’s not something that can be avoided, says Sarbojit Mallick, co-founder of Instahyre. He suggests that people first write down their strengths and weaknesses to understand their transferable skills. Doing so can make it easier to understand which skills will stand out when applying for positions in the other sector. Some of the important transferable skills are project management, leadership, technical skills, and communication skills, according to him.

Domain knowledge is the absolute minimum requirement to be successful in any transition, be it from government to private sector or from private sector to government, says Kartik Narayan, Chief People Officer, TeamLease Services Limited.

However, three essential behavioral skills are also critical depending on the individual’s seniority and tenure: collaboration skills, communication skills, resilience and adaptability. These skills are the hygiene factors that underpin success in any senior position and are essential to navigate and thrive in complex environments such as senior positions in government and the private sector, he explains.

Roles where transitions between sectors are common

Mallick says they have seen military personnel migrate into private logistics professions, which they can do because of their experience in managing complex supply networks. Similarly, IT and cybersecurity skills are in high demand in both private and government industries.

Healthcare workers, such as doctors and nurses, frequently move from public to private medical facilities. Professionals with skills in regulatory compliance or public policy may also move to work in the private sector, where similar skills are required. Therefore, professionals in these areas may explore the possibility of moving from private to public entities or vice versa, she says.

At the top level, policy-level positions in consultancy or similar at NITI Aayog in the government often see transformative career changes, says Narayan. In terms of sectors, areas that are open to exploration are banking, finance, law enforcement, health and wellness, agriculture, IT and cybersecurity, energy and power, rural development, and statistics and programme management. In these sectors, senior government officials, especially top executives at state-owned companies, have also been seen taking up board member roles after retirement, giving an insight into how switching sectors can be a calculating step to boost a career.

Barriers to switching from public to private sector
While career transitions between government and the private sector can be professionally rewarding, they come with their own set of hurdles. However, experts believe that these are easy to overcome if each step is planned strategically.

For starters, Mallick says the pace of work is different in each environment, especially given the different levels of risk inherent in these two diverse sectors, and that shapes an individual’s behavior.

For example, individuals in the private sector may be accustomed to a faster pace, focusing on outcomes and impact. Government officials, because of the need to ensure their decisions cover the widest possible breadth of affected parties, may require greater diligence, resulting in a longer decision-making cycle, she explains.

Therefore, to avoid challenges associated with this issue, he says, it is important to maintain open communication and clear understanding after the transition.

Narayan says that both environments require people to significantly alter their views and approach to open themselves up to more opportunities with a broader scope. He believes that there are no inherent disadvantages to making the change. However, one must fully commit to the decision and understand why they are making it to avoid making a premature assessment about the opportunity at hand.

Real life success story
Narayan says that while there are several notable names, one of the most prominent in terms of impact and results is Nandan Nilekani. In his view, Nilekani serves as a role model for anyone who wishes to make such a massive cross-sectoral change. From being a highly successful entrepreneur in the private sector to setting up the entire Aadhaar (UID) structure for India, his contributions are exemplary.