Job Search and Career Transition

I always try to help when former cops and federal agents reach out for advice — that’s why I founded COP TO CORPORATE - Blue to Business. Here’s the honest truth: If you lead every conversation with your cop war stories — no matter how epic they are — you’re missing the point. Your law enforcement experience built real, transferable skills — leadership, crisis management, and decision-making under pressure. Corporate hiring managers respect your service, but they’re not looking for a highlight reel of your police career. They want to know: Can you help drive results for their business today? Focus your resume and conversations on the skills you've developed over the years, such as project management, operations, and risk mitigation, and how they translate into business value. Your LEO service is honorable. But to succeed in the private sector, you have to shift from focusing on cool cop-storytelling to solution-selling.

Are you contemplating to pivot into data analytics & data science field? As someone who has been in the field since 2013, and who's been mentoring and coaching others in the data field for the past 7 years, here are my thoughts: 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞: 𝟏) 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 Instead of learning SQL or Python from scratch, focus on using AI tools to meet existing analysis needs. For example, master how to craft prompts to generate SQL or Python code, or use GenAI to build processes, streamline data workflows, and uncover insights faster. You can also harness LLMs to enhance your analysis and insights generation, rather than slowly building your portfolio through years of hands-on experience. Use LLMs to critique and refine your insights and recommendations, ensuring that what you propose aligns with business goals and stakeholder questions. 𝟐) 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 Focus on industries with bright futures like GenAI, healthcare, cybersecurity, green energy, or mental health. These sectors are more likely to need data professionals to drive growth through analysis and insights. Do your research by searching for industry reports or talking to seasoned practitioners to identify promising industries. Reports or analyses published by organizations such as below can be your start, e.g. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, McKinsey Global Institute, World Bank, CB Insights, or Gartner. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝟏) 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 Instead of pursuing yet another bootcamp or credential (though you do need baseline technical skills), start by volunteering, interning, or offering to help current practitioners with projects. Build a portfolio using open-source data, freelance on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, and secure your first data job—even if it’s not a 100% match to your current criteria. The ideal industry or company will come later once you’re in the door. 𝟐) 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 Whether it’s validating a specific industry’s need for your skills, creating opportunities for referrals, or honing your pitch for future interviews, networking is critical for career transitions and building long-term influence in your field. Identify “hubs” of people or communities that can help you gain new opportunities. Communities such as Women in Big Data, Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide, or Data Science Association (that I helped co-found), can be your starting point. If you've been contemplating or ready to make the switch, book a Discovery session (via my profile) as your first step! Let’s explore how I can help you in our 1:1 coaching space—where to focus, and what steps to take to launch your new career in data analytics.

ad Let’s be real, career switching can feel overwhelming, especially when everyone around you is shouting “upskill!” or “retrain!” like it’s the only way forward😓 But here’s the thing… You probably already have way more to work with than you think. Leveraging a study tool like Quizlet to evaluate your current skills and prepare for interviews can help you feel more confident in the skills you already possess. Here are 4 tips I wish I had to help me transition without scrapping everything and starting again👇: 1️⃣Before you start applying, get clear on your soft skills Soft skills get overlooked all the time, and it’s wild because most jobs literally depend on them. Communication, problem-solving, leadership, adaptability... these aren’t “nice tohaves,” they’re “need to haves.” Whether you’ve worked in retail, hospitality, admin, or something super niche, you’ve already built up loads of these. Write them down, own them, and get comfortable saying them out loud. For example, I used Quizlet to create flashcards with common interview questions and stronger, reframed phrasing for my answers. It helped me practice and feel more confident speaking about my experience. 2️⃣Reframe your experience, don’t erase it You don’t need a blank slate, you just need a new lens. A great hack is to look at the job descriptions for the roles you’re aiming for and figure out how your past experience matches up. Say you worked at a burger place. Instead of saying, “I managed a busy burger shop,” try: “I led a high-pressure team environment and delivered consistently strong customer satisfaction scores. ”Same experience, new language. That’s how you bridge the gap. 3️⃣Get obsessed with job descriptions and learn the lingo. This one's underrated. Read a bunch of job ads in the field you’re moving into. You’ll start to see patterns in the language with words like “stakeholder management,” “cross-functional collaboration, ”or “PCA” (Post-Campaign Analysis if you're looking at marketing).Even if you haven’t done the exact thing, chances are you’ve done something similar. It’s all about connecting the dots and using the right words to describe them. 4️⃣Start talking to people in the space you want to enter. When it comes to breaking into a new industry, LinkedIn can be your bestie. Find people who are already doing the thing you want to do. Connect. Ask questions. Go to industry events or virtual panels if you can. You don’t have to beg anyone for a job, just show up with curiosity and listen. A 10-minute convo can give you way more insight than hours of Googling. If you want to assess your current skills, and also see how you can reframe your experiences - give my Quizlet Flashcards a go! Link below👇 https://lnkd.in/egWYws4n

“I’m a creative, I don’t do analytics. That’s not in my job description.” These 13 words have definitely crossed my mind throughout my career as a writer and communicator. But like it or not, we live in a data-driven world, and becoming proficient at analytics is becoming essential across industries. Especially social media and communications! In fact, LinkedIn’s Talent Blog (https://lnkd.in/euNZXEW2) listed Analytics as # 6 on its top 10 most in-demand skills for job seekers in 2024. Here’s how I (a words girl who’s always been afraid of her math textbooks) brought myself up to speed on analytics: 1. I researched the relevant metrics in my industry and how to calculate them. For my role as Communications Manager, these metrics include: - Direct email click rates, open rates, click-to-open-rates - LinkedIn engagement, impressions, followers, followers’ demographics - Survey participation rates, associate responses to invitations Nobody taught me how to figure out this stuff, btw. Google and LinkedIn are truly a young professional’s best friend. 2. Know What Questions To Ask Numbers on a page mean nothing if you can’t learn from them. When I analyze data, a few questions I ask are: - Did the date and time of an email, post, or survey impact the level of engagement? - What metrics increased/decreased and what changes prompted the increase/decrease? - What type of content performed best? - What are the demographics of the audience? - Who is engaging most with posts/emails/surveys? - What improvements can I make? - What are competitors doing and is it working better? (helpful tip: ask ChatGPT what questions to ask for you're working on. e.g., "what questions should I ask when analyzing quarterly LinkedIn performance?") 3. Make Excel Your BFF I know, I know. Looking at Excel sheets all day is the bane of all of our existence. But once you learn a base level of Excel knowledge, you’ll save soooo much time and brain power. I regret not figuring it out sooner, tbh. Let it do the math for you! Let it save you more time to be creative! After all, that’s what technological advancements are for. Now you definitely won’t see me applying for Data Analytics jobs any time soon. But I’m proud of the work I’ve put in in recent months at social media and communications analytics (& I'm even presenting on it this week!). I'll be the first person to tell you, anyone can do it if they're curious enough. Don’t let intimidation keep you from growing :) #analytics #creativity #communications

One of the most overlooked ways to break into data is by pivoting within your current company. Last month, my client successfully made this transition—from a grocery store manager to a Data Analyst. Are they exactly where they want to be as a data scientist? Not yet. But they’re a whole lot closer. And that’s okay—breaking into data often requires humility. You might not land your dream role right away, but every step forward gets you closer. Being humble and recognizing the value of incremental progress is key to long-term success. But why is this approach so effective? Because pivoting within your company is a win-win: - Trust: Your current company already trusts you. - Cost Efficiency: Hiring and training new employees is costly for the company, and job searching is costly for you. - Simplicity: No need to send 100s of applications, tweak your resume endlessly, or struggle through interviews. Leverage the relationships you already have. So, how can you make this pivot effectively? Here are 7 action steps to help you pivot within your company: 1) Ignore the Job Title, Focus on Skills Identify the skills and key responsibilities of the role you want. These can be leveraged later if you choose to switch companies. 2) Ask Your Manager to Build a Plan Propose a plan that shows how your new role will help the company grow. Suggest dedicating a fraction of your hours to learning and building those skills. 3) Automate and Innovate Look for ways to automate your current job or optimize processes. This can demonstrate your value in a data role. 4) Internal Networking Talk to other departments, explore internal positions, and make connections. Sometimes, a simple conversation can open doors to new opportunities. 5) Volunteer and Take Initiative Offer to take on data-related tasks or projects, even if they’re outside your current role. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. 6) Review and Analyze Current Data Use the data available in your current role to drive improvements. This shows initiative and builds your data skills. Every company uses data, so find it. 7) Look for Internal Positions Regularly check for internal openings that align with your goals. Applying within your company can often be a faster route to a new role. Remember: The Easiest Change is Optimizing Your Current Situation Before you start looking externally, consider how you can leverage your current position to move closer to your dream data role. It might be simpler than you think. Have you successfully pivoted within your company or are you planning to? Let’s discuss your experience and ideas in the comments! --------- ➕ Follow Jaret André for more actionable tips on breaking into data and accelerating your career. ♻ Repost this if you found it helpful.

Considering a Career Transition? Doing this one thing can make the difference between being overlooked or being selected for an interview and landing an offer. ✅ Be the obvious choice – Don’t assume recruiters will connect the dots. They’re often scanning for an exact title match. Your job? Bridge the gap for them. Translate your past experience into the language of your target role so they see you as a natural fit. Example:  Transition from a Project Manager → Product Manager Let’s say you’ve been a Project Manager for years but want to move into a Product Manager role. A recruiter or hiring manager might not immediately see the connection because they’re looking for candidates with direct Product Management titles. Instead of listing: ❌ “Managed project timelines, budgets, and stakeholder communications.” Reframe it to match Product Management language: ✅ “Led cross-functional teams to deliver customer-focused solutions, prioritizing features based on business impact and user needs.” Why this works: “Led cross-functional teams” aligns with how product managers work across engineering, design, and marketing. “Customer-focused solutions” signals an understanding of product development, not just project execution. “Prioritizing features based on business impact and user needs” shows a product mindset—something critical for a PM role. ✨ Bonus: 📎📄 Attached is an in-depth example of how to identify your transferable skills and effectively highlight them as relevant experience. This can be a tool that assists you with your resume, interviewing and negotiating. 💡 Need guidance? Assisting clients with career pivots and transitions is something I excel at. Plus - I’ve successfully navigated several transitions in my own career, so I’ve lived it. Let’s connect! #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #CareerTransition #Laidoff #CareerDevelopment #CareerGrowth #JobSeeker #CareerPivot

Like many on LinkedIn, I've tried supporting federal procurement professionals forced to transition to the private sector. Through these conversations, I've noticed that many need help resetting expectations and understanding critical differences in the private sector as they make this leap, especially since federal service is often their only professional experience. While federal experience is incredibly valuable, particularly in procurement and program management, the private sector operates with a distinctly different rhythm. Decision-making moves significantly faster, unlike FAR-guided processes with lengthy approval chains. Private companies often make significant decisions in days rather than months. This acceleration can feel liberating and jarring for professionals who are used to detailed documentation and multiple review layers. Compensation structures also differ dramatically. Instead of predictable GS step increases, private sector compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and variable pay structures. While your federal warrant or certifications are valuable, they may not command the same compensation as your total federal benefits package. Success requires articulating your value through measurable outcomes such as dollars managed, efficiencies created, and program results rather than warrant levels or FAC certifications. Research the market and understand the private sector compensation structures since many openings are to support other federal agencies and organizations directly. These contractors have profitability targets based on their labor rates and their costs, so your salary demands may not be realistic. Private sector roles often require wearing multiple hats. Procurement professionals might engage in business development, while program managers could support sales efforts. Many positions will leverage your expertise to help federal clients, but you'll need flexibility and willingness to expand beyond traditional role boundaries. Your federal experience brings unique value in understanding government processes and compliance requirements. Companies serving government clients particularly value this expertise, but you'll need to translate it into commercial terms. For your resume, focus on how your skills in managing complex federal requirements can help private companies navigate government partnerships efficiently. Invest time in understanding commercial business models and market trends as you explore opportunities. Network with professionals who've made similar transitions and research positions of interest to align your experience with specific opportunities. Good luck on your journey! 🚀 #FederalTransition #CareerAdvice #GovernmentProcurement #PrivateSector #ProgramManagement #CareerDevelopment #FederalEmployment #GovCon #FederalAcquisition

How to "de-gov" your resume if you are looking to transition into the private sector. The past month has been tough. I've been hearing from my network daily about projects being cut and uncertainty growing due to budget cutbacks. If you're considering exploring options in the private sector—whether as a backup plan or a pivot—translating your public service experience on you resume is critical. Here's a few tips for tackling the changes, with examples pulled from the resume in the video: 1️⃣ Ditch the jargon 🔹Remove those GS grades. ("GS-2210-13" means nothing to private companies—use "senior" instead) 🔹Cut agency-specific acronyms (FISMA, FedRAMP, RMF)—translate to universal terms like "compliance frameworks" or "risk management" 2️⃣ Don't be afraid to edit 🔹Federal resumes can run 5+ pages with exhaustive details. Like any resume, is the content relevant to the role? 🔹Only include detailed experience from the past 10-15 years. For older roles, you can include an "Other Experience" section with just company/agency, title, and dates. 🔹No need for salary history, supervisor contacts, or contract numbers! 3️⃣ Shift from Duties to Impacts 🔹If the resume is "KSA' written, aka known as skills & abilities without the results, be sure to include your specific results from your actions. 🔹As an example from the resume: 👎Duties: Trained junior analysts on security protocols 👍Duty + Impact: Mentored team of 5 analysts, leading to 30% faster incident response times 4️⃣ Universalize Your Experience 🔹Show how government frameworks translate to private sector needs. For example, sub "FISMA" for "regulatory compliance." 🔹Other examples I have seen are: "program management," 👉 "project management." "customer," 👉 "client." 💡My party trick? Use generative AI to instantly spot the "gov speak" in resumes and prompt it to offer suggestions to change it. A prompt to try: "I want to apply for the Cybersecurity Technical Specialist role at CrowdStrike. Can you proofread my resume and identify any language that may not translate well from government to the private sector? Please suggest improvements to better align my experience with the job description. Below is my current resume and the job description. (Insert resume) (Insert job description)." Who else has successfully made the federal-to-private leap? What other translation tips would you add?

As companies loudly proclaim the end to their DEI programs, marginalized employees silently suffer. If you’re one of these employees, here’s what I’d do next: 1. Ask your manager for clear, up-to-date feedback on how you’re trending today. Do this on a monthly cadence and keep track of the responses. 2. Download Wrk Receipts just in case you need to record any incidences that seem off, microagressions, or blatant discrimination. 3. Use your professional development funds to get a leadership coach that understands your lived experiences. The work you do with them is confidential (ask them about the coaching code of ethics and how they apply it) and they can help you get grounded, decide on next steps, and begin moving towards your ideal outcome. 4. Don’t assume privacy on any company device, software, or physical space. Use your personal devices to discuss any impact, next steps, etc. with colleagues or friends (or your coach). 5. Stay ready. Get the resume polished, start connecting with old colleagues and managers, and establish your voice here on LI. I want you to know: your disappointment is warranted. Anything you’re feeling about being recruited under the guise of inclusion and equity commitments, only to have the standing completely switched, is warranted. Take care of you. Mental health days, ACTUAL PTO, boundaries…because we are all we got. Sending love. ❤️

Your Value vs. Your Worth... A Lesson for Law Enforcement entering the Corporate World Leaving law enforcement in good standing raises a powerful question: What's your value, and what's your worth? As former law enforcement officers, we bring immense value to corporations and businesses. Consider these transferable skills: * Leadership in Chaos: The ability to lead teams through high-stress situations, making critical decisions under pressure. * Analytical Prowess: Gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information, even with limited resources. * Exceptional Communication: Building rapport and communicating effectively with diverse individuals and groups. * Negotiation & Persuasion: The ability to "read the room" and close deals. * Resilience Under Pressure: Thriving in high-stress environments, maintaining composure, and driving results. * Unwavering Team Dedication: A commitment to the success of the team, built on trust and mutual support. These skills are invaluable. Yet, too often, our worth in the business world is undervalued. Why would a company recognize and desire these skills, but then offer compensation that doesn't reflect their true value? I recently experienced this firsthand. I've been able to demonstrate my value and subsequently increase my worth in the business world, but it's a process. Law enforcement officers are accustomed to showcasing their value in oral boards for promotions, special assignments, and collateral duties, but not necessarily in salary negotiations as we are normally bound by set pay scales. Here's the crucial point: If a company senses you're uncomfortable with negotiation, they may exploit that to pay you less than you deserve. The business world operates differently than law enforcement. While it offers exciting opportunities and a sense of purpose, it's essential to understand how to effectively communicate and negotiate your worth. My advice to fellow officers transitioning to the corporate world: Don't just sell your value; demand your worth. Do your research, understand the market value of your skills, and confidently negotiate for the compensation you deserve. Your unique experiences and abilities are highly valuable, and it's time to ensure your compensation reflects that. Invest in learning negotiation skills, network with those who have made the transition, and most importantly, remember that your service and experience has earned you a place at the table, and a fair compensation for your work. #LawEnforcement #business #careergrowth