From Public to Private: How to Plan Your Transition

Today I coached a person preparing for a major shift from a federal role into the private sector. He has a strong analytical background and is currently pursuing education in data science. When I asked what drew him to this path in particular, he said, "I want to help influence business decisions with data." That’s a great goal, and we took some time to unpack what that actually means in practice.

Business Analyst or Data Scientist?

He used the term "data scientist," but as he described what he wanted to do, support decision-making with data and contribute to strategy, it sounded more like a business analyst role.

This is a common fork in the road. It's easy to pick a job title that sounds familiar without knowing what the role actually involves. Just like how 'program manager,' 'product manager,' and 'project manager' can sound interchangeable, roles like data scientist and business analyst are often confused. While both work with data, their focus, tools, and goals differ in meaningful ways.

Data scientists work across domains to analyze large datasets, build predictive models, and uncover patterns using tools like Python, R, and SQL. Their focus is technical and exploratory, often helping organizations understand future trends. Many data scientists have advanced degrees, but strong portfolios and applied experience can also open doors.

Business analysts, on the other hand, are closely tied to a specific business domain, such as operations, finance, or product. They interpret structured data to explain what’s happening in the business and suggest actionable improvements. Business analysts tend to use tools like SQL, Excel, Tableau, and Power BI. Their strength lies in understanding the business context and communicating clearly with both technical and non-technical teams.

Choosing the right path depends on whether you want to specialize in modeling and data engineering, or if your strength lies in bridging business needs with data insights.

Start with the Destination, Not the Tools

He mentioned a specific industry he’s interested in. That’s a great starting point. I encouraged him to build on that by speaking with people already working in similar roles.

These conversations aren’t about asking for a job, they’re about learning what the role really involves and how others got there.

Some great starter questions:

• What do you actually do day to day?

• What helped you break into this field?

• Do you have any tips for someone just starting out?

From experience, about one in four people you message on LinkedIn will respond with something thoughtful. That can be enough to shape your plan and give you confidence in your direction.

How to Spot the Gaps

If you’re transitioning to a new field, here are three practical ways to identify what skills or experiences you may be missing:

1. Read job descriptions across companies and locations. Pay attention to repeated skills and requirements.

2. Look at profiles of people in similar roles. What did they study? What tools or industries did they work in before landing the role?

3. Ask professionals directly. Even one short conversation can clarify weeks of uncertainty.

How Real Experience Happens

We also talked about how people land their first private-sector job or internship. It’s rarely just about submitting resumes online. More often, it starts with access, and access comes from relationships.

In-person networking helps here. Look for local tech meetups, panel events, and workshops where people from your target industry gather. Focus on events where the attendees are likely to include hiring managers, team leads, or professionals already doing the work you want to do.

Sometimes, internships or entry-level roles aren’t formally posted or even exist. A good impression at the right moment can lead someone to create an opportunity that didn’t previously exist. Those kinds of openings come from conversations, not job boards.

If you're planning a similar move, you don’t have to guess your way through it. A clear goal, a few conversations, and some focused effort can go a long way.

🎯 Join my next webinar for practical advice, a live Q&A, and learn how to create a resume that makes hiring managers want you.