From Government to Private: One Woman’s Journey

Nearly three years have passed since I left the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and landed at Integras. For anyone who may be thinking of leaving the government for the private sector, I share my journey. 

I left the Bureau without a job, knowing the right opportunity would come along. 

In fact, Forhad Razzaque called the evening of my last day. Although I felt tentative about working in the private sector, I knew it was a good fit and started in February 2020. We all know what happened the following month. 

Naturally, I wondered: Did I just leave a steady, secure, long-term career to get laid off a few short months later? 

That’s when things got interesting. Not only did I have to learn the ins and outs of private-sector investigations, administration, and management, but I also had to do it remotely. 

For me, the transition involved three major mindset shifts. 

The Missions 

The mission of the FBI is to protect the American people and uphold the constitution of the United States. The mission is clear, unwavering, and bigger than any one individual. 

The mission of a private-sector business such as Integras is to build and grow a profitable business while providing a superior customer experience. 

While the financial payoff differs, the two missions are similar in a key way: both the FBI and Integras are driven to do the best for the people they serve. That’s one thing I find so satisfying here today. The mission of putting our clients’ needs first, while staying compliant and protecting everyone involved, represents business as usual. No shortcuts or easy way out. Do it right the first time. This has remained constant in both my careers. 

The Work Environments 

The FBI’s New York Field Office is large. Filled with a squad of agents, everyone could hear what was going on. The open floor plan made it easy to keep up with cases, grab coffee with squad members, and meet up with friends for lunch or after work. 

Transitioning into Integras involved a culture shock. Suddenly, I was working with fewer in-person employees. The abrupt switch to remote working made it even more challenging to build connections. Even the layout was different. It was eye-opening to move from a busy, open space to a different office setup. 

Job Security 

Government work comes with a level of security. If you do your job well, you will keep it. Work hard, grow within the organization, and you can have a long career. While this may apply to the private sector, the company may decide to bring in someone new to “change things up,” regardless of how hard you’ve worked. 

Part of this security comes from the fact that, in government, you really don’t have to compete—you’ve got the gig. In the private sector, engagements are competitive, and you have to demonstrate your capabilities and what sets you apart. Job security worries hit me as I began my new career; if no work came in, I wouldn’t be needed. 

Integras is a fantastic company that really cares about its employees. That was obvious from day one. Regardless, no matter how good a company is, the private sector brings a certain level of risk. 

I had to learn how to engage with clients and potential clients, building relationships along the way. My actions needed to inspire repeat business and positive feedback. 

Lessons Learned 

It was difficult leaving the Bureau, having worked there since I was just shy of 19 years old. The experience taught me to focus on the big picture when investigating and analyzing, to work as a member of the team, and to always look for what else you can do. 

Carrying that focus on teamwork into the private sector as I’ve learned new skills and a new role has helped this mature woman become who she is today, which has added value to her current company. 

These lessons have included the following: 

• Responding to individual clients as opposed to the intelligence community. 
• Getting paid for services, rather than providing services to further a case. (I must admit that billing clients and paying vendors took me a while to get used to!) 
• Making myself more marketable and flexible. Each engagement reminds me that I have more to learn and grow. 
• Mastering a new type of time management. Building federal cases usually takes a while. In the private sector, however, time is money. Do a great job, but do it quickly to control costs to the client and the company. 

In short, I’ve had to adjust my expectations and perspective. 

If you’re thinking of making the switch, give yourself time to learn the ropes. Be open to different ways of doing things, and learn from those who have been there before. 

Former government employees have a lot to offer with the skills they have honed over the years. Those who remember where they came from and how they need to evolve in the new sector will have a better chance at success.