The end of May marks the unofficial start to summer in the United States, a season when activity surrounding both available security jobs and candidates for those roles often scales down. That is not going to be the case this year.

Starting in late 2024, we began to see an increase in public sector law enforcement professionals exiting U.S. government agencies. This has continued, and we have had month-over-month increases in the number of these security job seekers who have reached out to inquire about our recruitment projects.

Good positions have regularly become available as this year has progressed, but the quantity has not kept up with the sudden influx of people searching for new roles. Certain areas have seen more aggressive growth. For instance, executive protection and protective services opportunities in general have grown at a pace that often outnumbers available candidates for the jobs.

As a result, many EP specialists are spoilt for choice with great opportunities in their local market. Employers who are looking to build out their EP programs are finding it challenging to recruit, even when the roles are well compensated.

Senior security roles with responsibilities not solely EP are evolving at a different pace. This makes it a tougher job market for public sector folks to transition to. The process of shifting sectors is not easy, and while we’ve touched on migration from the public sector to corporate security in earlier columns, it is worth spending some additional time now given the increase in numbers we are seeing.

SMR hosted transition seminars for public sector law enforcement professionals in the early 2000’s. The advice we had then has not changed over the years, except the toolkit now available to you includes better-developed business social media sites. They have evolved into key job search sources, and job boards such as the Security Jobs Network continue to offer options.

If you are planning to leave or have already left the public sector and know you want to continue to work, devote time to setting yourself up to be successful when you begin your search in earnest.

Hire a professional resume writer who understands how to translate your federal law enforcement experience into language corporations understand. A good writer will be able to highlight your transferable skills and competencies in a manner that both private sector recruiters and the talent acquisition software they use recognize you as a match for their roles.

Ensure your business social media accounts are in parity with your resume. Recruiters will check. Your goal is to be viewed as an experienced security professional, so it is important to pay attention to how you come across in both your profile and your posts on these services.

Practice interviewing for the jobs you want. Strengthen your communication skills and become a great advocate for your achievements. The infrastructure and protocols you are familiar with in your agency career will differ from how a corporation may interview you. Seek advice on how to do this from those in your network who have already transitioned.

Finding a new job can be a full-time job. Regardless of whether you have made the decision to leave the public sector yourself or if the choice was made for you, maintaining focus on your next career step is crucial. Use the opportunity to package yourself in an easily consumable corporate format and focus on valuable connections who can help you navigate the transition more effectively.