by Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D., SPHR
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Many of our readers have requested advice for moving from the private sector to higher education.
Answer from Christopher D. Lee, Ph.D., SPHR: Whether you are switching industries, careers, or jobs, your success hinges on convincing the hiring manager or search committee that you have the requisite skills to do the work. How daunting a challenge this is depends upon the ‘distance’ between you and the prize you are seeking. It is very easy to convince the manager and make a lateral move when you already have the same or similar position elsewhere. However, this scenario is much harder if you are changing industries. The art, then, is closing the gap, regardless of the circumstances.
Securing a promotion requires convincing the manager that you are ready for the next level. Changing industries requires convincing others that your skills are transferable or that you can adjust and thrive in the new context. Some believe that moving from governmental to non-profit work may be easier than moving to the private sector because of their perceived similarities. Changing professions, like from sales to advancement, is probably the hardest movement of all. Here one attempts to parlay the underlying competencies and demonstrate their applicability in another form. The connection or similarity may not be clear to others, so the art of getting hired is deliberately translating your experience for the reviewer. When connecting the dots, you have to show proof.
In some ways, this situation is quite mundane: all job seekers have to convince the hiring manager that they are the right professional for the position. To aid your effort with the larger challenge of changing industries, the adage “show, not tell” applies here. Good resumes list accomplishments instead of activities, outcomes instead of duties, and data instead of statements.
The cover letter has to be expressive as well. Call attention to your activities that are most similar to the new context and draw associations where possible. When applying for a position in higher education, use the language used there — not in your current environment. Read job ads here on HigherEdJobs to get some cues as to common phrases, nomenclature, and acronyms. Your reference list can help paint a picture as well. In your cover letter, you might refer to a previous supervisor who came from a similar industry and can confirm that your skills, experience, and success are on par with or superior to those of others they have worked with in the past.
While a popular stereotype is that private sector organizations think that government workers are not as motivated or industrious as those in profit-seeking enterprises, higher education is sometimes accused of thinking the reverse. Some in academia might question whether professionals from market-driven enterprises can be mission-focused enough to serve effectively in our environment. To dispel these notions, you must demonstrate to the hiring manager that you understand the job, the context, and the organization’s purpose. Be deliberate and face the challenge head-on. Reducing expenditures, increasing stakeholder satisfaction, improving processes, leading effectively, and solving problems are translatable truths. Use data and examples to highlight your accomplishments in written materials and during interviews. After all, results are one of the universal languages of success.
All hiring managers are skeptics. They want to make low-risk decisions. You must take the initiative to deliberately translate for the manager and make connections obvious and clear. Don’t expect others to know what you know and understand what you do. The stakes are high. So, closing the distance between what is seen and known in the minds of managers or search committee members is the art of showing instead of telling.
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