Topic 4:

Training: Transitioning from Nonprofit to Private Sector

Question: For 23+ years I've worked in human services. I've spent the last 5 years training other human services professionals in in-service and workshop settings. The skills and instincts I've developed over the years serve me well in my current role. I am highly perceptive: I create effective formats and establish good rapport with learning audiences. How can I best facilitate a smooth transition to private sector training? I am a very motivated learner, but do not have the luxury of going back to school full-time. Do you have suggestions about logical job opportunities I might consider pursuing?

--No name, Midwest

Answer: To move from the public sector to the corporate world isn't that unusual for a training specialist and, given your background, there are a number of things you can do to market yourself. As your experience has been in the healthcare industry, consider looking into pharmaceutical and other medical/health-related organizations. If you live within a metropolitan area, you should be able to network and set up informational interviews with T&D specialists in the private healthcare industry. At minimum, talk with colleagues in the corporate world to learn how they feel you would fit into their world and their suggestions for how to shift from public to private. Also, if your local ASTD chapter has a peer mentoring program, sign up to receive individual support, advice, and encouragement

Review the last 12 months of the ASTD T+D Magazine as well as other HRD professional publications to be more familiar with the latest issues, needs, and practices in private employers' T&D Departments. You do not need to go back to school full-time to update your skills and knowledge. Today's continued professional education offers many options, including Web-based and computer-based choices. Attending workshops, conferences, and chapter meetings is another option for obtaining needed learning.

However, one important key to being able to make this move is your resume and how it projects your professional image. You want the focus to be on your experience, competencies, achievements - your HRD savvy, not necessarily where you obtained your expertise. Printed resources include:
Eyler, D. Resumes that Mean Business (Random House 1999)
Kaplan, R. How to Say It in Your Job Search (Prentice Hall 2002)
Rich, J. Great Resume: Get Noticed, Get Hired (Learning Express 2001)
Wendleton, K. Building A Great Resume (Career Press 1997-1999)

--AR