As an indiviudal who made the jump as talked about above I completely concur with Mr. Quilter (not that he needs my validation)

I would like to share a few major points that very few who make that leap understand. Anyone who does a job like a Federal agent and does everything knowing that the every move may one day be reveal in court and could potentially change a persons life forever, has a different sense of right and worng than the private sector.

You see things and the impact they have in a completely different way and thus maybe shocked and dismayed at the lack of concern or the inaction of those you work for. This is a hard lesson that make some reckless, other risk adverse and for some extremely successful.

Second to remember is that your skill set will most likely exceed your boss'. For some your skill set is a blessing as they believe in credit where credit is due. But, most will see you as a potential threat to their job, their prestige or their mini-feifdom.

These facts can be overcome if you remember the way you dealt with similar situations with in the government.

Finally, just because someone runs the company or is a senior executive does not mean they are near the experts you are/can be. You have seen and reacted to things other never have, you can do things or think through things faster and more decisively then most. Do not sell yourself short.

Go to work, listen, do the job, admit your mistakes and you will succeed because in the private world it is very rare that a life hangs in the balance of your decision.

Please let me share a different point of view! First, there is important difference between private and public sector,. As a former Federal agent you come from a structure that will recognized you as part of them if you enter the private sector you may not. Second, Federal agents now days are in competition with more none “law enforcement / military” security specialist and CSOs and the may be in a “clash” of culture. Other clash of culture will come if you, the ex. Federal agent “dude”, will end up working for a none-American company, tough call. Next clash of culture will be if your boss, the i.e. CSO is a former federal agent from a different country.

On a side note, I did / do work with former law enforcement / military colleagues; please do not tell me that all of them will exceed their bosses. It is worth to remember that this is the private sector, different rules apply. You may have “seen and reacted to things other never have, you can do things or think through things faster and more decisively then most” but your boss is the CEO and he/she run the show. It is true they may not smarter then you but they still run the show.

Please let me share a different point of view! First, there is important difference between private and public sector,. As a former Federal agent you come from a structure that will recognized you as part of them if you enter the private sector you may not. Second, Federal agents now days are in competition with more none “law enforcement / military” security specialist and CSOs and the may be in a “clash” of culture. Other clash of culture will come if you, the ex. Federal agent “dude”, will end up working for a none-American company, tough call. Next clash of culture will be if your boss, the i.e. CSO is a former federal agent from a different country.

On a side note, I did / do work with former law enforcement / military colleagues; please do not tell me that all of them will exceed their bosses. It is worth to remember that this is the private sector, different rules apply. You may have “seen and reacted to things other never have, you can do things or think through things faster and more decisively then most” but your boss is the CEO and he/she run the show. It is true they may not smarter then you but they still run the show.