In Depth

Career Transition: Public Sector to Private

Moving from the public sector to a private sector security job can be a huge leap. In this book excerpt, David Quilter points out the strengths you'll bring along with the skills you may need to develop.

By J. David Quilter

• Communications skills
• Presentation skills
• Project management
• Organizational skills
• Business acumen
• Strategic planning abilities
• Relationship management
• International experience
• Team building
• Negotiation skills
• Decision making skills
• Cost control management

Remember, very few of even the most experienced and talented security leaders have every one of the above skills. If you have a good base in most of these skills, along with a focus on building strong teams and a personal and professional network it will help you compensate for skills that are not as strong. But you need both aptitude and flexibility for personally developing the majority of these skills within yourself. Finally, long term success will be found in your own willingness to hone your developmental opportunities and continually work to strengthen them.

Show up every day. Learn the business. Be honest. Work like hell. If you bring personal discipline, are thoughtful toward others, deliver on the commitments you have made, and introduce humility and fun into your daily work, you will become that next generation security leader the next generation so desperately needs.

J. David Quilter's security leadership successes spans four decades with contributions in both the public and private sectors. David Quilter is principal of QuilCo Inc., is an executive consultant with the Business Security Advisory Group and is a member of the Emeritus Faculty of the Security Executive Council.

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