I am a federal worker who has a job in the private sector. Here is how.
- Hannah Augusa began her career in 2006 in working ranks in the Senate press office.
- She worked in the Ministry of Justice as a journalist for the former first lady, Michelle Obama.
- August has left its job at the White House to improve the balance between work and life in the private sector.
This exciting article relies on the written conversation with Hana August, a communications advisor and a former White House employee. Business Insider checks its work. The following has been released for length and clarity.
I got my first job in 2006 to work in the ranks of the US Senate press office.
One of the teachers rented me as his deputy to the Senator Democratic Campaign Committee, then I was appointed as a press secretary of the Ministry of Justice at the beginning of the Obama administration. While he was there, I collaborated with the White House, who later recruited me as director of regional communications to the president in 2010.
Six months later, she became the press secretary of the first lady. I studied international relations, but most of my experience came from the job learning from the mentors.
My work with President Obama focused on the economy. Working in the first lady, she participated more with the media that focuses on consumer, such as TV programs, magazines and children’s programming. The main specialist was “Let’s Moving”, an initiative that treats obesity, as well as events in the White House, such as Roll Eg Egg, State dinner, and musical events.
Long hours and high pressure burned me
When the government works well, which I think often, federal workers can see their contributions directly affect people. I enjoyed positive changes and every day was different.
However, the hours were long, and tension levels were high. The greatest pressure was the feeling of the need to be perfect because any error would be amplified. There was a great spotlight on all that you did was a lot of pressure. I was on a plane at least once a week, and it was crazy.
After five years in management, including nearly three with the first lady, the reward stopped feeling attention. I felt tired and tired. I wanted to balance better at work and pressure less.
There was the life of the White House, but many people left the administration after a few terms to go to the private sector.
It was considered a perfect axis, but the 2016 elections have re -focused me
There is no unique approach to making a switch. I had no specific job, but I wanted a useful work and balance and staying in the capital
I threw a wide network, I met many people, and I had countless coffee.
My role in the National Geographic Kids came from a former cooperation – while in the White House, it helped organize a record attempt in Guinness with them with them. Most people would have jumped. When they were formulating a major marketing role for children and family products, my experience made me a normal attack. There was no post, but the talks led to interviews and role.
I always wanted to work in National Geographic, but after two years, I realized that the culture was very slow. It took a year to explore my feelings – studying interior design, directing a play, shading a real estate developer, and training my dog as a treatment dog.
I was thinking of a full professional transformation, but the 2016 Trump elections re -focused me on using my skills for good. I became the Director of Communications at a non -governmental organization for gender equality, and two years later, my telecommunications company established Gilvish strategies.
I missed the energy and life of the government, but you cannot pay me to return
When I turned into the private sector, I was surprised that it was more often the bureaucracy than the government. Sometimes, there is a wrong belief in the government as a place where nothing is done, with millions of files and models to make anything move. There is always room for improvement, but from my experience, it was effective and smooth.
No one in the government does this for money. In general, my salary has increased since he left government work. I was also surprised that although I left the government for a better balance of work and life, I missed the energy of politics. I still find work with my client, but I only work with a different atmosphere in general. I have a six -year -old child.
My advice to federal workers
It is a difficult time for people who have been cut from their federal roles. The pressure on the exit is frustrated, but I know that many appreciate your work.
Regarding the way I saw and told me to the White House, Mrs. Obama gave me a wonderful professional advice: In different stages of life, you will need different things – challenge, stability, balance or money. Sometimes, just focus on the following job and go from there. Your needs will develop, so stay open to change.
Another counselor, Maria Christina “MC” González Nogura, worked at Estee Lauder before joining the first lady’s team. She had to learn how her skills applied to the government. She told me that many of her developed skills were converted to the private sector, but the people who rent me may not see this immediately. You really have to spell that.
For example, the “Executive Communications” administration was not a term used in the government, but that was part of a league for the public lawyer and the first lady. MC helped me amend my CV to match the language of companies.
Networks are invaluable, both with the people you know directly and mutual. There were lists of Obama graduates, and now I imagine that networks are prepared for federal workers who were outside the job. Make sure to follow strategically – do not hunt people, but check from time to time to stay on their radar.
Be open to geography movements. There are a lot of people in the capital suddenly from a government job, not enough industry to accommodate them. Certainly, explore the potential moves to other places if you can.
If the private sector is not for you, think about the work of the local government, which can do a lot of good and help you continue to return the beautiful to the country. I hope that many people think about this transformation.