I read an interesting perspective the other day on shifting careers from the world of public-sector employment into the private business world. In BusinessWeek's October 1, 2007 issue, Jack and Suzy Welch answer a question about making such a career move. Their advice: it's tough as hell. They share a few tips on how some challenges in government work can drive improvement, while a lack of challenge can hurt one's prospects.
The bad news is that since governments face no competition, there is less drive to improve and excel as seen in the harsh reality of today's economy. First, government unions work hard to protect jobs, so unless you do something really bad, you are guaranteed lifetime employment and a nice retirement/pension package. Second, since the organization itself is guaranteed to be in existence, there is no market pressure for improvement. There is no need to recognize and advance the best & brightest, there is no competitor that will take your customer away if you are slow to respond.
This doesn't mean people in government jobs are inferior or cannot provide world-class service. My uncle has put decades into a government agency (that I'd rather not name), and he truly cares for the citizens he interacts with. At the same time, he confirms that there is almost no incentive for good service and hustle.
But the Welches report that there are some positive skills that government workers develop because of the challenges inherent in their careers. The chief example is that they are forced to learn how to motivate people with very few tools (i.e. money, promotions or threats).
This reminds me of a friend who started his career as a 23-year-old working in a soap plant in New Jersey, managing a group of forty-something union guys. He learned to motivate them with humor, pride, and teamwork - even when he had to close the facility down. Today he is the best people manager I've ever worked with, and he is rapidly rising at one of the top health care companies in the world.
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