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Look before you leap into a private sector job - Government Executive

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President-elect Trump opted out of both of those memoranda of understanding until Nov. 26."/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Trump teams to deploy throughout government after reaching agreement with the Biden administration </div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="d-none d-lg-block col-lg-2" > <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/who-has-trump-nominated-serve-his-cabinet/401027/?oref=ge-skybox-post" > <span class="skybox-item-highlight-tag"> Updated </span> <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/21/112124_Getty_GovExec_RFKJr/261x157.jpg?1732227575" alt="Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a rally in Duluth, Ga., on Oct. 23, 2024. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated him to serve as Health and Human Services secretary. "/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Who has Trump nominated to serve in his Cabinet? </div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="d-none d-md-block col-md-3 col-lg-2" > <aside class="skybox-item skybox-item-sponsored" > <a class="skybox-link" href="https://www.govexec.com/sponsors/2024/11/accelerate-your-imaging-transformation-improve-workflow-speed-and-storing-use-cloud-technology/401006/" target="_blank" > <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/13/Screenshot_2024_11_13_at_11.14.50AM/261x157.png?1731514796" alt=""/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> sponsor content </div> <div class="skybox-text">Accelerate your imaging transformation</div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="owl-carousel skybox-carousel col-xs-12 d-md-none"> <div class="skybox-carousel-item" data-internal-position="0"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/congressional-democrats-want-more-guardrails-presidential-nominees/401285/?oref=ge-skybox-post" > <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/25/112524_Getty_GovExec_AndyKimLegislation/261x157.jpg?1732565222" alt="New legislation from Rep. Andy  Kim, D-N.J., would require financial disclosures from certain presidential nominees if they performed work for a foreign government in the last five years."/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Congressional Dems want more guardrails for nominees</div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="skybox-carousel-item" data-internal-position="1"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/trumps-education-nominee-would-bring-past-government-experience-role/401294/?oref=ge-skybox-post" > <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/25/112524_Getty_GovExec_McMahon/261x157.jpg?1732570868" alt=" Linda McMahon during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 12, 2019. McMahon headed the Small Business Administration during Trump&#39;s first term. "/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Trump’s Education nominee would bring past government experience to the role</div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="skybox-carousel-item" data-internal-position="2"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/dejoys-changes-will-give-usps-its-best-holiday-season-performance-ever-officials-say/401289/?oref=ge-skybox-post" > <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/25/112524_Getty_GovExec_USPSHolidayDelivery/261x157.jpg?1732568760" alt="Ahead of the holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service claims it can now process 60 million packages per day. "/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Postal officials: DeJoy changes will give USPS best holiday season ever</div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="skybox-carousel-item" data-internal-position="3"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/trump-teams-deploy-throughout-government-after-reaching-agreement-biden-administration/401329/?oref=ge-skybox-post" > <span class="skybox-item-highlight-tag"> Breaking News </span> <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/26/11262024Trump/261x157.jpg?1732655750" alt="By statute, each presidential candidate is urged to sign agreements with the General Services Administration—the agency that manages transition efforts—by Sept. 1 and with the White House by Oct. 1. President-elect Trump opted out of both of those memoranda of understanding until Nov. 26."/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Trump teams to deploy throughout government after reaching agreement with the Biden administration </div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="skybox-carousel-item" data-internal-position="4"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/who-has-trump-nominated-serve-his-cabinet/401027/?oref=ge-skybox-post" > <span class="skybox-item-highlight-tag"> Updated </span> <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/21/112124_Getty_GovExec_RFKJr/261x157.jpg?1732227575" alt="Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a rally in Duluth, Ga., on Oct. 23, 2024. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated him to serve as Health and Human Services secretary. "/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> Management </div> <div class="skybox-text">Who has Trump nominated to serve in his Cabinet? </div> </a> </aside> </div> <div class="skybox-carousel-item" data-internal-position="5"> <aside class="skybox-item skybox-item-sponsored" > <a class="skybox-link" href="https://www.govexec.com/sponsors/2024/11/accelerate-your-imaging-transformation-improve-workflow-speed-and-storing-use-cloud-technology/401006/" target="_blank" > <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2024/11/13/Screenshot_2024_11_13_at_11.14.50AM/261x157.png?1731514796" alt=""/> <div class="skybox-img-backdrop"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" class="skybox-img-backdrop-svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none" > <polygon points="0,100 100,0 100,100"/> </svg> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-label"> sponsor content </div> <div class="skybox-text">Accelerate your imaging transformation</div> </a> </aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="js-article-top-ad js-top-ad advert-plain-gray"> <div class="ad ad-None" class="_iub_cs_activate" data-iub-purposes="5" > <div class="ad-container"> <script class="ad-stub ad-stub-desktop" data-ad-unit="/617/govexec.com/section_paybenefits/content/pid_401218" data-ad-sizes="billboard,leaderboard" data-ad-targeting='6281fa51-d3c1-469d-8889-c4cfb5df54a6' > GEMG.GPT.targeting.slot['6281fa51-d3c1-469d-8889-c4cfb5df54a6'] = { 'level': [ '3' ], 'topics': [ 'retirement-benefits', 'retirement-planning' ], 'post_id': [ '401218' ], 'keywords': [ 'federal-employees-retirement-system', 'retirement', 'retirement-age', 'retirement-benefits', 'retirement-planning', 'thrift-savings-plan' ], 'primary_category': [ 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class="skybox row js-sky-earth-box" data-position="article-top-mobile" data-spritesheet="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg" > <div class="skybox-mobile-post-carousel"> <div id="skybox-mobile-post-item-container" class="skybox-mobile-post-item-container active2"> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-column"> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-item"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/congressional-democrats-want-more-guardrails-presidential-nominees/401285/?oref=ge-skybox-post-mobile" > <span class="skybox-text">Congressional Dems want more guardrails for nominees</span> </a> </aside> <hr> </div> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-item"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/trumps-education-nominee-would-bring-past-government-experience-role/401294/?oref=ge-skybox-post-mobile" > <span class="skybox-text">Trump’s Education nominee would bring past government experience to the role</span> </a> </aside> <hr> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-column"> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-item"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/dejoys-changes-will-give-usps-its-best-holiday-season-performance-ever-officials-say/401289/?oref=ge-skybox-post-mobile" > <span class="skybox-text">Postal officials: DeJoy changes will give USPS best holiday season ever</span> </a> </aside> <hr> </div> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-item"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2024/11/trump-teams-deploy-throughout-government-after-reaching-agreement-biden-administration/401329/?oref=ge-skybox-post-mobile" > <span class="skybox-text">Trump teams to deploy throughout government after reaching agreement with the Biden administration </span> </a> </aside> <hr> </div> </div> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-column"> <div class="skybox-mobile-post-item"> <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" 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class="l-content-left-rail"></div> <div class="content-body wysiwyg l-content-well content-body-last wysiwyg-article"> <p>Earlier this week, <em>Government Executive</em> reported that federal employees in 2024 on average <a href="https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/11/feds-2024-made-almost-quarter-less-their-private-sector-peers/401121/">earned 24.72% less</a> than their counterparts in similar private sector jobs, according to a new report from the Federal Salary Council that is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.   </p><p>With that in mind, let’s say you are a GS-13, Step 10 in the Washington, D.C., locality area making $153,354 a year in 2024. If this employee is 42 years old with 15 years of government service, they are around the “midcareer” point of their federal career and, may be considering a move to the private sector. Let’s compare their benefits if they remain employed in federal service to age 57 when they would have completed 30 years of service with what they would have to earn in the private sector at a job that pays them 25% more than they were earning in their federal career.  </p><p><strong>Stay with the Federal Government to Age 57 or Older</strong> </p><p><strong>FERS Basic Retirement Benefit: </strong>By continuing federal employment to age 57, this employee would have a total of 30 years of federal service and would be eligible for a FERS immediate, unreduced retirement benefit with entitlement to the FERS Special Retirement Supplement. The value of the Basic FERS benefit would be equal to their length of service times one% of their high-three average salary or in this example, 30% of their high-three average salary. </p><p>Since this employee is “topped out” at a GS 13/10, salary increases may include annual pay adjustments and the possibility of advancing to the Senior Executive Service. In today’s dollars, this benefit would be worth approximately 30% x $153,354 = $46,006/year or $3,833.85/month. This benefit may be reduced by 10% to provide a survivor benefit of 50% of the unreduced benefit to a spouse.  </p><p>Federal and state income tax may be withheld from this benefit as well as insurance premiums for health and life insurance, if eligible to maintain in retirement by meeting the test of being covered by those benefits for the five years immediately preceding their retirement. Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program and Federal Employees Long-Term Care Insurance Program<strong>*</strong> benefits may also be continued and/or added in retirement.   </p><p>If this employee continues employment past age 57, they continue to accrue an additional 1% of their high-three through age 61 and if they stay until age 62, because they would have over 20 years of service, the factor for the retirement computation changes to 1.1%. Annual cost-of-living adjustments would also begin at age 62 (no COLAs prior to age 62 unless retiring under special provisions such as law enforcement or firefighters' retirement options or under the disability provisions of FERS).     </p><p><strong>*</strong><em>Currently the FLTCIP program is not open to new applicants under a suspension that is expected to last through 2026. </em>    </p><p><strong>FERS Special Retirement Supplement: </strong>This benefit provides a bridge to qualifying for Social Security retirement benefits. The supplement is equal to the approximate value of Social Security benefits an employee would have earned if they were eligible to receive them when they retired. The supplement ends at age 62 and is subject to an earnings limit if the retiree has earned income above a certain limit. </p><p><strong>Thrift Savings Plan:</strong> Contributions continue to the TSP throughout the career that are increased by an automatic 1% agency contribution and dollar for dollar matching contributions up to 3% of the employee’s biweekly contributions and fifty cents on the dollar for the next 2% of employee contributions. No matching after 5%, however, employees may continue to contribute up to the annual elective deferral limits. For 2025, the limit is $23,500. Employees aged 50 to 59 may contribute an additional $7,500 next year and employees aged 60 to 63 may contribute an additional $11,250 each year. After age 63, these catch-up contributions return to a limit of $7,500 for the next year.  </p><p><strong>Leave the Federal Government and Go To the Private Sector</strong> </p><p>This employee is “vested” for the FERS Basic Retirement benefit if they leave at age 42 with 15 years of service. This means that they may apply for a deferred FERS benefit at age 62 worth 15% (1% x years/months of creditable service). If the high-three average salary is currently $146,000 (the average of the highest three years of basic pay), this benefit would be worth $21,900 at age 62.  If they elect to receive it as early as their minimum retirement age (57 for employees born in 1970 or later), this would be reduced by 25% (five% for each year under age 62). There would be no allowance for reinstatement of insurance or unused sick leave credit. No FERS supplement would be payable under a deferred retirement.   </p><p><strong>Retirement benefits available in the private sector:</strong> </p><ul> <li aria-level="1">According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in March 2023, 15% of private industry workers had access to a defined benefit plan. The FERS Basic Retirement Benefit is an example of a defined benefit plan. Among private industries, financial activities stood out as 33% of workers had access to a defined benefit plan and 19% of workers chose to participate. </li> </ul><ul> <li aria-level="1">For 401(k) plans, a common percentage for matching contributions in the private sector is between 4% and 6% of compensation, according to carry.com. Anything above 5% of compensation is considered a good employer match.  </li> </ul><ul> <li aria-level="1">To make up for the loss of the FERS Basic Benefit if the move to the private sector doesn’t prove a defined benefit plan, this employee would need to save enough to provide an annual income of around $24,000 (the difference between the deferred retirement that is currently vested for this employee and the value of the future benefit that is shown above in today’s dollars). Using the "4% rule" this employee would need to save an additional $600,000 to withdraw $24,000 a year to make up for the loss of the benefit payable at age 57. The 4% rule is a retirement planning guideline that suggests retirees can safely withdraw 4% of their total retirement savings in their first year of retirement, then adjust that amount annually for inflation to maintain a steady income stream throughout their retirement, typically aiming for a 30-year period; this rule generally implies a balanced portfolio with a mix of stocks and bonds, often around a 50/50 split, to manage risk and potential market fluctuations while aiming for long-term growth.  </li> </ul><ul> <li aria-level="1">In a private sector position without the benefit of a pension and the FERS Special Retirement Supplement, this employee may need to work to age 62 instead of having the option of retirement at age 57.   </li> </ul><ul> <li aria-level="1">Comparing the amount of difference in retirement income at age 62, the FERS benefit would now be based on potentially 35 years of service.  Using the 1.1% formula and the same $153,354 high-three, this would be computed at 38.5% x $153,354 or $59,041/year or $4,920/month, requiring a larger savings amount to make up for the difference between the $21,900 deferred FERS retirement benefit which now has increased to more than $37,000/year requiring additional savings of a little under $1,000,000 to replace this income.   </li> </ul><p>Employees planning to move to the private sector will need to make at least 25% more in wages to replace the loss of the additional retirement benefits offered to federal employees who qualify for an immediate retirement after the completion of a career of federal employment. This is in addition to the ability to maintain lifetime coverage under FEHB, FEGLI, FEDVIP and FLTCIP insurance programs.   </p><div class="related-articles-placeholder"> <div class="related-articles js-content-related-stories"> <p class="related-articles-head">Related articles</p> <div class="related-articles-link-box"> <p class="related-article-link"><a class="js-content-related-stories-link" href="/pay-benefits/2024/11/primer-fers-supplement/400777/?oref=ge-related-article">A primer on the FERS supplement </a></p> <p class="related-article-link"><a class="js-content-related-stories-link" href="/pay-benefits/2024/11/feds-2024-made-almost-quarter-less-their-private-sector-peers/401121/?oref=ge-related-article">Feds in 2024 made almost a quarter less than their private sector peers </a></p> </div> </div> </div><p><svg class="content-tombstone"> <use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg#icon-ge-logo-tiny"></use> </svg></p></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="l-content-row"> <div class="content-sep horizontal-0 rule-sep l-content-well js-article-bottom-reference"></div> <div class="share-this l-content-well js-social-container"> <span class="share-this-text">Share This:</span><ul class="social-options social-options-post"><li class="social-options-item"><a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govexec.com%2Fpay-benefits%2F2024%2F11%2Flook-you-leap-private-sector-job%2F401218%2F&amp;text=Look+before+you+leap+into+a+private+sector+job+&amp;via=GovExec" target="_blank"><svg class="social-options-svg" ><use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg?v=20.3.1#icon-x"/></svg></a></li><li class="social-options-item"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govexec.com%2Fpay-benefits%2F2024%2F11%2Flook-you-leap-private-sector-job%2F401218%2F&amp;mini=true&amp;summary=It+might+not+be+the+win+you+think+it+is+when+you+do+the+math.&amp;source=GovExec.com&amp;title=Look+before+you+leap+into+a+private+sector+job+" target="_blank"><svg class="social-options-svg" ><use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg?v=20.3.1#icon-linkedin-2"/></svg></a></li><li class="social-options-item"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?picture=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.govexec.com%2Fmedia%2Fimg%2Fcd%2F2024%2F11%2F21%2F11212024Retpl%2F860x394.jpg&amp;name=Look+before+you+leap+into+a+private+sector+job+&amp;app_id=696264563763622&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govexec.com&amp;link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.govexec.com%2Fpay-benefits%2F2024%2F11%2Flook-you-leap-private-sector-job%2F401218%2F&amp;display=popup&amp;description=It+might+not+be+the+win+you+think+it+is+when+you+do+the+math." target="_blank"><svg class="social-options-svg" ><use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg?v=20.3.1#icon-facebook-2"/></svg></a></li><li class="social-options-item social-options-item-envelope"><a href="mailto:?body=It%20might%20not%20be%20the%20win%20you%20think%20it%20is%20when%20you%20do%20the%20math.%0A%0Ahttps%3A//www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/11/look-you-leap-private-sector-job/401218/&amp;subject=Government%20Executive%3A%20Look%20before%20you%20leap%20into%20a%20private%20sector%20job%20" target="_blank"><svg class="social-options-svg" ><use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg?v=20.3.1#icon-envelope"/></svg></a></li><li class="social-options-item"><a class="social-print" href="#"><svg class="social-options-svg" ><use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg?v=20.3.1#icon-print"/></svg></a></li></ul> <div class="js-disqus-container"></div> </div> <p class="leadin l-content-well"> <strong class="leadin-tag">NEXT STORY:</strong> <a class="leadin-link js-article-next-story-link" href="/pay-benefits/2024/11/medicare-part-d-will-benefit-most-federal-annuitants-next-year/401104/?oref=ge-next-story" data-target="#medicare-part-d-will-benefit-most-federal-annuitants-next-year-401104" > Medicare Part D may benefit most federal annuitants next year </a> <svg class="leadin-icon-down" > <use xlink:href="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg?v=20.3.1#icon-carrot-thin-down"/> </svg> </p> </div> </div> <div class="l-spacing-1rem-up"> <div class="container"> <div class="skybox row js-sky-earth-box" data-position="article-bottom" data-spritesheet="/static/b/base/svg/spritesheet.svg" > <div class="d-none d-md-block col-md-3 col-lg-2" > <aside class="skybox-item" > <a class="skybox-link" href="/management/2023/09/reinventing-government-reflections-30-years-later/390046/?oref=ge-earthbox-post" > <div class="skybox-img-container"> <img class="skybox-img" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/media/img/cd/2023/09/06/09062023RenventingGovt/261x157.jpg?1694037677" alt="President Bill Clinton looks on as Vice President Al Gore presents his National Performance Review. 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of Defense (Military)</option> <option value="Federal Government">Federal Government</option> <option value="State/Local Government">State/Local Government</option> <option value="Government Contractor">Government Contractor</option> <option value="Private Sector">Private Sector</option> <option value="Retired">Retired</option> </select> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-optin form-group"> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit form-group"> <button class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit-btn btn btn-default" type="submit"> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit-text"> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit-arrow"></span> Sign up </span> </button> </div> </fieldset> <a class="conversion-module-signup-form-link" href="https://www.govexec.com/about/privacy-policy/" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a> </form> </div> <div class="conversion-module-nl-thankyou hide"> <form class="conversion-module-signup-form " action="/newsletters/subscribe/conversion-module/govexec-today/thank-you/" method="post" > <fieldset> <legend class="conversion-module-signup-form-title"> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-title-line1"> Almost There! </span> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-title-line2"> Help us tailor content specifically for you: </span> </legend> <input id="conversion-module-thank-you-source_signup" name="source_signup" type="hidden" value="ge-mod-conv-dt" /> <input id="conversion-module-thank-you-run_through_id" name="run_through_id" type="hidden" /> <input id="conversion-module-thank-you-email" name="email" type="hidden" /> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-full_name form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-full_name" > Full Name </label> <input autocomplete="name" class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-full_name" name="full_name" placeholder="" type="text" /> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-agency_department form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-agency_department" > Agency/Department </label> <select class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-agency_department" name="agency_department" placeholder=""> <option value="" selected="selected">--select--</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="Department of the Air Force">Department of the Air Force</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="Department of the Army">Department of the Army</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="Department of the Navy">Department of the Navy</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="Joint Chiefs of Staff">Joint Chiefs of Staff</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="National Intelligence Agency">National Intelligence Agency</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="Office of the Secretary of Defense">Office of the Secretary of Defense</option> <option class="agency-department-civilian-branch" value="Other Defense Agency">Other Defense Agency</option> <option class="agency-department-military-branch" value="Air Force">Air Force</option> <option class="agency-department-military-branch" value="Army">Army</option> <option class="agency-department-military-branch" value="Coast Guard">Coast Guard</option> <option class="agency-department-military-branch" value="Navy">Navy</option> <option class="agency-department-military-branch" value="Marines">Marines</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Agriculture">Department of Agriculture</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Commerce">Department of Commerce</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Education">Department of Education</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Energy">Department of Energy</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of HHS">Department of HHS</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Homeland Security">Department of Homeland Security</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of HUD">Department of HUD</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Interior">Department of Interior</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Justice">Department of Justice</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Labor">Department of Labor</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of State">Department of State</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Transportation">Department of Transportation</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Treasury">Department of Treasury</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Department of Veterans Affairs">Department of Veterans Affairs</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="EPA">EPA</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Executive Office of the President/Vice President">Executive Office of the President/Vice President</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Federal Bureau of Investigation">Federal Bureau of Investigation</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Federal Communications Commission">Federal Communications Commission</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Federal Trade Commission">Federal Trade Commission</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="GSA">GSA</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Judiciary Branch">Judiciary Branch</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Legislative Branch">Legislative Branch</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="NASA">NASA</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="National Institute of Health">National Institute of Health</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="OMB">OMB</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="OPM">OPM</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="SSA">SSA</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="USPS">USPS</option> <option class="agency-department-federal-government" value="Other Agency">Other Agency</option> <option class="agency-department-state-and-local" value="Government Association">Government Association</option> <option class="agency-department-state-and-local" value="County">County</option> <option class="agency-department-state-and-local" value="Municipal">Municipal</option> <option class="agency-department-state-and-local" value="Special District">Special District</option> <option class="agency-department-state-and-local" value="State">State</option> </select> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-organization_function form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-organization_function" > Organization Function </label> <select class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-organization_function" name="organization_function" placeholder=""> <option value="" selected="selected">--select--</option> <option value="Elected Official/Legislative/Executive Office">Elected Official/Legislative/Executive Office</option> <option value="Environment/Energy">Environment/Energy</option> <option value="Finance/Budget">Finance/Budget</option> <option value="Health &amp; Human Services">Health &amp; Human Services</option> <option value="Public Safety/Emergency Services/Law Enforcement">Public Safety/Emergency Services/Law Enforcement</option> <option value="Technology">Technology</option> <option value="Transportation/Utilities/Infrastructure">Transportation/Utilities/Infrastructure</option> <option value="Other">Other</option> </select> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-organization_name form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-organization_name" > Organization Name </label> <input autocomplete="organization" class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-organization_name" name="organization_name" placeholder="" type="text" /> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-job_function form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-job_function" > Job Function </label> <select class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-job_function" name="job_function" placeholder=""> <option value="" selected="selected">--select--</option> <option value="Agency Leadership">Agency Leadership</option> <option value="Business &amp; Operations">Business &amp; Operations</option> <option value="Communications &amp; Marketing">Communications &amp; Marketing</option> <option value="Financial/Contract Management">Financial/Contract Management</option> <option value="Human Resource Management">Human Resource Management</option> <option value="Technology Management">Technology Management</option> </select> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-phone form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-phone" > Phone number </label> <input autocomplete="tel" class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-phone" name="phone" placeholder="" type="text" /> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-state_and_zip form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-state_and_zip_0" > Zip code </label> <input autocomplete="postal-code" class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-state_and_zip_0" name="state_and_zip_0" placeholder="" type="text" /><input autocomplete="postal-code" class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-state_and_zip_1" name="state_and_zip_1" placeholder="" type="hidden" /> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-country form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-country" > Country </label> <select class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-country" name="country" placeholder=""> <option value="United States">United States</option> <option value="EEA (European Economic Area)">EEA (European Economic Area)</option> <option value="Canada">Canada</option> <option value="Other">Other</option> </select> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-country_other form-group"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label control-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-country_other" > Country Name </label> <input autocomplete="country-name" class="form-control form-control-xl" id="conversion-module-thank-you-country_other" name="country_other" placeholder="" type="text" /> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-optin conversion-module-signup-form-optin-regular form-group"> <div class="checkbox"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-optin"> <input checked="checked" id="conversion-module-thank-you-optin" name="optin" type="checkbox" /> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-label-text">Yes, Government Executive can email me on behalf of carefully selected companies and organizations.</span> </label> </div> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-optin conversion-module-signup-form-optin-eea form-group hide"> <div class="checkbox"> <label class="conversion-module-signup-form-label" for="conversion-module-thank-you-optin_eea"> <input id="conversion-module-thank-you-optin_eea" name="optin_eea" type="checkbox" /> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-label-text"> I agree to the use of my personal data by Government Executive Media Group and its partners to serve me targeted ads. <a class='conversion-module-learn-more-link' href='https://www.govexec.com/about/privacy-policy/' target='_blank'>Learn more</a>. </span> </label> </div> </div> <div class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit form-group"> <button class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit-btn btn btn-default" type="submit"> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit-text"> <span class="conversion-module-signup-form-submit-arrow"></span> Submit </span> </button> </div> </fieldset> <a class="conversion-module-signup-form-link" href="https://www.govexec.com/about/privacy-policy/" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a> </form> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.govexec.com/b/compressed/django/js/6a36cf21fb56.js"></script> <script> try { var segment_id = GEMG.User.getAdSegmentIDs(); var gemgDict = {"days_since_last_publication": 11, "topics": ["Retirement Planning", "Retirement Benefits"], "sponsor_content": "false", "word_count": 1245, "canonical_url": "https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/11/look-you-leap-private-sector-job/401218/", "date_published": "Nov 21, 2024 03:00 PM", "authors": ["Tammy Flanagan"], "organization": "Government Executive", "content_id": "post_manager.Post: 401218", "primary_category": "Pay & Benefits"} gemgDict.gemg_ad_segments = segment_id; GEMG.Segment.Utils.trackPageView("post", "Look before you leap into a private sector job ", gemgDict); } catch(err) { console.log(err) } </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion_async.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <script src="https://ak.sail-horizon.com/spm/spm.v1.min.js" type="text/javascript" ></script> <script type="text/javascript"> _linkedin_data_partner_id = "41414"; </script><script type="text/javascript"> (function(){var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; var b = document.createElement("script"); b.type = "text/javascript";b.async = true; b.src = "https://snap.licdn.com/li.lms-analytics/insight.min.js"; s.parentNode.insertBefore(b, s);})(); </script> <script> var GEMG = GEMG || {}; GEMG.Post = GEMG.Post || {}; GEMG.Post.useStickyAds = true; GEMG.Post.isPowerList = false; GEMG.Post.isSponsored = false; GEMG.Post.Config = { navReferenceElementsForSticky: [ $("#header"), $("#bottom-bar") ], pusherElementForSticky: $("#bottom-bar") }; GEMG.Post.body.init(disableStickySocial=false); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(function() { GEMG.SessionCoach.init("//shared.govexec.com", false); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _iub = _iub || []; _iub.csConfiguration = { "askConsentAtCookiePolicyUpdate":true, "cookiePolicyInOtherWindow":true, "enableGdpr":false, "enableRemoteConsent":true, "enableUspr":true, "floatingPreferencesButtonDisplay":"bottom-right", "lang":"en", "siteId":3460747, "cookiePolicyId":37488067, "privacyPolicyUrl":"https://www.govexec.com/about/privacy-policy/", "privacyPolicyNoticeAtCollectionUrl":"https://www.govexec.com/about/privacy-policy/", "banner":{ "closeButtonDisplay":false, "position":"float-top-center", "showTitle":false } }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cs.iubenda.com/autoblocking/3460747.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.iubenda.com/cs/gpp/stub.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.iubenda.com/cs/iubenda_cs.js" charset="UTF-8" async></script> </body> </html>

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