An Open Letter to Those Staring at the Exit Sign

So, you got the email. The buyout offer. The polite nudge that says, Hey, ever thought about leaving?

Maybe you have. Maybe you haven’t. Either way, now you’re looking at your inbox, wondering if this is the moment.

I’ve been there.

Not with a buyout, but with the gnawing sense that I’d stayed long enough. That my skills were bigger than my cubicle. That I was waiting for a green light that would never come.

Leaving the federal world wasn’t easy. It was frustrating. Lonely. The path from government to tech wasn’t well-paved back then. I spent a lot of time translating—turning my experience into something hiring managers could recognize. Convincing people that my skills weren’t just “interesting” but valuable.

Some didn’t get it. Some never would.

But I kept at it.

And here’s what I learned: No one cares about your career like you do.

Not your boss. Not HR. Not the federal agency that trained you.

If you don’t drive the transition, no one will.

Now, with more feds looking at the private sector, the landscape has shifted. Companies are starting to recognize what former government employees bring to the table. The path is still winding, but it’s not as lonely.

So, if you’re weighing this decision—whether for yourself or a friend—consider this:

You already have what it takes. The question is whether you’re willing to bet on yourself before someone else does.

And if you need help figuring that out, you know where to find me.