How to change careers?

“How do I explain my desire to leave the private sector in cover letters/applications without sounding bitter towards the atmosphere I’m hopefully leaving behind.”

Well, the first thing to do is omit any negative comments about why you are leaving your current job. Instead couch everything in terms of what you want to go into. Since you are looking at non-profit or public service it might be a good idea to reason out why you have chosen that arena. Be aware, however, that just because a job is for a non-profit agency that overall does something good, or for a public entity does not mean your specific job will be any more fulfilling than your current one. I say this having worked for both for many years.

I think you can find a lot of good sample cover letters for your resume online. From what I have seen, you probably just have to take a giant risk and cross your fingers when it comes to changing jobs or careers.

You could try to discuss a lateral move with your current employer, or ask what they might suggest to help you make a stronger contribution to the company, such as classes that could lead to advancement. Some employers will actually reimburse you for the classes you take.

When you like to change an career,than seek deeply in offers.The main thing about cereer is to adapted yourself at the bottom line than get higher focus.Some times good career has to be in the bottom line even you dont like.Try to immagine yourself where you want to be and with.

As a quick thought, rather than thinking in terms of devaluing one side whilst praising the other, how about talking about what valuable lessons you’ve learned and how this motivates and enables you to further enhance the role you are applying for.

Describe it as a logical and intended development as opposed to “I’m fed up with what I’m doing and fancy doing this instead”.

If it makes sense and sounds appealing to an employer you have a better chance of them buying in to your reasoning.

As an aside, I’m interested in what made you choose public/non profit? As said previously by @Darwin you can still feel stuck inside such an organisation. All the usual politics and often more bureaucracy exist within their walls.

What thirst are you trying to quench? Is is to be part of something ‘bigger’ in an ideological sense? Is it to meet your values?

Do you know what your values are? – it took me a good while to weed out all the chatter from the media, education and social circles.

A few ideas about what values you are trying to be true to may help in the question of what careers to go to or stay away from. Or even if you should face some fears and think about going it alone?

Of course, you might just fancy a change in which case I’ll stick with the top part of my answer.

Let me know.

AC

Phrase it about yourself, without slagging the company you used to work for. “I found that the analytical and detail-focused nature of the work meant I couldn’t see its relationship to the larger efforts of the company, and so I felt lost.”

Don’t make it about “this company is bad” or “this environment is unhealthy”; make it “this company is a bad fit for me.”

During my last job search—I’ve told this story here before—I wound up interviewing at a really repressive company. The big tell for me, was when I was sitting around a table with my potential boss-to-be and two coworkers-to-be, and we had gotten through the meat of the interview. “So,” I said, taking a sip of the actually pretty good coffee they had provided me, “what kind of coffee do you guys drink here?” And both employees looked at the boss for some kind of clue as to what to answer. At that point, I knew I was done, and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

But then I found out, a couple weeks later, that a friend of a friend had taken that job, and loved it, and he’s still there. Sure, I thought it was evil and repressive and authoritarian, but hey, some people like evil and repressive and authoritarian.