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Break into AI and tech with strategies that helped former feds land roles at Amazon, Anduril, Google, Onebrief, Palantir, SpaceX, Umbra and other unicorns.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 13
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- Sep 27, 2026
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- Jul 12, 2026
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Misbegotten Myth (opens the original)
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There is no $300k job waiting for you.And yet, why did so many of my colleagues tell me this story, time after time? They had a friend whose first post-USG role paid $300k. Or they were told to never consider anything that wasn’t paying at least $300k.No matter how many times you hear this, it’s never going to be true. It’s a fairytale feds tell themselves and each other that makes accepting substandard conditions easier. Put the goalposts far enough away and leaving starts to look impossible. F
A 48-Hour Rule for Rejection (opens the original)
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You get the dreaded email. Or the call that starts with "Unfortunately…."So, now what?Most aspiring former fed have the same initial reaction. They reread the job posting. They replay the interview, question by question. They ruminate too long before resuming their search.Taking a pause is more costly than any rejection.I've watched hundreds of aspiring former feds go through this. The ones who land offers treat the first 48 hours after a no differently. They don't wait for their motivation to r
Guest Post: Cold Approach Job Hunting (opens the original)
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Guest post by Former Fed asked me to write up how I've been running a cold job search. Here's the whole thing, including the parts that aren't working.The numbers first, so you know whether this is worth your time: for every 60-70 applications I submit, I get about one screening interview a week and one hiring-manager or round-three interview a month. No referrals. No warm intros. Southeast US only. Purely cold.Also, if you're searching while employed, you're running an operation with a signatur
Yes, you can start too early (opens the original)
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“Start before you’re ready” is common career advice. Many aspiring former federal employees I speak to think starting to look two to three years before they plan to leave is a smart move.It sounds proactive. It feels purposeful. And yet, it can waste some of your best opportunities.Researching roles early is logical. Building skills and reestablishing your network all take time. The trouble begins when you enter employer conversations before you can explain what you want and how you qualify.Even
The Salary Advice A/B Test (opens the original)
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Hold off on discussing exact number until you get the offer!Make sure to avoid any role below your compensation goals!Never be the first one to define salary expectations!Be transparent when defining what you expect to earn!So much advice. So many contradictions. So little time.After a while, it’s hard to do anything but nod, smile, and get through the conversation without alienating your interlocutor. Yes, they’re just trying to help. No, you don’t have to do what they recommend.The constant ba
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