Your GS Level Doesn’t Translate—Here’s What to Say Instead
Spoiler: In the corporate world, no one’s Googling your GS level. If you want traction, skip the number—and show the story.
You’ve worked hard to earn your GS-13, GS-15, or SES status. In the federal system, those numbers mean something: authority, seniority, pay grade. But in the private sector? They're just letters and digits most hiring managers don’t understand—and won’t bother decoding.
That doesn’t mean your experience doesn’t matter. It means you have to frame it differently.
Let’s break down why GS levels fall flat in corporate hiring—and what to say instead.
1. The Number Is Not the Point
You could write, “GS-15, Step 8” and your future boss will still be wondering:
Was this person managing people? A budget? A program? Or just holding a senior title in name only?
Corporate hiring managers aren’t trying to translate your grade level into org charts. They want a simple answer:
What did you lead, build, drive, or deliver?
2. Tell the Story Behind the Scope
Instead of listing a GS level, give them context:
✔️ Managed a $25M portfolio spanning four agencies
✔️ Directed a 40-person team during a high-priority interagency rollout
✔️ Served as lead liaison to the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy
✔️ Built an agile, collaborative team as a core member of the senior executive team
These are the things that land. Not because they’re “private-sector speak”—but because they tell a clear story of leadership, impact, and responsibility.
3. Translate Your Role, Not Just the Title
Federal job titles are often… a lot. Long, technical, and full of words like “analyst,” “officer,” or “specialist.” Sometimes they mean you're leading a massive initiative with executive visibility. Sometimes they mean you're flying solo solving systemic issues in a three-person office. Either way, corporate employers have no idea what to make of your title alone.
So if you're just listing your federal job title—especially alongside your GS level—you’re missing a huge opportunity.
Your official title matters—but it doesn’t have to do all the work.
You can clarify, expand, or reframe it—as long as it’s truthful and helps hiring managers understand what you actually did.
Instead of: Information Security Officer (GS-14)
Translate it to: Cybersecurity leader tasked with assessing risk and accelerating incident response across three divisions. Partnered with leadership to modernize security, protecting 20,000+ users.
Instead of: Supervisory Program Specialist (GS-15)
Translate it to: Senior program lead managing a $40M portfolio and a team of 22. Known as the go-to resource for untangling red tape, improving agency collaboration, and delivering high-priority outcomes on time and under budget.
You’re not changing the facts—you’re clarifying them.
Essentially, you're connecting the dots between public-sector complexity and private-sector clarity. Show them the scale, the impact, the leadership. Make it clear how your government work translates to the business sector.
4. Focus on Value, Not Hierarchy
The private sector isn’t looking to slot you into a hierarchy based on your last pay grade. They want to know how you solve problems, lead change, and create outcomes.
Frame your background around:
- Results you delivered
- Leadership you demonstrated
- Strategy you shaped
- Trust you earned
- Efficiencies you created
- Budgets you optimized, policies you developed, money you saved… you get the idea.
It’s not about proving how “senior” you were in the general schedule pay system. That’s noise to corporate decision-makers.
It’s about proving what you brought to the table—and how fast you’ll bring that same energy to your next role.
Final Word: Your GS Level Doesn’t Translate. But Your Value Absolutely Does.
I say this a lot (because it’s true): you don’t need to hold back, dial it down, or over-explain. You need to reframe your experience.
That’s how you get noticed.
Are you prepared to take the leap to the private sector?
I’ve been a resume writer for 20+ years, I have helped thousands of federal professionals transition to new corporate careers by creating resumes and LinkedIn profiles that speak their language—clearly, powerfully, and with the right kind of impact.
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