Federal employees urged to 'know your why' and translate skills in transition to local government

Panelists at a Virginia Local Government Management Association webinar on transitioning from federal to local government urged displaced federal employees to research the hiring locality, translate federal terminology into local-government language, and provide concrete examples of prior work during the application and interview process.

Sheila Minor, director of finance for Henrico County, moderated the session. Andrew Janos, deputy director in Fairfax County's Department of Procurement and Material Management, said following application instructions is critical: “following the directions of the application and responding appropriately is absolutely vital,” he said, noting small errors in supplemental fields can remove candidates from consideration. Jesse Ellis, budget and policy analyst with Fairfax County's Department of Management and Budget, added applicants should prepare examples tied to preferred qualifications and be ready to explain scope and scale: “If you say the word department, we don't always know what you mean,” he said, urging candidates to define organizational structures and responsibilities.

Panelists recommended practical steps applicants can take: review the locality's website and budget documents, read comprehensive plans, and talk to people who work in the jurisdiction or adjacent localities to learn culture and expectations. Cindy Mester, community relations and legislative affairs director for the City of Falls Church, said applicants should “know the culture of the organization that you want to apply for,” and not rely solely on job titles when translating federal experience.

Other recurring guidance included tailoring supplemental application questions to the job's preferred qualifications, using a concise, jargon‑free application (many jurisdictions parse supplemental answers during first review), and preparing a ‘‘win portfolio’’ or short set of project examples for interviews. Panelists also recommended networking through professional associations (VLGMA, VML, VACo, ICMA) and contacting HR or hiring managers if an automated screening appears to have rejected a qualified applicant.

The webinar emphasized differences between federal and local compensation and structure. Panelists said local positions may offer strong benefits even if base pay is lower and reminded applicants to be prepared to explain motivation for transitioning to local service. The session ended with panelists urging candidates to be intentional, show community connection, and provide clear, job‑relevant examples when applying and interviewing.

The webinar is part of a VLGMA series; organizers said a recording and links to resources will be distributed to attendees.