Started in private, landed in public, desperately trying to get back to private but it's an uphill battle to land those interviews. I think that my resume is pretty strong, but the perception of being a public sector employee works against me in a lot of respects. If you're looking to switch, then you might have your work cut out for you.

For me, the best parts about public sector is the knowledge that my work is contributing to the greater good and the fairly regular schedule. I work with some seriously smart, talented, creative, driven people and have collaborated on some major large-scale efforts. The benefits are awesome as well.

The frustrating part is that my work is constantly subject to the political winds. Good important projects get sidelined because of somebody else's agenda. It seems like it's always an election year and I've had to tolerate a lot of bullshit to make sure that somebody is happy. That gets old.

And forget about pay raises, etc. They haven't been politically convenient for years. Performance reviews/merit increases are a joke. No one is there to help you find a path to advance.

We're also painfully behind when it comes to technology. There's a lot of drum-beating about being environmentally conscious yet a flat-out refusal to move toward paper-free. It's impossible to get anything done without having to complete several forms and even then you have to wait for approval. It's maddening - younger people get frustrated and try to push for change but many of the older people dig in their heels.

It's hard trying to advance and build a career, which is why I'm trying to get back to private/creative. I love the idea of building things, learning new things, growing as a professional and making a difference, but miss having an organization that's open to new ideas and willing to develop its talent.

Private sector means giving up a lot of the stability, but for me it's worth it if it means I can take my career forward instead of treading water. I know that I can do more and just need to find an employer where that can happen. I don't think it's in the public sector for me.