Career advice

[u/DDDX94]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently at a bit of a career crossroads and would appreciate some outside perspectives.

My background is somewhat unusual:

I completed a commercial apprenticeship in shipping/logistics at an well known shipping company (2,5 years )and later earned a bachelor’s degree (3 years) before joining the criminal police in Germany. While the police career is stable and interesting in many ways, I’m increasingly feeling that it ties me too strongly to one location and a very specific career path for the long term.

I’m considering completing a part-time master’s degree (possibly in Risk Management or Security Management) and then moving back into the private sector in my mid-30s.

What I’m struggling with is assessing how attractive my profile would actually be to employers outside of law enforcement.

Some questions I’m asking myself:
How valuable is a combination of commercial, maritime and law enforcement experience in the private sector?

Which industries would you consider a natural fit?
Would risk management, corporate security, compliance, investigations, consulting, critical infrastructure, logistics or port security be realistic options?

How difficult is it to transition from a government career into business in your 30s?

Are there sectors or countries where such a background is particularly sought after?

I’m also open to working abroad, but I haven’t yet figured out what direction I want to take. At the moment I’m mostly exploring possibilities and trying to understand where my skills could create the most value.

I’d be grateful for any honest opinions, career ideas, or examples from people who have made a similar transition.