The move from the public agency to private consulting practice is facilitated by the planner's working knowledge of public sector decision-making and the many contacts made. In the private sector planners have traditionally gravitated toward real estate development. Today, planners are becoming involved in project financing, marketing, and other areas of real estate beyond traditional development functions. In addition to real estate, many students are now entering the private sector directly by working for utilities, consulting firms, banks, and insurance companies. Non-profit organizations are an expanding source of employment for planners as well.
Academia is another option often pursued after some amount of time in the field.
There also are a certain number of pioneering new planners that apply their planning skills and knowledge in new fields altogether. It is a handy reference for anyone undertaking the JOB of job searching. Beyond those basics, the job search for planners is a combination of networking and individual effort. Networking via faculty, alumni, local professionals, and on-line networks is effective. Both of the planners in academia have seen consistently positive results for students utilizing alumni networks.