🌱 Launching the Career Development Community

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Career Development Community on Apolitical—a new online space designed to support public servants at all stages of their career journeys.

Borne out of a partnership between Apolitical and the Federal Youth Network (FYN) in Canada, this community is more than just a forum—it’s a shared space to get support, exchange knowledge, and grow your career alongside peers around the world.

Why this community, and why now?

When you first join the public service, it can feel like you’re stepping into a maze—acronyms you don’t understand, unclear career paths, and a surprising lack of structured onboarding. As FYN’s Justine put it:

“There’s often a need for community support when you’re entering government... people need some type of support and guidance.”

This community fills that gap by offering a space where new and experienced public servants alike can ask questions, share advice, and build relationships that help them thrive in their roles. As Josh, also from FYN, explained:

“In an ideal world, managers provide mentorship and guidance—but realistically, many are overwhelmed. This community creates opportunities for peer support, career advice, and connection.”

Why the focus on career development?

Initially launched as a space for “new and young professionals,” the community has been rebranded to focus on career development more broadly. This isn’t just about early-career support—it's about peer-to-peer coaching across the entire journey of a public service career.

“We realized the name was turning people away,” Justine shared. “People thought, ‘I’m not young, I can’t join.’ But everyone is developing their career. We need both new folks and those with lived experience sharing knowledge.”

What can members expect?

Whether you’re fresh out of school or decades into your public service journey, you’ll find:

🧭 Guidance on navigating government systems

🤝 Opportunities to connect with mentors and peers

🛠️ Resources for skill-building and professional growth

🌍 A global network of public servants learning together

And most importantly: a place to be reminded that you’re not alone.

“When you join government, it’s easy to feel like a cog in a big machine. But that cog can do a lot,” Josh explained. “This community is here to show people how to navigate the system, and how to improve it from the inside.”

What does success look like?

For the FYN team, success isn’t just about the number of members. It’s about engagement—people asking questions, offering support, and sharing their experiences.

“In a year’s time, I want this to be a place people think of instinctively,” said Justine. “‘I have a question about mentorship? I go to the Career Development page.’”

Josh added:

“Ultimately, the best career advocate you’ll ever have is yourself. This space is about helping public servants take ownership of their growth—and showing them they don’t have to do it alone.”

📣 Join the Career Development Community: https://apolitical.co/en/communities/fyn-new-public-servants