Turning APS Experience Into Opportunities Beyond Government

Many Australian Public Service professionals develop highly valuable skills throughout their careers.

However, when considering a move outside government, some people struggle to communicate the value of their experience.

They may think:

• “Will private organisations understand what I do?”
• “Are my skills transferable?”
• “How do I explain my government experience?”
• “Will employers value my background?”

The answer is often yes. The challenge is translating your experience into language that connects with new opportunities.

Recognise your transferable skills

APS roles develop a wide range of capabilities that are valuable across many organisations.

These may include:

• stakeholder engagement
• strategic thinking
• policy development
• project management
• governance
• risk management
• leadership
• communication
• influencing and negotiation

The key is understanding how these capabilities create value beyond the government environment.

Move beyond your position description

A common mistake is describing your work through the lens of your APS role title.

External employers may not understand the full scope of a role such as:

• Assistant Director
• Director
• Policy Officer
• Program Manager

Instead, focus on outcomes.

Consider:

• What problems did you solve?
• What decisions did you influence?
• What improvements did you deliver?
• Who did you work with?
• What changed because of your work?

This shifts the conversation from responsibilities to impact.

Strengthen your professional story

Career transitions require a clear narrative.

You need to help others understand:

• where you have been
• what you are capable of
• where you want to go next

A strong professional story connects your past experience with your future direction.

For example:

Instead of:

“I managed policy development in a government department.”

Consider:

“I led complex policy projects involving multiple stakeholders, translating competing priorities into practical solutions.”

The second example communicates capability that applies across sectors.

APS experience is valuable

The APS develops professionals who are skilled at navigating complexity, working with diverse stakeholders and delivering outcomes in environments with significant public accountability.

Those capabilities are valuable in government, not-for-profit organisations, consulting, industry and many other sectors.

Career transition coaching for APS professionals

Career transition coaching can help you identify your transferable skills, clarify your direction and communicate your experience effectively.

My work with APS professionals combines coaching expertise with practical understanding of APS careers and recruitment processes, including through my book The APS Recruitment Game.

Your experience is the foundation for your next opportunity. The key is knowing how to communicate its value.