A bag of chaos and no support - Associate American Planning Association Employee Review

Good starter role to learn a lot

none for this role n/a

They hybrid and flexible work schedule were appreciated.

I had a challenging experience working at the APA that I believe is important for prospective employees to understand. Prior to starting, I was not made aware of the high turnover associated with my position. Within my first couple of weeks, I learned that I was the third person to hold the role in under three years, which raised concerns about long-term sustainability and support. My experience with direct supervision (the Education Manager) was extremely difficult. I did not feel adequately supported, and there was limited openness to questions, feedback, or new ideas. Efforts to build a collaborative working relationship were largely unsuccessful and concerns I raised about support were not meaningfully addressed. As the only individual reporting to this manager, I often felt siloed and isolated. Ultimately, the lack of effective leadership, communication, and support had a negative impact on my professional growth and mental health. While the organization’s mission is strong, I would encourage candidates to ask detailed questions about management, turnover, and support within the department before accepting a role, particularly within the education team.