LEARN to swim with sharks.

That was the advice of former permanent secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office Yogesh Karan to more than 320 human resources practitioners in Nadi yesterday when he was asked about his experience on the change in government administration.

“When I joined that office, I recall telling some of my friends after I came back from diplomatic service and back into the government system some of them told me I would last only six months,” he said during a panel discussion at the 2023 BSP Life Fiji Human Resources Institute Convention.

“I did seven years in Government.

“I think when your conscious is clear and you see Fiji as bigger than everyone else then you will succeed. “As a civil servant the number one rule is you always have to be apolitical.

“I have been apolitical all my life. I have zero political interest.

“You work for the country, you work for the organisation. “You be bold and fearless in decision making.”

He said if people had those core principals in life, they wouldn’t have any issues with anyone.

“You can work with anyone. “There will be one administration today. There will be one administration tomorrow and I’ve worked with four prime minister’s and under different leadership.

“For me, if you remain as a professional, you will keep doing your job. ” Mr Karan is currently the PA for Multi-Ethnic Affairs. The two-day convention ended at the Sofitel Resort and Spa yesterday.