Image by: Petite Wanderer Photography
Do you remember when your teachers, counselors, or your parents wanted you to get involved in after-school programs-sports, clubs, or volunteer work in high school? By participating in these extracurricular activities, the chances of getting into the college of your choice increased. It is not to say that grades were not a factor.
However, adding that you were part of the debate club, for instance, showed your well-roundedness as a student on a college application. You may have engaged in social opportunities, enhanced your leadership skills, or explored new interests. Ultimately, it may have helped you to get into the college of your choice.
Fast-forward to now - what if instead of extracurricular activities, professional associations were the thing you needed to advance in your current career? Similar to when you were in high school. To start, if you are not familiar with what a professional association is, let me explain. Professional associations are a group of individuals with shared interests or careers. Some examples of professional associations are the National Association of Nonprofit Professionals, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the American Medical Association, to name a few.
Joining a professional association shows your commitment to your field, desire to develop as an expert, and, overall, demonstrates your passion for your work. Therefore, here are three reasons why getting involved in a professional group will help you advance in your career:
Networking - this is probably an obvious one, but the great thing about joining a professional association is networking. You can connect with individuals at different companies that may have job opportunities. Not to mention, one of the perks of an association is the member-only job board. Therefore, you have access to additional career opportunities, aside from searching on your traditional job search engines like Indeed, Linkedin, or Glassdoor.
Knowledge- people join associations for different reasons, and networking is one of them. However, professional associations can also serve as a resource for your learning development and to share best practices with others in your industry. Career advancement is not about looking for another position elsewhere. It is also learning how to be successful in your current role to grow in your current company.
Experience - if you are a recent college graduate and are looking for employment, joining a professional association can help build your work experience because associations have committees that can allow you to oversee a task or project. Since professional associations are considered volunteer experiences, It’s a way to build your skills, and network, and help you land your first professional role out of college. See my blog article on “It’s Okay to Work for Free: How Volunteering Can Shape your Career.”
The purpose of professional associations is to provide a space for like-minded individuals to network, share best practices, and engage in professional development. No matter where you are in your career, get involved! Adding a professional association(s) to your resume helps add the additional value you need to land your next role.
Best of luck!