Professional associations exist for just about every industry and career path. For some career fields, there are several organizations that an individual might consider joining. Organizations with global or national reach that include regional or statewide branches, as well as some that cater to students.
When exploring careers or job searching, professional associations offer numerous benefits. Once you have found a few that interest to you, think about which benefits are most important to you.
Networking
There are plenty of opportunities to connect with individuals working in your desired field. By attending meetings and/or serving in a leadership position, you will be able to build relationships with other members. If you don’t want to participate, then focus on just attending meetings regularly. This gives you the opportunity to meet new people. Plus, before and after professional meetings, there is usually time to socialize informally.Use this time to find out about current needs in the field and where your skills might fit best.
You can maximize the value of your membership by volunteering to help out on a committee or with the registration process at events. Keep in mind that people doing registration tasks are quite visible to attendees and often are asked to introduce speakers — both are great opportunities to meet people and to get know to others!
Continuing Education
Associations provide a variety of ways to help you keep up with trends in the field.
These include but are not limited to;
- training workshops
- seminars
- guest speakers
- conferences
Some even offer trade publications and books at a discount to their members.
Information Gathering
As a member of a professional association, you have a chance to learn about changes in businesses and in the marketplace, product development, new/emerging services, and key leaders within the field. The more you know about what’s happening in the industry and your desired profession, the more knowledgeable and credible you will appear when networking, writing cover letters, or interviewing. You can gain this information in a variety of ways:
- Newsletters
- Industry publications (magazines and journals)
- Articles posted on websites
- Research reports
- At organization meetings, conferences, and seminars
Scholarships
Many associations offer scholarships or awards to student members. This is an often overlooked source of funding for tuition support. Some of these scholarships come from organizations like The National Society of Professional Engineers, The American Bar Association, and others.
Remember…
People most often want to hire people they know and people who are recommended by people they know. Professional association meetings offer consistent and ongoing opportunities for you to become known in your field. Joining is also a way to demonstrate your commitment to the field. The more people you know, the more effective your job search or career transition will be.
How to find professional associations in your field:
- What Can I Do With This Major? – select a major and scroll down to see professional associations, occupational outlook information and more
- ENGAGE – view a listing of UMass Lowell’s on-campus clubs and organizations — there are many that have a focus related to academic programs at the university
- UMass Lowell’s LinkedIn page – click on the “alumni” tab, search for alumni who are working in fields of interest to you, and see what professional associations they list in their profile.
If you can’t locate an association/organization related to your major, ask professors, or meet with a career advisor to help you identify professional associations for your field.
