We talk so often about the value of networking in our field, yet we know so many of our customers find the idea terrifying, confusing, or difficult to know where to begin. Professional and industry associations can help reduce the fear of networking as well as provide up-to-date, even cutting-edge, training and knowledge in a field.
Associations sponsor learning opportunities like conferences, social gatherings, and member events. These are the venues where people in the field talk about the relevant topics of the day, raising important questions, naming trends, and identifying threats and opportunities influencing the field currently and in the near future. Association events are a place to hear the current language and vocabulary of the field.
Networking is often formally encouraged at association events. These connection points offer a means to develop a network of peers who can help with a job search, mentorship, or project collaboration. It’s much easier to network with people who have signed on to be part of a community of practitioners than it is to reach out to a cold contact.
Many associations also publish some form of communication with members that may include new research and articles on trends or issues that impact the field.
CareerOneStop’s
Professional Association Finder is an easy way to find associations. It lists national professional and industry associations; to use the tool, enter the name of an industry or occupation. From the results list, you can link to each association's website.
The results also list two helpful details: there’s a "Career Center" column that indicates associations that list employment opportunities on the association’s website. Sometimes this is protected information for members only, but more often it’s publicly accessible information, and the job listings may not be widely posted on major job banks. The "Certification" column indicates which associations sponsor a related certification.
CareerOneStop compiles and maintains this information.
Resources For: New Americans
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