Professional Associations: Not Just for "Grown Ups"

Hi, Moriah here again!



One often overlooked area of many resumes is professional associations. Maybe people assume that they aren't qualified to join them since they're not yet professionals. But having the connections that come along with professional association memberships can give you inside knowledge and direct your attention to important areas of your field. Here is a compilation of several other benefits.

Joining while still a student is a much better deal than waiting until after graduation. Some organizations have minimal $10-35 fees for a one -year student membership. (Full memberships for professionals can reach $100.)

Along with getting cheaper dues, you can begin to refocus your attention from classroom knowledge to the mainstream culture of your field. Discover who is the Brad Pitt of geology and the J-Lo of finance. Learn about the lesser-known or hot subfields of your discipline.

Staying informed about the ins and outs of your field is important to impressing interviewers. Like employer research, participation in a professional association will show increased dedication and commitment in your interviews. A candidate that demonstrates genuine interest in his/her field stands out head and shoulders above a candidate who merely went through school and got a degree.

Professional association memberships also tell a lot about your professional development. If you know enough to join an organization and follow the activities and information it puts out, employers will see that you are concerned with your professional development and are likely to be a more motivated worker.



These are only a few of the outside benefits of association membership. For a database of hundreds of associations, see Associations Unlimited. Don’t neglect this potential asset in your career development!