Quintessential Careers: Fast Track Your Job Search by Networking Through a Professional Association by Joe Turner Search Quintessential Careers: powered by FreeFind Reprint Guidelines Free Newsletter Subscription Main Articles Page If you're looking to expand your job search, you'll eventually face this question: "Where can I find people who'll talk with me?" Most job-seekers must grapple with this question when the well runs dry and they're at a loss for new jobs to apply for. How about professional associations? It's been said that there is a professional association for almost everything you do. Every industry, profession, specialty, or trade most likely has at least one professional association. These organizations perform various roles, such as providing a public-relations liaison to the media, maintaining professional standards, and establishing a vision for the future of their profession or industry. The organizations can be a great conduit for inside information, overall trends and new developments, including the latest scoop on job opportunities -- but you must be a member. If you're not already a member of an association that represents your job title or professional position, join one as you may be missing out on a great deal of insider info. Tips For Effective Networking within Professional Associations by Lynn Berger Here's how to make the most out of networking in professional associations: At an industry function try to speak to as many people as possible. Tell people what type of job interests you and ask them to consider you if they hear anything. They usually will be receptive. Be clear; identify your objective, skill set, target market, and time frame. Whether or not people want to support you or recommend you depends on whether they think you are qualified. Be sure to provide examples of your accomplishments to share with potential contacts. The best examples have clear and measurable accomplishments. Be authentic, open, honest, and positive about the progress of your job search. In today's job market people generally like to help because someday they or someone they know will need the same favor. Before you speak with someone at a professional meeting, create a list of targeted organizations for which you would like to work and names of key people in the organization. Then gather information by talking to insiders in those organizations. If you don't find insiders, make sure you ask your contacts if they know key people you've targeted. Seek advice. Most people love to help and offer ideas and suggestions. Their advice may result in an organization you had not considered. It may also lead to additional contacts inside companies and organizations. Generate referrals. One of the main goals of networking is getting referrals. A person is more like to meet with you via an introduction or referral. Here's an example: A client of mine was very involved in his professional association. At an industry lunch he discovered that a colleague was leaving a firm to join another. My client was unhappy in his current job because of a poor job fit. His colleague recommended him for the job he was leaving. My client interviewed with the company and received a job offer. Return the favors. One key to networking is to remember what you can give back. Look for opportunities to assist your contacts, and remember them when you are looking for a job. Listen carefully for clues, including the person's interests and hobbies so you can build relationships. Send notes of thanks for your contacts' time. An email is fine, but many people appreciate a handwritten note. Don't make these networking mistakes: Don't simply inquire about current available jobs, an approach that often leads to an abrupt end to the discussion could. Proper networking etiquette includes asking if the person has any ideas, suggestions, or referrals that you can contact in your industry. Don't network without a common interest. People who have a common bond and interest are more likely to be interested in helping you, which is where the value and power professional associations come into play. Lynn Berger, MA, EdM, is a National Certified Counselor, Professional Certified Coach, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She hosts an online Internet radio show, Making the Most of Your Life. She has appeared as a guest expert on radio and television shows across the nation and has been featured in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Newsday, BusinessWeek.com, Monster.com, and CNNfn.com. In addition to her private practice, Lynn conducts work-life seminars in the New York City area. She lives in New York City. This sidebar is adapted from Berger, Lynn, The Savvy Part-Time Professional -- How To Land, Create and Negotiate the Part-Time Job of Your Dreams, Capital Books Inc., 2006. One resource to research organizations is a reference called Associations Unlimited. This is a database containing profiles of approximately 460,000 international and U.S. national, regional, state, and local nonprofit membership organizations in all fields, including IRS data on U.S. 501(c) nonprofit organizations. According to their publisher, Associations Unlimited contains descriptive info on more than 22,000 U.S. national associations, 25,000 international associations, 110,000 U.S. regional, state and local associations, plus more than 300,000 U.S. 501(c) nonprofit organizations, agencies and service programs. You'll find contact information, e-mail, Web sites, and links to each association's descriptive materials, as well as information on meetings, conventions, and conferences. Don't waste time Googling this resource, because it's available only by subscription. The good news is that you can access it free from your local library, as many library reference sections include this reference database. In fact, if you have a valid library card, you can access Associations Unlimited online through your library Website once you've entered your card number. Other resources of information that can be accessed online without a library card include: Weddle's Guide to Associations American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Gateway to Associations Directory Internet Public Library: Associations on the Net Access all three from one place by going to Quintessential Careers' General Professional Organizations and Associations for Networking. The bottom line is that professional associations are a great resource for networking with members of your own profession, trade, or job title. Their members are employees, managers and executives who are working in the very same corporations, small companies and organizations to which you're applying. In fact, your dream job could be within one of these very companies because many hiring managers will also be members of their professional associations. What better time to meet them than when they're "off-duty" and you're on a more equal footing? If appropriate for you, join the organization. It most likely has a local chapter in your city or close by. Get on its mailing list and into the loop. Professional associations can be one of the best avenues to get on the inside and to reap referrals and leads for opportunities that will never make it to the outside world. As they say, "membership has its privileges." Lynn Berger contributed to this article. Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms. As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their career. He makes it easy for anyone to find and land the job they really want all on their own in the shortest time possible. Discover more insider job-search secrets. Be sure to take advantage of all the career networking tools, articles, and resources found in our The Art of Career Networking section of Quintessential Careers. Quintessential Careers, a subsidiary of EmpoweringSites.com -- DeLand, FL 32720 Home Page: http://www.quintcareers.com/ Email: randall@quintcareers.com Copyright © Quintessential Careers. All Rights Reserved