When you have been working hard in your career for several years it is easy to think that trade associations aren’t that important. The truth is this is when they become even more important. As the economy continues to remain unstable career demands require more work as the workforce itself dwindles. Increased workloads and increased hourly demands keep the pace faster and more competitive than ever. It is hard to justify keeping up membership obligations to associations that don’t seem to be much more than a social gathering to talk shop.  Really the last thing you want to do after a week filled with overtime and deadlines is talk about your work. It is easy to think that you need to focus on working even harder to prove you are a valuable employee.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that trade associations can be put on the side. Instead reach out and see what they can offer that might help you in your career struggles.

Trade associations are made up of members in the same industry that you’re in. There can be a lot of variance in the types of career professionals, and in the knowledge level they have. Taken as a whole trade associations can be a very valuable resource for networking or even to draw upon for professional peer mentoring. Career placement agencies will tell you that these affiliations can become career gold. What might seem to be a simple social gathering of people in the same industry can turn into a career lead machine that can be used to enrich your resume and your knowledgebase. Imagine knowing someone with first hand information about the software your company is going to install next week.  Keep ahead of the curve by knowing when esteemed guest speakers might be discussing a new process that could save your department hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Even passing discussions of changes in other companies could be of interest and open a new potential that might be a good fit for a corporate switch.

Although every interaction might not yield worthwhile results, your face time can go a long way in speaking for your professionalism and dedication to your career. If you have found a career you really enjoy and would like to take it to the next level you have to be in contact with other career minded individuals that have been successful.  By sharing in an environment that is outside of the current employment realm you can have candid discussions with peers in your career group about what has worked for them and what hasn’t. This not only will save you years of groundwork , but also help you really refine the educational skills and attitudes that make the difference between just a job and something that is dream career material.  Companies like RDG Careers can help point you in the proper direction to find the best trade associations in your industry.  Call them today at 416-363-3844 and see what additional things they might have to offer you.