Being a member of a professional organisation can have many benefits to both your immediate and long-term career prospects. There are many professional organisations, supporting a wide range of professions, and by being accepted as a member of one you will already have gained a badge of quality that recognises your skills, qualifications and experience.

If you are considering becoming a member of an organisation make sure you think about joining one that fits the profile you want to create, as well as being focused on the profession you wish to pursue, or have been working in, over the last few years.

How can you join a professional body?

Many professional bodies require prospective members to have some experience before membership can be approved. If you are a graduate and have studied a professional discipline, often you can be elected by the respective boards of each professional organisation. There are also different membership levels, ranging from graduate or associate to full member and fellow. A higher level can also be reached by undertaking further training, networking, or by gaining experience and helping to organise local branches, for example as a voluntary officer of that organisation.

Becoming an adherent or member, is the first step you need to take in order to raise your profile. Although in some cases you may be able to take academic or vocational training courses that are offered by a professional body without becoming a member, it can be advantageous to join one in order to show that you have the commitment to follow a particular career path. By joining various schemes, like Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training courses and events that give you points towards accreditations, you can begin to add value to your existing profile.

Profile: A matter of perception

Andrew Dugdale, CEO of SalesAssessment.com says that “Your ‘profile’ is simply how others perceive you.” He argues that you need to do more than this to attract employers, or even to motivate an existing employer to give you a promotion. “It is how you present the work you carried out to achieve your professional development, and how you are using your membership of an organisation to ‘raise the bar’ for your profession that raises your profile”, he explains. In other words, you need to take part in the wider debate and give something to the organisation to get something back.

John Flynn, the principal consultant of the Commentor Group, and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, provides the following tips:

1. Tailor your message to the specific needs and level of membership or professional achievement you are seeking to reach.

2. Use the appropriate media that relates not just to your profession, but also to a wider audience specific to a particular industry and business sector. Also make sure you properly target, so you can really get across your message. In other words it is essential to think about the kind of employers and key contacts that you wish to impress.

Manage an interest group

Some professional bodies run industry-specific interest groups. Cheryl Palmer, a professional training and career coach at three companies, including Call to Career, recommends this approach. “Most professional associations are begging for people to hold offices within the organisation. You will increase your visibility in the field if you not only attend the meetings but also participate actively in the running of the organisation”. She also provides the following advice:

3. Grow your network: Remember that people will refer you to those they know for specific opportunities. By increasing the size of your network, in a focused way, you will allow other members or organisations to see your work and discover your talents.

4. Gain your contacts’ confidence by demonstrating that you have the right work ethic and values contacts will be happy to refer you, or inform you of opportunities. In some cases they might meet someone who needs your skills, but who hasn’t openly advertised an opportunity yet, putting you at the head of the queue!

5. Look for speaking or writing opportunities. You can use a blog to discuss topics that are relevant to your profession or trade organisation. Speaking or writing opportunities will show that you have the knowledge, skills and expertise to work in a particular field, which will hopefully lead others to see you as an expert in your field and someone worth talking to.

“Professional associations usually have their own journals, and they are constantly soliciting well researched articles from their membership”, Cheryl Palmer adds, while also suggesting that you attend their national conferences to meet other members.

6. Join their social networks. Some professional bodies have social networks for members to join in order to discuss industry or sector related topics. These can also be a good source of information about what’s happening within your chosen profession, as well as allowing you to meet people who might help you in the next step in your career. Furthermore, don’t forget to look out for specific groups on public social networks like Linkedin, Facebook, Xing, Viadeo and Twitter among others.

Professional development schemes and membership organisations aren’t just about you; they are about how you contribute to a community of people within your chosen profession. You will also gain more by contributing, rather than just expecting it to deliver you benefits and in doing so raise your profile and add value through your involvement. Training and qualifications are also a must have, providing others with the confidence to employ you.

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