Joining a professional association is a win-win situation for students because while they are networking with professionals, they are being praised for taking the initiative to learn more about their field of interest. That opportunity exists when you join a professional association. Professional associations consist of groups of people from the same profession who gather together for networking events and to come up with standards for the profession. Joining a professional association is a win-win situation for students because while they are networking with professionals, they are being praised for taking the initiative to learn more about their field of interest. Members of professional associations are student-friendly and want to mentor incoming workers as they transition to the corporate world. Beyond networking opportunities and learning more about a career field, students can also benefit from these aspects of professional associations: 1. Internship and job opportunities. Professional associations often have listservs where employees from companies looking to hire post open jobs or internships. Students may know what they want to do after graduation, but actually finding a job can be difficult. These listservs are a starting point and students can be confident that these are credible jobs. 2. Conferences. Students can attend at a discounted rate and hear from keynote speakers in the industry. When students go for an interview, they can impress the employer by knowing all the trends in the field that they learned from the conference. 3. Industry standards. Information will be available about continuing education opportunities and new certifications. Professional associations often distribute an e-newsletter that keeps students informed about new statistics and best practices in the field. Webinars can be offered on hot topics as well. 4. Codes of ethics. If students haven’t already picked up that credibility and trustworthiness are essential as a practitioner in a field, they will after joining a professional association. It’s vital to understand these codes in order to know what is considered best practice and what is accepted in the industry. 5. Updates on policies. It’s amazing how much one piece of legislation can impact a profession. A section of the professional association is devoted to updating members about these changes. They also advocate for the profession and notify members about how to prepare for any change. Source: https://www.usatoday.com/
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Here are 9 reasons all small business owners should consider joining an industry–we promise the results will be a difference-maker. Entrepreneurs aren’t known for being joiners. In fact, starting your own business is the ultimate way to avoid playing by other people’s rules. But there are great benefits to joining an industry association, particularly if you’re the reclusive type who works on your own all day, every day. Here are 9 reasons you should consider joining an industry association—no pep rallies required. 1. Expand Your Network with Like-Minded Professionals In business, who you know is often as important as what you know. Developing professional relationships with others in your industry is a great way to share ideas, kvetch about difficult clients, learn best practices and give and receive overflow clients. Industry associations are rife with professionals who play the same game as you do and experience its highs and lows. It can be a tremendous relief to associate with like-minded people, even if it’s strictly on a professional level. And, you know, it feels good to feel like your business is part of something bigger than itself. 2. Learn New Skills and Gain Valuable Professional Experience Contractor Frank Cohn credits the longevity of his 40-year career to being part of an industry association. “My membership is what kept me in the contracting business all these years. If I hadn’t joined, I would have gone bankrupt.” Even though Cohn was a talented craftsperson, he simply didn’t have the business acumen or professional training in construction to succeed in the long term. This meant he was less than savvy when it came to pricing his services, trying new practices and conducting day-to-day business practices. To this day, he learns something specific to his business at every monthly meeting of the Toronto Home Builders’ Association. 3. Get the Lowdown on Professional Development Opportunities You Otherwise Wouldn’t Know About While most professional associations don’t try to behave like exclusive clubs, there are a number of benefits to joining. Often, prestigious clients go straight to a well-established association to advertise bids, jobs and partnership opportunities. They know that they’ll have a better shot at finding serious professionals in an industry association. Many associations also offer a membership directory, making it easy for clients to find you. We all sign up to attend conferences or seminars that promise to make us more knowledgeable and skilled. But industry associations offer professional development opportunities that aren’t open to the public. Many host their own conferences, annual general meetings and seminars for members only. To add, keynote speakers and breakout sessions are usually tailored for people exactly like you. Not only will you be learning valuable information and building skills. You’ll be doing it amongst other professionals in your field. It’s a great opportunity to “learn while learning.” 4. Give Your Reputation a Lift Through Industry Associations When you’re an official member of an exclusive association, you’ll want to communicate it to peers, prospects and customers alike. Include your membership on your email signature, LinkedIn profile and company website. Doing this, you’re declaring that you take your business seriously enough to spend time outside of office hours to learn more about the industry and participate in improving best practices. Whether you’re an active listener or a do-er at membership meetings, it says something positive about you that you care enough to be there. 5. Create a Name for Yourself Have you ever thought you’d be a good leader—but leadership just doesn’t jibe with your choice to be a solopreneur? An industry association is the perfect place to cultivate that instinct to serve others. Every one of them has a leadership structure, as well as boards and committees that focus on a particular aspect of the industry, e.g. technology or professional development. Not only will you get the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to your community, your profile will rise in the industry, complementary industries and the media. For example, the next time your local newspaper needs a knowledgeable graphic designer/plumber/PR agency, your name will be easy to find. 6. Find (Or Be) a Mentor We all need someone to turn to sometimes. While we’re sure your partner, friends and mom dispense excellent advice, they are no match for a like-minded business person who’s been there. There’s perhaps no better place to find a professional with years of experience and who’s seen it all than within an industry association. In fact, many professional associations have programs that pair newcomers with seasoned veterans to develop mentor-protégé relationships that can help you take a load off your mind and employ tried-and-true business practices that actually work. If you’re the one with wisdom to impart to up and comers, an association’s the place to download your knowledge. 7. Have the Voice to Advocate for Your Industry Are there laws, regulations or policies that prevent your business from growing to its full potential? Most industries have common issues that affect everyone who operates within that space. Professional associations regularly lobby government on behalf of industry to ensure their interests are protected. By becoming a member, you can be active in those efforts or at least be kept apprised of what is being done on your behalf. 8. Be Exposed to Industry Trends It’s tricky to stay abreast of what’s new in your industry when you’re absorbed with the day-to-day management of your business. Sure, the Internet and social media help, but there are only so many hours in a day to devote to hunting down interesting ways to improve the way you work. One of the roles of the industry association is to help its members stay on top of industry trends. Most meetings feature a speaker who shares insights you might not otherwise learn about. Plus, newsletters, emails and other publications offer regular touch points so you know you’re not getting left behind. 9. Take Advantage of Group Purchasing (It’s the Costco Membership Equivalent of the Business World) Many large, nationwide professional associations across the country secure discounts on business-related products and services, solely based on their membership numbers. Everything from car insurance, health care programs and office supplies are often offered at a better rate than what you’d spend on your own. Source: https://www.freshbooks.com/
With all the things you need to do to keep your small business moving along, joining a business association may not bubble up to the top of your priority list. However, there are a number of reasons why joining a business association can help boost your business and even save you time in the long run on marketing and operational activities. For starters, there are a range of associations to consider joining. You can choose an industry-specific group; a regional or local chapter of a national trade or professional association; a local business or merchant’s group; and even a group with a particular focus, such as one for start-up entrepreneurs or small business owners. Among the many benefits of joining a professional organization, here are five that make finding the time to join worthwhile: Networking opportunities: Networking opportunities for many are the number one reason for joining a business association. While not everyone you meet will be a potential customer – in fact some may be competitors – you’ll meet people who can be referrals to their business associates or others who may need your services. In fact, the more involved you are, the more people get to know you and will be inclined to help open doors. Networking isn’t only for business leads. You’ll be able to get referrals for services or vendors; discover alliance opportunities; and find prospective job candidates, which most small business owners indicate is their number one HR challenge. Associations are also a great forum in which to glean and share best practices that are relevant to your business. Education and training: There is a range of educational and training options offered by many business associations. In addition to online information resources, many associations provide seminars, webinars, conferences with workshops and online training courses. Some even provide certificate programs for accreditation in certain skills. You and often your team members can take advantage of this training often at special discounts for members. Civic leadership: Many local business associations support volunteer and charitable efforts that you may not have the time to undertake on your own. By participating through your business association, you can lend support to the effort by managing some aspect of the program, encouraging your team members to get involved or providing financial assistance. Your small business will gain from your involvement by boosting your reputation locally and expanding your contacts. Your team also may learn new skills by volunteering. Political participation: While not all business associations have political affiliations or an agenda, there are many political issues on a local, state or national level that impact members. For example, members may be affected by a possible state licensing requirement or a rise in sales tax. Business associations can contact local and state governing bodies to state their position relative to a potential law or ordinance, for example. Increase your purchasing power: Some associations have agreements with suppliers or vendors to provide discounts to members on products or services. Some associations also offer group health insurance options. In addition to these benefits, business associations also provide opportunities to socialize with others at dinners and other special events. Considering how much time you spend at your small business, you may welcome the opportunity get together with others in your market or industry in a social setting to exchange information and share insights. Source: https://blogs.poly.com/
If you are a member of a trade association, you have probably realized that there is much more to it than you had originally believed. Many businesses and individuals join these association in hopes of receiving one specific benefit or achieving one goal, only to find that the organization has many more benefits and holds much more opportunity than it previously imagined. Of course, these specific benefits will vary depending upon the specific industry with which the organization is associated, but there are some advantages of membership in trade organizations that are universal. Because it is important to get the most out of memberships and unlock all the benefits that these organizations must offer, it is important to understand exactly why businesses and entrepreneurs join them in the first place. While the motivation for joining a trade association may vary according to the needs of the member company, here are some of the top benefits to membership in such organizations and how the most successful members are able to take advantage of all of them. Networking This is the most common and most obvious benefits of joining a trade association. In every industry, who you know matters, and trade associations are filled with potential contacts, clients and partners who can help your business move to the next level and become more prominent in your industry. The members of trade associations– particularly the more active members– are able to build long-term relationships and partnerships that are mutually beneficial. They provide a forum for like-minded individuals to come together to share ideas, strengthen ties, find new jobs and make connections that would not be possible without the association. Training and Education Continued education and development is crucial in getting to the top of any industry. If your company is already a leader in the field, education is a key to remaining on top. This is especially true in any industry that involves a high level of technology, which almost all do in the fast-paced modern world. Professional associations usually hold events with seminars, workshops and classes that help members to learn and grow in their profession. Even outside of these official events, members have constant opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and mentorship that allow members to share experience and knowledge. Certification In addition to the usual training and education provided by professional associations, many organizations provide certifications and licensing programs that are not available to non-members. Not only do these certifications make for better practices in the industry, some are an absolute necessity for a business to compete. The certifications and licenses available in trade organizations provide a level of prestige and reliability in the minds of clients and customers that is invaluable. Influence One of the key benefits of joining a trade association is the ability to support the mission of the organization and possibly influence legislation that affects the industry. The combined resources of the members of an association can be used to lobby lawmakers and sway public opinion more positively towards the goals of the association. With the increased level of government regulation in many industries, this is an absolute necessity for the survival of all businesses in the field. Information Membership in a trade association means immediate access to any news or developments that affect your business and the industry. Outside of the usual communication of members to each other, associations generally provide newsletters, email updates and informative resources that help its members stay on top of recent developments in the field. Best Practices Any line of work has a specific set of best practices that is vital to efficient, quality work. Especially for anyone new to the industry, membership in a trade association is vital to learning these practices and performing the best work possible. The fast pace of technology and market competition means that these practices are constantly updating and changing, and it is important to take advantage of any practices that can improve your business. Exchange of Ideas Not only do members have access to information about updates to the industry, they can also play a large role in determining these changes. Trade associations provide a forum for members to share ideas and develop new ways to improve the industry. This allows for more experienced members to help newer ones grow, and provides the opportunity for all members to share innovative ideas that can help the association. Relationships Aside from all of the professional benefits that are available through trade associations, they also provide an opportunity for members to build friendships and personal relationships that can last a lifetime. These are just some of the most common benefits of membership in all trade associations, and there are many others that are specific to each industry or business. According to recent research, over 85 percent of businesses that fail are not members of a trade association. No matter the industry, trade associations give their members many advantages in a fast-paced, competitive world. Source: https://www.saneo.com/
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Membership is open to businesses and organizations interested in increasing visibility and brand awareness in Westchester County and surrounding areas.
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