Professional Organizations

Question

Hi, has anyone else ever been contacted by organizations that want to promote or feature you as an outstanding professional?  I'm skeptical because I don't know if there's any benefit in it or paying the fees.  Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on this?

Shirley Leevy · Answer

I haven't found any benefit in joining a professional group.  Most of them just want your money and then they move onto the next person.  Save your money.

Barb Hansen · Answer

I think it depends on the organization and your particular needs if joining a professional organization will work for you.

side note: of course, many jobs require membership in licensing bodies (think: healthcare professionals) and many of those organizations provide a lot of benefit beyond just licensure.

Over the years, I have been contacted by a few professional organizations that I never joined because I was too busy to take advantage of what they were offering and therefore I would be paying them money for me to list them on my LinkedIn profile or they sounded too sketchy to me , 'Hey, you're great, you're the best at your job, and for the low low cost of  $10,000/year and you get to network with other executives which you can leverage to get a new job'

Anonymous · Answer

In any professional organization, you must make it work for YOU!! Study all of the 'outlets' affiliated with the organization. See how it benefits you! If it is not a fit-- scope out another chapter in the organization--- keep searching!

Anne Knox · Answer

The situation you are describing is a business transaction.  They want your money.  Is the service really going to do anything for you?  Most people in your field will know that you paid for it, but do you market to people outside your professions?  The top doctor, dentist, lawyer sections are paid adds, but you have been able to find them in magazines across the countries for years

39 · Answer

You can check the organization and see how legit it is.  Next step will be to assess how beneficial the relationship would be for you.

Holly Jacobs · Answer

To the point as a material ops logistic mgr would be.  Shirley Leevy’s response gave me a good laugh this am.   Continuing education, alignment with others in the same field to access, an innovation pipeline, keeping up with ISO, OSHA and trade regulations that may impact day to day operations, recruitment of potential new hires and brand building seem to make sense at the right level.   Congrats anonymous

Sacha Seraydarian · Answer

I am skeptic of an organization that would reach out to have you pay for access from the start. I would research them thoroughly first before considering giving money for the membership. If you are really interested in a membership I would ask to get a 30-90 day trail first if you are really interested.

Anonymous · Answer

sure, it depends on the field and the organization.

As a statistician, I've found it beneficial to be a member of certain professional organizations in my field and areas of interest. There are conferences every year (for an extra fee), which offer opportunities to share your research and to see what others are doing, along with professional development classes (for an extra fee).  Some of them have career fairs, which proved fruitful (if I was willing to move). One of the organizations has a forum where people post about current events, symposia (many of which are virtual and free right now) and job openings. And they're not $10K/year - I pay about $300/year all together for my memberships.

I would really investigate what the org has to offer, what you have time for and interest in - and if you think you want to join but cost is a factor, whether there's a fee waiver for volunteers.

Anonymous · Answer

I've never been contacted by one that asked me to pay to be featured. Quite the opposite.

Anonymous · Answer

There are many valid ones of course based on your profession and the benefits of membership.  I don't have authorization to represent my employer or promote them so I'm not interested in being 'Woman of the Year' and have a biography published.

Professional Organizations

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