Phoenix has a large number of professionals who have learned how to maximize their career through industry affiliations and networking. Choosing an organization to affiliate with can be a daunting task depending on the amount of time you can devote to participation in the group, format they meet, and overall objectives you have for being involved. Consider the following:
- Does your industry have a specialized national organization that has a local chapter? Groups like American Marketing Association have national scope and regional or local affiliates that allow for in person interaction with colleagues.
- How much time do you want to devote to involvement in the organization? If you are transitioning into this industry, you may want to use participation in a networking group to build skills to use in your next position and/or to meet potential employers.
- What skills can you use through your participation that are relevant to your next career opportunity? Offering to coordinate programs, solicit donations, schedule speakers, or lead a certain area (Treasurer, Committee Chair) could be a win-win for you and the organization.
The overall goal should be to join an organization that can add value to your career development and that you can change your level of activity to create the best work-life balance throughout your life. For those of you involved in marketing, check out the American Marketing Association website. Not only are there benefits for professional development, but this organization has also developed partnerships to provide value-added support to their collegiate and professional members.
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