At the beginning of each year, I have to decide where I’m going to invest in my profession. That also means deciding which professional organizations would be the right fit for me and my career.
Why join a professional organization?
1. Networking–It’s a great place to make contacts in the business.
2. Job Opportunities—Most professional organizations get alerted on the latest job openings.
3. Training Programs—Most organizations offer free or low cost training programs that can help you grow in your profession.
4. Friendships—It’s not all business folks. Professional organizations help you build friendships with people who have lots in common with you.
So if you haven’t joined a professional organization in journalism, public relations, media relations, or mass communications; now is the time to do so. You never know how your life is going to change from day to day.
I’m a board member with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. I’m also a co-chairman of the Digital Media Committee with the Society of Professional Journalists and a member of Online News Association. In Dallas, I’m part of the Hispanic Communicators DFW. All of them offer me something in journalism, but they’re all very different. An investment in these groups is really an investment in my career.
Jobs may come and go, but professional organizations are there for you during good and bad times. How can you go wrong joining a professional group?
