Professionals around the world are often encouraged to join professional associations to gain constant access to important information about their profession, enjoy steady professional development, and have networking opportunities.
Are these the only reasons why you should join a professional association? No–there are many other benefits of becoming a member of a professional association. This article will help you understand important facts about professional associations and why you should join one.
A professional association is a group of professionals in a particular field or industry who come together to further the interests of individuals or organizations in that profession. This association is mandated to oversee practitioners in a particular field.
Furthermore, a professional association can safeguard the interests of the public by holding the professionals in a particular industry to account for their actions when dealing with the public. For instance, an association of medical doctors ensures that its members remain ethical in their practice and monitors their level of knowledge, expertise, and experience in that profession. Common examples of professional associations include the American Bar Association for Lawyers, American Counseling Association for Therapists, and American Bankers Association for Financial Professionals.
So, is a professional association the same as a labor union? The two are different in many aspects. For instance, a professional association focuses more on the interests of the individual professional and the public, while a labor union focuses on the relationship between an employee and their employer.
How does a trade association differ from a labor union? A trade association is a group of businesses in a particular industry that come together to further their interests, while a labor union is a group of employees or professionals in a particular industry who form an association to help them push better working conditions and terms of employment.
The commonality within these various types of associations is that they’re non-profit organizations that can be formed without following the tedious process of registering a business or a limited company. Furthermore, they’re governed by management committees appointed by individual members through voting.
When members of an association vote for a management committee, they give it the ability to manage the association and carry out important activities like negotiating with their employers on their behalf. Most of these elections involve the casting of secret ballots, either manually or electronically.
With the latest technologies like ElectionBuddy, online voting has become very popular in professional associations and trade unions because of its expediency, accuracy, and safety. Members of an association can vote for their preferred candidates from anywhere. They just need to fill out the association election form and submit it electronically.
While members of a trade union come together to champion their rights as employees, members of a professional association are driven by the desire to grow their profession and maintain good standing in the industry. Here are the main reasons why you should join a professional association:
Being a member of a professional organization in your area of study offers you better opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills as you interact with your fellow professionals. Furthermore, some associations offer member-only advanced training sessions and hold workshops and conferences to help you develop your profession.
In prestigious professions like medicine, public accounting, law, and engineering, being part of a professional association gives you extra credibility. Most of these associations give their members certificates to prove that they’ve gone through the necessary stages of qualification.
As a professional, you have to build a strong network of people who have succeeded in the profession so that they can share their experiences with you to help you grow your career. Networking also provides you with better employment opportunities and a way to find reliable mentors.
Many professional organizations advocate for the interests of the public and organize charity drives. By joining such an association, you’ll become part of a group that makes a difference in the lives of fellow humans.
Lastly, it feels great to add a certificate from a recognized professional association to your resume. You’ll also enjoy spending time and sharing knowledge with like-minded individuals.
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