As a teacher, you may want to join a professional association to enhance your skills, access resources, network with peers, and advance your career. But how do you find the right association for you? Here are some tips on how to use your network to find a professional association that suits your needs and goals.
One of the easiest ways to find a professional association is to ask your colleagues, especially those who have similar interests, backgrounds, or roles as you. They may already be members of an association that you can join, or they may know someone who is. You can also ask your supervisors, mentors, or former teachers for their recommendations. They may have valuable insights into the benefits and challenges of different associations, as well as the application and membership process.
To find a relevant professional association, I would leverage my network by exploring LinkedIn, seeking recommendations from colleagues, attending industry events, and checking with company resources. I'd also tap into alumni networks, research industry publications, and utilize social media and online directories for a well-rounded search. Through these efforts, my goal is to identify and join an association that aligns with my career goals and facilitates valuable industry connections.
Example- During a casual talk, I told one of my colleagues about my interest in a particular domain, and she immediately connected me with someone from that area. Later, I discovered that her sister was actually working in that area. So asking your colleague is a good idea, but be careful who you ask.
Another way to find a professional association is to search online, using keywords related to your field, specialty, or location. You can use search engines, social media platforms, blogs, podcasts, or online directories to find associations that match your criteria. You can also check the websites of the associations you find, and look for information on their mission, vision, values, activities, events, publications, and membership requirements. You can also read reviews, testimonials, or feedback from current or past members to get a sense of their experience and satisfaction.
Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to search for professional associations. I remember searching for industry-specific groups on LinkedIn and finding several associations with active online communities. LinkedIn helped me to connect with people of my domain.
A third way to find a professional association is to attend events that are relevant to your field, such as conferences, workshops, webinars, or seminars. These events are often organized or sponsored by professional associations, and they can give you an opportunity to learn more about their work, goals, and culture. You can also network with other attendees, speakers, or organizers, and ask them about their association affiliation, involvement, and opinion. You can also collect brochures, flyers, or business cards from the associations that interest you, and follow up with them later.
At a recent conference, I networked with several attendees and also professionals of the same domain, and I later connected with them also. Industry events, workshops, and seminars are great places to learn about professional associations.
A fourth way to find a professional association is to reach out to your existing contacts, such as friends, family, alumni, or former coworkers, who may have connections to an association that you are interested in. You can ask them to introduce you to their contacts, or to share their experience and advice with you. You can also use online tools, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, to find and connect with people who are members of an association that you want to join. You can send them a polite and professional message, expressing your interest and asking for more information.
A fifth way to find a professional association is to compare the options that you have found, and evaluate them based on your needs and goals. You can use a spreadsheet, a table, or a checklist to compare the features, benefits, costs, and requirements of different associations. You can also rank them according to your preferences, priorities, and expectations. You can also contact the associations directly, and ask them any questions that you may have, or request a trial membership or a free sample of their resources or services.
A sixth way to find a professional association is to join and participate in the one that you have chosen, and see if it meets your expectations and needs. You can sign up for their newsletter, website, or social media accounts, and stay updated on their news, events, opportunities, and resources. You can also attend their meetings, webinars, workshops, or conferences, and network with other members, leaders, or experts. You can also volunteer, contribute, or collaborate with the association, and share your skills, knowledge, or ideas with them.
well an innovative way is to recollect a well known event/ flagship event of Networking/ Conference of Research or Innovation you attended maybe in another country or Continent and then scroll through the attendees and find out where they are on linkedIn or Social Media/ whatsapp groups/ office location if possible. May be they would have developed their own start-ups, flourishing by now. So for eg if I want to trace roots of Artificial Intelligence, I can go to Dartmouth Conference attendees in Stanford University, 1960s, which will yield me many famous scientist names, then going on their web pages or Universities or survivors and so on.