Should You Join an Administrative Association?

Administrative associations offer a number of benefits that are important for advancing your career and searching for a new administrative job. Since memberships can be costly, you need to make sure that a membership will be worth the cost. Find out more about associations for administrative professionals to decide if a membership is right for you.

One of the most valuable benefits of a membership to an administrative association is career-training opportunities. Nearly all of the national administrative associations offer access to online career training and give members a discount on admission to industry seminars and conferences. Some associations - such as the Virtual Association for Administrative Professionals - are entirely dedicated to career training. Joining an association that provides educational tools is essential to advancing your career and keeping your skills up-to-date. Completing relevant career training is also a great way to enhance your resume.

A membership to an administrative association is also beneficial if you are looking for a new job or plan to do so in the future. Many associations provide a variety of job search tools that are specific to the administrative field. Since most associations allow current members to post job opportunities before they are made public, a membership allows you hear about job openings first.

Along the same lines, another benefit of joining an administrative association is the opportunity to network with others in your career field. Most associations have a variety of features that facilitate discussion between members, such as forums and instant massaging tools. Whether you want to make contacts for job search purposes or you need career advice, a membership is a great networking tool.

Although it is a commonly-overlooked benefit of a membership to an administrative association, monthly newsletters are very valuable resources. Newsletters keep you informed of the latest industry trends and developments. Most newsletters also feature career advice for administrative professionals.

One thing to keep in mind when deciding on an administrative association membership is whether you will get more benefits if you join an organization that is specific to your industry. For example, organizations exist that are aimed specifically at health care administrators, public administration professionals and administrative assistants working in the legal field. The more industry-specific the organization is, the more you will benefit from your membership.

If you decide to join an administrative association, do not forget to update your resume to reflect your new affiliation. Being a member of a professional association indicates you are knowledgeable about the industry you work in and are committed to an administrative career - two things that improve any administrative job search.

A membership to an administrative association is beneficial to anyone working in the administrative field. Memberships provide many tools to help you advance your career and stay up-to-date on training. Although memberships do require annual fees, the benefits you receive are well worth the cost.

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