This third article on professional development focuses on raising your profile through involvement in local, state, regional, national, and international organizations. Joining and becoming involved in professional organizations is important to your career development.

You are probably familiar with the expression: "If you don't blow your own horn, no one will blow it for you." By the same token, if you don't let people in your profession know that you exist, then you can't expect anyone to know about your work and your commitment to your profession. This "invisibility" can be remedied by presenting at conferences (see article #1 on writing conference abstracts), by publishing in professional journals (see article #2 about writing for publication), and by becoming active in your professional societies.

Why Become Involved
There are many reasons to become involved in the organizations of your profession. Talking to like-minded individuals, learning about the research of others, learning how others cope with challenges and difficulties facing people in your profession, and working shoulder to shoulder with others to advance the profession are some of the reasons. The chance to take a leadership role and help guide the advancement and direction of the profession is another. 

Individuals who are active in the workings of their professional societies acknowledge that they have developed strong networks of professional contacts. These contacts prove extremely helpful when seeking employment, dealing with workplace challenges, or searching for employees.

You may also find that your work within your professional societies results in contact with the media. Typically, when members of the media are looking for expertise, they turn to universities and to professional societies.

When to Become Involved
When should you become involved in the work of your professional societies? The answer is simple: Now! 

To become involved, you must first join the appropriate society. If you are confused about which organization is the most appropriate, ask your colleagues and/or professors. Right now, you may even qualify for reduced student rates.

• Don't wait to become involved until a day when you think you will be less busy. That day may never come. 

As a student member, you can be somewhat protected from overwork by your student status.  Telling someone you can't overcommit to professional society work will be respected.

• No one wants you to sacrifice your academic work.

Walden University students are among the best time jugglers I've ever seen. Still, it is better not to overextend and then not deliver on a commitment you've made to a professional organization.

• So, be wary of taking on too much. 

You want people to remember you as someone who successfully completed the work. So, if you are asked to chair a committee, you might accept, but ask for a co-chair who knows the ropes of the organization.

Many of you may already be active in your professional organizations. If you are, reach out your hand to your fellow students and help them to become more involved in the profession. 

How to Get Involved
Become a regular reader of the journals of your societies, but also take care to read the newsletters of these professional groups. You'll learn about their direction, begin to understand who the leaders are, and see opportunities to join committees and work groups. This will also be where you’ll see calls for volunteers to evaluate abstracts and, perhaps, review articles for journals.

Newsletters hold a great deal of important information, yet many people toss these into the recycling bin. I highly recommend that you read these newsletters, as there is a wealth of information contained therein.

When you see an opportunity, call the contact number or send an email immediately. Do the job for which you volunteer, be accurate, let your voice and opinion be heard, but do not be abrasive or confrontational. I don't think you need any more detail on this. 

Another way to become involved is by attending business meetings at the yearly conferences of the group. Business meetings are usually a bit boring, sometimes set at outlandish hours (one group I belong to meets at 6:30 a.m.), and sometimes you'll miss a sightseeing opportunity or meal in order to attend. Go anyway. 

Let people know who you are. Talk to the leadership of the group. Then, go to the social hours and remind people where you met them earlier in the day. This type of networking is important. Look for opportunities to help with small projects. If you have a particular expertise for which the group is looking, volunteer to help.

For the most part, you'll be able to find a friendly face at these meetings. Ask your professors to which societies they belong and what meetings they attend. They'll be willing to help you out. If someone isn't all that friendly, move onto another group. 

If you are shy and don't do well in these situations, bring a friend or make friends with another student and go together. Really, though, the best thing is to just pretend that you aren't shy about talking to strangers. Try it; it really works.

Many organizations have student and new-professional caucuses. You'll meet people there. Do not, however, insulate yourself there and meet only with these individuals. Encourage them to go with you to meet with the more "seasoned" professionals.

If you find you can't make it to the annual conferences, you can look for the state and regional conferences held by many organizations. You won't meet as varied a group as at a national or international conference, but you will find that this is an excellent opportunity to network and build a reputation for your commitment to the profession. 

Tips
Over the years, it has been my pleasure to serve on many award and scholarship committees for the professional societies to which I belong. Usually the scholarship amounts are small and are given to offset conference expenses or dues. Although the sums of money are small in comparison to tuition costs, the name recognition from such awards is well worth the effort of the application. I have been on the selection committees for many student awards, and I've seen way too many incomplete applications or poorly written cover letters. 

My message is this: apply, do a good job, and keep on applying. Sooner or later, you may garner one of these awards. Society members will make a fuss over you. You'll attend a good conference, and you'll have another line item on your vita. Once you win that award, give back by volunteering to become a member of next year's awards committee.

Conclusion
Most of getting involved in professional societies has to do with "taking the plunge." You must recognize the importance of ongoing professional development and find that society, or societies, which will be most useful to you. 

Then, you must become involved. Merely being a dues-paying member is the lowest form of commitment. If you really want to make change—and I assume that all Walden students are interested in doing so—then you must overcome any fears that you have and help your professions to move forward in the appropriate directions. For those of you in public health, look for me as a "friendly face" at public health conferences. 

Resources for Professional Organizations

American Psychological Association
www.apa.org

Clinical Social Work Federation
www.cswf.org

Health-related professional associations

National Association of Social Workers
www.naswdc.org

Nursing-related professional associations

Social Work Access Network
www.sc.edu/swan/

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality*
www.sexscience.org

*This last organization may be of interest to many students in psychology, counseling, public health, and nursing. It is the oldest organization devoted to the scientific study of all aspects of sexuality and sexual behavior. Unlike many scientific societies, it is interdisciplinary, so the feedback one can obtain on one's research ideas is refreshingly eclectic and outside one's usual box. Many of the presentations at the SSSS’s annual meetings are based on studies conducted outside the United States. In addition to hosting an annual meeting each November and several regional meetings each June, the society publishes the Journal of Sex Research, which is probably the most well-respected journal in this topic area.