Undoubtedly, you’ve all heard the phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” While knowledge is important, it’s not the only key to success.
In most cases, membership of a professional association requires formal study, experience and a lot of form filling and official verification!
So if you go to all that trouble to become a member of a professional association, why not work out some good ways to gain a return on your investment!
Your annual premium will help keep you well informed, maintain your professional reputation and expand your network in the industry. After all, there is no such thing as ‘job security’ any more, so developing and maintaining a network is vital for financial security.
Showcase your college accomplishments.
LinkedIn’s new profile sections give you the opportunity to highlight achievements to potential employers and industry experts who can help shape your career. Here are some sections you may want to add to your profile:
- Projects: Participating in projects shows that you can apply classroom learning to real-world challenges and work effectively in a team. Add compelling research or class projects to your profile – especially those that demonstrate experience relevant to your professional goals.
- Honors & Awards: Did you make the Dean’s List or earn a merit-based scholarship? Add it to your profile. While much of your profile is a subjective characterization of your abilities, Honors & Awards provide objective validation for your accomplishments.
- Organizations: Participation in on-campus or external organizations shows your contributions outside the classroom. Leadership abilities, and making a positive impact within an organization, are talents widely sought by employers and recruiters.
- Test Scores: Employers often view strong test scores as indicators of good problem solving skills. If you have excelled at standardized tests, or have a stellar G.P.A., include these scores on your profile.
- Courses: Do you consistently push the envelope by enrolling in rigorous coursework? List select courses on your profile – especially those that qualify you for positions you are seeking, or demonstrate your commitment to expanding your academic horizons. Many employers know your school’s course catalogs as well as you do, so include the strongest courses of your college experience
Here are a few associations for web developers:
aiga
Founded in 1996, IWA, a non-profit professional association, is the industry’s recognized leader in providing educational and certification standards for Web professionals. IWA’s initiatives now support more than 100 official chapters representing over 300,000 individual members in 106 countries. IWA’s accomplishments include the industry’s first guidelines for ethical and professional standards, Web certification and education programs, specialized employment resources, and technical assistance to individuals and businesses.
AIGA – http://www.aiga.org/
Student Membership: $ 50 USD/ yr
AIGA advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force by connecting practitioners, enthusiasts and patrons through regional, national and global events and by creating and curating content that:
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MISSION STATEMENT
advocates for a greater understanding of the value of designers and design in government, business, media and the public
- enhances professional development
- defines global standards and ethical practices
- inspires designers and the public
- establishes criteria for design education that meets the needs of the profession
- makes powerful tools and resources available and accessible
- celebrates and enhances the value of design
- mobilizes a global design movement
web professionals.org
Founded in 1996, IWA, a non-profit professional association, is the industry’s recognized leader in providing educational and certification standards for Web professionals. IWA’s initiatives now support more than 100 official chapters representing over 300,000 individual members in 106 countries. IWA’s accomplishments include the industry’s first guidelines for ethical and professional standards, Web certification and education programs, specialized employment resources, and technical assistance to individuals and businesses.
Web professionals. org – http://webprofessionals.org/
Student Membership – $29 USD/yr
WebProfessionals.org aka the World Organization of Webmasters (WOW) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the support of individuals and organizations who create, manage or market web sites.
The organization provides education and training resources as well as certification for the aspiring, the practicing and those that teach. Member advantage services including discounts on software and hardware are also available. For a complete narrative on the seventeen year history of the organization
Mission statement
- Foster professional standards
- Advocate on behalf of Web Professionals
- Provide for communication among all web professionals, including corporate webmasters, developers and designers in government, business, and education, independent web professionals, and the aspiring such as students
- Provide for education through the development of curriculum standards, publishing of articles and books, professional papers, and the sponsoring of seminars and conferences
- Stimulate the continued growth of the Web by providing a forum for the raising of new ideas and an effective mechanism for dialog on these issues
- Provide security, legal and marketing white papers as well as an area on the latest trends in the Internet on each of those
International Webmasters Association
International Web Association : http://iwanet.org/
Membership: $49 USD/yr
Founded in 1996, IWA, a non-profit professional association, is the industry’s recognized leader in providing educational and certification standards for Web professionals. IWA’s initiatives now support more than 100 official chapters representing over 300,000 individual members in 106 countries. IWA’s accomplishments include the industry’s first guidelines for ethical and professional standards, Web certification and education programs, specialized employment resources, and technical assistance to individuals and businesses.
mission statement
Maintain Association’s status as the leading organization for Web professionals.
Provide superior educational programs to include Certified Web Professional programs.
Support a global network of official IWA chapters.
Promote IWA’s member database to the international business community as “The Web Resource for Businesses”.
Provide our members with professional networking opportunities at the chapter, regional and international levels.
Provide members with name affiliation recognized by employers and clients worldwide.
Maintain universal standards on ethical and professional practices for all Web professionals.
References: Linkedin, AIGA, IWA, WEB PROFESSIONALS