Trade Associations What Are They and Why Arent People Joining them Anymore - Your Career Intel

Trade Associations What Are They and Why Arent People Joining them Anymora - Your Career IntelAccording to the American Society of Association Executives, trade association membership is declining across all industries. I recently conducted a survey of my contacts who work in marketing that corroborated this data while 68% of respondents reported that their companies will pay for professional development, only 17% said they belong to their local marketing associations.What Are Trade Associations?Professional trade associations are membership organizations consisting of individuals from a common profession or industry, such as sales and marketing, accounting, engineering or law. A membership to a trade association typically gives you access to its local chapter as well as to a larger rtlich or national group.Why Should You Join a Trade Association?Im already active on LinkedIn and attend an annual industry conference why should I join a trade association on top of this? Ive heard thi s question before and the answer is clear when you join a trade association, you gain access to a large network with valuable professional/industry resources. In addition to local networking and mentorship opportunities, you may also gain access to specialty vendor lists and proprietary market research that keeps you on the top of industry trends.Given these benefits, why then is association membership declining? Misconceptions about trade associations are hurting membership and causing professionals to miss out on important development opportunities.Here are three common myths about trade association membership and three reasons why you should consider joining one relevant to your industry.Myth 1 There are no valuable trade associations in my area.Reality Local chapters likely exist you just may elend know about them. Trade associations do not always have huge budgets for marketing, and consequently, many professionals who are eligible for membership may not even be aware that t he associations exist. If youre unsure which associations you might be eligible to join, a quick Google search is an easy starting point. Sites like The Directory of Associations are also great resources that allow you to search based on which associations are located in your hohonigweinown. Another way to find out about local associations is by asking your coworkers which associations they belong to and which ones they have found to be the most valuable.Myth 2 I can get the saatkorn networking benefits from social media.Reality Theres no substitute for in-person connections.Social networks, particularly LinkedIn, now make it easy to find other professionals with similar interests and career paths. These networks also serve up a continuous stream of content on best practices and career development, seemingly replacing the need to go to conferences to keep up to date on whats happening in your industry.While LinkedIn is a very powerful resource, its not a replacement for face-to-face networking. Theres no substitute for meeting someone in person when it comes to building solid relationships non-verbal cues and body language are critical for building trust. Someone youve met at a trade association conference is much more likely to agree to a coffee or an informational interview than someone youve cold messaged on LinkedIn.Finally, keep in mind that people present a glossy, perfect image of themselves on social media. Its a great place to read about peoples successes but not such a great place to learn about their mistakes and failures. In-person networking is much more likely to foster a real discussion with your peers about lessons learned in the workplaceMyth 3 Trade associations do not offer any tangible benefits that are relevant to me.Reality The benefits offered by trade associations go beyond conference passes and quarterly meetings. Some of the benefits Ive found to be most valuable areIndustry vendor lists trade associations often provide lists of vendo rs, such as lawyers or accountants, who specialize in your field.Market research many trade associations conduct regular market research and produce in-depth reports on their industries which they distribute to their members.Mentorship some associations offer formal mentoring programs. Finding a mentor can be a tricky process, so having a trade association take the guesswork out of it is invaluable.Advocacy trade associations often function as the voice of an industry when it comes to legal and policy issues. If your company may be harmed by a change in the law, then your best bet is to make your concerns known to a trade association who can speak on your behalf to policymakers.If your company is willing to sponsor your dues theres no reason not to take advantage of this great opportunity.Do you belong to your local trade association? Id love to hear why or why not in the comments below.Authored by Shelley Muhs

How To Deal With Being Denied a Promotion or Raise

How To Deal With Being Denied a Promotion or Raise 8 Proactive Steps to Take After Being Denied a Promotion or RaiseSeeking a promotion or raise is an important career step though its often an intimidating one.Ideally, your manager will reward you with a promotion or raise when the time comes, but if that time has passed and youre left tapping your foot, maybe you should offer them a little nudge. After all, it never hurts to ask.Before knowing whetzu sich or bedrngnis your boss will give you a raise or promotion, you need to figure out how to ask first.Now, youve followed all the necessary steps and youve asked for the promotion or the raise you believe you deserve. Your manager calls you in to talk and youre met with a shake of the head Sorry, no. Whatever you do, dont panic. Yes, this response will feel like a punch to your soul and a hit to your delicate ego. You might feel disappointment, frustration, and even anger.Yet, its important to keep yourself together and to recognize that this is a crucial time in your career.Rather than storming out of your managers office, take these proactive steps to help you qualify for that promotion or raise in the future.1. Thank your managerTake a minute to process what just happened and then swallow your pride. Now, genuinely thank your manager for taking the time to consider your request. After receiving the disappointing news, this wont be the easiest thing to say, but its an important gesture thatll likely mean a lot to them.2. Ask for feedbackAlthough you might want to leave the room as soon as possible, stick around and ask your manager for feedback. This might add some salt to the already gaping wound, but soliciting feedback will show your manager that youre forward-thinking youre ready to continue to grow and work even harder.Make aya the feedback is concrete and that you can set actionable goals to overcome any setbacks. If he or she says you need to do better work, push for some details. What specific areas n eed more attention? What are some examples of ways you can improve?3. Map out a planAfter leaving the meeting, try bedrngnis to dwell on the negative news. Maybe you deserve a bar of chocolate or a glass of wine, but then its time to take proactive steps toward that promotion or raise youre after.With your managers feedback, map out a plan for yourself. This doesnt need to be a five-year plan. Rather, set some short-term goals you can accomplish within several months. What can you focus on improving? Are there any additional tasks you can add to your workload? How can you prove youre capable and qualified?When setting goals, try following the SMART method Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. Setting realistic, specific goals is important, especially when you know exactly what you want your next step to be.4. Keep tabs on your winsTheres no need to document your every move, but try abfluging a brag book. This might be a small notebook you keep in your desk drawer o r a Google document. Its up to you it doesnt need to be pretty.In your brag book, start logging your wins. Here are a few examples You completed a big project well before deadline, you received positive feedback from a client, you organized a new research committee, you recognized a problem and solved it before anyone noticed it was a problem. Note that these examples are vague. Youll want to include a few more details to help quantify your successes.Make an effort to add to your brag book each month or even each week. When it comes time to be considered for a promotion or raise again, revisit your brag book to remind yourself of your accomplishments.5. Stay focused on yourselfIts way too easy to start comparing yourself to your co-workers. How does Jack have a senior title when hes late to work every single day? Why did Jill get the promotion when you clearly complete more assignments than her?This, however, leads to rabbit holes of anger, frustration, and feelings of helplessness. After getting denied a promotion or raise, the only person you should focus on is yourself. If you need, lie low for a few days and simmer down. Whatever you do though, stay focused on yourself and your performance. Analyzing co-workers actions will be counterproductive.6. Give yourself a pat on the backSeriously you deserve a pat on the back. It took courage to ask for that promotion or raise, but you did it and at least now you arent left in the dark. Instead, youve spent time taking a good look at your job and your performance and youve created clear steps to help you achieve your goals.Try not to sweat it. Sure, it might feel slightly awkward when you bump into your manager at the coffee maker the next morning, but offer a smile to let them know its fine and that youre moving forward.7. Remember you have optionsYou should never quit a job because you were denied a promotion or raise. In fact, thats definitely the wrong reason to quit your job.But sometimes this punch to the gu t will lead to clarity (albeit not immediately). Maybe youd thrive better in a different work environment or in a different position altogether. There are always more opportunities out there, and sometimes thats a nice thing to keep in mind.Click on the following link for more advice on how to get ahead.If looking for another job is the right option for you, spruce up your resume with a free resume critique from TopResume.Recommended ReadingBuilding Your Case 7 Steps to Asking for That Raise5 Guaranteed Strategies to Getting a RaiseHow to Negotiate a Raise at Work Like Amy SchumerRelated Articles

Untold Stories About Resume Writing for Cash You Must Read or Be Left Out

Untold Stories About Resume Writing for Cash You Must Read or Be Left Out The Pain of Resume Writing for Cash Writing resumes for one mora company might help you hone your writing skills while additionally providing a (hopefully) stable supply of income during the early days of your enterprise venture. Writing skills are a necessary element of communication. The majority of the technical skills can be quickly learned at work, so prior experience isnt required either. Nevertheless, theres a difference and its helpful to understand when to compose a CV vs resume. What you exclude is at least as critical as what you include. Then, the applicant continues by describing what qualities they will utilize to assist the organization. There are a lot of standard forms of resumes used to make an application for job openings. A Startling Fact about Resume Writing for Cash Uncovered Regardless of what your job field could be, cashier job descriptions for your organization sector will list precisely the same group of desired qualifications utilizing exactly the same set of definitivs and phrases. For this reason, you would like to make sure your resume will help you distinguish yourself among the rest of the applicants as a great fit for the position by tailoring the information that you include to your audience and to the position description. Very good writing skills let you communicate a word with accuracy and efficiency and may lead to a larger audience linked to face-to-face communication. Your resume, as previously mentioned, isnt an all-out explanation of each step youve taken. You ought to figure out the ideal methods to utilize it. Dont let anyone drop you due to your inadequate writing abilities. If you own a lot of experience pertinent to the job that you are applying for, do what you could to fit it in. How to compose a simple resume isnt a question people ought to be asking. Ensure you allow time for traffic and other things which may resul t in delay. There are a few routes you may take with resume writing. Skills-based resumes may also enable you to combine related work and other experience during the skills-based headings. As students use their notes to compose assignments, you may use your documents in your work. Starting your own resume writing business or any other kind of home business for this matter is an excellent idea if youve got the abilities and ultimately would like to be your own boss. When youre starting any form of business, it requires time to develop a client base and start seeing a steady income. You ought to find specific job opening posted by a certain business you would like to submit an application for. Conclusion The retail cashier job is somewhat competitive to acquire as a result of how many folks go for it as it doesnt need much experience and training to meet the requirements for it. Using Resume Writing for Cash Though some resume writers are generalists and work with anyone, it is much simpler and mora lucrative to select a particular niche. If you may partner with a local job fair, you might be able to have a whole booth that provides free resume critiques. You dont necessarily must be certified to find work or obtain plenty of clients as a freelance resume writer. If youre looking for resume writer jobs, were always open for cooperation.

Why you should apply for jobs you dont think youre qualified for

Why you should apply for jobs you dont think youre qualified forWhy you should apply for jobs you dont think youre qualified forMaybe youre looking fora bigger challengeor losing interest in the industry. Maybe you justcant stand your bossand your coworkers. Whatever the reason, youre getting a little antsy in your current job, and youre ready to get out. But as youre looking at listings for potential new jobs, you cant help but worry. There are some really exciting options, but youre worried you may notlage be qualified enough. What should you do?The short answer? Apply.According todatafrom theHarvard Business Review,men apply for jobs when they meet just 60 percent of the listed qualifications, while women tend to apply only if they meet every brde one. And while we salute all of you ladies for being so thorough, we want to encourage you to throw your hat in the ring for more opportunities - even the ones that binnenseem out of reach. Laureen Seeger, the chief legal officer atAmer ican Express, applied for her position when she was two levels below it in the company hierarchy, and she has these tips to share for anyone dreaming of a job that seems a little out of reach.1. Address your insecuritiesYou may think youre not qualified for the job in question, but consider another possibility youre actually totally qualified and your insecurities are stemming from a little something calledimposter syndrome. Not familiar with this phenomenon? Imposter syndrome creeps in when we fail to recognize the value of our accomplishments and gradually convinces us that we are not capable or deserving of our own success, Seeger says. Stop worrying about whether or not your background aligns perfectly with a promising job description and focus instead on the potential you have to contribute more generally toanyworkplace. Dont let that imposter syndrome hold you back from taking a chance on an exciting new opportunity.2. Trust yourmentorsand friendsConfide about the job in the p eople you love the most and allow them to offer constructive feedback that you can use to persuade others of the same, Seeger says. Allow honest guidance and support to pave your path to success. Your loved ones know you better than anyone else, and they may be able to give you a clearer view of your own strengths and abilities than you have of yourself.3. Tap into yournetworksDive into your LinkedIn contacts list to see if theres any overlap with the company where youre interviewing. Rack your brain for friends or colleagues who may be able to hook you up with a helpful internal contact. Find out if your current company has any employee networks that can give you the support and confidence boost you need to bravely pursue a new opportunity. (Employee networks like this can be especially helpful if youre applying for a new job or promotion with your current employer.)4. Get educatedPut the internet to good use and see what you can learn about people who work in similar roles across the industry. What skills do they have? Can you find videos of them sharing stories of their own professional experiences? Think through how you can make the argument that youre equally as qualified through the experiences youve gained in your life and career, Seeger recommends.5. Find excitement in the process - not just the outcomeIts difficult to put yourself forth for a high-profile role, Seeger says. Its important to remember that the process is valuable even if you are not offered the job in the end. Applying and potentially interviewing for the role will make you smarter and better prepared for the next interview or opportunity. Youll gain confidence and practical application skills that will make you a shoo-in for whatever gig is meant to beHave you ever found yourself nervous about being qualified heading into a job interview? What did you do? Tweet usBritandCo.This article first appeared on Brit + Co.

What Its Like to Be an Intern at McKinsey

What Its Like to Be an Intern at McKinseyWhat Its Like to Be an Intern at McKinseyEliza is an associate in McKinseys Shanghai office and was previously a summer associate while completing herbei MBA program at Northwesterns Kellogg Graduate School of Business. From her internship interviews to joining for the summer and experiencing consulting for the first time, Eliza shares her McKinsey experiences, including what made her decision to return an easy one.During the recruiting process, I was amazed at how much support I received in preparing for interviews. Both formal and informal mentors all dedicated at least an hour each to help me with case preparation and answer all of my questions.The internship training program was a great experience. Those two-days provided me with the basic toolkit to be a successful summer associate, including an in-depth review of McKinseys problem-solving approaches. The part I enjoyed most was the client interview role plays we did in kollektivs everyt hing felt very much like real life situations.As an intern, I was very surprised how much my team trusted a newbie like me. I was entrusted with leading an important workstream which included co-hosting a 20+ person client workshop with another team member and presenting my part to the client board during the final report.I never would have imagined an intern would have been given so much autonomy.I also learned that Make Your Own McKinsey is not just a slogan. I met many interesting colleagues during the summer, all of whom have been well-supported in creating their own path within McKinsey. When people ask me why I decided to return as a full-time associate, I answer people, people, people.It was absolutely the inspiring, caring, supportive, smart and fun people I met during the summer who made the decision easy.Tatiana is a lawyer by training and has a background in finance. During her MBA program at Chicago Booth, she spent her summer with McKinsey in Sao Paulo and returned as a full time associate in Rio de Janeiro after graduation. Tatiana shares her perspective on considering career options and her internship experience.As a lawyer, it was clear to me I should spend my summer internship at a firm where I would be able to learn a lot, and where I could contribute something special given my experiences. McKinsey had everything that I needed a place where I would be able to get more business knowledge and that would welcome me and my background.During the recruiting process, the interviewers I met created a very positive environment even when I was nervous after making some math errors in my final round meetings. They noticed I was nervous and took the time to help me calm down and focus. It was a great opportunity to connect with them on a more personal level and they are totenstill great supporters of mine now that Im at McKinsey full time.As I was deciding between summer opportunities at McKinsey, BCG and AB Inbev, the primary factor I kept in mind was the people. I found it extremely easy to connect with people from McKinsey, and the diverse range of people I met assured me Id never be bored. I knew I was going to learn a lot about business if I joined McKinsey, and I also found that there wasnt anywhere else where Id learn as much about people.Now that Im back as an associate, my learning curve is still intense but I know I have a lot of people to support me along the way and know the people are why chose this place over all the others.

The Multigenerational Workforce Creates Conflict and Opportunity

The Multigenerational Workforce Creates Conflict and OpportunityThe Multigenerational Workforce Creates Conflict and OpportunityThe Multigenerational Workforce Creates Conflict and Opportunity Rossheim, Senior Contributing WriterYoure 38 years old and saw your budding career blossom through the roaring 90s but then fade a bit in unterstellung tentative 2000s.Your administrative assistant is 19, has been on the job for three weeks and appears to be preparing for his next move, judging from the updated resume he left on the copier.Your boss is 59, has a thing for Elvis (Presley, leid Costello) and knows how to look out for himself.And today youre considering hiring an overqualified candidate whois looking for part-time work to help her buy a bunch of plane tickets so she can spend time with her pregnant granddaughter.Welcome to todays multigenerational workforce, nearly 150 million strong, where the Greatest Generation and Generation Whatever mix in a crucible of conflict and opportuni ty.New mischung of WorkersWhats so new about workers of diverse ages laboring together in one company? Hasnt this been the case throughout American history?In the past, there was a pretty stable model of the organization that provided a context for careers, says Robert Thomas, coauthor of Geeks Geezers and executive director of the Accenture Institute for High Performance Business in Wellesley, Massachusetts.Now you have organizations that take very different shapes, and workers have very different expectations about what a career should look like, Thomas says. For example,workplace flexibility is more important to many workers than it was through most of the 20th century, when single-earner families dominated.Choices Multiply for Younger WorkersThe options for young workers are many more today than they were in the past, says Cam Marston, president of Marston Communications in Charlotte, North Carolina. Young workers used to immediately begin climbing the career ladder. But today, youth is defining success differently.According to Thomas, there has been far too great a reliance on stereotypes, and too little research on what young workers really want. Generations X and Y are not turning out to be what many expected, he says. Taxonomies of the four generations of workers sometimes pigeonhole Xers as results-oriented compared to their process-oriented Boomer peers, for example. But anyone glancing around her office will likely find glaring exceptions.When younger workers and older managers come together, there are bound to be clashes based on their different values. Some companies tell young workers they have to pay their dues, says Marston. This doesnt work, especially with Millennials, loosely defined as the generation born after 1980. A better approach is to encourage young workers to learn all they can in their entry-level positions and to support their learning, he suggests.Many Older Workers Will Delay RetirementAlthough much has been made of the looming wave of Boomer retirements, these workers wont leave the labor force en masse. The Baby Boomers delayed getting married, delayed having children, and theyre going to delay retirement, says Peter Francese, founder of American Demographics magazine and a demographic trends analyst for advertising firm Ogilvy Mather in New York City.For employers in some industries, the supply of older workers will easily be absorbed by heavy demand. Utilities are facing severe problems, because their older workers are leaving carrying vital knowledge about the way the business works, says Thomas. But for companies in other industries, the departure of older workers is an opportunity to reset salary scales and save money.Older workers with essential skills and experience will place their own demands on their employers, in terms of both their works content and employment arrangements structure. A dynamic that companies will face is how to leverage older workers and how to keep them engaged, says Micha el Hyter, president of Novations Group, a human resources consulting firm in Boston.Older workers desire to fit employment into their well-rounded lives may accelerate changes for the overall workforce. Arrangements like workplace flexibility and telecommuting employees havent been embraced as fully as we thought, says Daniel Kadlec, co-author of The Power Years. The aging workforce will bring these arrangements to fruition.Older workers in non-traditional arrangements means that the consultant or independent-contractor arrangement is what you see more often than part-time, says Kadlec. Part-time implies youre still working for a boss, and thats much more likely to create friction between an older worker and his younger manager.

Division Chief Gets Second Look by OPM and Hired After Our ECQ Rewrite

teilen Chief Gets Second Look by OPM and Hired After Our ECQ RewriteDivision Chief Gets Second Look by OPM and Hired After Our ECQ RewriteDivision Chief Gets Second Look by OPM and Hired After Our ECQ RewriteHello Diane I wanted to contact you today to let you know that OPM Approved my ECQ package and I was officially offered the position today. Thank you so much again for all of your workDate Hired November 2013Jobseeker Type Federal to SESPrevious Job Title Division Chief, Realty Management and Cadastral Survey, BLMTarget Job Title Director, Easement Programs Division, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceResult HiredWriter/Coach Diane HudsonStrategy/Process The clients ECQ package was disapproved by OPM. The client was given about 40 days to rewrite the ECQs based on guidance provided by OPM and resubmit the essays. We worked for a couple weeks to rewrite and reconstruct the leadership stories to meet the mark for the CCAR format (Challenge, Context, Actions, Results), and the s pecific leadership competencies for each ECQ. The clients rewritten ECQs were approved by OPM on the second review and the client was hired as an SES.