When you’re exploring a career, it helps to gather information from people who are in that particular field and who have a genuine interest in it. In some cases, these people are pretty easy to find. But many times -- particularly if the career in question is fairly obscure or new -- it’s quite difficult to track down even one person who can provide you with concrete information on the profession.

That’s one of the main reasons why professional organizations form. With a little knowledge and effort, you can tap into many professional organization resources to learn about a career of interest from the inside.

Think for a moment about what a professional organization is and does. A professional organization is a local, regional, state, national or international group made up of people who are in the same line of work. The people in the group gather for periodic conferences and seminars, receive the organization's publications, participate in organizational discussion groups and forums on the Internet, and do whatever they can to promote their profession to the general public.

In a nutshell, members of a professional organization believe strongly in what they’re doing, and they have a vested interest in seeing that their profession continues. That’s why professional groups can be so helpful to you in your career exploration activities. How do they do this?

• By publishing career-oriented Web sites and documents
  Many professional organizations -- knowing that other people might be interested in joining the field they represent -- develop Web sites and print publications describing their particular profession and the career opportunities available. In many cases, you can go to a professional organization’s Web site to look for job openings, learn about salary and advancement opportunities in the field, or discover the different types of occupations within the field.
• By helping you find and meet people in the field
  Most professional groups have affiliate organizations at the state, regional and even local levels. By contacting these affiliate organizations, you can find people in your geographic area who can tell you more about what they do -- either by meeting with you one-on-one or by talking to you at an organizational meeting or seminar.
• By keeping you up to date on changes within the field
  When you join a professional organization, you will receive their print and online publications -- newsletters, journals, and, in some cases, books and other materials. All of these resources help you learn even more about the field and its emerging trends and concerns.

There are professional organizations for just about any field or career you can imagine. The trick is finding them. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you get started.

A good place to start your search is with the Encyclopedia of Associations, which you can find in your campus or career library. Use the encyclopedia’s keyword index to find groups that might relate to the career you have in mind.

Next, ask your professors and a career counselor for the names of local, regional, state, national or international professional organizations they’re aware of in your field of interest.

Once you find a group’s Web site, look for links such as career information, jobs, college students, and the like. Also, keep an eye out for any printed career publications you can order (usually for free or a very nominal fee), and read through the group’s membership information to see if you can join as a student.

As you learn more about professional organizations in different career fields, you’ll begin to more fully understand how they can benefit you from a career standpoint. But, you have to be aware enough to seek them out! Now you are. Good luck!