At the beginning of this class I had to attend a military
transition course. It was a week long
course where I had to go to class dress attire that one would wear if they were
going on a job interview. I sat through
class after class about how to transition from being military personnel to
becoming a civilian. In the class they
address the many obstacles that I would run into when returning to the civilian
world. One of the obstacles that frightened me the most had to be searching for
a new job. With the job market being
what it is, and the fact that I have not had to do a job interview in quite a
few years this concern was at the for front of my mind. Whenever they mentioned anything about
starting a new career my ears would perk up, and would take very close notes. After a while be began to notice a pattern to
what each of the speakers said. They
stated that although it would be difficult to find a job one of the most common
was to get your foot into the door was to join and organization or volunteer to
do this thing called NETWORK. One thing
that I have learned over the years is that a lot of times it is more of who you
know, than what you know. With that
being said, in this discussion I will list four organizations that can help you
and I to use our communications skills to find work in our profession. These
organizations are not on this list for you and
I to use to find jobs, but they are there for you and I to use to spring
board us into jobs. Now that you
understand what this discussion is about let’s begin with our first
organization.
The American
Communication Association
What it is: The ACA is a not-for-profit virtual
professional association with actual presence in the world of communication
scholars and practitioners. ACA is
committed to enabling the effective use of new and evolving technologies to
facilitate communication instruction, research and criticism, and to offering a
technologically supportive venue for all who study the ways in which humans
communicate. While the Association is based in the United States, it is a
virtual organization that welcomes participation from academics and
professionals throughout the world.
How to join: Free membership, all you have to do is
sign-up for the ACA communication listserv.
They only as that you contribute to the dialogue by participating on the
listserv. This is nothing more than a
forum for its member to communicate.
How does this benefit you: This organization gives
you the opportunity to network with other communication professionals, and
keeps you abreast of the new communication technologies.
To join follow the steps on this website:
The Internet
Society
What it is: The
Internet Society engages in a wide spectrum of Internet issues, including
policy, governance, technology, and development. We establish and promote
principles that are intended to persuade governments to make decisions that are
right for their citizens and each nation’s future. Everything we do is based on
ensuring that a healthy, sustainable Internet is available to everyone – today
and for the next billion users.
How to Join: Membership is free, but the benefits are
huge. Gain access to Internet Society conferences, educational events, and
other unique opportunities. As a member of the Internet Society you also have
the chance to be a part of an incredible network of fresh-thinkers and
advocates for a sustainable, healthy Internet.
By becoming a member of this organization you will:
Have access to their open online forum which is your community to shape
the future of the Internet
Have your voice heard in critical policy debates that are shaping the
future of an open Internet
Have access to technical training and expertise
Apply for grants and fellowships that could help you make your
community, city, or country a better place
Take part in or support projects and education in emerging economies
Get the latest information that will help empower you to protect your
online privacy and identity
Through all of this you will be able to network with others in the
communication profession while being able to continue you learning and
practice of your communication skills.
To join sign up fill out the form on this website:
National
Communication Association (NCA):
What it is: The National Communication Association
advances communication as the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media
and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific and
aesthetic inquiry. The NCA serves the scholars, teachers, and practitioners who
are its members by enabling and supporting their professional interests in
research and teaching. Dedicated to fostering and promoting free and ethical
communication, the NCA promotes the widespread appreciation of the importance
of communication in public and private life, the application of competent
communication to improve the quality of human life and relationships, and the
use of knowledge about communication to solve human problems.
How to Join: There is a fee to join and one for
renewal every year:
The cost is $165 per year.
How does this benefit you: Like to other organization
this will allow you to keep abreast of any changes in the communication
industry, and it allow you to network with other communications
professionals. The annual fee allows you
to become a member into the NCA interest Groups, and this organization hold
conventions (at a monetary cost) which allow for more face time networking.
To join fill out the form on this website:
Society for Technical Communication (STC):
What it is: STC is the world's largest and oldest
professional association dedicated to the advancement of the field of technical
communication. The Society’s members span the field of the technical
communication profession and reach across every industry and continent. In
fact, the Society has members in almost 50 countries and is continuing to grow
rapidly outside of North America and Europe.
Through a growing global community, the Society and its
members set the global standards for technical communication. The Society’s
award-winning publications, Intercom and Technical Communication, are widely
read in the field of technical communication, and its annual conference is one
of the most-attended technical communication events of the year.
The Society, its geographic Chapters, and its Special
Interest Groups (SIGs) produce a wide array of educational events throughout
the year designed to advance the knowledge of members and promote technical
communication education globally. STC educational events regularly feature the
thought leaders and practitioners who represent the future of the profession.
How to join: There is a fee to join and one for
renewal every year.
The cost varies but the basic membership is $180
How does this benefit you: Like the other
organizations this one gives you the opportunity to network through their
conventions, and meetings, it also provides continuing education in the
Technical Communication Field. What this
organization offer that none of the aforementioned organizations offer is a job
bank. STC provides members with a robust Job Bank and Career Center where they
can search for career opportunities with leading organizations from around the
world. In addition to identifying career opportunities, members can access
resources designed to help technical communicators at every stage of their
careers. The STC Salary Database, based on the U.S. Department of Labor
Statistics, enables members to research their compensation level as well as
compare it to other metropolitan areas. Post a resume, search the job listings,
or create a personal job alert to let you know when jobs you want are
available. This service is free to members.
Employers and recruiters can review resumes and post jobs. Visit the Job
Bank page for pricing options and more to take advantage of the experience and
skills gained by hiring STC members.
To join fill out the form on this link:
Each of these
organizations has its own group of members.
They have their own group of benefits that they offer, but the one
benefit that all of them offer is the most important benefit that we will need
when we go out and pursuit our career goal in the communication field, and that
is NETWORKING. This word gives us that
foot in the door. It allows us to be
that person that HR departments talk about when they say “Have you hear about
(insert name here), and what he did in that organization…..”. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to
transition ourselves into success.
Comments
Post a Comment