The Value of Professional Associations for Building Your Career

MONTVALE, N.J.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--With the stagnant economy and high unemployment rates, some job prospects remain strong, such as those in the accounting field. “Competition for accounting jobs is fierce, and as the profession changes, accountants need to master new knowledge and skills,” explained Sandra B. Richtermeyer, Ph.D., CMA, CPA, Chair of IMA (www.imanet.org) and chair of the Department of Accountancy at Xavier University’s Williams College of Business. “Being part of a professional organization can only strengthen one’s chances in the job search, regardless of which industry one is in.”

“Being part of a professional association not only benefits one’s own career development, but when employees keep pace with industry trends it can help improve the performance of the organizations where they work”

Dr. Richtermeyer advises that whether you’re a job seeker or a professional looking for new challenges or career development, professional associations – including IMA for those in finance and managerial accounting – offer great value to their members, especially in these challenging times. Professional associations can:

• Provide volunteer opportunities at the local and global levels. Professionals can enhance their leadership skills through volunteer work within the organization, as well as find speaking, mentoring, and publishing opportunities available through the association. This could lead to serving on the association’s board of directors.
• Offer access to a network of colleagues in the same field, which is valuable since often “who” you know is as important as “what” you know. Associations create networking communities of professionals with similar interests; by industry, job function, or geographic area.
• Provide access to expert information that reflects industry trends and primary research. This information can help you keep pace with changes in the profession.

• Deliver professional development opportunities, through certification programs (such as IMA’s CMA certification), courses, and local chapter meetings to continue one’s education. Some professions have continuing education credit requirements, which can be earned through an association’s learning resources. Completing courses or earning a certification can help job seekers demonstrate technical skills and give a competitive advantage.
• Demonstrate a commitment to your chosen profession. Along with adding the organization’s name to your résumé, you can develop new skills that you might not be able to acquire on the job.
• Offer career resources and job postings that may not be available elsewhere.

“Being part of a professional association not only benefits one’s own career development, but when employees keep pace with industry trends it can help improve the performance of the organizations where they work,” said Dr. Richtermeyer.

About IMA

IMA^® (www.imanet.org), the association for accountants and financial professionals in business, provides a forum for research, practice development, education, knowledge sharing, and advocacy of the highest ethical and best business practices. With a network of more than 60,000 professionals, IMA provides best-in-class certification, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA^®), for critical internal financial management responsibilities, including planning, budgeting, business reporting, decision analysis, and risk management. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.