What are you doing with your professional membership?

Since I previously worked in Student Activities, I always ask people for more information about their professional activities. As a career adviser, it is always frustrating when a person can't talk about the organization, what they learned from it, why they belong or what they contributed. There isn't much reason to have it on the resume if this is the case.

Describing Current Involvement
Even if the answer is, "I'm a member," address why you are a member. "I attend the meetings to network with colleagues and discuss trends in the field," is a much fuller answer. While that answer doesn't change what you will write in the resume, it should change how you talk about it in an interview or while you are networking.

If you have volunteered, you can use the Activities section in your resume or LinkedIn profile to highlight accomplishments that showcase leadership skills, technical skills and other relevant transferable skills. Many employers prefer to see some activity within your professional groups.

Getting More Involved
Volunteering in your professional association is a great way to meet more people, build key skills and learn about relevant topics. It is always amazing how many people recognize me after I have helped with a registration table. They are more comfortable approaching me and open to me approaching them.

Previously, I used volunteer positions on conference planning committees to enhance the leadership skills I was building at work. And, I historically challenge myself to present on a particular topic as a way to immerse myself in it and further my own learning.

In what ways are you already/or plan to be involved with your professional groups?