Climbing the career ladder can be challenging, especially for recent graduates. That’s why joining a professional organization that represents the field new workers are entering is a solid investment. 

A professional organization or association’s goal is to advance a specific occupation and support the needs of its members. Typically these groups collect membership dues, elect its leadership, and create committees working on issues related to the field. Professional organizations often hold conferences, publish member journals or newsletters, provide networking opportunities, and in some cases, offer certification programs. Some examples of professional organizations include the AMA (American Medical Association), ABA (American Bar Association), and NEA (National Education Association). Many support student chapters at universities and colleges.

Perhaps most noteworthy is that professional organizations provide a venue in which like-minded people can share experiences, provide one another with tips and insights, and offer industry-specific news. These organizations can enhance your career development in several ways:

1. Boost your résumé. Future employers will like seeing that a potential hire wants to continually improve by being part of a professional group. Hirers often assume that an individual who has joined a professional organization has a good work ethic and positive attitude.
2. Expand your network. A primary purpose for joining professional groups is to meet people who can become part of your network. Many groups offer networking events, but even if they do not, you are part of an organization in which all the members share something in common, thus providing networking possibilities you can create on your own.
3. Provide job listings and/or spaces devoted to post résumés. Recruiters in an industry frequently turn to professional organizations when looking for talent. Likewise, these groups provide a space for job seekers to upload their résumés.
4. Offer continuing education. Professional organizations link members to continuing education opportunities, from finishing a degree to pursuing a higher degree or gaining certifications.
5. Follow industry trends. Few organizations will know more about trends affecting an industry or profession than these associations. News, insider information, upcoming changes that affect the profession—no place is more up-to-date on this valuable information than professional groups.
   

Whether you are looking for ways to grow or meeting new people, joining a professional organization is a smart career move.

Discussion

1. Why is it a good idea to join a professional organization while you are still in school?
2. How would you go about finding a professional organization in a field that interests you?
3. What are some other benefits beyond those named above of being part of a group of professionals?

Source: Moran, A. (2024, July 17). The role of professional organizations in career advancement. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com

As we begin a new academic year, it’s an apt time to review grading practices. No small part of that is to define what constitutes the grade of A.

Not too long ago grades were clearly delineated.  An A stood for excellence; a B was the result of solid work that fell short of excellence; a C was average; a D was barely passing; and an F was a failing grade. However, a recent article in The Chronicle newsletter noted that the huge emphasis on grades in the world of work today has led to grade inflation. The Chronicle is calling for a redefinition of A–level work in college.

Today, grades are more than an evaluative examination of a student’s performance in a specific class. Grades sort students into who is accepted into popular college majors and who gains admittance to competitive graduate programs. In some cases, parents with high expectations of their offspring are behind the push for As. The drive for high marks also includes high-stakes outcomes such as holding onto grants and scholarships that are dependent on grades. And because GPAs are commonly requested of new grads looking for work, As have become critical outside of academe.

So, what should an A indicate? When the The Chronicle asked professors what merits an A, most included the phrase mastery of the material. Professors said that As were indicative of a student who had absorbed course objectives and showed excellence in all facets of the course: knowledge and application of skills taught, active participation, and attention to detail.

Still, the pressure to earn As is so great for many students that anything less than an A is distressing. For instructors, the pressure to give As is nearly as intense.

The higher demands for high grades and the frequency with which they are awarded, the less they mean. Thus, the way educators define an A has become increasingly fraught.

Classroom Discussion

1. How do you think grade inflation affects the opinions of people outside of academic institutions who look at GPAs?
2. Do you think instructors should consider anything other than class performance when awarding grades?
3. What do you think should earn you an A in your business communication course?

Supiano, B. (2024, May 2.) What does an A really mean? Teaching Newsletter, The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Showing grit—the ability to persevere despite obstacles and distractions—is a term that is tossed around a lot. There’s a reason for that: It’s the number one people skill employers look for when hiring.

As companies struggle to stay afloat in the ever-changing economy, an employee who demonstrates the willingness to work through difficulties to meet a goal is likely to be retained when firms are forced to make staff cuts—and will get hired in the first place.

Take the story of a young applicant who responded to an interview question about her past work experience by explaining how she peeled shrimp three hours a day at a seafood restaurant. Although restaurant experience had nothing to do with the job she was going for, the hirer knew a hard worker when he saw one—anyone who has shelled shrimp knows that it’s a tough job. The recruiter admired her work ethic and the candidate nailed the interview.

Every employer wants people who work hard, but being able to illustrate that trait goes a long way to convincing the interviewer that the claim is real. Therefore, when interviewing, candidates should be ready to talk about how they have overcome failure, how they’ve adapted to the changing needs of a situation, and how they have gone above and beyond what was expected. Bringing up the ability to maintain focus during a long-term project is another situation that requires grit, and employers will respond positively to the applicant who can speak to that issue, too.

Future employers will also respond to hearing about how a candidate has dealt with high-pressure situations and whether they view a challenge as a chance to grow. They’ll also want to know that the job seeker has goals and the plans to achieve them.

If during an interview the concept of grit has not come up, one hiring pro advises interviewees to bring it up themselves and provide an example of how they persevered through a tough situation to complete a goal. Every hiring manager or recruiter will want to hear about that!

Discussion

1. What experiences have you had that can demonstrate your ability to push through difficult situations?
2. In the current job climate, why do you think grit is such a desirable trait to possess?
3. Can you explain why employers link grit with passion in the workplace?

Smith, M. (2024, February 14). The No. 1 trait employers are looking for right now—and how to show you have it, according to 19-year hiring pro. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com