How to Achieve Your Career Goals through Membership in a Professional Association
Whether you’re just starting out, are the CEO or heading towards retirement, you have career goals. Goals to move up, make a difference and get things done. Forbes.com posted Five Winning Career Resolutions to Bring Into 2024 that focus on the power of learning, networking, establishing your professional brand, making specific and achievable goals and seeking feedback from others. Where can you find what you need to achieve these goals?
Membership in a professional association, like the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT), can fuel motivation and drive to help you supercharge your career. Professional associations understand your journey and the industry you are working in. Here’s how to make the most of your association membership.
Expand your network with like-minded professionals.
Who you know brings value to your company and your future. NASTT members know the ins and outs, have experienced the highs and lows, explored ideas, worked through challenges and are ready to share their know-how. You’ll make these connections when you volunteer and get involved with short-term projects like award selection, help plan events, provide guidance for lifelong learning opportunities or inspire the future of the profession through student and educator focused committees.
Grow as a professional.
Exclusive education and training through in-person and virtual conferences and seminars supports your certification goals, grows your skillset and increases your marketability. NASTT’s new Knowledge Hub (coming soon) will provide access to more than 3000 technical papers from award-winning authors about celebrated trenchless projects easily searchable and downloadable.
Make your mark in the trenchless community.
Association membership sends a message. It says you invest your time, energy and resources – on top of office hours – to build the most successful business possible with a commitment to quality, growth and innovation. Plus, award programs and leadership opportunities elevate your professional brand. Trade shows allow you to tell trenchless professionals all about your products and services to key decision makers, project managers, manufacturers and operators.
Keep your finger on the pulse of the profession.
Things are constantly changing – especially technology. NASTT brings you emerging trends, innovative technologies, and who’s who in the profession so you can keep up to date on the information you need to stay on the cutting edge of the industry,
Bring new opportunities and star players to your business.
Drive growth for you business when you develop stronger vendor and customer relationships, find new collaborators and interact with up-and-coming and diverse talent. Read about who’s who in the profession in NASTT magazines and newsletters and meet them at local chapter events.
Connect with or be a mentor.
With members at every stage of their career, NASTT gives you access to a wide spectrum of members to give or receive support. advice and mentorship wherever you are in your career journey. Membership directories, events and volunteer activities help you easily connect to ask for feedback and identify areas you could improve upon.
Have a voice in the industry.
NASTT is a leader in the trenchless profession — the largest professional association dedicated to trenchless technology. Members, volunteers and board members look out for what’s best for your business and customers and build relationships with other leaders in the profession to keep it growing to its full potential.
Make a difference.
You can use your membership to share your knowledge with other businesses and promote a stronger sense of community. Plus, your support of NASTT student scholarships builds the pipeline of trenchless professionals.
When you join a professional association, you demonstrate your professionalism and commitment to the trenchless industry. Feature your membership on your resume and be sure to share how belonging supported your initiatives as part of your performance reviews.
For more information about NASTT, visit nastt.org or contact membership@nastt.org.
Carolyn Hook, NASTT Membership Outreach & Database Manager
