BUS 300 - Business Professional Development

Why seek out an association or organization?

• To learn what is going on in a specific industry or profession! Tips for reviewing association or organization websites:
   
  1. Read the "about us" to learn the mission, purpose, and vision of the association or organization.
      
  2. Look for events, conferences, trade shows, or training that you (as a future professional) may want to participate in?
      
  3. Are there additional "resources" or "data/statistics" link on the site? Look for newsletters, publications, data, and trade journals of interest. Read these items to understand the goings-on of an industry/profession. *Note don't pay for access to materials listed here, ask your librarian for access to any trade journals that may be behind a "pay wall."

Locate an Association or an Organization

Try a Library database  

1. First Research (Note: you will need to hit the following buttons:
   continue, continue, submit to reach the search page).

Search for an industry that you are interested in working, not a job title! 

Example: ​​Want to work in fitness? Search fitness as a keyword

• Multiple results will be displayed
   
• Select the "most relevant" industry. You may need to read more that one industry profile.
   
• Open an industry report and then, use the left-hand navigation (image shown right)
   
  • Websites & Acronyms
    • Often lists Associations/Organizations
  • Read the call prep questions
  • Executive insights
  • Visit other sections as needed.

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Google:

Use Google and craft a search.  Search strategies example are shown below.

Search for either an association or an organization

Search strategy using a domain limiter