Want a new job? Don’t overlook IABC.
Often when I go to an IABC chapter meeting, someone will ask, “How many of you got a job or a client through your IABC connections?” Usually almost every hand in the room goes up. Warren Bickford, who moved to Vancouver in the last year, told me that the local IABC chapter was excellent source for hiring new employees for his department.
Now the Wall Street Journal confirms my anecdotal experience. In today’s paper an article with the headline, “If You Want to Stand Out, Join the Crowd,” quotes a number of recruiters who say that they look at the membership of associations for potential candidates. They are especially interested in members who are involved in association activities. As one recruiter says, “‘It never hurts to be involved in associations…You become more visible to recruiters and it shows you are committed to staying on the cutting edge of your profession.”
The recruiters interviewed for the article said they seek out hires at meetings, conferences and other association events. They also look on association job boards for candidates. As one recruiter says, “All the good candidates seem to belong a particular association and the ones who aren’t as skilled usually don’t. [emphasis mine]
Job seekers, according to the article, “say belonging to a professional association also allows them to easily connect with others in their field, which often results in job referrals and provides useful insights.” They think the cost of membership is far less than the cost of career coach, who typically charges between $100 and $250 an hour.
The job seekers prefer networking at association events to “schmoozing” at non-industry settings. “‘Members will spend a little extra time with you because there is a connection.’”
One of my commons themes about IABC is that it helps members advance their careers and find new opportunities. This article shows that I wasn’t just making that up.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Not only was I recruited to five of my past jobs because of my IABC involvement, I receive calls from recruiters seeking my referrals of potential candidates. Internal and external recruiters have found my name on the IABC Website and will ask me if I can refer members who own their own businesses (interested in contract work) or who have let me know that they are “in the market” for a new job.
I’d also suggest that it’s more than simply belonging, you have to get involved. Volunteering for various positions with IABC has helped other people see, experience, and assess my skills and abilities.
So, if anyone is interested in raising their profile with potential employers, I’m always ready and willing to accept volunteers!
August 16th, 2007 at 5:36 am
I meet a fair number of IABC members at local Chapter events who are either out-of-work or are consultants looking for clients. I am the lone communications professional within my company, and my budget does not allow for additional staff or outside services from consultants.
Julie and Todd, based on your experience, what would you suggest to IABC chapter members as ways to support job seekers and consultants?
August 16th, 2007 at 5:42 am
Todd,
I’d like to second your point about getting involved. I am frequently astonished by the number of people who join IABC to network and improve career prospects, but who don’t actually come to meetings or make themselves visible by getting involved. I’ll recommend someone I’ve seen in action well before someone I know in name only. But people need to take those commitments to the association seriously. If someone has let me down in the association context, I’ll be frank in my referral about that person’s weaknesses, because I assume that’s how they are in the office too.
Kristen
August 16th, 2007 at 8:26 am
The majority of my work for employers came as a direct result of IABC contacts and networking, but the key is to be invovled with the organization at a level far beyond just attending an occasional luncheon or event. This concept is a direct benefit of IABC membership that should be publicized in all communications and marketing materials. We tend to only focus on tangible benefits with service delivery from IABC headquarters rather than focus on some intangibles, such as the result of networking.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Tom–
In my local chapter (before I came to San Francisco), if someone came who was looking to fill a job, he or she would stand up and say so during the time when we were making announcements and introductions. We also allowed members seeking jobs to post a short notice in the chapter newsletter. Sometimes job seekers would bring resumes to chapter meetings, but I am not sure what kind of results they got from that.
I think it is important not to expect that just showing up at a chapter meeting will result in a job lead. Networking pays off more indirectly. The benefit comes from establishing a longer relationship than just a 10 minute conversation during the pre-luncheon mixer. As Todd, Scott and Kristen have suggested, getting involved in a committee or project is an excellent way to build those relationships. Through volunteer work members have more time to talk to other members. A job lead may spring up during a conversation about something else. Volunteer work also demonstrates to others the job seekers’ skills.
So, IABC does not provide a direct line from A to B, but it does form connections that do pay off.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:30 am
As a proud member of the “I got my job through an IABC contact” club, I agree with the others saying it takes more than showing up. And the people who join just to get job leads are easy to spot. Like anything else in life, you really don’t get something for nothing.
Get involved and take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills. And most importantly, develop friendships (not just “a network”) — I’ve made some great friends, both locally and around the world, by being involved in IABC. I landed my first job with my current employer not only through a personal referral from a member, but also because of the experience I gained through a variety of IABC volunteer roles.
Once you take the time to bake the cake, the icing will come — often when you least expect it.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:08 am
There’s also the indirect value of having good conversations with fellow pros. Whether in a formal setting (having one’s resume reviewed at the annual Resume and Networking evening in Washington), or informally over pints after a chapter meeting, conversations with other pros can open up opportunities by getting people to broaden their focuses and the way they define themselves to the market.
One area in which the interdisciplinary nature of IABC (and particularly of local chapters) is beneficial is that it offers access to contacts and to content in fields beyond one’s current specialisation. And for some, this benefit proves more useful than any direct referrals and job leads.