Professional bodies

Getting your degree is a great way to get a job, but in some professions you will need the backing of a professional organisation in order to progress up the career ladder.

How do I join a professional body?

Full membership of professional organisations is usually reached by study and this often begins at degree level, as undergraduate architects, engineers, accountants, lawyers and planners know. Most specialists also have the option of getting on-board through postgraduate courses – often possible after entering employment in the field.

Do I have to join a professional body?

In some careers, such as law and accountancy, there is no choice about whether to join up; for others, like people in marketing, HR and purchasing, the individual is free to weigh up the pros and cons. In making the decision, the effort and cost involved in gaining professional membership should be a consideration. Combining work and study is demanding.

What are the benefits?

The obvious reward for all the hard work is an enhanced status. The member is recognised as a specialist by other professionals, which should bring extra earning power and promotion.

While the paper qualification is important, membership also assists professionals by enabling them to become part of a professional community that shares knowledge. There may be local branches and interest groups who can help your career.

Professional organisations provide a further important service to members in lobbying and campaigning on the profession’s behalf. Apart from increasing their earning power, those who join the relevant body are helping themselves by upholding the image and standard of their profession.

Are there different kinds of membership?

Although professional organisations all their own ways of doing things, they typically have several grades of membership. For example, at the Chartered Institute of Marketing these range from affiliate through to associate, full member, fellow and chartered marketer. The associate is the one who has achieved a marketing diploma or degree and has a marketing job. Further progress is achieved by a combination of employment experience and continuing professional development.