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In addition to the more obvious benefits that professional
and technical societies offer, such as job banks, insurance,
industry publications, continuing education services,
and information on technical advances in the industry,
these organizations also provide opportunities to contribute
to the profession and to society through volunteering,
and they offer members opportunities for learning career
advancement skills. By participating in conferences
and fairs, for example, you can improve your ability
to work in groups, hone your public speaking skills
and become well known among other mechanical engineers
in your specialty.
Most jobs are still secured through personal contacts
such as those made through professional and technical
societies. It pays to join and become active in these
organizations.
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best experience, by far, has been being an intern
on the Board of Governors, under the leadership
development program. There's an opening right now
on the Knoxville Utilities Board of Directors, and
I think that my experience, with my technical background,
qualifies me to at least apply for that job, which
under normal circumstances a person at my point
in career would never be able to do. And to have
that large-scale vision of an international organization
with a multi-million-dollar budget, and managing
the needs of the membership around the world, is
something that has given me a view of the world
my peers will never get. - Kathryn Ingle, Consulting
Engineer, KT Enterprises |
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