As an association professional, you often find yourself working across different industries, but you bring a unique set of skills in association management and member engagement. As Joanne Phillips mentioned in her interview, "Every association will passionately defend what makes them special, but the common thread is the passion within the community."

Connecting with professionals in the association world is crucial. Attend industry events, conferences, and networking mixers. Build relationships with key players, seek informational interviews, and look for mentorship opportunities. Donna South highlighted, "A member's a member, and at the core of a member usually is a person. It’s about building relationships."

Continuously enhance your expertise by attending workshops, webinars, and training programs tailored to association professionals. Pursue certifications relevant to your desired role, such as Certified Association Executive (CAE) or Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). In her interview, Joanne Phillips discussed the importance of CAE certification.

Seek out opportunities that allow you to develop essential skills such as event planning, member engagement, advocacy, or project management. This variety of experiences will make you more adaptable and valuable. As Donna South shared, "The skills you need to be successful in an association role are transferable and can come from any job you’ve had before".​