--- title: "We Asked, You Answered: What Career Advice Would You Give to Association Newbies?" id: "54948" type: "post" slug: "we-asked-you-answered-what-career-advice-would-you-give-to-association-newbies" published_at: "2022-08-14T22:03:13+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T15:10:46+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/08/14/we-asked-you-answered-what-career-advice-would-you-give-to-association-newbies/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/08/14/we-asked-you-answered-what-career-advice-would-you-give-to-association-newbies.md" excerpt: "Earlier this month, we asked readers what career advice they would offer to people who are new to the association industry. From building relationships to leaning into curiosity, people served up plenty of food for thought." taxonomy_category: - "Career Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "advice" - "AssociationsNow" - "New to Associations" - "Professional Development" - "professional growth" - "Workplace" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Employee (Non-Manager)" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Early Career" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » We Asked, You Answered: What Career Advice Would You Give to Association Newbies? As we learned a few months back, people [really do love working in associations](https://associationsnow.com/2022/02/we-asked-you-answered-what-do-you-love-about-working-in-associations/) . In that same spirit, we recently asked readers what advice they would share with those who are new to the world of associations. Their words of wisdom touched on everything from the importance of engagement, to being a team player, to asking questions and getting input. Here’s a look at some of the responses we received. ### Hannah Andrews *Director, Digital Learning, Endocrine Society* Your customers aren’t individuals you may never see again; they are members who expect a consistent, quality experience across all facets of their engagement in the organization. ### Christine DeJoy *Senior Editor, Helicopter Association International* You must be a team player to succeed in and feel fulfilled by association work, because in a member-focused organization, all departments will ultimately work together to achieve one central goal: protecting and advocating for your members’ interests. To excel at this objective, staff must not only work well together within their departments but also with their colleagues across the association. ### Katharine Nesslage *Director of Membership and Conferences, Nonprofit Risk Management Center* Tap into your childhood self and pose questions all the time. Ask your coworkers, from across all departments, for their input as they see things from a different angle than you do. Inquire with vendors for what strategies other associations have implemented and ideas they think might be a good fit for your organization. ### Stephen Legault, CAE *Director of Knowledge, Learning, and Assessment, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians* Find something that interests you in the work your members do and use that as your doorway to a better understanding of the association as a whole. When I started in associations, I came in straight from frontline social service work as a social worker working with people in temporary housing. Supply- chain-focused association content was completely different, but I found the humanitarian side of supply chain work fascinating and ended up using that as my foothold to dig deeper into the work members were doing. Ultimately, that helped develop my overall interest in the association and how it functioned to support our members. ### Jessica Keeler *Executive Director, Pennsylvania Optometric Association* I would advise someone new to associations to be flexible. Those who excel in association management can successfully deal with the constant change and many curve balls that are thrown at them. Your day rarely goes as planned. You may be asked to do something that is “not in your job description.” If you are open to change, have a positive attitude, and a team player, this is a career that is fulfilling and never boring! ### Tim Hopkins, CAE *Practice Director, McKinley Advisors* There is an association for everything. And within many associations, you have the chance to wear multiple hats to gain invaluable experience throughout your career. I highly suggest approaching the industry with a curious mind, open heart, and desire to do good in the world. Eventually your experience, skills, and passion will align. It’s the beauty of a mission-based industry doing noble work. (Scar1984/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Tags: [#advice](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advice/) [#New to Associations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/new-to-associations/) [#Professional Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-development/) [#professional growth](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-growth/) [#Workplace](https://associationsnow.com/tag/workplace/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoASAE’s The ExchangeApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/asaes-the-exchange/) - [VideoChristine Diedrich Shares Her CAE JourneyApril 25, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/25/christine-diedrich-shares-her-cae-journey/) - [PodcastBridging the Gap: Career Development in AssociationsApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/bridging-the-gap-career-development-in-associations/) - [VideoTara Barker Shares Her CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/tara-barker-shares-her-cae-journey/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2022%2F08%2F14%2Fwe-asked-you-answered-what-career-advice-would-you-give-to-association-newbies%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !