Recruiters and job seekers alike are striving to essentially do the same thing -- meet the right person to fill the bill. For job seekers, there's a desire to find the person who will point them in the direction of the career opportunity. On the other side of the coin is the recruiter who's looking for the person who has the experience, expertise, and education. Each of them goes "fishing" using the usual bait, the job board and the resume databanks. Those are great places to start, as those venues have a very valid purpose in their existence. However, there are other venues that prove to be even more effective for results - personal contact at association meetings.

One of the significant aspects of associations is that a large number of those in a particular discipline are interested in gaining more information about their practice. They come together on a regular basis. All of these people have similar professional interests. Reputations are known. They know who's who in the industry and if they don't know how to contact them, then they know someone who does.

Because of their association, there's a commonality in regard to conduct, motivation, education. They speak a certain industry lingo that everyone understands, which means that certain terms have a particular meaning and are used regularly by the members. That vocabulary is also indicative of a certain level of expertise. In addition, members are involved to one degree or another. The ones who hold some office or involvement in committee work are developing further expertise as well as leadership. It's a wonderland of finding those who exemplify the two most valued buzz words in the recruiting industry -- "qualified" and "talented."

The attractiveness of associations is actually getting to talk with real, live people. They aren't some faceless, voiceless, ethereal entity in some remote location. They're corporeal. They have real experience, to one degree or another, in the industry. They have outside interests that drive why they're doing what they're involved in. They laugh, they get passionate about business issues, they're outgoing and enjoy being connected with others of similar thought. Meeting them at these meetings, whether a recruiter or a fellow member, is tantamount to doing a preliminary screening interview. You go away thinking, "This one worked. I want to stay in touch with them."

For job seekers, whether active or passive, these networks hold countless opportunities if you know how to function within them using the proper style. These are the people who can either show you the ropes or allow you to build the rope. For newcomers, these are the places to be in order to get acquainted with what the industry concerns and protocols are. Shop talk is bountiful and beneficial. For the recruiter, this shop talk is just what the doctor ordered. For either player in the job search and job promotion "game," associations are a great means of opening up the channel of contacts.