5 Ways Affinity Groups Can Boost Your Career
If you work for a corporation with a focus on diversity and inclusion, chances are that your employer sponsors affinity groups for various communities, including groups for women, veterans, employees with disabilities and more.
An affinity group, sometimes called an employee resource group, is a group of colleagues with a common interest or goal. Members typically share certain characteristics or experiences but welcome outsiders as well.
What you may not know is how taking advantage of these groups, with their educational and community service opportunities, can boost your career while putting a spring in your step. So, how can you tap into this community goldmine of events, resources and opportunities? And what are the benefits of joining?
1. Networking. Instead of holding a sandwich in one hand as you type furiously with the other during your lunch hour, why not take that hour to go to the conference room where a speaker is talking about her experiences in Iraq? Or perhaps you can attend a Latin American-themed taste-testing open house during lunch.
Employers pour focus -- and money -- into these emerging affinity groups for a reason. Why not see what they have to offer? In addition to having something interesting to do during lunch or after hours, meeting people expands your internal network and opens up other departments if you choose to make an internal move.
2. Volunteering. Depending on your company's groups and their structures, opportunities may emerge to volunteer on a committee. Take advantage of that chance to work alongside others on a project that's not directly related to your job and bolster your skills. Another option? Volunteer to speak at an upcoming event. In turn, this will boost your presentation skills.
Again, depending on your company, you may not need to join a specific group outside of registering for individual events on the internal website. Each organization may vary in its communication endeavors, scope of events and attendance trackers. But take advantage of the opportunity to get involved, flex new skills or hone existing ones in the process.
3. Having fun. The pressure's off. As you gain new perspective by speaking to members within these groups, there's usually a lighter energy to them than grinding out your monthly budget reports for the finance department.
In turn, by keeping things light and enjoying the events each group has to offer, you can let your hair down as you're learning, growing and reaping the rewards of the group's initiatives.
4. Learning. If you've ever regretted not studying abroad in college or not taking an art history class for fun, this one's for you.
A whole world beckons beyond your daily routine. For participants in affinity groups, that means learning something new, expanding your mind and exploring various communities. This is not unlike an employee assistance program. If your company offers free or discounted counseling services or other perks, by all means tap into them.
In the case of diversity and inclusion, chances are you'll feel inspired and more worldly. When was the last time you took a field trip for an hour during the day? When did you last attend a cocktail reception immediately after work that was outside the realm of your day-to-day?
These groups typically have budgets courtesy of corporate. So, did we mention the cost? That's right, typically there isn't one.
5. Connecting with colleagues. Who says that you have to go it alone? For instance, if your company is sponsoring a wreath-laying ceremony for veterans on Veterans Day, why not attend with several colleagues?
Various events could be opportunities to bolster relationships with your team, even if a weak bond exists. The shared experience will provide you with something to build upon and take back with you to the office, especially if you decide to volunteer on a committee together.
An organization's initiatives are meant to strengthen its employees, environment and their connection to each other. Take advantage of the offerings and explore what each group has to offer. You never know what other benefits you may get out of it. You'll only find out by participating.
Vicki Salemi is a career expert for Monster, a global leader in connecting people to jobs. She utilizes her more than 15 years of experience in corporate recruiting and human resources to empower job seekers with insights and firsthand knowledge from the halls of HR. A public speaker and consultant, Vicki is the author of "Big Career in the Big City," and former creator/host/producer of MediabistroTV's "Score That Job."
