Professional Knowledge

Developing professional knowledge and increasing professional abilities is a positive way for a person to influence his or her career. Paul Lyons (2008) states, "All professionals seek success in their career..." Knowledge, skill, and experience are important factors in developing and increasing people's ability to provide success in their career. Professional knowledge comes through training, education, and professional qualifications. Skill is a significant factor in developing a wide range of abilities. Paul Lyons (2008) provided an analogy using the game of golf; he said "You have a bag full of different clubs that you use as different situations arise. You will use some clubs more that other but over time you will use all the clubs in your bag." Experience is the value people provide to their employer. For example people with several years of work experience are viewed as valued assets to their company. Quality experience comes from a wide range of circumstances and situations. The potential for greater success in careers can be found by aligning with quality organizations.

By becoming a member of a professional organization, people can gain access to the organizations tools and resources that will give them the capability to increase professional knowledge and abilities. For example, a human resource manager will benefit from joining an organization such as the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). SHRM's goal is to advance the human resources profession through developing and executing organizational strategies to ensure the professional recognition of human resource managers (SHRM, 2010).

A human resource manager must be aware of current laws, regulations, and employment procedures that impact the profession. Society of Human Resource Management provides tools, education, and training in each human resource discipline that give human resource managers information to understand these changes and challenges. A recent example is the current tax break offered to companies that hire unemployed individuals. In doing so, the company will receive a temporary payroll tax break (SHRM, 2010). Society of Human Resource Management is a significant resource for obtaining additional training through online classes, webinars, and seminars that enable a human resource professional to increase his or her professional knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Organizations such as the Society of Human Resource Management provide a positive impact on a person's career success by providing additional resources directly related to the human resource profession. Along with additional experience, education, and knowledge available by being a member of organizations that focus on specific professions allows people to gain more knowledge and greater insight into their career. Being a member of the Society of Human Resource allows individuals to interact and network with other human