ATA🤝

Being part of an association can be important for many reasons, including:

1. Professional development: Associations can offer opportunities for training, certification, and skill development. They can also provide access to exclusive resources, workshops, and educational opportunities. 

2. Networking: Associations can provide opportunities to meet new people, build connections, and develop mentorship relationships. 

3. Recognition: Being recognized by your peers within your profession or industry can be an impressive way to boost your resume. 

4. Staying informed: Associations can keep members informed and educated through continuing education offerings, webinars, and information sessions. This can help professionals and businesses stay on top of breaking industry trends and regulatory changes. 

5. Sense of belonging: Associations can provide a sense of being part of something bigger than yourself. It may take some time to see a return on your investment in an association, so it's important to be patient.

You can try to stick it out for a few years, and if you need to leave, you can keep in touch with the people you connected with.

The "ATA Guide to Starting Out as a Translator" e-book mentions that the benefits of joining are as follows: 

1. Enhance your network: ATA members enjoy discounts on networking opportunities and events, such as the Annual Conference.

2. Broaden your knowledge: ATA provides access to an enormous amount of information. Through The ATA Chronicle, the association’s official magazine, the twice-monthly ATA Newsbriefs newsletter, special interest email lists, webinars, podcasts, and e-books.

3. Keep tabs on industry developments and advocacy efforts: Our association keeps abreast of the impact that external factors such as legislation or new technology have on our profession. ATA is devoted to updating members about these changes and advocating for the profession, as well as empowering members to advocate for themselves.

4. Online directory listing, where potential clients can filter and search to find your contact information to request your professional services.

5. Industry resources with members-only access to The ATA Chronicle magazine archives.

6. Discounted products and services for translators and interpreters, such as CAT tools. 

7. The ATA Member-to-Member Program, where members receive a discount on products and services offered by other members.

8. Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance discounts.

"This video was originally published on American Translators Association: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmericanTranslatorsAssociationATA"