ABSTRACT
A professional organization is a group of practitioners within a particular field who join together to complete tasks that they typically cannot complete with their individual efforts. Special interest groups (SPIGs) are subgroups within professional organizations. They allow professionals and students with similar interests to engage in dialogue and activities that focus on a specific topic within the broader profession. Many professional organizations are now using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other forms of social media to engage their members and inform the public of their activities. Some regional organizations stand completely alone and operate independently from the national organization Eastern Psychological Association vs American Psychological Association. Active membership in professional organizations is essential to a successful job search. For students of color, these organizations provide access to a professional network that they may not encounter otherwise, thereby leveling the playing field.
