Professional Associations
Professional associations, online and in real world encounters provide opportunities to network with leaders as well as colleagues in the field, and even if they produce no job leads, they can provide valuable information about one's career path. The associations have a continuing membership, as well as host terminal events. But always, one must remember professional associations are not specifically geared to job seekers, may be more targeted to established professionals, and can charge costly membership fees. They are a lifetime investment. So yes, professional associations for engineers, lawyers, doctors, and other professions all exist, and can be helpful, but their relative efficacy in networking and personal improvement often requires a financial investment that must be weighed...
The challenge is to use them well, especially as a young graduate.
Staffing agencies
Staffing agencies look for employers and act as middlepersons, often exposing the job seeker to a more diverse array of employment opportunities than the entry level positions hosted at a job fair. Staffing agencies like temp agencies or headhunters may seek to slot an individual in a less than desirable position, merely to get the commission from the employer, and may not be reputable, and even try to charge exorbitant fees. If one can find the 'right' agency, they can be helpful, provided one continues to network and job-seek on one's own, in case an alternative opportunity arises. This is provided one meets with the challenge of finding a reputable agency in the first place!
