Personnel Management Associations – It’s Your ChoiceAs a Human Resources Professional seeking resources, networking or educational opportunities, through membership in an industry-specific association, you won’t be disappointed in the choices available to you. Whether your HR office serves the public or private sector, or even a specific industry, you’ll discover state, national and international associations have evolved into powerhouse resources for today’s personnel management professionals. Let’s look at a few of the more established associations. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, the International Public Management Association for Human Resources has around 50 active chapters around the US, and others abroad. The IPMA-HR provides information and assistance to HR professionals working at the Federal, State and Local levels of government. Providing education and professional development, certifications, publications, and advocacy, this association is a premier non-profit organization for the public sector. Not limited to governmental professionals, the Society for Human Resource Management has more than 550 affiliated members in more than 100 countries. The SHRM’s mission is to provide the most essential and comprehensive resources available. Whether it’s educational resources, conferences, job placement services or volunteer resources you seek, this association is committed to serving a broad spectrum of HR professionals. The SHRM is a member of the World Federation of Personnel Management Associations, ensuring that global issues are addressed, as well. If your preferences keep you a little closer to home, many HR professionals will have the option of joining a state association for personnel management professionals. While the aforementioned associations have state chapters, other states offer their own societies. One such example is the Florida Public Personnel Association. The FPPA’s aim is to foster closer relationships among the statewide public personnel agencies. And finally, some HR professionals will be better served by industry-specific associations. One such organization is the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. The ASHHRA "is the nation’s only membership organization exclusively dedicated to meeting the professional needs of human resources leaders in healthcare.“ Professionals in other industries are encouraged to research the availability of associations within their own unique industries. The prevalence of organizational associations, and the broad range of organizations that have been developed to serve the personnel management professionals’ needs, is a reinforcement of the industry’s wide-reaching impact. When every individual in the workforce is supported – whether on a small or large scale – by one or more HR professionals, it’s no wonder the associations that support those professionals are flourishing. Those seeking the resources and support such associations provide can feel confident in choosing the right association for their needs. Choices abound! |