If you are just starting your career, are looking to change careers, or are actively advancing your career, consider it essential to explore or join a professional association in your industry. Professional associations can be a treasure trove of resources, offering everything from training, advocacy and networking opportunities. Their websites often include the latest research, news, publications, and available jobs and internships. Plus, many have student and young professional memberships, as well. 

Here’s How to Get Started

GoinGlobal’s career and employment resources, which are developed by subject-matter experts, provide valuable industry insights and are a reliable place to source professional associations by location for 120 of the largest metropolitan areas worldwide.

In our Country Career Guides, choose your country of interest and seek out ‘Hiring Opportunities’, click ‘Employment and Industry Trends’ and then ‘Industry Opportunities.’ Industries are listed in alphabetical order. The associated professional associations are listed at the bottom of each industry page.

Similarly, in our Global City Career Guides, seek out your city of interest and under ‘Hiring Opportunities’, click ‘Employment and Industry Trends’ and then ‘Industry Associations.’ 

Finally, in our US City Career Guides, choose your city and find ‘Professional and Personal Networking,’ click ‘Professional Associations’ and then the desired industry.

As an example, if you’re involved in an Information Technology (IT) field, here is an abbreviated excerpt of one of our curated lists of professional associations for Austin, TX USA:

Austin, TX (GoinGlobal U.S. City Guide)

Information/Communication Technology

Austin Tech Alliance
https://www.austintech.org
This group promotes civic engagement within the capital area’s tech sector. Through its non-partisan ‘informed.vote’ initiative, the group encourages newcomers to the region to register to vote and works to inform its members about local and state issues in upcoming elections. Events are listed on the website.

Austin Technology Council
https://www.austintechnologycouncil.org
The Austin Technology Council’s mission is to provide knowledge and access to its members in aspects of capital, talent, business mentoring and networking. The group’s Policy Coalition lobbies elected officials and policymakers on behalf of tech and innovation companies in Central Texas. Its website includes a calendar of events.

Austin Women in Technology
https://www.awtaustin.org
This non-profit organization serves the interests of women working in technology in the public sector by offering opportunities for professional development, education and networking. The website includes an events calendar.

Cofounders Austin by the Techmap
https://www.meetup.com/CoFounder-Austin
This 4,800-member group organizes ‘pitch events’ where entrepreneurs may network and research investment opportunities. The group, which works through the Techmap platform, is open to software designers and developers, hardware architects and students. Meetings and contact information are listed on the website.

IEEE Computer Society – Austin Chapter
https://r5.ieee.org/ctx-cs/
The Computer Society, a group within the IEEE, has tens of thousands of members worldwide. The group publishes industry-specific magazines and journals, and hosts dozens of conferences every year. Members receive a subscription to Computer.

Society for Information Management (SIM) – Austin Chapter
https://www.austinsim.org/
SIM Austin provides networking opportunities for managers in the technology and business fields. The chapter usually holds an evening meeting on the second Tuesday of the month. The national organization offers face-to-face meetings and networking programs, such as the SIMposium and CIO roundtables. It maintains online tools that include on-demand webinars and a virtual library of industry whitepapers. It also publishes SIM News and MIS Quarterly Executive, filled with up-to-date IT news.

Technology Advisors Group (TAG)
www.tagaustin.org
This group provides a forum for the exchange of information among Austin’s business professionals and the high-tech community. TAG members, who include technologists, service providers and business leaders, meet monthly for breakfast and a speaker. A calendar of upcoming events is included on the website.

Women in Technology International (WITI) – Austin Chapter
https://www.witi.com/networks/austin
WITI Austin provides a forum for professional women to network, share resources and discover opportunities in the technology industry. Women in Technology International is a trade association for tech-savvy women. The website features a career center where members can search for jobs, create and post a resumé, and research companies.

Using GoinGlobal for Career Development 

GoinGlobal Career Guides have an average of 500 resources per guide, topics range from top job sites and industry trends to work permit regulations and resume/CV guidelines. Resources include both English and non-English sources, making GoinGlobal an ideal employment tool set for students and professionals of all nationalities. Contact the career center staff or alumni association at your college/university for support in preparing or advancing your career and for getting the most out of GoinGlobal resources.*

*Access to GoinGlobal’s resource database is provided through subscribing institutions. Contact your college/university’s career center or library for access instructions.