Trade and professional associations are treasure troves of information about the industries they represent, offering job listings, news about the industry and association, conferences, trade shows, seminars for continuing education, and membership directories, excellent for networking and job-hunting. Many also publish trade magazines or newsletters about their industry, which include articles on industry trends, legislation and regulations that affect the industry, and profiles of prominent people in the field.
Trade groups also offer membership benefits like discounts on products, services, and events they sponsor. Most have extensive websites, many with job listings. Some associations are for women or minorities only.
Advanced Medical Technology Associationwww.advamed.org202-783-8700
American Advertising Federationwww.aaf.org202-898-0089
American Association of School Administratorswww.aasa.org703-528-0700
American Bankers Associationwww.aba.com1-800-BANKERS
American Bar Associationwww.abanet.org312-988-5000
American Business Women’s Associationwww.abwa.org1-800-228-0007
American Correctional Associationwww.aca.org1-800-ACA-JOIN
American Counseling Associationwww.counseling.org1-800-347-6647
American Federation of Teacherswww.aft.org202-879-4400
American Hotel & Lodging Associationwww.ahla.com202-289-3131
American Institute of Certified Public Accountantswww.aicpa.org212-596-6200
American Library Associationwww.ala.org1-800-545-2433
American Management Associationwww.amanet.org212-586-8100
American Marketing Associationwww.marketingpower.com1-800-AMA-1150
American Nurses Associationwww.nursingworld.org1-800-274-4ANA
American Plastics Councilwww.americanplasticscouncil.org1-800-2-HELP90
American Psychological Associationwww.apa.org202-336-5500
American Society of Association Executiveswww.asaenet.org202-626-2700
Association of American Publisherswww.publishers.org212-255-0200
Association of Flight Attendantswww.afanet.org202-434-1300
Association for Women in Communicationswww.womcom.org410-544-7442
Computer & Communications Industry Associationwww.ccianet.org202-783-0070
Direct Marketing Associationwww.the-dma.org212-768-7277
Information Technology Association of Americawww.itaa.org703-522-5055
International Council of Shopping Centerswww.icsc.org646-728-3800
Military Officers Association of Americawww.moaa.org1-800-234-6622
National Association of Female Executiveswww.nafe.com1-800-927-6233
National Association of Manufacturerswww.nam.org202-637-3000
National Association of Purchasing Managementwww.napm.org1-800-888-6276
National Association of Realtorswww.realtor.org1-800-874-6500
National Association of Social Workerswww.naswdc.org202-408-8600
National Association of Stock Dealerswww.nasdr.com301-918-1800
National Restaurant Associationwww.restaurant.org202-331-5900
National Retail Federationwww.nrf.com1-800-NRF-HOW2
Public Relations Society of Americawww.prsa.org212-460-1490
Society for Human Resource Managementwww.shrm.org1-800-283-SHRM
Society of Professional Journalistswww.spj.org317-927-8000
Society for Technical Communicationwww.stc.org703-522-4114
Travel Industry Association of Americawww.tia.org202-408-8422
Women’s National Book Associationwww.wnba-books.org212-208-4629