Membership in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) will help you take your HR knowledge to the next level. It is the largest HR association in the world and offers accurate, up-to-date information along with educational opportunities. Free educational webcasts and a monthly subscription to HR magazine are included in the annual membership. You will also receive reports and newsletters about workplace issues, national and state legislative updates, and articles to help you manage your staff legally.

Membership and renewals are about $160 per year with a reduced price for students of only about $35 per year. Prices are subject to change. Membership entitles you to research statistics on issues such as salary surveys, employment outlook, recruiting topics, and emerging issues that may affect the workplace. There are online discussion forums where members share best practices and consult each other for advice and input. Help with human resource questions is available via live chat, telephone, or e-mail.

The annual SHRM conference is the world's largest HR conference. SHRM also organizes an annual Staffing Management Conference and Exposition in the spring of each year. This conference is specifically for HR professionals involved in employment and staffing. The Employment Law and Legislative Conference is usually scheduled sometime in March and will teach you what you need to know about changes in federal compliance. Last, but not least, the October Workplace Diversity Conference and Exhibition will show you how to enhance diversity initiatives within your organization. All conferences span three days.

There are smaller chapters affiliated with SHRM that you can join. Annual dues still apply. PIHRA (Professionals in Human Resources Association) is in the greater Los Angeles area, NCHRA (Northern California Human Resources Association) is in northern California, and NEHRA (New England Human Resources Association) covers six states in the region.