Professional engineering organizations provide important support to engineers. These groups work to advocate on behalf of engineers, provide professional development opportunities, publish updates on the latest innovations and connect engineers to the community. Finding the right engineering organization can be the first step on the path to a successful career.
While more than half of workers find jobs through personal contacts, people’s personal networks shrank by 17% during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a 2020 article in the journal Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World. Professional organizations can increase people’s connections, leading to new opportunities. A strong network combined with an advanced degree, such as a Master of Engineering Management, can give professionals the edge they need in the engineering field.
How Professional Engineering Organizations Can Help Your Career
Engineering organizations can benefit members’ careers by providing support to new engineers. These organizations are filled with experienced veterans in the field, and can be a great source of job opportunities and resources for continued learning.
Engineering organizations can serve as mentor programs that assist mentees by introducing them to new experiences outside an education environment. A 2019 study from the IEOM Society International found that graduates in engineering mentor programs gained experiential learning and practical skills that led to career and professional development. Those who lack a strong network of their own would do well to consider joining an engineering organization.
10 Engineering Organizations
Each of these notable engineering associations has its own specialty, so consider your career goals when deciding which organizations to join.
1. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Responsible for accrediting engineering degree programs, this organization works to ensure the quality of engineering education. They also work to facilitate innovation in engineering through consulting with educational institutions and communicating with the public. The ABET’s work in promoting only the finest engineering programs helps engineers narrow the choice among accredited schools.
2. National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
This organization advocates for the needs of the professional engineering community and attracts professionals with a high degree of integrity. The NSPE promotes innovation, professional growth, teamwork, and professional licensure for its members.
3. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
This nonprofit organization focuses on regulating and providing education for engineers through the promotion of research, practice, and instruction. The ASEE has impacted many reputable programs, like Ohio University’s Master of Engineering Management.
4. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Devoted to aerospace engineering, this professional organization has a worldwide membership that influences standard policies and public laws regarding aerospace engineering. The standards it sets ensure the greatest ideas can become a reality.
5. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
The oldest engineering organization in the United States supports civil engineers in their profession while also serving the public. The ASCE strongly supports professionalism in civil engineers and the advancement of technologies that support civil engineering.
6. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
With shrewd attention to standards and regulation, this professional organization for mechanical engineers sets the codes and standards for mechanical devices to ensure quality and safety. The ASME stresses the importance of change while also embracing the long history of mechanical engineering. The organization also promotes education and innovation in this industry.
7. Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
This nonprofit association is the world’s largest society dedicated to the development of industrial engineering. Focused on the design, improvement, and installation of systems of people and processes, their mission is to help advance the field of industrial engineering through networking and sharing knowledge.
8. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
This nonprofit organization advocates for innovation, both in theory and practice, in electrical engineering and other disciplines. A primary focus of the organization is providing professional development and continued learning for engineers.
9. Order of the Engineer
Specifically for graduate engineers, this organization is uniquely focused on instilling pride and responsibility in the engineering community. Members subscribe to a code of ethics and indicate their membership by wearing a special ring on the little finger of their working hand.
10. Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
This nonprofit organization supports the education and advancement of women engineers and recognizes the significant achievements women make in this profession.
Pursue an Engineering Management Career
A great benefit of an online Master of Engineering Management program is that you can pursue your degree while maintaining your current position. In a program like Ohio University’s online Master of Engineering Management program, coursework dovetails with your current work, which can help improve your on-the-job performance and increase your opportunity for advancement.
Courses such as Foundations of Engineering Management and Information Systems Engineering offer graduates an educational edge and make them valuable members of any professional engineering organization. Find out how Ohio University’s Master of Engineering Management can help your career grow.
Recommended Reading
Civil Engineering Resource and Career Guide
Transition to a Higher Paying Engineering Management Salary
Important Skills to Become the Ultimate Engineering Manager
Sources:
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Society for Engineering Education
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Forbes, “Networking in Times of Social Restrictions”
Fortune, “The Young and Unemployed Need Better Networks”
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
Jobvite, “4 Reasons to Invest in Employee Referrals”
National Society of Professional Engineers
Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, Social Networks and Loneliness During the COVID-19 Pandemic