• How does student membership differ from regular SHRM membership?
• Will membership in SHRM help me find a job after graduation?
• I'm studying business but I'm not an HR major, how would an SHRM membership benefit me?
• How much does it cost to be a student member?
• Can I join as a student member if I'm working full-time but also attending school?
• Do I have to join at the beginning of a semester or quarter?
• What happens if I graduate while I'm a student member, do I lose the remaining months on my membership?
• Whats does a SHRM student chapter do?
• If there is no SHRM chapter at my school, can I still be a member of the Society?

How does student membership differ from regular SHRM membership?

Regular (professional) membership is designed for individuals currently working in the HR field, while student membership is designed for individuals just exploring human resources and preparing to enter the profession. While students and professionals do receive many of the same benefits including subscriptions to the HRMagazine and HR News publications, and access to our online member directory, the memberships are different. For example, student members are not listed in the member directory and they have only limited access to the SHRM Information Center. The Information Center will provide free bibliographies, but no other research assistance to student members. For practitioners who plan to use SHRM for work-related support, the best choice is professional membership.

• You are enrolled in the equivalent of at least six (6) credit hours per term in a degree-seeking program.
• Your coursework, taken or planned, supports a demonstrated interest in HRM.

Student members receive many of the same benefits as professional members do, including subscriptions to the HRMagazine and HR News publications, and access to our online member directory. In addition, they receive the Echoes student newsletter, which is not available to professional members.

Will membership in SHRM help me find a job after graduation?

Yes. Job search books and placement studies all agree that 60%-70% of jobs are found through personal contacts, or networking. Becoming part of SHRM gives you access to our network of over 439 professional chapters and over 300 student chapters nationwide. While SHRM does not offer formal placement assistance, we do offer the opportunity to meet and build relationships with the HR professionals in your community who represent potential employers. Many of our student members have obtained entry-level jobs and internships--never advertised to the public--through the connections they made as active members of SHRM. Student members can also list their resume in the employment center at our annual conference, or distribute a chapter resume book to local professional chapters. To assist you in making contacts at specific companies or in a specific industry or geographical area, SHRM offers student members full use of the SHRM Member Directory, available in January 1997.

I'm studying business but I'm not an HR major, how would an SHRM membership benefit me?

One of the keys to success in any type of management is good interpersonal skills. Participating in an SHRM chapter will help you to better understand and develop these skills. In addition, many of the issues you will explore as a member of SHRM such as effective management practices, employee motivation, violence in the workplace, and sexual harassment, will be relevant to you whether you become an accounting manager, a sales manager, or a human resource manager. Everyone in business works with people in some way.

National student membership dues are $35 per year. (The membership includes subscriptions to HRMagazine and HR News which would cost $60 and $44 respectively if ordered separately.) Some local chapters collect additional dues to use for chapter projects. While this may seem like a lot of money, consider the fact that you often pay more for one college textbook that will be used for a few months than you will for your SHRM membership that will continue to provide benefits for an entire year.

Can I join as a student member if I'm working full-time but also attending school?

Yes, in some cases. The student dues rate of $35 does not fully cover the cost of student membership services, so the Society subsidizes the cost in order to make the membership affordable to students. Regular professional members of the Society pay annual dues of $160 and receive additional services to assist them in their professional roles. To receive the special student dues rate, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements described at the beginning of this FAQ.

Do I have to join at the beginning of a semester or quarter?

No. The membership does not run on a calendar year, it is based on the anniversary date of your membership. For example, if you start your membership in September, it will run for twelve months through September of the following year. If you join in February, your membership will be active through the following February. You can join the Society anytime throughout the year. However please allow 4-6 weeks for your application to be processed.

What happens if I graduate while I'm a student member, do I lose the remaining months on my membership?

No. You must be enrolled in the equivalent of at least six credit hours and meet the other eligibility requirements at the time you apply for student membership, however once you qualify, your paid membership will be active for one full year even if you graduate or stop taking classes. If you do leave school while your membership is active, please remember to notify SHRM of any address changes so that you will continue to receive all of your services throughout your membership year.

Whats does a SHRM student chapter do?

SHRM student chapters have regular meetings, usually weekly or bi-monthly, with scheduled programs designed to help members learn more about HR and the real world of business. The chapters are run by elected student officers with the assistance of a chapter advisor and sponsoring professional SHRM chapter members. Chapters invite local business people to speak to the members about current developments in the business world and how they will impact future workers. Beyond the regular meetings, chapters organize a variety of activities including company tours, student conferences, resume-writing and interviewing workshops, fundraisers, internship programs, and social events. These activities allow you to learn more about HRM while building relationships with local professionals and other students and of course, having fun!

If there is no SHRM chapter at my school, can I still be a member of the Society?

Yes. You will be considered a member-at-large meaning you are not assigned to a student chapter. If student chapters exist at neighboring campuses, you are welcome to participate in their activities with the consent of that chapter. To join as a member-at-large, simply write "5000" in the "chapter number" space on the application and obtain the signature of your academic advisor or another school official who can verify your student status.