Career Resources for Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders
Asian/Pacific Islander Professional Associations by Industry
Professional associations are groups of professionals dedicated to topics in specific fields. Professional associations provide a wealth of online resources, some of which are geared specifically towards students. These organizations typically also host conferences and events, providing great opportunities for learning and networking across your field of interest.
You may want to become involved with one or more of these organizations to grow your network in the field, to be connected to job and internship opportunities, to utilize their library of resources to learn more about the field, and to participate in conferences and events sponsored by the association.
Arts, Media and Entertainment:
Asian American Women Artists Association- Our mission is to advance the visibility and recognition of Asian American women in the arts.
Asian American Arts Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring greater representation, equity, and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations through resource sharing, promotion, and community building.
Asian Creative Network --We aim to connect and empower Asian creatives by providing an inclusive, global platform and resources for active community building, collaboration, and growth.
Asian American Collective--Focusing on mentorship programming, political and educational output, and profiling legendary Asian-American creative personalities, AAC aims to represent the full breadth of the creative Asian-American experience.
CAPE (Coalition of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Entertainment) champions diversity by educating, connecting, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and leaders in entertainment and media.
Advertising and Marketing
The Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) --mission is to be the premier professional organization dedicated to enabling its members, corporate partners and the professional Pan-Asian community to leverage the leadership and global business potential of Pan-Asian professionals worldwide.
Asian American Advertising Association --mission is to advance the Asian American marketing and advertising industry for Asian American consumers through education, advocacy, promotion, and increased collaboration of all industry stakeholders
Business
Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC)--promotes greater recognition of Asian American businesses’ contributions to the general economy.
Ascend--mission is to be the premier professional organization dedicated to enabling its members, corporate partners and the professional Pan-Asian community to leverage the leadership and global business potential of Pan-Asian professionals worldwide.
The National Asian Association of Accountants (NAASA, formerly known as Asian American Society of CPAs) mission is for Asian American accountants, finance professionals and its associate members to cultivate growth of accounting and finance knowledge, and to advance business development opportunities.
Communications
Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is a membership nonprofit advancing diversity in newsrooms and ensuring fair and accurate coverage of communities of color.
South Asian Journalists Association serves as a network for education, inspiration and training for South-Asian journalists in America and those covering South Asia and South Asian diaspora.
ColorComm (Women of Color in Communications)-- is the nation’s leading women’s platform addressing diversity & inclusion across the communications, marketing, advertising, and media industries.
Education
Teach For America, Asian American and Pacific Islander Alliances
Asian American Coalition for Education .
Healthcare
Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) - a national organization of medical and pre-medical students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities.
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) represents the values and interests of more than 80,000 practicing physicians in the United States. It also serves as a platform for more than 40,000 medical students, residents, and fellows of Indian origin in this country.
The Association of Chinese American Physicians (ACAP) is a non profit professional organization of Chinese American physicians and physicians that care for the Chinese community.
National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians represents Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander physicians committed to the advancement of the health and well-being of their patients and communities.
Asian American / Pacific Islander Nurses Association, Inc. serves as the unified voice for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) nurses around the world.
Asian Health Coalition strives to improve the health and wellness of primarily Asians and Pacific Islanders, as well as African and other immigrant communities of color through advocacy, technical assistance, education, and research.
Hospitality
Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) is the largest hotel owners association in the country for Asian Americans.
Law, Law Enforcement, and Public Service
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has been at the forefront of national and local activities in the areas of civil rights, combating anti-immigrant backlash and hate crimes, increasing the diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, and professional development.
Science and Engineering
Asian American Architects/Engineers Associates (AAa/e) is committed to providing a platform for empowering professionals working in the built environment in personal and professional growth, business development and networking, and leadership in our community.
The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Prepares Asian heritage scientists and engineers for success in the global business world.
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) is a professional organization for underrepresented minorities working in engineering and STEM roles.
Technology
Asia America Multi-Technology Association aims to accelerate ideas and best-in-class collaboration, resulting in successful business ventures throughout the Asia-Pacific region and global economy.
Wonder Women Tech our Mission is to highlight, celebrate, educate, and amplify Women, BIPOC, and the Underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Math (STEAM) and Innovation.
Miscellaneous
National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP)-- The National Association of Asian American Professionals is a non-profit organization that cultivates and empowers Asian & Pacific Islander leaders through leadership development, professional networking, and community service.
Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) is geared to address diversity challenges in corporations, promote and inspire Asian American and minority professionals, and advance their careers to leadership positions.
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.
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Scholarships
Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship - This scholarship opportunity provides funding to minority students enrolled in one of the technical sciences or engineering disciplines.
Gates Millennium Scholars Program – This program was established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide outstanding students (African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic Americans) with an undergraduate college education, no matter what their major field of study, and to fund graduate studies in the areas of education, engineering, library science, mathematics, or science.
Entertainment Software Association Foundation, Scholarships - This is a scholarship program to assist women and minority students who are pursuing degrees leading to careers in computer and video game arts.
Education
National Education Association (NEA) - Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed to politics, military, medicine, aviation, entertainment, and sports in the United States. Educators, teachers and parents, these lesson plans and activities for K-12 students celebrate their heritage and contributions.
Center for Asian American Media, Films for Educators – Teachers, educators, parents, students….bring Asian American past to light with an incredible repository of films dedicated to the history of this culture.
Teach For America, Asian American and Pacific Islander Alliances - Teach For America’s AAPI Alliances works alongside other organizations committed to deliver on the promise of equal opportunity for every child and help grow the leadership of AANHPI educators inside and outside of the classroom.
Asian American Coalition for Education – AACE is a non-political, non-profit, national organization devoted to Asian-American equal rights in education and other education related activities. This is supported and advanced by its initiatives and partners.
Jobs and Grants
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants – This organization fosters and encourages participation in government contracting by socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. They issue Black business grants, minority business grants, and women business grants.
Asian Career Network – Here is a platform for you to search for jobs, internships, career fairs and more. You will need to sign up with either LinkedIn or Facebook.
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Minority Science Writers Internships - This summer program is available to undergraduate students who are genuinely committed to diversity and interested in pursuing journalism as a career. Interns spend 10 weeks working in the news room at Science magazine, covering the scientific and technological issues that shape the global community.
Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Jobs Board (AAPIP) – AAPIP’s jobs board connects passionate, values-driven AAPI member professionals with employment opportunities at U.S. based foundations, our philanthropic member organizations, and AAPI non-profits.
Emma Bowen Foundation, Minority Interests in Media Internships – This foundation recruits talented students of color and places them in multi-year paid internships at some of the nation's leading media and technology companies. The aim of this is to provide the media and tech industries with a pipeline of young talent and emerging leadership as well as advocate for best practices in diverse hiring, retention and advancement.
Federal Asian Pacific American Council, Jobs - Government-wide career opportunities available to current Federal employees and prospective employees can be found here in addition to internships for students.
Smithsonian Institution Minority Internship Program – This is a 10-week summer, fall or spring internship opportunity. Interns work on research or museum-related projects under the supervision of museum staff members.
U.S. Department of Education, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program - This program provides grants and related assistance to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions to enable the improvement and expansion of capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.
Minority Business Development Agency, Business Grants - On an annual basis, the MBDA organizes various ‘angel investors’ with the primary objective of supporting small businesses with minority business grants.
Networking and Associations
National Association of Asian American Professionals – This organization is a non-profit and seeks to cultivate and empower Asian and Pacific Islander leaders through development, networking and community service.
Center for Asian American Media - CAAM is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible.
ColorComm - ColorComm is an essential organization for women of color in all areas of communications including Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Advertising Print Media, Broadcast, Digital and more.
Asian American Resource Center - At the AARC, the aim is to work toward a better tomorrow in communities and the around the world. There programs exist to give the struggling community the help they need, creating a better society around us.
National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) – The NCAPIP represents Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander physicians committed to the advancement of the health and well-being of their patients and communities.
First in the Family – You may want to take a look at this website and check out the tips, planning checklists, videos, hard facts and words of inspiration from first generation students who have gone before you.
I’m First! - I’m First! was created by non-profit Center for Student Opportunity in 2013 to provide students who lack a family history of higher education with inspiration, information, and support on the road to and through college and is now an initiative of Strive for College—a national nonprofit that also runs a national online mentoring program for college-bound students.
Asian Resources – This organization is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to providing multiple social services needed in the communities, enabling everyone served to become a vital part of the changing, diverse society.
First Gen Fellows - Here is an incredible listing by state of many non-profit organizations primarily supporting low income and/or first-generation students.
Asian Women in Business - AWIB is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization with the primary mission of assisting Asian women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Start ups
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program - The primary remedial goal and objective of the DBE Program is to level the playing field by providing small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.
Asian Entrepreneur – Featured knowledge, featured interviews, latest articles, case studies and more. The Asian Entrepreneur is a global knowledge platform that seeks to crowdsource and provide direct access to the collective business wisdom, insights and experiences of Asian Americans.