British Computer Society Membership

tntcoder · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:25

Hey,

My uni paid for 3 years of BCS membership on my behalf, now that I've graduated they want £25 a year.

Is this worth it :confused:

The only advantage I can see is the line "Professional Affiliations: BCS" on my CV, would any employers see value in this?

Anyone else a long-term member?

Thanks

neil3k · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:26

hmm interesting

what do you need to be a member cos i work in IT

KiTBoH · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:30

I got a leaflet from them at uni and binned it.

I'd also like to know if there was anything worthwhile about it

mac1st3 · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:33

that's strange, cause our uni told us by completeing our course we'd be members for life :s though nothing was ever mentioned/ produced about it ever again.. aside from looking good on a CV as being an "ethical computer user" as it was described to us, I'm not sure of any real advantages to it

sloth · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:36

Been a member for 8 years or so, and my previous employer seems to keep renewing my subscription for me. I get spam in the post now and again that goes straight in the bin. Can't see any real reason to be a member, but I suspect I miss the point of it.

dangerstat · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:38

I think with all professional societies you know if you need to be a member. They can help boast your CV if you get involved quite heavily - but if your not really going to, then I wouldn't bother paying to be a member - the only exceptions are those where you work towards chartered status - and can only keep that status if you pay your fees

Aero · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:44

thats cheap my membership to my professional institution is at least 7 times that.

sniffy · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:51

Aero said:
thats cheap my membership to my professional institution is at least 7 times that.

They probably do something useful though

They pitched this at uni and unless I missed something big, I can't really see the point.

tntcoder · 26 Aug 2009 at 20:52

sniffy said:
They pitched this at uni and unless I missed something big, I can't really see the point.

Yer that's about as far as my understanding goes.

Might just join for a few years and see if I get anything useful out of it I think

Mr^B · 26 Aug 2009 at 21:10

All I think when I see "BCS" on a CV is:

"Wow, another idiot parting with £25 a year for absolutely nothing."

sniffy · 26 Aug 2009 at 21:11

Haha

andrewdodd13 · 26 Aug 2009 at 22:16

This. So umm, nothing you'll need after you have a years experience in the industry...

There are a few posters up in our CS department, I've never really been interested.

kkelly · 26 Aug 2009 at 22:19

Its fairly pointless as they cant enforce any rules in the IT profession unlike other bodies

(Done a report on it for uni a year ago

)

Sin_Chase · 26 Aug 2009 at 23:26

In one job I had it so my my ex-employer could say all our techs were part of the BSc. I did not pay for it myself after.

Chaosboss · 26 Aug 2009 at 23:27

I don't think it's worth it, I have recruited and never seen it on a CV...it's not a qualification is it?! lol

Bunka · 26 Aug 2009 at 23:37

I wouldn't

Reginald · 26 Aug 2009 at 23:38

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepost.

Let me summarise: don't bother.

Gas Panic! · 27 Aug 2009 at 00:18

They tried (and tried, and tried) to pitch this to us in a "Professional Issues" lecture during my undergrad course. The only person to take up membership was a guy that pretty much had animals living in his hair.

Absolute waste of time.

Smit · 27 Aug 2009 at 09:08

Pretty useless IMO
I was a member for a couple of years and got nothing but SPAM and invites to dinners etc.

Nothing which would help me in a career in any way

Vanilla · 27 Aug 2009 at 09:53

Also had this at uni but dumped it right after.

Has no benefits I feel.