Anyone a member of the British Computer Society?

scorza

scorza

scorza

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If so what sort of benefits do you think you get out of it?

My boss has been harping on about me joining for the past few years which I've previously resisted because I previously joined years ago after I graduated and all they seemed to do was lectures 60 miles away from where I lived, so I let my membership slide.

This time however, with the IT industry becoming more and more about what qualifications you have I thought I'd give it a bit more consideration. My ultimate aim would eventually to be a CITP but I'm not quite ready to apply for that yet. Like with all these things, I guess the more you put in, the more you get out and I am in a position to put more in now.

Oh apparently my company will pay my membership fee, so at least one drawback has been removed :)
 
How much does it cost? My degree is meant to be BCS accredited, no idea if it qualifies me for anything :p
 
gumbald said:
How much does it cost? My degree is meant to be BCS accredited, no idea if it qualifies me for anything :p
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It's ~£90 for full membership - what I'd be going for, but for people without much working experience i.e. grads you pay ~£40 for associate membership (AMBCS) I think.

Your degree means you can apply for full membership after 2-3 years of work instead of the normal 5.
 
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My dad is a member - from what I can tell they have special offers on a limited selection of software and you have the option of going to special lectures on computer science if you want.
 
I am a member of the BCS as a uni student. I get loads of emails from them but never read them. :D

Might use the BCS membership to help find a job this summer and for CV help etc. :)
 
I'm not a member seemed like a waste of time. I am however a member of IEEE which seemed to be more appropriate for me. May consider joining in future if I go for CEng status..
 
BCS are a bunch of idiots, completely behind the times and stuck in their ways. Save your £90 for something more useful :)
 
They did a presentation to get people to join at my Uni, they didn't seem to have much to offer though and only work with Microsoft Products, they are behind the times in todays world.
 
Yeah, Im the same, Im entitled to membership for £20 as aprt of my degree, but when I had a dig around on their site, I just couldn't see the point.
My tutor claims that they are highly rated, but then again he teaches Cisco, and has never heard of s-flow...
 
Una said:
I'm not a member seemed like a waste of time. I am however a member of IEEE which seemed to be more appropriate for me. May consider joining in future if I go for CEng status..
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If I may ask, what does IEEE membership offer that BCS membership doesn't?
 
jamief said:
BCS are a bunch of idiots, completely behind the times and stuck in their ways. Save your £90 for something more useful :)
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Oh please - don't talk rubbish.

Although it isn't too much hassle to join the BCS you cannot get Professional membership without proof of various things.
You need to submit your latest CV and they do check to make sure you aren't just putting BS on it.

I am personally a CITP - Chartered IT Professional which is something along the same lines of Chartered Accountants, Chartered Surveyors etc.
The professional body of the IT industry.

You can get what you want to get out of the BCS.
If you want to join, get a magazine and some emails and put it on your CV then great - go for it.
However just being a member of the BCS doesn't really warrant much in the way of CV space.
Alternatively you can join at a professional level and then go along to the various meetings and talk to people in a similar role to yourself.
Network with other IT professionals and actually feel you are getting involved with the professional side of IT.
Totally your call.
 
RobH said:
They did a presentation to get people to join at my Uni, they didn't seem to have much to offer though and only work with Microsoft Products, they are behind the times in todays world.
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Ummm - no.
BCS don't "only work" with Microsoft products.
They are nothing to do with one platform over any other.
They are a professional computing body and as such people from different backgrounds attend the numerous meetings.

I've got absolutely no idea where you get the "Microsoft Only" idea from.
 
stoofa said:
Oh please - don't talk rubbish.

Although it isn't too much hassle to join the BCS you cannot get Professional membership without proof of various things.
You need to submit your latest CV and they do check to make sure you aren't just putting BS on it.

I am personally a CITP - Chartered IT Professional which is something along the same lines of Chartered Accountants, Chartered Surveyors etc.
The professional body of the IT industry.

You can get what you want to get out of the BCS.
If you want to join, get a magazine and some emails and put it on your CV then great - go for it.
However just being a member of the BCS doesn't really warrant much in the way of CV space.
Alternatively you can join at a professional level and then go along to the various meetings and talk to people in a similar role to yourself.
Network with other IT professionals and actually feel you are getting involved with the professional side of IT.
Totally your call.
Click to expand...
When I graduate I'd love to start going to BCS meetings and to try and get some accredited status to put on my CV etc. :)
 
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