BCS Professional membership (£60+) Any advantage ????

**SueEllen** · 25 February 2008, 11:11

Nope.

You are better of having membership of an organisation where you can network with contractors. BCS, from the posts displayed here and from the news articles on this site and others, don't understand contracting.

**oracleslave** · 25 February 2008, 11:11

Join the PCG. It's a no-brainer.

Malvolio.

**Ardesco** · 25 February 2008, 12:22

I worked with a test manager who was a chairman of one of the regional BCS units. He was without doubt the most incompetent individual I have ever had the misfortune to work with. He couldn't produce any of the required documentation, had no idea how to handle people and was eventually disciplined and fired after picking on one of the guys in the test lab and constantly calling him a fat bastard.

He spent most of his work time talking about the BCS and how wonderful it (and he) was, and had hissy fits when we didn't turn up to BCS lectures and didn't want to join.

If he is any indication of the BCS as a whole I would steer well clear!!!

**Fred Bloggs** · 25 February 2008, 15:00

But on the other hand....... If by joining BCS you were able to qualify as a Chartered IT Professional then all other things being equal between 2 CV's, might that recognised Professional registration swing things in your favour? I don't know, I'm an Engineer but registration as a Professional Engineer has only ever been good for me. Maybe in IT it is different.

**Ardesco** · 25 February 2008, 15:24

But anybody can join the BCS, surely to be a chartered engineer they have some standards and don't let any old Tom, Dick, or Harry join.

Not to mention from what I've heard while gigging the BCS is generally seen as a group of old fogies out of touch with reality and the current state of the IT market. I may just have worked for a bunch of anti-BCS companies though.

**tim123** · 25 February 2008, 19:53

Originally posted by Darren_Test View Post

Guys,

Any advantage in getting BCS (British Comp Society) Professional membership..?? Is this value for money..??

Only if you want to apply for a job with one of the numpty employers who think that it's of value.

I have one on my desk right now!

tim

**tim123** · 25 February 2008, 19:54

Originally posted by Ardesco View Post

But anybody can join the BCS, surely to be a chartered engineer they have some standards and don't let any old Tom, Dick, or Harry join.

I though you needed a relevant degree and/or had passed an entrance exam.

tim

**thunderlizard** · 25 February 2008, 20:45

Contractors probably get the least amount of value from the BCS: with academics at the top, and permanently-employed professionals wanting structured career development in the middle.

Some customers like to see it as a sign of dedication (it's not quite joinable by any old tom dick & harry: but if Tom has a computer science degree, & Dick has about 5 years industry experience, they'd get in easily enough).

They have OK talks every once in a while, and their online textbook library thing is good according to a mate of mine who claims he actually understands how to use it.

**SameOldStory** · 26 February 2008, 11:49

Originally posted by zeitghost

I suspect it's like the IEE, sorry, IET, which is a bunch of old fogies...

Of which set, I am now one...

A lot of whom now run companies, many hiring contractors.

I've had a number of interesting offers from these old fogies.

BCS Professional membership (£60+) Any advantage ????