Value of BCS membership rises in economic downturn

Discussion in 'Professional Associations' started by UKDarkstar, Mar 4, 2009.

  1. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

    3,477
    121
    184
    I know that the value of BCS membership has come up here several times with some strongly advocating it and some not.

    For those who are considering it, this article from the BCS may be of interest. It states that "Nearly two thirds of BCS members believe belonging to the organisation has contributed to their career progression" and that "'We've also seen an increase in the number of employers willing to pay for BCS members. In difficult times, companies are looking to retain good people, and offering BCS membership is an effective way of doing this."

    Have a read - food for thought :biggrin
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  2. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

    2,005
    51
    142
    Cheaper than a payrise!:)
     
    Certifications: vExpert 2014+2015+2016,VCP-DT,CCE-V, CCE-AD, CCP-AD, CCEE, CCAA XenApp, CCA Netscaler, XenApp 6.5, XenDesktop 5 & Xenserver 6,VCP3+5,VTSP,MCSA MCDST MCP A+ ITIL F
    WIP: Nothing
  3. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

    1,664
    92
    135
    Good to see that Bloody Common Sense is making a comeback!
     
    Certifications: MCP, MCSA 2000 , N+, A+ ,ITIL V2, MCTS, MCITP Lync 2010 & MCSA 2008, Sonus SATP SBC 1k/2k
    WIP: Hopefully Skype for Business and some Exchange stuff...
  4. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

    3,477
    121
    184
    ROFL ! :p
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  5. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,140
    555
    383
    While some may not agree with the article, I do agree with it. I joined the BCS before the resession, with professionalism being one of the top reasons, and I still stand by that reason.

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  6. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

    2,005
    51
    142
    agree totally its definately worth the investment and also proves to people that you are serious about your profession. My original point was only based on the fact that training and pay increments are the first things to suffer when financial difficulties hits. Maybe companies are looking for cheaper ways (rightly or wrongly) to make their staff feel like they are being invested in.

    BCS though is a great resource and I get alot of useful info from being a member, although I have not gone to a local regular shindig yet (children etc put pay to my social life a good few years ago now).
     
    Certifications: vExpert 2014+2015+2016,VCP-DT,CCE-V, CCE-AD, CCP-AD, CCEE, CCAA XenApp, CCA Netscaler, XenApp 6.5, XenDesktop 5 & Xenserver 6,VCP3+5,VTSP,MCSA MCDST MCP A+ ITIL F
    WIP: Nothing
  7. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,140
    555
    383
    That's true...

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  8. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

    2,005
    51
    142
    Which I think is a bad idea, training budgets should at least rise a little. Companies need to improve the skills of the staff they have so they are more efficient in their roles, whether its the cleaner or the specy server guy or the CEO. Trainging staff makes them feel better about where they work (less itchy feet syndrome) and also can help the business stay afloat.

    Still offering to pay for BCS membership is a step in the right direction but £100 odd pound wouldnt buy my loyalty(which is why all my cert's and BCS membership are paid for out of my pocket)!
     
    Certifications: vExpert 2014+2015+2016,VCP-DT,CCE-V, CCE-AD, CCP-AD, CCEE, CCAA XenApp, CCA Netscaler, XenApp 6.5, XenDesktop 5 & Xenserver 6,VCP3+5,VTSP,MCSA MCDST MCP A+ ITIL F
    WIP: Nothing
  9. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

    3,477
    121
    184
    Just to also add, I have been contacted by a recruiter about a possible job and he was searching one of the job sites for people who were MBCS :biggrin

    Fingers crossed !
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  10. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,140
    555
    383
    Good luck mate :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  11. adencool

    adencool Bit Poster

    32
    1
    15
    i thought about being a member of the bcs, but they always seam to hold their meeting in dorset!

    not exactly a central location is it?
     
    Certifications: HNC,Mcdst,MCITP:SA,MCTS,MCSA
    WIP: mcitp:ea
  12. LordMoolyBap

    LordMoolyBap Nibble Poster

    95
    0
    28
    There are local BCSs all round the UK. There is a local one in Birmingham
    This is the link to the Birmingham Site. They hold events every month that can often be interesting.. May be worth a look?

    Dom 8)
     
    Certifications: HND (Comp) MBCS
    WIP: Msc Intelligent Systems
  13. Metalstar

    Metalstar Kilobyte Poster

    269
    7
    49
    Is being an AMBCS worthwhile?

    I don't have 5 years experience yet but think it's always a good idea to be part of an industry association if possible.
     
    Certifications: A+
    WIP: Network+
  14. Arroryn

    Arroryn we're all dooooooomed Moderator

    4,015
    193
    209
    Whilst the AMBCS is a post-nominal membership, I personally don't use them (and won't until I'm MBCS).

    I think it's worth joining at this level, as it still affords you the interesting meetings / discussions and networking opportunities that you wouldn't otherwise get (or may have to pay more to attend).

    It's only £55 a year - so why not :)
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, 70-410, 70-411
    WIP: Modern Languages BA
  15. JK2447
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    JK2447 Petabyte Poster Administrator Premium Member

    Top Poster
    of the Month

    7,191
    945
    318
    I'm relatively new to this site. Could someone give me a sales pitch on why someone like myself, having worked with Mainframes in IT for 10 years, would join the BCS?

    What kind of things does the fee get you? And how much is it please?
     
    Certifications: VCP4, 5, 6, 6.5, 6.7, 7, 8, VCAP DCV Design, VMConAWS Skill, Google Cloud Digital Leader, BSc (Hons), HND IT, HND Computing, ITIL-F, MBCS CITP, MCP (270,290,291,293,294,298,299,410,411,412) MCTS (401,620,624,652) MCSA:Security, MCSE: Security, Security+, CPTS, CCA (XenApp6.5), MCSA 2012, VSP, VTSP
    WIP: Google Cloud Certs
  16. dmarsh
    Honorary Member 500 Likes Award

    dmarsh Petabyte Poster

    4,305
    503
    259
    Well he'd miss my CV then as it only has CITP on it ! Also some people are AMBCS or fellows, so his search isn't very effective for a 'professional searcher'. Still at least he wasn't mass mailing people with low paying jobs or ones with no location or salary details.
     
  17. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

    3,477
    121
    184
    Job Spec :

    Qualifications

    Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area
    Post graduate qualification (level 5) Management qualification; MBCS, Microsoft Certified Professional or equivalent


    Better get that MBCS in front of your CITP ! :p

    Pity they never search for Amiga experience :twisted:
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  18. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,140
    555
    383
    I started off with the AMBCS, so I believe it is worth it.

    I'm not a sales person, so I won't give you a sales pitch, however I will tell you why I joined the BCS...

    I joined the BCS for two main reasons:

    1. To support professionalism in IT, to get it recognised along the same lines as lawers, doctors/nurses, teachers, etc... And
    2. To gain my Chartered Status (CITP/CEng), I went for CITP myself :)

    Added to that I'm developing my career with the aim of Upper management (currently an IT manager), I have seen quite a few jobs requesting that a perspective candidate be a member of a professional body, plus I have also seen a few specifically requesting CITP status. Other membership benefits that I use include: SFIA access, CPD/IPD access, some magazines, cross membership with the CMA. Some membership benefits that I don't use include: discounted training, regular regional/national meetings, some magazines, etc...

    Not everyone's reason for joining a professional organisation is the same, not every IT Professional will join the BCS (some join the IET). Membership is a two way process, does membership offer what you want for the fee that the organisation wants? If yes, then go for it. If not, then don't...

    As for the fees, see here.

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  19. Metalstar

    Metalstar Kilobyte Poster

    269
    7
    49
    Just asked my boss if she would mind me using her as a reference - she paid for the application :biggrin

    Looking forward to seeing what regional conferences they do - all the ones on the site at the moment are in London or Southampton unfortunately.
     
    Certifications: A+
    WIP: Network+
  20. JK2447
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    JK2447 Petabyte Poster Administrator Premium Member

    Top Poster
    of the Month

    7,191
    945
    318
    Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. I think I'll wait until I progress past Team Leader before joining. I had no idea it would support IT as a profession though, something I'm keen on doing. Cheers
    James
     
    Certifications: VCP4, 5, 6, 6.5, 6.7, 7, 8, VCAP DCV Design, VMConAWS Skill, Google Cloud Digital Leader, BSc (Hons), HND IT, HND Computing, ITIL-F, MBCS CITP, MCP (270,290,291,293,294,298,299,410,411,412) MCTS (401,620,624,652) MCSA:Security, MCSE: Security, Security+, CPTS, CCA (XenApp6.5), MCSA 2012, VSP, VTSP
    WIP: Google Cloud Certs

Share This Page

Loading...
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.