Is it worth having BCS membership ?

[Steve Dyson]

Hi, I qualify for MBCS membership and my employers can cover the cost.

I am wondering if there is any worth of MBCS membership ?

[randlemarcus]

It's one of those things that's worth as much as you are willing to put into it. Some good continuous professional development tracking tools, some reasonable career planning tools, and a thriving academic membership. If your employer pays, it's means it's worth it, if only for the letters on the CV.

[tr7v8]

I've been a member for around 12 years or so & my company pays for it as well.
I qualify for MBCS & it is on my business card. It used to be £80 or so, my recent renewal was £146 or something like that.
I originally joined for that & also their office just off the Strand was great as a touch down office in London when we didn't have a company office. However we now have an office in London & they moved the BCS touchdown to the City which for me is a pain.
I've just renewed but it was a 50/50 decision.
I find the rest of it irrelevant to me, the magazine goes straight into recycling & their local meetings have no relevance to me either.

[CzechItOut]

No.

Old people with outdated skills like the letters after their name. As both a worker and employer I put absolutely no value in it.

[rog007]

randlemarcus said:

It's one of those things that's worth as much as you are willing to put into it. Some good continuous professional development tracking tools, some reasonable career planning tools, and a thriving academic membership. If your employer pays, it's means it's worth it, if only for the letters on the CV.

Absolutely agree; like most membership organisations, you get out what you are prepared to put in.

I also value them when recruiting, particularly if someone has gained above normal membership (such as Fellow or a linked qualification).

Don’t forget that you can also claim tax relief on professional memberships.

[mikees]

And use it to get CEng which makes a big difference in my industry

[tr7v8]

CzechItOut said:

No.

Old people with outdated skills like the letters after their name. As both a worker and employer I put absolutely no value in it.

Unfortunately those letters are deemed important in some countries like Germany. Also as someone pointed out CITP is a CEng type recognition, that is universally recognised. I was going to go for it, one of my colleagues did. But the work I do doesn't lend itself to going for it.
As for out dated skills the exact opposite. One of the reasons I don't engage with it is my role is extremely specialist & the Data Centre team for BCS had different views. If you're a developer or doing AI/ML then there is a lot to be gained from membership.
Some of the networking is quite useful for the younger guys.

[Ynox]

I'm eligible for membership, have never really bothered though.

Not entirely sure what it brings really. Better off getting to know people at conferences etc personally.