Professional Honor Society's

[Skyylya]

I'm generally more of a lurker or side contributor but I have a legitimate question now that I'd like some feedback on for anyone that has joined one of these.

I am currently working on my MS in School Counseling and was just invited to join an honor society for professional school counselors. Their website is http://www.csi-net.org/

My general question is whether or not anyone has found favorable results from joining such a group professionally. Does it have a positive impact on your resume? Do you get any useful information from them that is applicable to your career?

The membership dues aren't expensive it's only $50 per year, but is it worth the bother.

I'm looking over their website myself but any feedback about professional honor societies in general, not specifically this one, would be helpful.

Thanks BG,

[Xajii]

Your use of apostrophes is not steering you in the right direction, I'll tell you that much.

[Skyylya]

Holy shit that was helpful. Your reading comprehension of my questions is almost as amazing as my use of apostrophe's.

[Xajii]

As I was being a dick for the sake of being a dick, I will answer your question to the best of my ability:

This particular society looks to be legit, if not a little less than well known. The thing about these types of things is that they stand out to employers whether or not they know what it means. They can take a couple of seconds to look it up and find that it is, in fact, a real society. In other words, it can't hurt - aside from the payment per year, which doesn't sound like too much money.

I would say that if your resume is lacking in the Honors and Accomplishments type section - as many are - it would be a good idea. But I'm also curious as to what their qualifications are and how they contacted you. Did everyone in your Master's program get contacted, for example? It's hard to say.

[Callisto]

Mostly they're useful for networking and resume padding(background: I did a stint working for a company who helps maintain membership data/run sites/event plan for these types of organizations), however they do sometimes have some genuinely good resources, like newsletters or conferences with important new industry findings. It's a YMMV deal though, even if they have useful things it's be up to you to proactively take advantage of them.

[Skyylya]

Thanks for your response Xajii, and Callisto. The invitation I received stated that they review not only your GPA, which is required to be above 3.5 and mine is a 4.0, but they also review works that have been submitted to the school "portfolio." After reviewing some works they decide on who to invite. Now, I think that this is simply to be a part of the society via the school I'm attending because on the website it appears anyone can join who holds the degree. I'm not sure if there is a certain distinction for being invited vs. just joining.

My resume is not lacking in professional accolades but I don't have anything related to this field. My background is in sales and I've always been in the top few % for any job I've held. Being that this is a different profession I'm looking to see if it would be worthwhile to have something that is more industry specific.

Thanks again for your responses,


Edit: Here is a snippet from the email I receievd via the school email,

Dear Honor Society Nominee:

You have been identified as an individual who meets the criteria for membership in Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), and we are pleased to invite you join the Chi Upsilon Chi chapter at this time. Your invitation to join our chapter distinguishes you as an outstanding counseling student; one whose accomplishments are consistent with the mission of the international organization and of the Chi Upsilon Chi Chapter. Eligibility for membership is extended only to those students who "have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better and are deemed promising for endorsement as a professional counselor whose ethical judgment and behavior will be exemplary” (csi-net.org/bylaws, Article 4.1).

The executive committee of the Chi Upsilon Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International congratulates you on your academic excellence. After due consideration of all criteria for nomination to membership in the Society Bylaws, we are pleased to invite you to membership in our Chapter of the Society.



I know that this is a "general email" and not at all specific to me. But it's what was sent to me.

[Xajii]

As Callisto said, one of the biggest benefits beyond resume fodder is the potential for connections and opportunities. A quick look around the website shows that they do have some sort of program related to international job opportunities in the field, if that's something you're interested in. It also looks like it would serve as kind of a focused LinkedIn system. I say go for it, and congratulations!

[Meresgi]

Definitely worth signing up for just for resume benefit if anything. I know I used to look at this stuff as bullshit and never signed up for any of it, but going back to college this past year I joined up with PTK as soon as I received a request just because of how it will look. If anything honor societies just show your future employer that "yeah I did have a good GPA and I even hung out with other people with good GPAs"

[Ksandra]

I wish this thread existed like two weeks ago, as I got a letter in the mail for a honor society and threw it in the trash... Never really thought people care about this stuff on resumes.

[Callisto]

Definitely worth signing up for just for resume benefit if anything. I know I used to look at this stuff as bullshit and never signed up for any of it, but going back to college this past year I joined up with PTK as soon as I received a request just because of how it will look. If anything honor societies just show your future employer that "yeah I did have a good GPA and I even hung out with other people with good GPAs"

It seems useless until you end up competing for a job with someone who has the exact same qualifications, then it's these little things that can tip the scale.

[Skyylya]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will go for it. I have until October 1st to accept the invitation.

[archibaldcrane]

tl;dr's

[kuronosan]

Hmm, should I accept the invite to Phi Theta Kappa, or is it like joining a party of level 15 WHMs in Valkurm?

[Silenka]

Isn't there one specific honors society that is so selective it's the only one really worth joining? I thought it was Phi Kappa something or other...

[Meresgi]

Hmm, should I accept the invite to Phi Theta Kappa, or is it like joining a party of level 15 WHMs in Valkurm?

Join, the fee isn't that much at all. I havnt been to any meetings yet since they fall on the same day/time as one of my classes but their website has some interesting info, scholarship info and other shit. Plus it can't really hurt, to even be in it you need a 3.4 GPA? Not sure on the cut off.