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The Value of Networking Through CIPS

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guestblogger Adam Cole(Toronto, Director of Specialty Technology Solutions for McKesson Canada)

 

Recently I talked about the value of networking. Personally I do a lot of professional networking through CIPS (the association of the Canadian IT professional). For CIPS upcoming 50th anniversary I wrote some bullet points on what I have got out of networking within CIPS...

CIPS is amazing. For every measure of energy I have put in to the society CIPS has paid far greater dividends in to my life and career.

For two years I was a stealth member – contributing nothing and getting nothing in return. (Yet always asking where my dollars were going!) Three years ago Dan Eng, the Toronto President at the time petitioned Toronto members to get involved and I answered the call. Following are the benefits I have personally gained in the intervening three years:

  • Many new friends
  • A rich professional network – the value of which cannot be overestimated
  • I have employed the services of Nexient, Robert Half, Idea Technosoft, and others through CIPS relationships
  • I have been introduced to a number of companies and career growth opportunities through CIPS relationships
  • Access to many conferences
  • Published articles in ITWorld and other respectable forums
  • Someone I know and can call on in almost every major and many minor cities across Canada
  • An MBA (in progress) with a $7500 bursary
  • I have sought expert advice from CIPS friends and colleagues that would have cost me thousands had I paid for consultants. (Thank you Stephen [career], Len [security], Igor [HR], Dan [career], Jeff [methodology], John [development], and so many others!)
  • Speaking engagements (Ignite Your Career, IDC,…)
  • Knowledge gained through SIGs, dinners, and other events
  • Called on for expert opinion by the media
  • Established relationships with industry leaders. (Relationships I never would have been able to establish if not for my role in CIPS.)
  • And the list of benefits goes on…..

My life is so much richer for these experiences and there is no question that these experiences have contributed to a recent significant promotion at work. Now when I am asked about the value proposition by a non-member I tell them the value proposition is defined by what you are willing to give.

Networking and being active outside of your place of work is an excellent mechanisms to experience professional growth - often more so than formal training. Whether you join CIPS (across Canada) or VANTUG (Vancouver) or another group be sure to be active. I promise you will find it a rewarding experience.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 04, 2008
    PingBack from http://geeklectures.info/2008/01/04/the-value-of-networking-through-cips/

  • Anonymous
    January 04, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2008
    Well said, Adam.  I have had many similar experiences and would like to mention a few more. Through CIPS I was invited to speak at an international human rights conference which led to the publication of an article in the University of New Brunswick Law Journal.  Again through CIPS, I was invited to be a columnist for Computer World Canada.  Both of these experiences, as well as speaking at conferences, significantly strengthen my resume and proposals. I have been involved in advocacy work – particularly writing position papers – for CIPS.  When responding to proposals, I reference these works since strong communications skills are always mandatory requirements.  This is much more effective than referring to some obscure client report which is confidential and cannot be shared with the potential client.  (Hope my competition doesn’t read this). Many years ago, I sat on CIPS’ committees made up predominately of IT executives.  Here I learned how executives build support for their ideas.  This experience is invaluable and unless you happen to be the anointed one who is invited into executive committee meetings, it is really hard to find this experience anywhere else. CIPS allowed me to develop skills in areas that were not part of my day job.  In this way, I was able to prepare for my next career move – something that we should be doing continuously. I was also able to develop a network of trusted advisors.  If you are respectful of the mentor’s time and schedule, most IT leaders are more than willing to meet you for a coffee near their office.   And like Adam, I have found that you get out of an organization, what you put into it.  If you hold membership and nothing more, that's what you will get out of it.  But if you get involved it can be an incredibly enriching experience. Regards Bouff John Boufford, I.S.P. CIPS Past President

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2008
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 11, 2008
    Hearing more about CIPS is so helpful and seeing all the things you do and what it means to me. I caught your many {12?} webcasts on Igniting Careers last fall and got my team to do so. They all got a lot of value from CIPS on this series and want to see more. This blog background is educational and I'm encouraging others to look at your association. Thank you!I'm sharing this broadly.

  • Anonymous
    January 11, 2008
    It's about time we have a common identity and I can see CIPS providing this role.

  • Anonymous
    January 11, 2008
    Sure sounds like a student membership would be a sound career move .....or for that matter any IT worker no matter what their current role or career position.

  • Anonymous
    January 13, 2008
    The comment has been removed