Membership

It was a normal day in the college. The lecture of organic chemistry was going on. One of our college senior entered the classroom and spoke with the professor. Then she made an announcement, "Hi all. Today members of IPC are going to visit at 2 PM. They will tell you about the organization and membership. It is a mandatory session. Please be there". When she left our professor too emphasized on the importance of that session. We were clueless but this session was mandatory so we were bound to attend it.

The session took place and the highlight of this session was on the membership. One of the members informed us, "once you complete your studies you will either think about pursuing higher studies abroad or would stay here in India. While staying in India when you will look for the job the IPC membership is going to be very important. Without the membership it is very difficult to get a job in India". They had been telling us again and again to buy the lifetime membership of IPC. As a part of IPC we were going to receive a monthly magazine and a free invitation to the annual event. About the membership they made it really clear that it is a mandate in order to get a job in India. They called it awareness but I called it fear mongering. That exactly what it was.

This is one of the aspects of student life that I cannot emphasize enough. Back in the days as well as today there are many organisations that visit the college campus to share information about their organisation and do promotions. The purposes of these promotions are to broaden their network and to bring more money to their organisation. Yet I believe the key purpose of these visits is money making. These organisations and their representatives come to the colleges to influence the students. First they share basic information about their organisation. They instill the fear in the young minds that without their help and support there will be no future for the students. Then they create an urgency by telling that they have limited slots available. Many students fall pray to their promotions. They buy the membership at soon as a possible for the fear that their future would be uncertain without it. Out of the students within the college even if 10% of the student by the membership the purpose of these organisations still get fulfilled. Their financial targets get achieved.

During my college days several organisations had paid a visit to our college for getting more members. I too was on the verge of becoming a member of one of such organisations. Looking at their membership fees I decided to sleep on my decision. Next time when they visit again I asked them if I can approach them a later during my college life or my career for the membership. They told me that they can be approached any point of time for the membership. I talk they advantage of this flexibility and I did not become a member of that organisation at that point of time. I am not even their member today.

When I had completed my college and I was applying for the jobs I saw that none of the companies asked for any membership. The membership had no importance when it came to building up a career. That told me how the memberships are nothing but a sham.

Being a working professional who had spend several years in the industry I believe now it is my responsibility to make others aware. Membership does not give any benefits outside of their own organisation or with the ones they have tie up. Membership does not get recognised everywhere. Hence if you are a college student and someone is forcing you to become a member remember that you always have a choice to say no.