Beta Gamma Sigma Int'l Honor Society

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  • #194026
    pg2324
    Participant

    I did a search for this on the forum but didn’t come up with much info. I joined the “Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society” while I was in college only because my Academic Counselor urged me to pay the fee and join, insisting that she felt it was worth being a member.

    I just began to update my resume in anticipation of completing my CPA licensure, at which time I will be looking to move to a new job. I will have a total of 5 years experience, 3 at a NFP and 2 at a small CPA Firm (audit/bookkeeping).

    I have always listed the Beta Gamma membership on my resume ever since college even though I have never been involved with the organization at all (and no interviewer has ever brought it up). Also, I graduated Magna Cum Laude, which I believe is the top 3-5% of my class, while i believe that Beta Gamma is offered to top 7% of class.

    I’m not so much looking for experiences with the society, but whether or not including it on my resume (in addition to Magna Cum Laude) would be a waste of space.

    Thanks in advance-

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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  • #665569
    taxgeek83
    Participant

    For what it's worth, I was inducted into two academic honor societies in college – one at the associates level and one at the bachelor's level. Both have high academic standards for membership, and the bachelor's level one requires a recommendation – you can't just apply to be in it. I put both on my resume. I don't think they take up too much room either – I just added it right below the date I graduated I think.

    Regardless, it certainly can't hurt.

    #665570
    jaredo155
    Member

    I am also a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, and in my experience things such as GPA, collegiate honors or awards, and clubs and activities not only become unnecessary after you have real working experience, but may send a negative signal to the employer. When I am looking at resumes for a candidate, if they have stuff on there from their time in college, I typically take that to mean they haven't done anything since college worth talking about. Others may have different opinions, but that is my perspective on it. It certainly doesn't hurt anything to leave Magna Cum Laude next to where you list your education, as that is perceived as just an extension of the degree itself, but I wouldn't list anything else from your time in college.

    AUD - 2/2013 - Passed!
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    #665571
    Dantrick
    Participant

    From your time in college and haven't done anything since college. How long would it be? If you just graduated a year ago, how much are you expected to do after college, what is good things after college? I am really curious. I had a professor that said never go back longer then 10 years. Since I am a stay at home mom, I am nervous about going back in the work force without working for four years. I have three Boards I am on. I was on one of them before the babies and got two more since the babies. I was hoping that was showing I was doing something, but I can't do much with three kids under three.

    #665572
    Dantrick
    Participant

    Oh I am also a Beta Gamma Sigma member, lol. Do all advisors, advise people to that? I really don't get the point of it, besides paying a fee, you really don't get anything, oh wait you get a magazine for a few months, Business Week I think it was.

    #665573
    Thrawn
    Participant

    If you don't have anything to say about it, I would take it off. I would keep the magna cum laude, because that means with highest honors and is part of the degree.

    BEC 87 Feb 14
    REG 84 Apr 14
    FAR 82 Nov 14
    AUD 86 Feb 15

    #665574
    pg2324
    Participant

    Thanks for everyone's feedback-

    The original reason I put it on my resume was because I graduated from college without having any accounting-related experience, which made it necessary to include as much academic info/accomplishments as i could to fill up a one-page resume. Truthfully though, as Thrawn alluded to, I have always been a little nervous that an interviewer might bring it up. The fact that i have not been involved and know little about it would put me in an uncomfortable situation, unnecessarily.

    I am also having a hard time removing my 3.7 GPA from the resume. I have been doing some research online and see that most advice sites recommend leaving it off once you've received your first full-time job. I saw someone mention that the reason many people don't want to leave off their GPA is because they worked so hard to obtain it, which is basically how I feel. I do have a pretty diverse level of experience now, having worked with most facets of bookkeeping, payroll and now audit. So I will likely end up removing it…………..begrudgingly.

    #665575
    y_u_no_pass
    Participant

    Yeah whenever I get around to updating my resume I am going to take off the GPA and things such as leadership roles in organizations, but I plan to include: summa cum laude and BAP and one award I won. I think you can include 1-3 things like this just not all the details. You can include professional memberships and leadership positions and current volunteer activity.

    Florida CPA!
    Took final exam 2/25/15.
    Sent in Application 3/12/15.
    Issued License 3/20/15.
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