Some find their chief attraction in the Engineering Management Society or the Professional Communication Society. Perceptive members may realize the opportunities available to them to develop organizational skills through running local sections, tutorials, or working on technical conferences. A relatively small number belong to participate in standards development. Many members may not realize the ways in which IEEE-USA advances the professional and career interests of the U.S. IEEE member. Separate GOLD tracks are aimed specifically at young members.
Technology policy can have a strong influence on future engineering careers.
Technical societies are encouraged to send a representative to technology policy committee meetings and participate on the development of policy positions for use in advocating to legislators. Today, members often find that their career is not one continuous path, but a series of stepping stone positions that may include periods of self-employment. With members having to assume more responsibility today for their careers, committees with a focus on career activities assume more importance. Among their many important activities, these committees work to aid in career vitality, promote continuing education, protect employee benefits, and to encourage engineering registration and acquaint members with the steps involved. IEEE-USA surveys engineering salaries and benefits every two years, publishing the Salary and Fringe Benefit Survey , the premier report in this field.