For a level 1 candidate, I’d say the best part about the societies is their mentorship programs. When I was living in Minneapolis I volunteered to be a part of the mentorship program and essentially candidates would stop by and talk to me for an hour about the program and job prospects. Some would want advice on how to study. Some would ask about the best way to network. Some would ask about internship opportunities. These candidates would go through like a 12 week networking program where they met a new charterholder every week. Pretty easy way to meet 12 people working in your city…I have to believe that led to internship/job opportunities for a few of them.
The other good thing about the membership is the job board that you get access to and then like the post above mentions, the networking opportunities. If you aren’t already well connected, this gives you a chance to make some connections.
The benefit for a charterholder definitely depends on how much you enjoy networking. I don’t, so I didn’t get a lot of value from a membership.