What I suggest is go through the posts in this section, see who you like the sound of and try to meet those people in game, check around the matrix, ask questions, see if you like what you hear or that they sound like a faction you would want to be part of 
You can join the collective even with a zion rep, but ask yourself, would you really want to , choose your path, if its one with Zion, then a zion faction will be more suited to your needs...
