Getting into Project Management
Discussion
TotalControl said:
The military is completely out of the question for me but thanks for the info.
Looks like it's a steep hill ahead for me to get into a role. Having had a look online there doesn't seem to be much in the way of entry level work even though I've had some basic exposure to projects. Unless I'm not looking on the right job sites.
Absolutely tongue in cheek!Looks like it's a steep hill ahead for me to get into a role. Having had a look online there doesn't seem to be much in the way of entry level work even though I've had some basic exposure to projects. Unless I'm not looking on the right job sites.
Over three months on and still looking.
Experience seems to be killing me so I've resorted to working for free to obtain these from a friend of a friend who needed someone for a few months to take care of a handful of projects.
I've learnt a bit but not really anything different to what I already know. Seems a bit of a faff sometimes when trying to get certain stages moving or organising for the manpower to complete said stage.
The thing I seem to be seeing quite a bit is the need for 2+ years of experience. How the bloody hell is it obtained in the first place if no one is willing to give you a shot?
Sorry for the mini rant but just had a look at my bank balance.
Experience seems to be killing me so I've resorted to working for free to obtain these from a friend of a friend who needed someone for a few months to take care of a handful of projects.
I've learnt a bit but not really anything different to what I already know. Seems a bit of a faff sometimes when trying to get certain stages moving or organising for the manpower to complete said stage.
The thing I seem to be seeing quite a bit is the need for 2+ years of experience. How the bloody hell is it obtained in the first place if no one is willing to give you a shot?
Sorry for the mini rant but just had a look at my bank balance.
TotalControl said:
Over three months on and still looking.
Experience seems to be killing me so I've resorted to working for free to obtain these from a friend of a friend who needed someone for a few months to take care of a handful of projects.
I've learnt a bit but not really anything different to what I already know. Seems a bit of a faff sometimes when trying to get certain stages moving or organising for the manpower to complete said stage.
The thing I seem to be seeing quite a bit is the need for 2+ years of experience. How the bloody hell is it obtained in the first place if no one is willing to give you a shot?
Sorry for the mini rant but just had a look at my bank balance.
I'll take you back to the comment I made earlier. If you are looking solely at PM jobs, I believe you will fail. you need to look for jobs (not PM) that will enable you to demonstrate you have the necessary skills, get in the company then move up. I have 5 PMs working for me, I currently have to replace 2 of them, I don't have the flexibility to have somebody learn on the job. I only want experience. PM without experience is nothing. This may sound harsh, but it is reality. Experience seems to be killing me so I've resorted to working for free to obtain these from a friend of a friend who needed someone for a few months to take care of a handful of projects.
I've learnt a bit but not really anything different to what I already know. Seems a bit of a faff sometimes when trying to get certain stages moving or organising for the manpower to complete said stage.
The thing I seem to be seeing quite a bit is the need for 2+ years of experience. How the bloody hell is it obtained in the first place if no one is willing to give you a shot?
Sorry for the mini rant but just had a look at my bank balance.
TTmonkey said:
Can you make false promises?
Lie through your teeth?
Promise the Earth and deliver little?
Shout and scream like a possessed spoilt child?
Ask for opinions and advise and then decide you know the best answer?
Listen but not hear anything?
Keep a straight face in front of your customer?
Ignore obviously better qualified opinion?
Manipulate test data to suit your purpose?
Then you too my friend can successfully deliver projects in big IT....
Lol, got me to where I am (Senior Programme Manager) Lie through your teeth?
Promise the Earth and deliver little?
Shout and scream like a possessed spoilt child?
Ask for opinions and advise and then decide you know the best answer?
Listen but not hear anything?
Keep a straight face in front of your customer?
Ignore obviously better qualified opinion?
Manipulate test data to suit your purpose?
Then you too my friend can successfully deliver projects in big IT....
GT03ROB said:
TotalControl said:
Over three months on and still looking.
Experience seems to be killing me so I've resorted to working for free to obtain these from a friend of a friend who needed someone for a few months to take care of a handful of projects.
I've learnt a bit but not really anything different to what I already know. Seems a bit of a faff sometimes when trying to get certain stages moving or organising for the manpower to complete said stage.
The thing I seem to be seeing quite a bit is the need for 2+ years of experience. How the bloody hell is it obtained in the first place if no one is willing to give you a shot?
Sorry for the mini rant but just had a look at my bank balance.
I'll take you back to the comment I made earlier. If you are looking solely at PM jobs, I believe you will fail. you need to look for jobs (not PM) that will enable you to demonstrate you have the necessary skills, get in the company then move up. I have 5 PMs working for me, I currently have to replace 2 of them, I don't have the flexibility to have somebody learn on the job. I only want experience. PM without experience is nothing. This may sound harsh, but it is reality. Experience seems to be killing me so I've resorted to working for free to obtain these from a friend of a friend who needed someone for a few months to take care of a handful of projects.
I've learnt a bit but not really anything different to what I already know. Seems a bit of a faff sometimes when trying to get certain stages moving or organising for the manpower to complete said stage.
The thing I seem to be seeing quite a bit is the need for 2+ years of experience. How the bloody hell is it obtained in the first place if no one is willing to give you a shot?
Sorry for the mini rant but just had a look at my bank balance.
Onwards and upwards and forwards and something.
Worked for free for 5 months. A friend of a friend took me on to give me some valuable experience I lacked. I applied for more jobs. Got interviews. Still nothing. Same issue of inexperience.
So... going to work for free for another 3 months to gain some more experience with another company. Hopefully I’ll learn a lot more as the projects are bigger and more integral.
After the 3 months, I'll take some time out to do my Practitioner as I would have saved up some money by then.
I seriously hope this is worth it. I'm bloody drained giving all this free work away.
Worked for free for 5 months. A friend of a friend took me on to give me some valuable experience I lacked. I applied for more jobs. Got interviews. Still nothing. Same issue of inexperience.
So... going to work for free for another 3 months to gain some more experience with another company. Hopefully I’ll learn a lot more as the projects are bigger and more integral.
After the 3 months, I'll take some time out to do my Practitioner as I would have saved up some money by then.
I seriously hope this is worth it. I'm bloody drained giving all this free work away.
OP - just a thought on this, are there examples of PM type activity that you have done elsewhere? I'm not sure what you are involved with currently but can you draw out any of the skills required, like budget planning, stakeholder management, resource planning etc that you have done under a different job title.
I mentored a colleague a while ago who wanted to move in the PM space, and whilst he was currently a lead developer he had essentially done all the things a junior PM would do, only without the job title and it was explaining those points at interview that got him the job he wanted.
I mentored a colleague a while ago who wanted to move in the PM space, and whilst he was currently a lead developer he had essentially done all the things a junior PM would do, only without the job title and it was explaining those points at interview that got him the job he wanted.
Definitely enjoying it.
In regards to my CV being tailored, already done it. Any project relevance I have had previously has been added and obviously not lying to make me look I can do the work. Initially, this placement is for 3 months so I'll see how this goes.
I asked at this company previously and they said no. Ask to work for free and they welcomed me with open arms.
In regards to my CV being tailored, already done it. Any project relevance I have had previously has been added and obviously not lying to make me look I can do the work. Initially, this placement is for 3 months so I'll see how this goes.
I asked at this company previously and they said no. Ask to work for free and they welcomed me with open arms.
steviegunn said:
TTmonkey said:
Can you make false promises?
Lie through your teeth?
Promise the Earth and deliver little?
Shout and scream like a possessed spoilt child?
Ask for opinions and advise and then decide you know the best answer?
Listen but not hear anything?
Keep a straight face in front of your customer?
Ignore obviously better qualified opinion?
Manipulate test data to suit your purpose?
Then you too my friend can successfully deliver projects in big IT....
Lol, got me to where I am (Senior Programme Manager) Lie through your teeth?
Promise the Earth and deliver little?
Shout and scream like a possessed spoilt child?
Ask for opinions and advise and then decide you know the best answer?
Listen but not hear anything?
Keep a straight face in front of your customer?
Ignore obviously better qualified opinion?
Manipulate test data to suit your purpose?
Then you too my friend can successfully deliver projects in big IT....
Just passed my PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner, whoop
Quite challenging actually using this methodology in the workplace when no-one else has even heard of PRINCE2, but I'm finding it useful as a structured means to think in depth about risks that I otherwise wouldn't have considered.
Quite challenging actually using this methodology in the workplace when no-one else has even heard of PRINCE2, but I'm finding it useful as a structured means to think in depth about risks that I otherwise wouldn't have considered.
It was okay - obviously harder than the foundation but if you study for it properly then its passable if that makes sense. Out of all the training material I found the mock exams the most useful.
One other thing for those doing the Web proctored exam - don't forget the session is recorded and someone is watching the whole time. I might have forgotten, and whilst pondering a difficult question started scratching my head like a confused chimpanzee.
One other thing for those doing the Web proctored exam - don't forget the session is recorded and someone is watching the whole time. I might have forgotten, and whilst pondering a difficult question started scratching my head like a confused chimpanzee.
A little update for anyone who still cares. 
The company offered me a 2 month contract to see through a current project being worked on that has been flagged as a priority. This will luckily take me up to the end of December.
I have been there 2 and a half months now in which time I have coordinated 2 projects and managed one myself. Pretty good and something that will maybe look good on my CV.
After this, Practitioner really is a must.
The company offered me a 2 month contract to see through a current project being worked on that has been flagged as a priority. This will luckily take me up to the end of December.
I have been there 2 and a half months now in which time I have coordinated 2 projects and managed one myself. Pretty good and something that will maybe look good on my CV.
After this, Practitioner really is a must.
TotalControl said:
A little update for anyone who still cares.
The company offered me a 2 month contract to see through a current project being worked on that has been flagged as a priority. This will luckily take me up to the end of December.
I have been there 2 and a half months now in which time I have coordinated 2 projects and managed one myself. Pretty good and something that will maybe look good on my CV.
After this, Practitioner really is a must.
Good work. The company offered me a 2 month contract to see through a current project being worked on that has been flagged as a priority. This will luckily take me up to the end of December.
I have been there 2 and a half months now in which time I have coordinated 2 projects and managed one myself. Pretty good and something that will maybe look good on my CV.
After this, Practitioner really is a must.
Yep get practitioner on there for the CV.
Well, my time with company X is up and truth be told, it was really enjoyable. Really nice people to work with who appreciated and respected my reasoning for joining.
A lot more has been learnt. Exposure to creating plans, using MS Project, delivering as per deadlines agreements were all excellent experiences and hopefully will come in handy later on.
One thing I will say though, I have learnt so much more getting my hands dirty than P2 has taught me. Overall, it's confidence that I never had in Interviews prior to taking on these two roles that I lacked.
I would appreciate some help though. Being the Coordinator of a £1.3m project and delivering my own £100k project seems a bit daunting to put on my CV, so need some guidance as to whether that is the done thing when creating/reading PM CVs?
A lot more has been learnt. Exposure to creating plans, using MS Project, delivering as per deadlines agreements were all excellent experiences and hopefully will come in handy later on.
One thing I will say though, I have learnt so much more getting my hands dirty than P2 has taught me. Overall, it's confidence that I never had in Interviews prior to taking on these two roles that I lacked.
I would appreciate some help though. Being the Coordinator of a £1.3m project and delivering my own £100k project seems a bit daunting to put on my CV, so need some guidance as to whether that is the done thing when creating/reading PM CVs?
TotalControl said:
Well, my time with company X is up and truth be told, it was really enjoyable. Really nice people to work with who appreciated and respected my reasoning for joining.
A lot more has been learnt. Exposure to creating plans, using MS Project, delivering as per deadlines agreements were all excellent experiences and hopefully will come in handy later on.
One thing I will say though, I have learnt so much more getting my hands dirty than P2 has taught me. Overall, it's confidence that I never had in Interviews prior to taking on these two roles that I lacked.
I would appreciate some help though. Being the Coordinator of a £1.3m project and delivering my own £100k project seems a bit daunting to put on my CV, so need some guidance as to whether that is the done thing when creating/reading PM CVs?
Have crack at adding the details then post you're cv and we'll take a look or pm meA lot more has been learnt. Exposure to creating plans, using MS Project, delivering as per deadlines agreements were all excellent experiences and hopefully will come in handy later on.
One thing I will say though, I have learnt so much more getting my hands dirty than P2 has taught me. Overall, it's confidence that I never had in Interviews prior to taking on these two roles that I lacked.
I would appreciate some help though. Being the Coordinator of a £1.3m project and delivering my own £100k project seems a bit daunting to put on my CV, so need some guidance as to whether that is the done thing when creating/reading PM CVs?
TotalControl said:
I would appreciate some help though. Being the Coordinator of a £1.3m project and delivering my own £100k project seems a bit daunting to put on my CV, so need some guidance as to whether that is the done thing when creating/reading PM CVs?
And yet this is exactly what you need to be selling on your cv to get the paid role you are looking for. Remember, everyone is blagging it to a degree. You need to sell yourself a bit more by the sounds of it. TotalControl said:
......One thing I will say though, I have learnt so much more getting my hands dirty than P2 has taught me. Overall, it's confidence that I never had in Interviews prior to taking on these two roles that I lacked......
Great to hear. You will learn new and novel things on every single project that you involved with irrespective over if supporting, leading or managing. Try to take on those where you will challenged and stretched but avoid monster projects (easier said than done) until more experienced.TotalControl said:
.....I would appreciate some help though. Being the Coordinator of a £1.3m project and delivering my own £100k project seems a bit daunting to put on my CV, so need some guidance as to whether that is the done thing when creating/reading PM CVs?......
Yes. We would have something to discuss from the "triple constraints". I would ask how you arrived at the budget (looking at if you lead it, supported it or inherited it). Ask you over contingency and change requests. Essentially, your quoting the sum within the CV would allow me to loosely gauge your level. The questioning would allow me to establish how you think and methodology. Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff