What qualification to aim for to compliment my PM experience

[Pulse]

I've had a look at the market, and I've had a look at the potential qualifications, but I'm wondering what other people's views are on furthering my career.

I'm a Project Manager at the moment, with almost 2 years experience (so very new to it all). I've recently gone through my Prince2 Practitioner, and I'm trying to decide my next step.

At the moment I only have a few options on the list.

APMP - Short course; compliments Prince2
M_o_R - Short course; compliments Prince2
MSP - Short course; more for Programme Managers, but could be helpful for seeing the other side of things and for potential progression to that type of role
CIPS - At the moment the forerunner. It would give me the procurement knowledge to expand as a PM or to change over to procurement in the future. Starting at level 4, and aim to go up to level 6.

I've looked at degrees, but am concerned that if I want/need to drop out during the course, I'm left with nothing to show for it.

Any tips/advice?

[lestag]

Depends on where you want to head with your career.
Perhaps look on the job websites for your next job progression adn see what they are currently looking for.
what type of work are you in > IT, civil construction,.....

[MoonMonkey]

First degree or Masters all the way but is bloody hard work though...

[Pulse]

lestag said:

Depends on where you want to head with your career.
Perhaps look on the job websites for your next job progression adn see what they are currently looking for.
what type of work are you in > IT, civil construction,.....

I have done a bit of that, but most of them are looking for general PM experience and Prince2, which I already have. Further to that, they want knowledge in the specific area, which I don't have.

I'm currently in health, and am not after a particular area - the beauty of being a PM, in theory.

I'm just wondering if it's a total waste of my time going after further PM qualifications like MoR or APMP, as more often than not, they're not acknowledged.

[poshboyracer]

Six sigma is the buzzword de jour in PM from what I've seen.

But, PM is basically the application of common sense; qualifications aren't a big help. Really, only experience will make you better and able to talk the talk in an interview.

[Pulse]

poshboyracer said:

Six sigma is the buzzword de jour in PM from what I've seen.

But, PM is basically the application of common sense; qualifications aren't a big help. Really, only experience will make you better and able to talk the talk in an interview.

Totally agree. That's why I think 'specialising' in something would make sense. Something that will sit alongside my PM skills, which as you say, are mainly 'soft skills'.

Perhaps CIPS should be the route I follow...

[GT03ROB]

Without knowing the field of project management you are in the question is really impossible to answer. You need to bear in mind there are many different forms of PM. I work oil & gas projects. In this field qualifications are immaterial and if anything sneered upon. It's experience & track record that counts.

poshboyracer said:

Six sigma is the buzzword de jour in PM from what I've seen.

But, PM is basically the application of common sense; qualifications aren't a big help. Really, only experience will make you better and able to talk the talk in an interview.

6 sigma is in my view totally discredited. I worked with it for 7 years. Biggest waste of money initiative I've ever come across. Totally demotivated people. Very poorly applied. It clearly works best in a manufacturing type environment, but not in an EPC business.

[Pulse]

GT03ROB said:

Without knowing the field of project management you are in the question is really impossible to answer. You need to bear in mind there are many different forms of PM. I work oil & gas projects. In this field qualifications are immaterial and if anything sneered upon. It's experience & track record that counts.

poshboyracer said:

Six sigma is the buzzword de jour in PM from what I've seen.

But, PM is basically the application of common sense; qualifications aren't a big help. Really, only experience will make you better and able to talk the talk in an interview.

6 sigma is in my view totally discredited. I worked with it for 7 years. Biggest waste of money initiative I've ever come across. Totally demotivated people. Very poorly applied. It clearly works best in a manufacturing type environment, but not in an EPC business.

I did post it above, but not in my original post. I currently work in health, for the NHS.

I've also not heard great things about Six Sigma, which is why I've never taken it up.

Whilst I'm happy to just increase my experience, I would also like to study for something, even if it's only for personal development.

[XJSJohn]

Prince 2 is not realy that recognised internationally if you think you and your career may want to move overseas.

PMI seems to be the current internationaly recognised path.

Otherwise, its mostly down to experiance so would suggest that the most important next steps is picking the strongest projects for your CV.

[poshboyracer]

GT03ROB said:

Without knowing the field of project management you are in the question is really impossible to answer. You need to bear in mind there are many different forms of PM. I work oil & gas projects. In this field qualifications are immaterial and if anything sneered upon. It's experience & track record that counts.

poshboyracer said:

Six sigma is the buzzword de jour in PM from what I've seen.

But, PM is basically the application of common sense; qualifications aren't a big help. Really, only experience will make you better and able to talk the talk in an interview.

6 sigma is in my view totally discredited. I worked with it for 7 years. Biggest waste of money initiative I've ever come across. Totally demotivated people. Very poorly applied. It clearly works best in a manufacturing type environment, but not in an EPC business.

Interesting - I've seen it in quite a few of the higher paid PM job specs, but have never had direct experience. So very much just a buzzword then?

I think, as others have said, that specialism is the key. Whilst in theory, PM can be applied to any field, knowing a lot about the subject of projects you manage is invaluable. A boat building project manager is going to be all at sea putting in a new VOIP infrastructure.

[casbar]

Msc in an IT discipline would be my choiec (it would because that's what I did). APM, don't want to upset anyone, but when I'm looking for PM's, I don't rate that much. PMI, is a good qual, but again, all we look for, is experience and Prince2.

Forgot to mention, quals will get you the interview, but then you have to convince someone, you know what you are doing

Edited by casbar on Sunday 1st August 18:27

[2seas]

I'm a PM at the moment and agree with the general consensus on here - at your level of experience Prince 2 (which I have also done) gives you a good level of theory and sets a useful framework to map your projects to, but, it's experience that matters most.

I would say focus on getting into an industry that appeals to you (health, finance for the big money, IT, building etc) and then start to get projects under you belt and build your technical knowledge...

Once you've decided on an industry you can look for useful courses e.g. if in telecomms you could look at a course in networking...

[CPB31]

GT03ROB said:

Without knowing the field of project management you are in the question is really impossible to answer. You need to bear in mind there are many different forms of PM. I work oil & gas projects. In this field qualifications are immaterial and if anything sneered upon. It's experience & track record that counts.

poshboyracer said:

Six sigma is the buzzword de jour in PM from what I've seen.

But, PM is basically the application of common sense; qualifications aren't a big help. Really, only experience will make you better and able to talk the talk in an interview.

6 sigma is in my view totally discredited. I worked with it for 7 years. Biggest waste of money initiative I've ever come across. Totally demotivated people. Very poorly applied. It clearly works best in a manufacturing type environment, but not in an EPC business.

6 sigma is a buzzword given to a collection of tools that have been used in manufacturing for some time ~ look up Toyota Production System on wikipedia and you will get a pretty good idea. The Goldratt books are very much worth reading and much cheaper than any course you will undertake, it depends on how badly you want additional letters after your name. Like the manufacturing tools (Poke Yoke, 5s etc) six sigma has laid claim to, these books have been around for some time and it is only now some of my (highly paid...) IT & Software PM / BA friends are starting to use them...

[Pulse]

What are people's views on DSDM Atern? It looks appealing but it's never one that's asked for.

[MoonMonkey]

Pulse said:

What are people's views on DSDM Atern? It looks appealing but it's never one that's asked for.

Dunno much about dynamic models although seem to recall from studies they're predominantly used in software development type projects.... not much help I'm afriad.

[Jonathan27]

I would advise CIPS. Until just over a year ago I was a PM with a degree, a masters and Six Sigma. I then moved in to Procurement and took APMP, and am currently working on CIPS. Procurements definitely an interesting area of work, but beyond the qualifications you need the right skills (stakeholder management above all else).
Not only is there plenty of work in procurement, but I also feel that the pay is much better. With level 6 you could easily look at £650 per day or £60 - £70 pa (London) with less than 5 years experience.

Hope this helps.

[V8mate]

I'd advise you to stop studying and do some work. Anyone can learn from a book and pass exams - you need to demonstrate that you can actually achieve stuff to employers.

[GT03ROB]

Jonathan27 said:

I would advise CIPS. Until just over a year ago I was a PM with a degree, a masters and Six Sigma. I then moved in to Procurement and took APMP, and am currently working on CIPS. Procurements definitely an interesting area of work, but beyond the qualifications you need the right skills (stakeholder management above all else).
Not only is there plenty of work in procurement, but I also feel that the pay is much better. With level 6 you could easily look at £650 per day or £60 - £70 pa (London) with less than 5 years experience.

Hope this helps.

Well all the procurement people usually work for me! So as a PM I'd definitely see procurement as a backward step, but each to his own!

V8mate said:

I'd advise you to stop studying and do some work. Anyone can learn from a book and pass exams - you need to demonstrate that you can actually achieve stuff to employers.

Best advice here.

[Pulse]

V8mate said:

I'd advise you to stop studying and do some work. Anyone can learn from a book and pass exams - you need to demonstrate that you can actually achieve stuff to employers.

I am working, but also want to study. I don't see the issue with that.

[lestag]

V8mate said:

I'd advise you to stop studying and do some work. Anyone can learn from a book and pass exams - you need to demonstrate that you can actually achieve stuff to employers.

Yes, but when you are looking for a job, generally the first thing employers look at is qualifications and not your experience.