I've been designing and managing E-waste recycling and recovery systems for corporations for the last 17 years, but have recently been thinking about changing industries. Does anyone have experience in making that transition. Is it all just methodology and you pick up the nuances as you go? Or is there more to it?
Thanks,
RJR
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Robert ProlProject Manager| KPMG LLPEast Sandwich, Ma, United States
My opinion is that there are people wired to be project managers. I'd recommend that you read a PMP study guide, and the PMBoK. If your lights turn on, you'll probably find PM to be a good career path.
Much of what a PM does is related to soft skills - communicating, motivating, leading. The math part is good, but not the only piece.
Project Management is applicable to so many areas of life. I've built a pretty nice career without ever managing an IT project. You can probably apply your skills to your current industry, or find a new one. Saving Changes...
George JucanManaging Partner| Organizational Perfomance Enablers NetworkWoodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Hi Russ,
Well, even PMI started to recognize that, while project management “core” is completely transferable between industries, to be an efficient project manager you also need some industry acumen and company environment knowledge (a polite wording for politics) – check out PMCDF 2nd Edition for reference. I’ve mentored couple of PMs transitioning from other industries into IT, and my advice was always to take gradual steps – e.g. act as a business PM, “industry expert” or “voice of the customer” in IT projects or for IT companies creating software for the “starting” business area, in order to bridge between the 2 worlds and understand the specifics of IT projects before having to be solely responsible for one.
Hope it helps,
