Hi I am a long time reader first time poster. In the last 8 years I have been working in the technical side of I.T (with a year off working for the family building company) one of my main jobs in the last two roles I have worked in were to manage different I.T projects that have come about.
I have now taken an active interest in this and looking at taking a full time Project Management role, being that a junior role. I am studying for a diploma in Project Management which will go towards completing a Degree in Project Management. I have worked on many projects and have managed many too and have gained a lot of experience but now I am coming to apply for Junior PM Roles as I know I can’t walk straight in at the top but I am being rejected at the first hurdle for not having enough experience. Although I feel like I do have a lot of project experience.
So I would like to ask for some advice on how I can go about getting that Junior PM role, what kind of experience these companies are looking for in a Junior PM role.
I am sorry for the length of this thread hopefully the more I use it the smaller my threads will be. Many thanks in advance for any feedback.
Ben just wanted to let you know there are many of us beginners out there, we just need a map on where to go...... Saving Changes...
Linda HillProgram Manager| MicrosoftRenton, Wa, United States
Hi -
You may want to consider beginning as a Busines Analyst. Many BA's manage small to medium projects on their was to becoming a Project Manager. Saving Changes...
Linda, a BA is something I was considering, I think it makes it a bit more difficult with the state the company I am currently working for is in, and that there is not much room for progression here, I think my problem is a catch 22, as I do not pocesses the relevant experience to get a new job and I am not getting the experience at my job, I am sure something will give and it will all happen at once.
Scyrus, are you a student studying Project Management or are you a graduate? You are right about the map, although I am just waiting for the chance to prove myself as I know I can do a good job. Saving Changes...
Darren KosaPlanning & Controls ContractorHampshire, United Kingdom
Hi Ben,
As you’re form the UK and depending on the arena you wish to go into, you may want to consider PRINCE2 accreditation. For IT projects in the public sector it’s a must have, almost a perquisite these days and becoming more regarded in the private sector as well.
APM (Association for Project Management) courses are another option, they’re probably not as valued but they concentrate a lot more on the softer PM skills whereas PRINCE2 in more functional. There’s also the added bonus of being able to apply for membership of the APM when you complete them.
Definitely join your local APM chapter (I’m sure there’s one in Oxfordshire) and become actively involved. It looks good on a CV and has additional networking opportunities that may prove to be invaluable (with project management half the time it’s not what you know it’s who you know).
There are many ways to get into project management and I’m sure most, if not all, of the posters on gantthead didn’t start out on the PM path. They will have probably be office managers, business analysts, engineers, project planners or maybe they didn’t run away quickly enough when someone in their company suggested a project should be undertaken.
The point is unfortunately there aren’t any roadmaps leading to the promised land, you just have to be dogmatic and single-minded in the pursuance of your goal. A little bit of luck, a lot of enthusiasm and maybe a few posts on gantthead will see you right.
Good luck in your quest (to Scyrus too).
Regards,
Darren Saving Changes...
David WhelbournSenior Project Manager| xwave Solutions IncFredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Hello Ben,
As mentioned in the UK focus on picking up PRINCE2 education. I will help you develop your PM process and show potential employers you are training for the role above and beyond your formal education.
Joining the APM or PMI will demonstrate your committment to professionalism in Project Management. Plus you will learn alot from the chapter meetings.
To broaden your PM experience I would talk to your local charity (possibly the local hospital) and offer to help Project Manage a fund raising event. This way you help out your local hospital and you can add to your experience. Who knows who you might meet during the course of organising the fund raising event. Once done pick another charity and ask if there are any projects you can help manage. Add a volunteering section to your CV/Resume and put in the details of your project management experience above and beyond the IT stuff.
Another bonus of this is it will broaden your PM experience across all PM processes rather than just IT related areas.
Finally study for PMI's CAPM or the APM equivalent certification. Then as you build experience aim for the PMP / APMP certification. Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Hi Ben,
Great post and replies. I would only add a few things. First, I don't think there is such a thing as a full time project management role that is a junior PM role. I know what you mean by it, but I don't think companies seeking to hire full time project managers see it that way. To them, you are either a qualified project manager candidate or you are not. And this dilemma is not unique to those seeking to get into project management, rather it is common in most professions such as marketing, sales, accounting, administration, and certainly management. So, I would advise, to not even look for a full time project manager job that is, like you say, a junior PM role.
Second, develop a career plan. It is never too early. And develop a strategy for finding the work you want, getting the experiences that you need, and obtaining the education and learning that you require. In this regard, the advice of the other posts is very good.
Third, network, network, and then network some more. Attend any and all meetings, events, and networking opportunities that you can. Get to know all of the local companies and get to know all of the local vendors - tools, training, and consulting firms. As part of your networking, identify one or two mentors and ask them to take you under their wing and help you along. You would be surprised how helpful people, especially seasoned project managers, can be and are willing to be.
Fourth, be advised that for most folks getting into project management for the first time is a lot like getting into people management for the first time. Usually, you are already working in a job and on account of the quality of the work that you have done and the needs of the business, you are offered an opportunity (often a promotion) to fulfill a company need. So, if you want to get into project management and get a job as a full time project manager, get a job at a company where that is possible. If there is no possible way to achieve that in your current company, then you need to look elsewhere.
Lastly, I would highly recommend joining an organization like Toastmasters International where you will learn life-long skills in communications, leadership, and confidence that are applicable to any endeavor and especially project management.
Great post. I hope we hear and learn from others. ~ Mark Saving Changes...
Richard HowProgramme Management Consultant| How Associates LtdHarthill, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Ben
I have read your post several times now and I have to say I'm confused by the fact you are trying for junior PM jobs and getting rejected for lack of experience when you say you have managed many projects. What stage in the application process are you getting rejected at? is it initial application, in which case it my be the way you are describing your experience on your CV. If its at interview stage are they rejecting you for lack of PM experience or lack of experience in a particular sector ?
if you can give more detail I'll see if I can help Saving Changes...
First of all I would like to thank everyone who has replied to my post and given excellent and imformative advice which I will be taking on board.
Richard, I am getting rejected at the initial application stage, and when I say that, I mean I rarely get any communication back, which can be frustrating as some of these recruiters dont ever give you constructive criticism which I can use to improve my working experience and CV. I do believe that it is my CV which is letting me down, and although I have been submitted to a lot of PM work I dont think I have expressed it on my CV and that maybe I am under-selling myself. Currently my CV stands at 2 pages but I know that I do not have all my experience included and what I have included maybe not explained in detail. The reason for this is that I spoke to a person who is a CV writer by trade and they told me that my CV should be no longer that 2 pages and that I should not go into to much detial.
Mark, again many thanks for your advice, you may be happy to hear that I am in the middle of constructing a letter to my local hospital to introduce myself and to see if there is any way I will be able to help with any fund raising projects that they may have lined up. When you say to attend meetings and events do you mean seminars? I am looking at my local chapter of APM which in fact is the main UK office for any events and seminars which are taking place and going to try and get to as many as possible. The problem is with my current company is that there is a potential opening for a PM with the web applications we are hoping to produce plus a building move which will also require a PM, but I kind feel like I am held back by my boss. All other projects ever ran here have never really gone to plan and have never really been planned at all, and then they ask themselves why has it failed and start pointing fingers, so for the last six months I have been trying to put my name into the mix when these potential projects are being talked about but nothing ever comes of it. I will keep trying and continue to study and to try and network and to make contacts in the industry to improve my chances of gaining the experience I need to become a Project Manager.
Again many thanks for all of your replies and advice they have all helped enormously.
Regards
Ben Saving Changes...
Linda HillProgram Manager| MicrosoftRenton, Wa, United States
Richard HowProgramme Management Consultant| How Associates LtdHarthill, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Ben
dont take the lack of response as a rejection, I have just spent some time looking for a roll and managed to get some inside info from one or two agencies. One I spoke to had the situation where the client wanted a max of 10 CV's from the agency for a PM role. He advertised the role and got a couple of hundred applicants. He went through the CV's rejecting the bad ones and putting the good ones into a pile. When the good CV pile had around 20 CV's in he read them in detail and selected the best 10 to submit to the client. This meant that there were over 100 CV's that were submitted but were never even considered for the role. One tip he gave me is to submit the CV then ring up a little later to discuss the role, this make the agent pull your CV from the pile, you may not make the shortlist but you will at least know your CV has been read Saving Changes...
