Christopher BarnesSenior Operations Specialist| Universal Weather and AviationHouston, Tx, United States
Hello,
I'm new to the world of Project Management, and I am very interested in being involved in the field as a full-time career path. However, at my current company, there are little to no opportunities for me to gain experience in the field as there is not a high priority placed on it, and most entry-level jobs I see require at least 1-2 years to be considered for the position. I am a PMI member on the local and national level, and I am currently enrolled in a CAPM course (goal to obtain CAPM by end of year). Are there any suggestions for someone in my position to enter into a Project Management career?
Also, I do plan to network and get involved with my local PMI chapter. Therefore any suggestions relative to networking best practices or any first-hand experiences are helpful and welcomed. Saving Changes...
Christopher BarnesSenior Operations Specialist| Universal Weather and AviationHouston, Tx, United States
Sep 17, 2019 5:55 PM
Replying to Gbadeyan Timothy
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Welcome on board Chris, you are in the right community already. A mentor or coach can make the journey faster. But it all depends on you- You can take a training on project management, volunteer just as Sergio said. I am not particular about either CAPM or PMP, most times, a little assessment of any student I meet, tells me whether, I will recommend a CAPM or a PMP.
My question will be , why are you into project management?
Gbadeyan, thanks for the welcome! I initially desired to enter PM because it aligned with my disposition to solve problems and I wanted to learn a more organized, efficient way to bring about change and overcome organizational challenges in various contexts. I also wanted to make a shift to a more meaningful career path that was versatile and has room for growth, advancement, and ongoing education.
Unfortunately, my current company is experiencing a turbulent period and is just trying to stay alive - they just downsized their Continuous Improvement department and did away with their IT development people. Suffice it to say, it’s a pretty project-averse environment, therefore, no opportunities to gain experience within my current company. Also, my department in particular is struggling with high turnover, so they are not looking to encourage any activity that would eventually take away from their current workforce.
However, I am encouraged by the prospect of engaging with the local chapter to gain experience this way. Hopefully that works, or will search around for family/friends that would allow me to gain the experience on any business needs they have. Thanks again for your reply! Saving Changes...
Christopher BarnesSenior Operations Specialist| Universal Weather and AviationHouston, Tx, United States
Sep 18, 2019 12:34 AM
Replying to SHADAV MOHAMMAD ANSARI
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Hi,
You are the most Welcome. You can some local chapter and engage yourself in some projects. You can attend webinars and study PMBOK and go for PMP .
Thanks! I will definitely engage my local chapter. Saving Changes...
Christopher BarnesSenior Operations Specialist| Universal Weather and AviationHouston, Tx, United States
Sep 17, 2019 7:31 PM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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You are welcome. CAPM is an entry level certification and as far as I know is not highly required in some markets. So, if you ask me, put the effort on taken the PMP certification. But is just an opinion, no more than that.
Look at PM positions in your job market and check with your HR department to see if they have requirements for a PM position with your company. If a company is looking for PMP, your resume won't make it past HR without it. If a company is looking for PM certification you have a chance, but you may be competing against PMPs. Personally, I think it's funny when a company asks for a PMP with 1-2 years experience, considering the qualification requirements to apply for the exam.
If you have time outside of your day job, look for opportunities to volunteer as a project manager. Your local chapter may have access to resources in this area. I worked with Points of Light a few years ago - it was more about coaching a non-profit on project management than being a project manager for them, but it was a great experience. Saving Changes...
Leslie DancyTechnical Project Manager| Bank of America CorporationConcord, Nc, United States
Hello Christopher:
I agree with Kimberly. I was in the same situation. I went to school to become a chemist and decided that I wanted more and looked to Project Management as a new career.
The company that I left had "project managers" but they were more like SMEs. Nonetheless, I couldn't break into a PM role there nor did I have any mentors.
I decided to volunteer at my local PMI (and joined the board) to get some hands on experience and emphasize the project related work performed on the job. With this, I was able to leverage a job with the title of Project Manager. I would advise you to do that -volunteer and retool your resume to show the project related experience you already possess.
Meanwhile, look for other experienced PMs that would be willing to mentor you.
Lastly, I would advise going to meetups in your areas to network. Check out Eventbrite and Meetup. This has been an invaluable source of networking opportunities and I have met a lot of wonderful PMs and Agile PM professionals.
PS - I think the PMP will serve you better than the CAPM. Yet, the CAPM is better than nothing. At least it shows that you know the foundations.
Good luck on your PMP journey!!
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1 reply by Christopher Barnes
Sep 20, 2019 3:50 PM
Christopher Barnes
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Leslie, Thanks so much for your story and advice, especially about the CAPM vs PMP. As a learner, I would still like to know the foundations as I don't currently have a PM mentor or position where I can learn on the go (will work on that with local PMI chapter), so a CAPM is still something I want to do in terms of having formal knowledge. However, I do now have an expectation set that it's not going to magically unlock any door resume-wise - Stéphane Parent just expressed that it would have the opposite effect.
It sounds like your current company is struggling and you'll have more opportunities moving to another company. Many of us worked our way into the PM role by helping the PMs.
As for the CAPM, my PM mentor said most should not bother. Go for the PMP. But if you don't have the experience to meet the requirements, it won't hurt anything but your pocketbook. Saving Changes...
Welcome on board Chris, you are in the right community already. A mentor or coach can make the journey faster. But it all depends on you- You can take a training on project management, volunteer just as Sergio said. I am not particular about either CAPM or PMP, most times, a little assessment of any student I meet, tells me whether, I will recommend a CAPM or a PMP.
My question will be , why are you into project management?
Good articulation! , but information about your organization could have been sent directly to a mail box especially if a NDA exist. From your points :
1. " I initially desired to enter PM because it aligned with my disposition to solve problems and I wanted to learn a more organized efficient way to bring about change and overcome organizational challenges in various contexts" -- Still do the best you can in the organization where you find your self, until project management skills gets into your culture, it will not have much value(As a matter of fact, culture tends to eat-up your beautiful strategies or skills). Get to work on your mindset, because in your career, you might be consulting for this kind of company, or one of your vendors may have this similar issue. Our job is to manage or coordinate, even in a weak matrix organization.
From the other point:(2) Developing skills in another career like project management is a good risk strategy.
Learning can be formal or informal, but a combination of the two works better for me.
The weapon is START something : Formal learning or informal.It is usually said that Talk is cheap! Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Not to belabour the point but having a CAPM will only highlight to potential clients or employers that you are NOT a project manager. The CAPM is for people who don't have the experience to go for the PMP.
It would be like putting Yellow Belt in pick your favourite martial art on your résumé. Saving Changes...
Christopher BarnesSenior Operations Specialist| Universal Weather and AviationHouston, Tx, United States
Sep 18, 2019 11:36 AM
Replying to Leslie Dancy
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Hello Christopher:
I agree with Kimberly. I was in the same situation. I went to school to become a chemist and decided that I wanted more and looked to Project Management as a new career.
The company that I left had "project managers" but they were more like SMEs. Nonetheless, I couldn't break into a PM role there nor did I have any mentors.
I decided to volunteer at my local PMI (and joined the board) to get some hands on experience and emphasize the project related work performed on the job. With this, I was able to leverage a job with the title of Project Manager. I would advise you to do that -volunteer and retool your resume to show the project related experience you already possess.
Meanwhile, look for other experienced PMs that would be willing to mentor you.
Lastly, I would advise going to meetups in your areas to network. Check out Eventbrite and Meetup. This has been an invaluable source of networking opportunities and I have met a lot of wonderful PMs and Agile PM professionals.
PS - I think the PMP will serve you better than the CAPM. Yet, the CAPM is better than nothing. At least it shows that you know the foundations.
Good luck on your PMP journey!!
Leslie, Thanks so much for your story and advice, especially about the CAPM vs PMP. As a learner, I would still like to know the foundations as I don't currently have a PM mentor or position where I can learn on the go (will work on that with local PMI chapter), so a CAPM is still something I want to do in terms of having formal knowledge. However, I do now have an expectation set that it's not going to magically unlock any door resume-wise - Stéphane Parent just expressed that it would have the opposite effect.
I will focus on getting experience where I can.
Thanks again! Saving Changes...
Christopher BarnesSenior Operations Specialist| Universal Weather and AviationHouston, Tx, United States
Sep 18, 2019 8:21 AM
Replying to Kimberly Chavez
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Hi Christopher;
Looking for mentoring and pursuit of the PMP designation, as well as involvement in the local PMI chapter are great things to look in to.
Every job I held from the start of my working journey had project management intrinsically intertwined with it. That said, the position I hold now is the most traditional. When I applied for this position, I looked specifically for a PM/PC job, regardless of the fact that none of the titles I held before were specifically PM. I did not let "must have 2 years experience" deter me. During the interview I called out specific examples in my past career that highlighted my capabilities. I also spent a lot of time and some money on taking classes to prep me to hit the ground running if hired. It worked and I am now gaining the experience I will need to get that designation once I take the exam.
That was my experience, look forward to seeing yours in the future!
Kimberly, thanks for sharing your experience and insight! I'll keep pressing forward! Saving Changes...
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