Is it possible to jump from being a Digital Project Manager to a Construction Project Manager? Is PMP certification utilized or beneficial in construction project management?
Has any PMP or CAPM jumped from one vertical into construction? I am inquiring because I am interested in construction PM roles and I was told recently by a construction PM that the PMP certification isn't typically used in construction PM.
Can anyone provide any insight into the construction PM career? Saving Changes...
I often compare Project Manager to a conductor
You don't need to know how to play an instrument but you need to know about music.
How do you apply this concept to being a project manager in construction? Saving Changes...
Jen Jee ChanManaging Director| DotProjects Pte LtdSingapore, Singapore
Hi Kimberly,
I have spent close to 10 years in built environment/construction vertical as a Project, Program and finally a Portfolio Manager. The PMP certification is admittedly less recognised in this vertical not because it is irrelevant, but mainly because of the perception that the PMP originated mainly from the ICT industry.
I personally find the PMP concepts relevant in my line of work, however altering a widely held perception is not easy.
PMI released in 2016 a construction extension to PMBOK that I found particularly useful in co-relating PMBOK concepts and terminologies to actual work on sites and construction matters. You can find it here. https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/...ction-extension
I would recommend using this extension guide in relation to PMBOK to better prepare project managers who are PMP certified for the industry. Hope this helps. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The problem is when people believe in things like something project management (please I am not writting this because your post, dont be upset with me). Those things do not exists. We are project managers that can perform our role inside totally different environments. For example, just talking about me, I lead project in the software domain and at the same time I lead project inside the construction domain due to the whole program was created with both components (in fact, the same program had other project related to other domains inside it). Saving Changes...
Jen Jee ChanManaging Director| DotProjects Pte LtdSingapore, Singapore
Totally agree with Sergio.
The project management world at it's core has a suite of generic tools that can be applied across industries and it should not matter if it is construction, IT, hospitality, real estate verticals. My view is that it is that 10-20% alignment with the project domain verticals that may require some specific understanding of the project environment, norms and way of doing things.
We hope this message grows not only across the PM industry within the PM world, but across other industries both within this and other regions of the world
All the best Kimberly! Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
My Pet Peeve is coming across Job Descriptions with "MUST HAVE" experience /Certification in construction management projects , HR Projects (SAP success-factors implementation PMs are notorious ) , Specific software tools e.g SAP, ServiceNow or Sales-force) . It does not matter if you have done PMP with years of PM experience, you wont get a look if you are not "domain" experienced.
This is regardless of what I myself would advise (that PM Skills / Certifications are agnostic of specific domain experience and are applicable to all types of projects ) someone struggling or looking to jump across domains . Saving Changes...
Anton OosthuizenSenior Business Analyst / Project Manager| Self EmployedPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
The simple answer as you have probably gathered by now is yes, it is possible but the reality is slightly different. Just doing a quick search for construction PM jobs on Linkedin will show you that this is one industry where they require some additional qualification 9 out fo 10 times. Typically some engineering degree that relates to construction. So while it is not impossible it is one of the more difficult industries to penetrate without the required qualification/s.
Is PMP relevant/helpful in this industry? No less or no more than in any other industry really. Better to have it than not. Saving Changes...
Mike HaltomSenior Project Manager| JLLRound Lake Beach, Il, United States
I am a Construction PM and use the basic processes of the PMBOK. A construction PM tailors the processes used in construction just as they would in another industry's project. I found that, in studying for my PMP, that my PM skills have improved and my projects are more consistent, stress is lower, and I am more confident in the outcome of a project because I am applying time proven methodologies.
The saying that a PM can manage any project, in any field, only hold true if you know the role of a PM is not the prime performer of work and if the PM uses a good methodology. Saving Changes...
There's a good reason that PMI added Strategic & Business Management as a leg of the Talent Triangle. Without having sufficient knowledge to be able to ask the "right" questions, to understand the common phases of a given industry's projects and to have some understanding of common risks, a PM is unlikely to be effective and risks not only loss of credibility with their stakeholders but may also be putting the project at risk.
This doesn't mean that coming up through the ranks in that industry in a hands-on role is mandatory, but it does mean you will have to spend a lot of effort to bridge the knowledge gap in other ways.
In an ideal world, you will have a team that possesses all the knowledge required, but even in such cases, the phrase "trust but verify" applies and it is hard to do that without sufficient domain knowledge.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Project management has been part of the construction industry for generations - long before PMI. I got involved in PMI while in the construction industry and followed up with my PMP in the early 1990's before it was recognized as a valuable certification. I did this to enhance my ability to successfully deliver construction projects. In the 1990's construction project management was a critical part of PMI. To this day the PMI 'way' remains very valid in the construction industry and PMP certification is one of numerous certifications.
As to jumping from one industry to another, professional management is like most professions - it is not restricted to a specific industry - the skill set is very transferable. However there needs to be an effort to understand the processes, basic technologies and language of the 'new' industry and adapt as may be required. That being said, you may have to re-establish your brand/reputation and rebuild your network. Not necessarily start at the bottom, but a couple steps back may be in order. Saving Changes...
Asif GulConsultant Project Manager| Energoprojekt EntelMuscat, Oman
Most of PMBOK Guidelines are equally applicable to Construction Industry. The difference only lies in the word" Tailoring." Because even for software industry, not every where and not every process defined in PMBOK is applicable.
Similarly in construction industry one has to select from PMBOK the set of PM Processes & tools & techniques, found to be specifically applicable , beneficial or/and required by organization. Saving Changes...
