How transferrable are your PM skills to other industries?
Kaitlyn LuboffSenior Project Manager| OpeekaPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Hi there,
I recently earned my PMP certification and am working in the software & technology space. I'd love to hear from the community, especially those with experience changing industries, what it takes to move to a new industry and what the benefits and drawbacks may be.
Thank you for your insight! Saving Changes...
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Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
After I decided to become a project manager in 1988 and leave behind my previous roles as SW developer and later IT systems engineer, I changed industries with every new project.
It gave me the joy to learn about new environments, technologies and cultures, get better in dealing with people and have more tools at my disposal.
My industries: utility (energy supplier), health insurance, ministry of justice, insurance, industrial conglomerate, investment banking, electronics sales and supply chain, automotive (1st Tier) and home heating.
The PMP came 1988 and it gave my capabilities and my self confidence a boost. Saving Changes...
Yuriy SimonoffSenior Project Manager| N/ABuffalo Grove, Il, United States
"Changing Industry" - is misconception when you are in software and technology. All industries need IT applications and services. All those are the same across the industries.
You'll have to learn new attribute names in the database for new environment, but "app is an app"... you'll see same challenges and struggles companies go thru regardless of industry they are in. Saving Changes...
Andrew SoswaTechnology leader| Leading global financial institutionElk Grove Village, Il, United States
What it takes to move to new industry? Depending on the context of your PM job. If you are high-level, PMO, hands-off - then skills and experience are easily transferable.
If you are hands-on, immersive, and engaged in the product - then you'll have two challenges: (1) learning the product of this industry and (2) learning how this industry adapted project management practice to their product's offering.
I've been around enough to see that there is a two-tiered PM structure:
A. Verticals - each industry is its own vertical with adaptation of PM methodologies to its product
B. Horizontal - each enterprise has several different end-deliverables. Most of the time, the firm takes one PM methodology and pushes it on every type of end-deliverable. So, horizontals like manufacturing big machinery, network, infrastructure, accounting, etc are better aligned with waterfall/phase-based PM methodology. Whereas, software dev, marketing, customer service etc (so called creative projects) are better suited to Agile methodologies.
The next step is mix A & B to reveal the question to your answer. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
My primary background and my first assignement as project manager was in software/IT industry. I understood that no matter if I was assigned to other software/IT project a critical activity must be done before start working: elicitation. Then I followed the CMU SEI process (what I knew at this time) to prepare and perform elicitation by understanding the domain, the business inside the domain, the stakeholders into the domain using tools like PESTLE, Porter Five Forces, Zachman framework mainly row 1 and 2, SPIN Selling. Thanks that I worked in multiple industries in more than 30 years of profession. That´s possible because project manager basement does not varies from one industry to other. Which varies is the environment, which is what you have to learn and understand to work in multiple industries without the need to be a subject matter expert. Saving Changes...
Jason OrloskeProject & Portfolio Management Consultant, CEO| Bridge the Gap Consulting, LLCFargo, Nd, United States
I have an 80/20 rule when it comes to this question; 80% of what you bring as a project manager is transferable regardless of industry. Those include interpersonal & negotiation skills, collaboration and communication amongst a diverse stakeholder group, risk management and issue resolution, and working with a dynamic project team. The remaining 20% are industry specific and it's up to you to ask questions, listen and learn.
If there's an industry you're targeting (i.e. I moved from IT to biotech at one point in my career), do research about the industry. Know some of the trends and what the possible future is. If possible, find a mentor that can give you insight and advice.
Jason Saving Changes...
Milena IlievaProgram Manager Global accounts| VMWareVienna, Austria
In my opinion, the more experienced is a PM, the easier is to transfer his / her knowledge and skills to other industry. When a PM managed large and complex projects and programs, large teams, budgets, senior levels stakeholders, he develops very strong technical (in a sense of project management technical skills), soft and leadership skills - negotiation, stakeholders and team management, etc. Those skills are easy to be transferred to other industries. When it comes to specific industry knowledge, I think this can be easily overcome by having very good SME's, or experts from the industry.
Having said that, I echo the 80/20 rule from Jason.
For young PMs (in a sense of experience), as they need to still develop strong PM skills, the industry knowledge can definitely help in their projects or sub-projects. Saving Changes...
