Hello! I am currently in the process of getting a masters in project management. The university I attend has a variety of specializations to choose from, and you have to pick one. I'm really struggling with which one would be the best one in terms of job opportunity. There are a few that stick out to me and I'm wondering if I could get some insight into which one would be more useful when it's time to job search.
- Organizational Leadership and Change Management
- Strategic Innovation and Change Management
- Information Technology
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Carrie
My first choice would be the Strategic Innovation and second would be Organizational Leadership. Those are the future.
IT is limited to IT but the others woud open so many doors for you.
Hope this helps. Good Luck.
RK Saving Changes...
B REDDY BHEEMI REDDYSolution Leader| Brane Enterprises Private LimitedHyderabad, Tg, India
Hi Carrie,
I would prefer "Strategic Innovation and Change Management" because it suits best to people who use right brain most of the time, i mean the creative side. So that Organisational Leadership can be your next level once you get some decent hands on experience in building innovative strategies.
Where are you at in your career, and do you have a direction? Look at the courses that are offered in the curriculum of each program. Which apply more to your career goals?
As an example, if you have worked in IT for several years, Innovation might be more valuable for your career. If you plan to work in IT and don't have a lot of experience in that space, Innovation would still be helpful, but IT might be more beneficial.
But, when you get down to it, experience is usually more valuable than a degree, and if you have the degree, HR probably won't care about the specialization. A few jobs ago, I went after a job with seven years of experience and an MBA, but it was the combination of those things PLUS having my PMP that got me past HR.
If you're looking for career opportunity and advancement, look at the job requirements for the career(s) you want, and use that information to help with your decision. If your school is like mine was, the core classes are the same, so it's really just a few classes that differentiate them from each other. If each program has equal, but different, relevance to your goals, go for the one that interests you most. If you're going to pursue/maintain your PMP, your not done learning, and you can add relevant training to your resume. Saving Changes...
I am in a similar position. I am completing a more general engineering masters and I think I will focus on using LSS tools to improve project success and quality. Not really answering your question Carrie, just giving an example of what others are doing.
All the best with your masters! Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Some people are going to be mad at me with what I'm going to write. It is my opinion and I can support it with arguments. No more than that. Just comment that I am closely linked to teaching and research. From my point of view, doing a specialization or a master's degree in project management does not make sense. My recommendation is that you get involved in a project that generates a solution that involves any of the points you write above. Moreover, today, I would risk saying that there is no solution that does not involve everyone. Saving Changes...
Thank you for the replies. I am also completing My master's in Project management but I went the route of MBA and Project Management.. I hope this was a good choice... Saving Changes...
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