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Tips on entering new industries as a PM

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Sahar El-Zaylaa Financial data analyst| Opus Inspection Chicago, IL, United States
Hello everyone, I recently passed my PMP exam and have previous experience as a Project Lead, Business Analyst, and Coordinator. I managed projects and also assisted with projects related to operational efficiency and compliance, but my entire experience has been with the Government of Canada. I recently moved to Chicago and that's when I decided to pursue the PMP designation as it aligned with my career experience and aspirations. 

I'm looking for tips and tricks on how to transition from one industry to another. I'm a quick learner and open to anything regarding operational efficiency, as such, I dont have a specific industry in mind. 

Thank you in advance!
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Keith Novak Tukwila, Wa, United States
Hi Sahar,
The topic of switching industries has come up many times so I'd suggest looking through some past posts. In summary however, I would evaluate where your skills fit in other industries outside the core technology.

Working exclusively for one employer might suggest to a hiring manager that you only know how to do things one way, so instead emphasize the specific skills you have mastered.

If you are adept at both operational efficiency and working with the government, then I would consider industries with either large production or distribution systems. Regulatory experience could give you a big leg up in some.

Some big IT companies will hire people from anywhere, but they are also known to burn most employees out within a couple years so definitely do your homework before accepting an enticing offer.
Keith
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Sahar, congrats on earning your PMP. Transitioning from one industry to another can be overwhelming but it’s doable. Remember, soft and interpersonal skills are transferrable so you only need to learn the technical side of things. 75% of what we do as PMs is related to our soft skills. If you’re moving to a completely new industry, a Project Coordinator role can be a good starter position to get your feet wet.
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Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany

Sahar, welcome to the PMP, you are member of an almost 1.5 million group globally. And your experience of passing the exam is fresh and hopefully still raising your senses.
I have worked in my professional life three decades at one company, IBM, but each of my 20 or so projects was in a different industry. With each project, assessing the context is essential but also enriching. Volunteering added to the learning.



Finding a job and switching industries may not be the same challenge. According to a recent survey, jobs are found through your network in more than 30% of the cases.
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Laith Alharthy PM Consultant| Entrupedia Muscat, Oman
Hello Sahar, congratulations on the new role as well as your PMP fresh boost. for such topic and from previous experience I would also suggest that you focus on your narrow network, the project sponsor and the close circle of the project management team. you can play the role of Data Gathering and Requirements Documentation initially while getting a hand from some one from the industry or the organization. this will keep you on track on one hand and the the other will help you learn and accelerate your technical knowledge on the matter. for areas that are far from your tech. know how will be just fine to delegate or assign a technical person and just focus on the project (Cost, Schedule, Scope) planning and estimation. remember that you may also spend extra time deciding whether to use Agile Approach and/or PM Conventional Approach on this new journey. this can be a valuable input from your side as the Project Manager/Lead. Best wishes

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