Project Management

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New to Project Management

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Evan Visser Ripley, ON, canada

Hi everyone, I am currently completing my CAPM as I am new to this industry. I have 6 years of automotive experience including sales and financial services as well as a diploma from the Automotive Business School of Canada. I am wanting to learn as much as possible, I just need someone to take a chance on me. If there’s any tips or advice for me to stand out that would be greatly appreciated!
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Md. Golam Rob Talukdar
Community Champion
Project Manager| AWR Development (BD) Ltd. Cox's Bazer , Bangladesh
Hi Evan, welcome to the community! Completing your CAPM is a fantastic start.
With 6 years in automotive sales and financial services, you already have solid real-world experience in stakeholder management, budgeting, and negotiation.

My top tip: reframe your past achievements on your resume using PMI/PMBOK terminology. That simple shift will show hiring managers how directly transferable your skills are.

Best of luck on your CAPM journey!
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Aaron Porter
Community Champion
IT Director| Blade HQ Payson, UT, United States
Be prepared for entering the field to be more of a journey than a quick trip. Keep in mind that there are different kinds of project management roles. I've spent my career in healthcare-related and e-commerce companies, but mostly on the IT Operations side. Running 6-8 projects at a time, in various stages, was normal. My daughter is a PM in Solar and rarely has less than projects 10 going at a time. The project management fundamentals are the same, but the roles and daily activities are not.

If you want to increase or speed up your chances of getting into the field, start with the industries you have experience in - are there project management opportunities there? Having experience with the problems and opportunities an employer may face increases your chances. You may be competing with people who are certified and have experience, but if their experience is in a different field you may have an advantage.

Next, look at your current network - prior coworkers, employers, teachers, and alumni. They may not have a job for you, but they may know of one, or know someone who does. It's also good to return the favor if they're looking, too.

After that, work on your future network. There are two ways I suggest (and probably more) - 1) get involved with your local PMI chapter. Get to know other PMs. Build relationships. Share your story. You may not get a job right away, but you can get advice from local project managers who understand your local job market. 2) Volunteer somewhere - community, professional organization... You may not meet your next boss this way, but you'll be building relationships and your network. People will see how you work - people that may know of job openings or know someone that does.

A critical point about networking is that the relationship needs to come before the pitch, and it needs to continue after the pitch. If all people know about you and hear from you is that you want them to help you find a job, they'll stop listening. When someone in your network helps you, show gratitude. If someone gives you a lead, let them know how it turned out and thank them for it.

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