Sam BressiProject Manager| US GovernmentMontclair, Va, United States
Hi everyone. I am looking for advice from people who have transitioned into a new project management domain, specifically construction. I have been a project manager for about ten years starting out in IT implementations/delivery, then in business process improvement, and now back in systems delivery. To give you a little insight into my background: I''ve been a senior-level PM, a PMO director, and a PM instructor; I have a BS in computer science, an MS in computer science, and an MBA. I completed a handful (maybe 9?) undergraduate credits in architecture but with them being in the 90s, I''m not sure they are useful to anyone.
My ideal job has always been construction project management. However, even entry level construction PM jobs require at least a four-year degree in an engineering or construction management, which I do not have. I''m not opposed to pursuing this but I thought that I''d first check with others who might have made this journey in the past to see if it is worth doing. That is, in your experience, are A/E firms likely to be open to those who might not have the technical chops but have a good amount of PM experience?
Is it just a pipe dream to change domains? Saving Changes...
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Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I will talk about my personal experience. My first domain was IT/Software. After that I have been working in several domains including construction. Here comes the "ancient" discussion about if a project manager must be a subject matter expert or not. And here comes the market demands in some markets (subject matter expert in the domain or not). To be a subject matter expert in the domain, thanks God, was not a restriction for me. BUT what I ever do is to prepare exhaustively before staring my work into a domain. To do that I make the same than when I make the activity "Prepare for elicitation" when I work as business analyst. You can see the SEI-CMU process but basically what I do is to understand the business (terms, process, roles, locations, etc. You can use the Zachman framework row 1 as a guide), to understand the environment (using PESTLE analysis and Porter five forces for example), to understand other companies needs in the domain. Saving Changes...
PANKAJ KUMAR JOSHIGeneral Manager| Transrail Lighting LimitedNainital, Uttrakhand, India
Career transition from one field to another field is really difficult and that through at project manager stage. I have seen many person to work in a different field but in portfolio management profile which is quite strategic. One who was construction project manager cannot work as IT Project manager immediately or vice versa, it involves a lot of knowledge for that particular field. You may endanger your career as well as organisation. Saving Changes...
Hello Every Body:
I WOULD SAY THIS IS AVERY IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK FROM THE ZERO POINT OF START THINKING OF CAREER CHANGE:
It depends on a number of things and a lot of interpersonal skills are involved as well as the work culture of where you come from (work-company). besides having a degree in management would be helpful to manage the challenge coming in the transection project Saving Changes...
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