Annette SuhManager, Agile Practices| The Walt Disney CompanyWinter Garden, FL, United States
Hi all: I'd like to share my experience with being a contract PM, because it seems that contracting doesn't get the love it should within the general PM community.
I've got the opportunity to work at 8 Fortune 100's, and Nike, and learn new things, all while being paid more than FTEs and having the flexibility to learn how really big organizations operate. I've learned a lot, grown a lot, and have taken on progressively more complex roles, all while putting out a great work product.
Changing jobs every 6 mos to a year has helped me to become very adaptable, and able to make an impact quickly because I can easily size up a current situation and formulate a plan of attack.
Got questions? Want to share your stories about how contracting has helped your career? Saving Changes...
Farid AlsakkafShips Projects Manager| ADNOCAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
No doubt changing jobs every 6 mos to a year provides more exposure thus diversified learning and experience and widens the persons contacts when help is needed. if the market helps it is a privilege. Some others prefer stay longer at a place for job security. You see.. it all depends.. Saving Changes...
Annette SuhManager, Agile Practices| The Walt Disney CompanyWinter Garden, FL, United States
Job security is a joke to me. The few times I've been converted to a full-time employee, there's been re-org's & last to join is first to go. At least with contracting they don't try to sell you on that story of job security. Saving Changes...
The idea of contract work appeals to me. You're essentially your own business, and establishing a "brand" as a contract PM, correct? Saving Changes...
Annette SuhManager, Agile Practices| The Walt Disney CompanyWinter Garden, FL, United States
Well, I usually work for an agency or consulting company, on-site at an end-client's location. So all the fun of consulting, but none of the hassle of running your own business solo. Saving Changes...
Annette SuhManager, Agile Practices| The Walt Disney CompanyWinter Garden, FL, United States
Well, I usually work for an agency or consulting company, on-site at an end-client's location. So all the fun of consulting, but none of the hassle of running your own business solo. Saving Changes...
How would you find appropriate agencies or consulting companies to market your skills?
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1 reply by Annette Suh
Sep 22, 2016 4:08 PM
Annette Suh
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The mindset of finding a "secret sauce" company who will constantly find you projects just isn't realistic. Every job I take is through a different company.
Saving Changes...
Annette SuhManager, Agile Practices| The Walt Disney CompanyWinter Garden, FL, United States
Sep 22, 2016 4:03 PM
Replying to Andrew Iserson
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How would you find appropriate agencies or consulting companies to market your skills?
The mindset of finding a "secret sauce" company who will constantly find you projects just isn't realistic. Every job I take is through a different company. Saving Changes...
Wajiha SalmanChief Learning Officer| HomeDubai, United Arab Emirates
Hi Annette,
I was involved in the launch of an organisation and stayed there 5 years from pre-launch (6months) to the organization doing completing year of an international JV. Now I had not always been a PMP in that experience but having to stick with a project from start to finish and then hand it over to someone else has been an equal source of growth as maybe being involved in a project for a short duration or a project of short duration.
In my view certain project give birth to eco systems and if you are lucky enough to be part of such a project then you should try your best to see it through. Circumstances aside if any stage of such a project or program is within your job description you must stay.
This of course is another area of debate as to what type of projects are eco system developers but I am sure you get my meaning.
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1 reply by Annette Suh
Sep 22, 2016 4:44 PM
Annette Suh
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Not quite following how this applies to my post. Are you suggesting that people who are contractors don't finish their projects? That is a false assumption and very off-topic. My purpose in posting is to say there's tremendous growth opportunities in contracting.
Saving Changes...
Annette SuhManager, Agile Practices| The Walt Disney CompanyWinter Garden, FL, United States
Sep 22, 2016 4:38 PM
Replying to Wajiha Salman
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Hi Annette,
I was involved in the launch of an organisation and stayed there 5 years from pre-launch (6months) to the organization doing completing year of an international JV. Now I had not always been a PMP in that experience but having to stick with a project from start to finish and then hand it over to someone else has been an equal source of growth as maybe being involved in a project for a short duration or a project of short duration.
In my view certain project give birth to eco systems and if you are lucky enough to be part of such a project then you should try your best to see it through. Circumstances aside if any stage of such a project or program is within your job description you must stay.
This of course is another area of debate as to what type of projects are eco system developers but I am sure you get my meaning.
Not quite following how this applies to my post. Are you suggesting that people who are contractors don't finish their projects? That is a false assumption and very off-topic. My purpose in posting is to say there's tremendous growth opportunities in contracting. Saving Changes...
Wajiha SalmanChief Learning Officer| HomeDubai, United Arab Emirates
Of course not! By its very definition a project will always have an end activity and contractors will be hired to take the project to its logical end. The comment was related to 'Career development' of contractors, how it helps your career. My point of view was to give the other side of the picture where people who are not contractors but in-house project managers can have an equally rewarding career by staying beyond the expiry of the project. Hence the phrase 'projects that develop eco-systems'.
Imagine a project done by a contractor that when delivered will open up new possibilities for an organisation to make long term profits. Now its up to the organisation to involve the contract resource that delivered the first project. But if for whatever reason (time,money, strategy, expertise etc) that same resource is unavailable; the opportunity to exploit the result of that original project and increase one's learning (ability to adapt) is now not possible for the contractor. The argument I am trying to make is one that does not diminish a contractor's role but weighs the opportunities a contractor has vs a permanent resource that acts a project manager for some of the multiple projects arising out of that one. Saving Changes...
