Esmeal SheriffOwner/Sr. Principal Consultant| Execultant Consultancy L.L.C.Minneapolis, Mn, United States
Project Management seems like a tough field to get into because the demand for specific skills sets can sometime makes things difficult for new practitioners. Most jobs I have seen are related to IT projects, which limited my chances of being qualify for hire. I sometimes feel it will be much more easier if I knew how to write codes, develop software or applications, computer networking and all the other computer languages that are relevant in IT project management. But we do not get those education in school. What we get is the ways, process to manage project in general and the tools relevant to managing project such as writing scope, using Gantt Chart, creating WBS, risk management, etc.
So my question is, What relevant IT skills a new practioner need to know to be consider a qualify job candidate for IT project management job?. Secondly, how can a new practioner sell his or herself when seeking career opportunity to be consider a qualify candidate, especially new graduates? Third, what would employers expect of a new practioner to be consider a qualify job candidate. Last, Should new practioner with out strong IT skills only focus on non IT project management jobs, or are there room for them in a IT project management environment? If not, then, which industry should their focus be on? Saving Changes...
1. What relevant IT skills new practitioners need to know?
• Basic requirement - MS Excel & VBA, MS Visio, MS PowerPoint , MS Word
• Good to have - MS Project, MS SharePoint, Database & SQL knowledge, Testing skills
2. How can a new practitioner sell his or herself when seeking career opportunity?
• Stress on strengths and expertise. Given an opportunity what one thing you can do differently or add to enhance the existing process, leveraging your expertise and skills.
3. What would employers expect of a new practitioners to be consider a qualify job candidate?
• Foremost – expertise, skills, knowledge, a good team player, learner, self-motivated, self-starter
• Secondly – courage, empowerment, innovative , able to perform under challenging situations, can take stress
4. Should new practitioners without strong IT skills only focus on non IT project management jobs?
• No, there is no such rule. There are people managers, and technical managers in IT. All contributing to the project. Don’t restrict yourself to a specific industry, focus on learning and gain experience.
Good Luck!!
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1 reply by Esmeal Sheriff
Sep 28, 2016 10:47 AM
Esmeal Sheriff
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Hello Anupam,
Thanks for your response. I highly appreciate you providing an answer for each question emphasizing what I need to know as a new practioner to be consider a qualify job candidate. I asked those questions in order to understand the field of project management much better, and to know the right path to take as a new practioner to keep me align with employers expectations, and which could also guide me when seeking job opportunities in an IT environment, especially being new to the career field. Thanks once again, and thanks for the Good Luck as well!
Saving Changes...
Esmeal SheriffOwner/Sr. Principal Consultant| Execultant Consultancy L.L.C.Minneapolis, Mn, United States
Sep 28, 2016 5:39 AM
Replying to Anupam
...
1. What relevant IT skills new practitioners need to know?
• Basic requirement - MS Excel & VBA, MS Visio, MS PowerPoint , MS Word
• Good to have - MS Project, MS SharePoint, Database & SQL knowledge, Testing skills
2. How can a new practitioner sell his or herself when seeking career opportunity?
• Stress on strengths and expertise. Given an opportunity what one thing you can do differently or add to enhance the existing process, leveraging your expertise and skills.
3. What would employers expect of a new practitioners to be consider a qualify job candidate?
• Foremost – expertise, skills, knowledge, a good team player, learner, self-motivated, self-starter
• Secondly – courage, empowerment, innovative , able to perform under challenging situations, can take stress
4. Should new practitioners without strong IT skills only focus on non IT project management jobs?
• No, there is no such rule. There are people managers, and technical managers in IT. All contributing to the project. Don’t restrict yourself to a specific industry, focus on learning and gain experience.
Good Luck!!
Hello Anupam,
Thanks for your response. I highly appreciate you providing an answer for each question emphasizing what I need to know as a new practioner to be consider a qualify job candidate. I asked those questions in order to understand the field of project management much better, and to know the right path to take as a new practioner to keep me align with employers expectations, and which could also guide me when seeking job opportunities in an IT environment, especially being new to the career field. Thanks once again, and thanks for the Good Luck as well!
Thanks for your response. I highly appreciate you providing an answer for each question emphasizing what I need to know as a new practioner to be consider a qualify job candidate. I asked those questions in order to understand the field of project management much better, and to know the right path to take as a new practioner to keep me align with employers expectations, and which could also guide me when seeking job opportunities in an IT environment, especially being new to the career field. Thanks once again, and thanks for the Good Luck as well!
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