What advice would you give to someone just starting out in project management?
Jennifer BaylessCRM Strategist| Spark451Rolla, Mo, United States
I just graduated with my Masters in Project Management and am now finishing up an MBA. I'll be taking the PMP exam this fall and want to break into project management - what advice would you have to a person in my situation - just starting out in the field? Thanks! Saving Changes...
Jennifer:
There are some many posts out here with great content and suggestions.
I'll toss out some basic guidance and suggestions:
Find one or more mentors, coaches and /sponsors.
Go to your career center, do an assessment and resume review.
Sign up for your college career fair; attend and look for paid internships.
Contact your local PMI chapter, chamber of commerce and meetup groups
Get your LinkedIn setup, fill out and start networking with many peers, companies and join PM groups. Let you network know you are looking for an internship, information interview or entry level job.
Connect with me on Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/naomicaietti
Network here with many projectmanagement folks.
Good luck! Saving Changes...
Ruth PearceAttorney, Author, and Coach | Guardian Ad Litem in North Carolina| A Lever Long Enough (ALLE LLC)Durham, Nc, United States
I agree with Naomi
It is never too soon to build your network. I really value my network now - I wish I had been more attentive to it when I was starting out!
In addition to your PM skills, it can be helpful to know something about your personal strengths (outside of project management skills). One great example which is free is the VIA Character Strengths Assessment. Research from Gallup and various other researchers has shown that people who know and use their strengths at work are happier, more engaged and more successful. Once you know your own strengths you can spot them in others and leverage them on your projects.
You can access it here: http://freeassessmentenglish.pro.viasurvey.org
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1 reply by Mayte Mata Sivera
Feb 13, 2017 5:03 PM
Mayte Mata Sivera
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Hi Ruth,
I've tried to invite to my LinkedIn profile, but as I'm not premium...I can't ask for your "friendship". Finally I should invest in the premium, as Rami recommended time ago. .
Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Really good advice given so far. Understanding your background a bit more would help better direct further advice. Has your application with PMI been approved for taking the exam, or is that part of the planning for fall?
If you have relatable experience, then the transition will be easier, just now leveraging some of your more recent success stories. You may also want to look into a functional type resume, as opposed to chronological. It all really depends on your past experience.
Good Luck, and welcome aboard. Saving Changes...
Efrain PacaFunctional Manager| WORLD VISION ECUADORRiobamba, Ecuador
My advise would be:
Make network of project managers.
Have techniques and tools ready for any situation and then adapt them to the specific work
Ask and ask before making a mistake.
Learn about supervision and management of project team. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Our fellow colleagues gave great advise.
I want to emphasize on something that Andrew said: If you have the right or related experience then it should be very easy. If not, then you need to position yourself in a place to gain that experience (For example, Project Coordinator Role) - In summary, I am pretty sure that someone with your background won't have any issues with the transition.
Good Luck Jennifer.
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1 reply by Chandrashekhar Thatte
Feb 13, 2017 5:22 AM
Chandrashekhar Thatte
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I entirely agree with Rami.My advice to the beginners -Having acquired the knowledge and necessary skills theoretically,you ought to be guided by mentors, coaches and /sponsors to learn and imbibe, step by step, the intricacies involved in managing the project and use the on field knowledge/skills thus gained in your every day dealings with project stakeholders.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Build your ability to run faster than your project stakeholders when things go wrong...:) Saving Changes...
I want to emphasize on something that Andrew said: If you have the right or related experience then it should be very easy. If not, then you need to position yourself in a place to gain that experience (For example, Project Coordinator Role) - In summary, I am pretty sure that someone with your background won't have any issues with the transition.
Good Luck Jennifer.
I entirely agree with Rami.My advice to the beginners -Having acquired the knowledge and necessary skills theoretically,you ought to be guided by mentors, coaches and /sponsors to learn and imbibe, step by step, the intricacies involved in managing the project and use the on field knowledge/skills thus gained in your every day dealings with project stakeholders. Saving Changes...
shreeram madangopalCorporate Trainer, Auditor, Consultant| Independent Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
I would suggest to first find out your area of interest. If you are creative and innovative - then Agile certification would make more fun.
If you are the one who loves to execute and ensure targets set by others are fulfilled to satisfaction - then yes PMP is your correct choice.
Fortunately - the framework of both PMI's Agile certification and PMP could be very well used in any type of project and in any domain.
But the fundamental question that you might want to answer is - "What is my area of interest ?" Saving Changes...
Ragothaman RamachandranManager - IT Processes| Timken Engineering Research IndiaBangalore, India
Great practitioners have already provided you with tips and tricks for a great Head start. All you have to do is jump into it and start practicing it to realize the benefits yourself and do the course correction like how you do it while driving the car. That is the only way you will learn.
Start with few points and keep building on them. Saving Changes...
I agree with Naomi
It is never too soon to build your network. I really value my network now - I wish I had been more attentive to it when I was starting out!
In addition to your PM skills, it can be helpful to know something about your personal strengths (outside of project management skills). One great example which is free is the VIA Character Strengths Assessment. Research from Gallup and various other researchers has shown that people who know and use their strengths at work are happier, more engaged and more successful. Once you know your own strengths you can spot them in others and leverage them on your projects.
You can access it here: http://freeassessmentenglish.pro.viasurvey.org
Hi Ruth,
I've tried to invite to my LinkedIn profile, but as I'm not premium...I can't ask for your "friendship". Finally I should invest in the premium, as Rami recommended time ago. . Saving Changes...
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