Andrew GburekDirector Project Management| GISA LtdPoland
I am a construction PM on the way to become a certified PMP. I was wondering what my next steps should be and what other courses/certifications we could obtain online to give us an adventage over the competition? Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Andrew-
As you already know, the Major Players in Our Marketplace (SABIC, Royal Commission, Saudi ARAMCO) all regard safety as their #1 Priority. Every weekly Progress Meeting begins with the Safety Report. This is also true of Major US players such as the US Army Corps of Engineers Projects.
1) Any NEBOSH or OSHA Certifications would be required on most Projects. Some examples: a basic life safety medical training cert is usually required, but other important certs would be HAZWOPER (hazardous waste/fuel contamination), Confined Space, OSHA 30 (basic), Crane, heavy Equipment, Scaffold Safety, Basic PPE...you get the idea. All of these Certifications cover the various work packages associated with EVERY construction Project. To be considered a true Professional you must have intimate knowledge of the Safety Requirements and Safety Plan for your Projects- usually dictated by Contract.
2) Speaking of Contracts- You need to be extremely knowledgeable about Contracts and Contract Law. As a Professional PM you must be very familiar with the various requirements of your Contract in order to communicate with the Stakeholders, including your Project Management Team.
3) In our world, you must read and understand the Saudi Labor laws, or any applicable Labor Laws in your jurisdiction. A violation of these requirements could get you in deep trouble with the Ministry and Courts. Understanding the law is a basic requirement for any PM.
These would be my top 3 areas of study and concentration required to make you a sought after Professional Project Manager!
M
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3 replies by Andrew Gburek and MARK A ANNUNZIATA, Sr
Nov 07, 2017 7:57 AM
Andrew Gburek
...
Hi Mark,
It seems you are very knowledgeable - which course would you think is more broadly recognized here - NEBOSH or OSHA ?
Nov 08, 2017 12:11 AM
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, Sr
...
Andrew-
1) Prince 2 will not benefit you at this time, and will not be a consideration during the hiring process.
2) The PMP IS respected and requested by Saudi Aramco now, it is becoming an important consideration in their hiring process.
3) When I am recruiting Safety Managers I consider both OSHA and NEBOSH as equal. On our Projects for S. Aramco the Client seems to lean toward OSHA Certs, and follow OSHA guidelines-But formal training for both are recognized by them.
Significant formal Safety Training should be your priority!
Good Luck!
M
Nov 08, 2017 8:42 AM
Andrew Gburek
...
Let's benchmark them: OSHA vs NEBOSH
1. Both can be studied online - 0:0 2. OSHA do not requires exam, NEBOSH requires exam in physical location 1:0 3. Both are acceptable by emloyers in the Middle East and probably treated as equal 1:0 4. ARAMCO seems to prefer OSHA 2:0 5. Costs: OSHA $169 NEBOSH around $780 3:0 6. OSHA is 30 hrs, NEBOSH is around 2 weeks 4:0
If I am not mistaken, in my case, OSHA beats the NEBOSH 4:0 - is that right?
Another potential option worth considering is Green Project Management demonstrating your understanding of sustainability. You can find more at: https://greenprojectmanagement.org/certification
Kiron
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1 reply by Drew Craig
Nov 07, 2017 9:32 AM
Drew Craig
...
Very interesting Kiron. Thanks for the share.
Saving Changes...
Andrew GburekDirector Project Management| GISA LtdPoland
Nov 07, 2017 5:19 AM
Replying to MARK A ANNUNZIATA, Sr
...
Andrew-
As you already know, the Major Players in Our Marketplace (SABIC, Royal Commission, Saudi ARAMCO) all regard safety as their #1 Priority. Every weekly Progress Meeting begins with the Safety Report. This is also true of Major US players such as the US Army Corps of Engineers Projects.
1) Any NEBOSH or OSHA Certifications would be required on most Projects. Some examples: a basic life safety medical training cert is usually required, but other important certs would be HAZWOPER (hazardous waste/fuel contamination), Confined Space, OSHA 30 (basic), Crane, heavy Equipment, Scaffold Safety, Basic PPE...you get the idea. All of these Certifications cover the various work packages associated with EVERY construction Project. To be considered a true Professional you must have intimate knowledge of the Safety Requirements and Safety Plan for your Projects- usually dictated by Contract.
2) Speaking of Contracts- You need to be extremely knowledgeable about Contracts and Contract Law. As a Professional PM you must be very familiar with the various requirements of your Contract in order to communicate with the Stakeholders, including your Project Management Team.
3) In our world, you must read and understand the Saudi Labor laws, or any applicable Labor Laws in your jurisdiction. A violation of these requirements could get you in deep trouble with the Ministry and Courts. Understanding the law is a basic requirement for any PM.
These would be my top 3 areas of study and concentration required to make you a sought after Professional Project Manager!
M
Hi Mark,
It seems you are very knowledgeable - which course would you think is more broadly recognized here - NEBOSH or OSHA ? Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Nov 07, 2017 6:48 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Andrew -
Another potential option worth considering is Green Project Management demonstrating your understanding of sustainability. You can find more at: https://greenprojectmanagement.org/certification
Kiron
Very interesting Kiron. Thanks for the share. Saving Changes...
My response to your question is probably a generalization of Mark's response.
If you want to understand what will give you an edge, you need to understand your career goals, the local economy and job market where you want to work, and the company/companies you want to work for. For example, at some companies, having a PMP will give you an edge. At other companies, having a PMP is the minimum to even be considered for an interview.
I'm currently re-evaluating my goals and long-term career objectives. I plan to maintain my PMP, but not pursue other PMI credentials. Certificates in organizational change or risk management (not project risk management) could be more in line with my direction and give me a greater edge.
Mark's answer may be the most applicable to you, so far, but you still need to review the options presented to you and determine if they fit with your goals. Sometimes, finding a good starting point is one of the harder steps. Good luck! Saving Changes...
Mike DewingSenior Project Manager / Program Manager| MLD Holdings Ltd.Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
I also believe a PRINCE2 Foundations would help out as well Saving Changes...
What are your interest? What is in demand in your part of the planet?
In construction I would certainly consider GreenProjet certification, NEBOSH or OSHA, likely NEBOSH in your region, in America there is AACE that is in engineering-construction. Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Nov 07, 2017 5:19 AM
Replying to MARK A ANNUNZIATA, Sr
...
Andrew-
As you already know, the Major Players in Our Marketplace (SABIC, Royal Commission, Saudi ARAMCO) all regard safety as their #1 Priority. Every weekly Progress Meeting begins with the Safety Report. This is also true of Major US players such as the US Army Corps of Engineers Projects.
1) Any NEBOSH or OSHA Certifications would be required on most Projects. Some examples: a basic life safety medical training cert is usually required, but other important certs would be HAZWOPER (hazardous waste/fuel contamination), Confined Space, OSHA 30 (basic), Crane, heavy Equipment, Scaffold Safety, Basic PPE...you get the idea. All of these Certifications cover the various work packages associated with EVERY construction Project. To be considered a true Professional you must have intimate knowledge of the Safety Requirements and Safety Plan for your Projects- usually dictated by Contract.
2) Speaking of Contracts- You need to be extremely knowledgeable about Contracts and Contract Law. As a Professional PM you must be very familiar with the various requirements of your Contract in order to communicate with the Stakeholders, including your Project Management Team.
3) In our world, you must read and understand the Saudi Labor laws, or any applicable Labor Laws in your jurisdiction. A violation of these requirements could get you in deep trouble with the Ministry and Courts. Understanding the law is a basic requirement for any PM.
These would be my top 3 areas of study and concentration required to make you a sought after Professional Project Manager!
M
Andrew-
1) Prince 2 will not benefit you at this time, and will not be a consideration during the hiring process.
2) The PMP IS respected and requested by Saudi Aramco now, it is becoming an important consideration in their hiring process.
3) When I am recruiting Safety Managers I consider both OSHA and NEBOSH as equal. On our Projects for S. Aramco the Client seems to lean toward OSHA Certs, and follow OSHA guidelines-But formal training for both are recognized by them.
Significant formal Safety Training should be your priority!
Good Luck!
M Saving Changes...
Adnan ShareefEPMO Director| JEDCO (Jeddah Airports Company)Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
These are some options related to construction PM:
1) PRINCE 2
2) RMP (Risk Management Professional)
3) SMP (Schedule Management Professional)
4) CCP (Certified Cost Professional) Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Adnan-
Thanks for the input.
Let me respond by informing you that I regularly recruit for the Construction based Project Manager position.
The alphabet soup proposed by you are not the criteria we seek for these positions. The PM position in our Industry requires a certain personality, much like a football coach. The work ethic, integrity, and sense of urgency are the prime considerations, These are analyzed in conjunction with a technical skills check which includes Safety, Contracts, and the 5 Major PMP Processes.
If our intent is to offer advice and guidance to a young PMP professional, I am sure you would join me in recommending a focus on the items I have listed above.
In our Profession, the 4 items you describe do not increase the marketability of the young Candidate.
M
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2 replies by Adnan Shareef and Andrew Gburek
Nov 08, 2017 4:00 AM
Adnan Shareef
...
Thank you for clarifying the competencies needed to be a construction PM. I agree with you 100%.
However, I was answering the question of "what other courses/certifications we could obtain".
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