Kristin JonesSocial Media Specialist III| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
I'm interested in learning about your journey to becoming a project manager. Did you go right into project management? Were you in a business analyst role first? How did you get to where you are now? Saving Changes...
My journey was a shift from being a technology practitioner (systems manager - implementation consultant - solution architect) to being a PM when I realized I enjoyed working with people and change more than technology.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
I was a Technical Writer, then a Business Analyst, then a Project Manager. I was a consultant, so I chose assignments that enabled me to learn the skills necessary to assume new roles. Having Technical Writing and Business Analysis skills have been invaluable in my role as a Project Manager, so I'm glad I took the career path I did. Saving Changes...
Brandon FargisSr Portfolio Manager| Red Hat Inc.Durham, Nc, United States
My path took me from a Technical Role (hands-on, geek-out) to Operations Management, from there I managed a Professional Services team where I eventually built out a PMO. After that I became PMP certified, built-out another PMO, then another, then a few Portfolios. I've been building and managing Portfolios since then and have gathered up several other certifications along the way. I've met very few people who began in Project Management, they tend to stumble into it and either love it or run away as fast as they can. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
I started out as an application developer. I originally thought that I would stay in the technical role throughout my career. Then I found myself moving into more of an analyst role and then to leading projects. I was in a strange in-between role where I was doing the work of the project/team manager, but they were taking the credit. So I started to push for more of a manager role. I obtained my PMP. I currently work for a local government so there are not a lot of paths to move up. I attempted to move up to the next role, but that did not go as hoped. So I stepped back and started to push in the direction of a PMO, even though we did not have one. It started reviewing and updating templates, documenting standards, etc. Therefore, when they decided to set up a PMO I was the logical choice to work on it.
My path may not have always been conventional, but it is how I ended up where I need to be. Saving Changes...
I was a systems engineer and administrator before being thrust into a project management role for the Y2K program for the largest Australia retail corporation. Saving Changes...
Kristin JonesSocial Media Specialist III| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
Thank you all for your responses! These are great! Saving Changes...
Janice GrierSenior Technical Vendor Manager| ATTShelby Township, Mi, United States
I have always been under Network Operations Manager (Transport, Central Office, Backhaul ) all for wireline..crossed over to Mobility in a Project Manager Role for Construction and Engineering. Saving Changes...
Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
I was Systems Administrator wearing multiple hats. Always managing projects. Now my focus is being a full-time PM. Saving Changes...
I had recently moved from sales to web design when the dot com bubble burst. I ended up in a Help Desk position which led to what I was told was a PM position, but was really a hybrid BA/PM role. I did that for 7 years before moving on to a new company.
Now, I've been in the field for 15 years and I find myself starting to have to do some BA work again because I have cross functional projects, but no cross functional BAs - they're more specialized systems analysts who do requirements and configuration, but only on their specific system. Saving Changes...
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