Project Management

Please login or join to subscribe to this thread

Will time off work kill my career

linkedin twitter facebook  
avatar
Anonymous
I'm an IT project manager with 15 years IT and 3 years PM experience.

I recently had a baby and took a year mat leave. I'm back at work, but I'm thinking of taking a few years off to spend with my son. Monash Uni just started a Masters degree in Project Management, and I've always been keen to go back to uni to do more post graduate work.

Would I still be able to enter the PM market if I took 3 years off and do a Masters Degree in Project Management during that time? I'm also thinking of doing project volunteer work, to keep me busy.

I love being a project manager and I still have about 30 years of work in the future. I would just really hate it if the time off causes me to be unable to continue as a project manager in the future.
Sort By:
< 1 2 >
avatar
Karen Rowson Senior Project Management| Elevance Health Richmond, Va, United States
Totally agree with Larry--it's up to you. You are in the best position to create the kind of re-entry plan that works best for you.
avatar
Riyadh Salih Saskatchewan, Canada
Larry you posted golden thoughts it takes big effort to do it
avatar
Sandra Maughon Professor| Piedmont College Cleveland, Ga, United States
I agree with Larry - only you know what's best for you. And unlike both you and Elizabeth, I went back to work as soon as possible after my kids; I'm just not the stay-at-home type.

I would like to offer a counter-opinion to Eric, though. I strongly believe that my degree helped me more than my certification. Certifications are very skill and industry specific and they must be kept up (side note - I learned that the hard way: got my PMP in 2001, let it lapse and had to go through the whole certification process again). A degree, however, cannot lapse and can serve to take you in many directions. I would, however, make sure it is a subject that really inspires you. If that is Project Management, by all means, go for it. Approach it with an open mind - be willing to learn new ways of thinking rather than looking for confirmation that you already know everything.

Whatever you decide, be strong in the knowledge it was your decision; don't look back with regret.
avatar
Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany
Who owns your life?
Making right and principled decisions makes you a stronger leader.
avatar
Demetrius Williams Atlanta, Ga, United States
I agree with Larry, Elizabeth and Sandra. Very good points made here. It is up to you.
avatar
Larry Miner Founder and Sr. Project Management of Decision Memory Systems| Decision Memory Systems Bath, Oh, United States
From the NYT's this weekend;

How to Make a Travel Break Sound Like Work Experience

After losing a job at a struggling company, an executive plans to recharge with a few months of travel and adventure. But how should he portray that on his résumé when he re-enters the job market?
Image
CreditMaria Nguyen
By Rob Walker

April 6, 2018
Send your workplace conundrums to [email protected], including your name and contact information (even if you want it withheld). The Workologist is a guy with well-intentioned opinions, not a professional career adviser. Letters may be edited.
I’m a mid-50s guy who was recently laid off from an executive job at a struggling company. It was a job I had planned to leave — in fact, I got my notice about two weeks before I was going to quit!
My plan was to travel around the world for several months before looking for a new position, and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last three months. What’s the best way to portray this on my résumé? I want potential employers to know the time was spent in an interesting and constructive way.

ATLANTA

It’s smart to think over the best way to handle this — but don’t overthink it. Figuring out how to explain a three-year gap would be crucial. In your situation, you can almost consider this an opportunity.
Obviously if your travel time included activities that easily translate to the work world, emphasize those — playing a key role on a volunteer team that solved some problem for a deserving constituency, for example. If not, then give some careful and perhaps creative thought to the high-level connections between your travel adventures and the kind of work you’re seeking. Perhaps, for instance, exposure to other cultures will make you a more empathetic manager. The connections don’t have to be explicit, just defensible. (And you should adjust which ones you emphasize for different potential employers; tweaking a résumé for specific jobs is often a good idea.)

But keep it concise. Your actual work skills and experience are a lot more important than any travel lessons, and you don’t want to leave the impression that this three-month break meant more to you than your entire previous career.

Finally, if your main travel achievement turns out to be increasing your tolerance for margaritas and breaking a personal record for consecutive hours slept, you’ll either need to get extremely creative — or do some judicious editing. Just share the year of your end date, count on your actual work background to get you in the door, and explain in the interview stage that when your last job ended you needed an energizing break.
avatar
Anish Abraham Privacy Program Manager| University of Washington Auburn, Wa, United States
Mar 28, 2018 6:38 PM
Replying to Keith Emery
...
Before we were married my wife and I decided one of us would be home with our children. When our first son was born I had the better job so I worked and she stayed home. By the time our second was born, she had the better job so I stayed home. I wouldn't trade those few years for anything. You can always work a little harder to make up for the work you've missed, but no amount of work will regain you the time you've lost.
Good advice, Keith.
avatar
Anonymous
Thanks everyone. I resigned yesterday and I'm excited about the next few years I get to spend with my son.
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Apr 09, 2018 7:26 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
Great, enjoy the time, it will be the best investment you ever made, and the most enjoyable :-)
avatar
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD Senior Project Manager| Infosys Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Apr 09, 2018 7:22 PM
Replying to anonymous
...
Thanks everyone. I resigned yesterday and I'm excited about the next few years I get to spend with my son.
Great, enjoy the time, it will be the best investment you ever made, and the most enjoyable :-)
avatar
Anonymous
I have been there, If you really like to continue with PM after the baby you can go ahead especially if you don't have any advanced degree on your profile.During my 3.5yr break I made sure I kept myself updated on learning in the PM world thanks to this website and kept my certifications current,also got a Masters. This helped me tremendously in securing a PM job after the break. All the best!

One more thing: keep in touch with your PM colleagues you might be needing them in the near future for references, information etc
< 1 2 >

Please login or join to reply

Content ID:
ADVERTISEMENTS
ADVERTISEMENT

Sponsors







Vendor Events

See all Vendor Events

Newsletters

Jun 3: The Career Problem Facing New PMs
May 20: Your PM Career as a Project Life Cycle
May 13: The Big Lie After Layoffs

See all newsletters