Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Over the course of my career, I have noticed that I have been a "jack of all trades". Basically, wherever the need was on the project I would step in and take care of it. I have been a manager, a coordinator, a business analyst, a technical resource. Whatever it took for the project to succeed.
I always thought being flexible was a good thing, but now I feel that I have made myself less than marketable because I do not have that one expertise. And working in local government, there are fewer opportunities for growth.
This is why I have been pursuing certifications and have now moved to the PMO.
I think building a PMO and guiding the project managers will not only be good for my career as a whole but also for my confidence. Saving Changes...
Generalizing is not good but neither is over specializing hence the advantage of being a true generalizing specialist.
Companies will hire you for your speciality but you will add greater value by being a generalist.
Kiron
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1 reply by Dinah Young
Apr 08, 2018 12:03 PM
Dinah Young
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The key is to impress with something that will get me the interview. I have an added detriment because I work outside of Washington, DC and a large majority of the jobs require an active clearance. So to apply for the smaller percentage of jobs I need to stand out.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I will put it in new buzzwords but are ancient terms that have defined log time ago. Is not a matter of flexibility. Is a matter of agility. Flexibility is Be able to respond to already-hypothesized situations.Being flexible leads to success when a predicted event occurs. Agility is Be able respond to a wide variety of unexpected external surprises and create external surprises.Being agile will assist businesses who face unpredictable circumstances.
I will tell you my personal history that perhaps it helps. When I was 25 years old in 1985 I was put as CIO of the "Casa de Moneda de la Nacion" (the place where money is coined) which is the goverment.The System Center had 250 people and three great computer centers was on my area of responsability.My boss was the President of the institution. One of the things because I got the position was because I was a key player to put the Systems Center to be considered a "center of excellence" and provided computer services to all the other insitutions inside the Argentine goverment. No matter the importance of the position I knew that it was very difficult to get a job out of the goverment because the perception that private sector had about people that worked into the goverment. After 3 years when I ended the plan I presented to stabilize, growth and developt the area I quit from "Casa de Moneda de la Nacion" to go to work to private sector with less money and benefits into my actual incomes. So, is up to you. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Apr 08, 2018 9:52 AM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Excellent choice regarding the PMO. But you have specialized already, as a PMP, PMI-ACP and PMI-RMP. These are not easy certifications.
I don't know. Sometimes I think that all I have shown with the certifications is that I am really good at taking tests. :)
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Apr 08, 2018 6:13 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Nah, the tests are too situational to rope-learn. Yes there are some people who can wing it, but you have three of the toughest and most sought after PMI certifications, and you are now in a PMO. Pat yourself on the back and just expand your knowledge from here and keep going up the ladder :-)
Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Apr 08, 2018 10:01 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Dinah -
Generalizing is not good but neither is over specializing hence the advantage of being a true generalizing specialist.
Companies will hire you for your speciality but you will add greater value by being a generalist.
Kiron
The key is to impress with something that will get me the interview. I have an added detriment because I work outside of Washington, DC and a large majority of the jobs require an active clearance. So to apply for the smaller percentage of jobs I need to stand out. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Dinah, I think you did the right thing by moving to PMO and I do not think that your certifications shows that you are good at taking tests, but they do support your expertise as those are not easy exams to take at all.
I moved from large organizations doing construction to smaller ones doing consulting because after many years of diversified experience, I thought consulting is where I can add the most value and share my accrued expertise.
I don't know. Sometimes I think that all I have shown with the certifications is that I am really good at taking tests. :)
Nah, the tests are too situational to rope-learn. Yes there are some people who can wing it, but you have three of the toughest and most sought after PMI certifications, and you are now in a PMO. Pat yourself on the back and just expand your knowledge from here and keep going up the ladder :-)
PMO should be a great experience. Some don't have a long life, take the experience. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I am happy that I moved to the PMO and feel that it will give me good experience. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Apr 08, 2018 6:13 PM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
Nah, the tests are too situational to rope-learn. Yes there are some people who can wing it, but you have three of the toughest and most sought after PMI certifications, and you are now in a PMO. Pat yourself on the back and just expand your knowledge from here and keep going up the ladder :-)
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