maddog Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I currently work in IT but have been thinking about a career change into Project Management. Has anyone done this or can offer me an advise on best routes to take to get into Project Management? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 No sorry HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted 12 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 12 May, 2011 No sorry HTH Ever thought about becoming a comedian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Get accreditation. PRINCE2 is widely recognised. Most of all, be effective. Project Managers are much maligned in the IT industry, mostly because they're shyte. The principle function of a project manager (imo) is to be a good filter. Most are not. They either provide too little or too much information. They can be bloody lethal in pitch meetings too, prime culprits of the "just because I can dream it up, it's easily possible". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 yeah do PRINCE2, why anyone would want to be a PM though is beyond me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickfire Double Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Get PRINCE2, and some experience of lots of people telling you everything's going to plan until quite near your delivery date, then the same group all telling you everything's farked, that it's everyone's fault bar theirs, and that you, having failed to see it coming and sort it out, now need to do so immediately whilst also telling your project board that their expectations were ludicrously high all along, after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickfire Double Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Oh, and brush up on or get qualified in risk management. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Get PRINCE2, and some experience of lots of people telling you everything's going to plan until quite near your delivery date, then the same group all telling you everything's farked, that it's everyone's fault bar theirs, and that you, having failed to see it coming and sort it out, now need to do so immediately whilst also telling your project board that their expectations were ludicrously high all along, after all. You must work in the public sector! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickfire Double Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 You must work in the public sector! LOL! I'm saying nothing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richie Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I work in PM in the public sector. That is exactly what its like. If only people new how much money got spunked!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I work in PM in the public sector. That is exactly what its like. If only people new how much money got spunked!!!!!! i could talk about a multi million pound project in the Public Sector which i KNOW will fail....but i won't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_saints Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 "Full circle" springs to mind with regards to any "projects" in the public sector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint In Exile Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 If your looking at Project Management within the software development arena then I'd consider Agile rather than Prince2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrek Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I went from IT geek to IT Project Manager. There seems to be a demand for technical PMs, Alan Sugar was banging on about something similar last night. PRINCE2 is sought after almost universally, so it's certainly not restricted to public sector only. Maybe have a chat with your employer? PRINCE 2 practitioner can be completed in a week with exams, in a classroom environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrek Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Agree about the software development comment above, something like Scrum might be more appropriate in that instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted 12 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I wouldnt want to get into software management, so looks like Prince2 is the way to go. Might speak to my employers although i doubt they would train me as its not something they would use or I could use within the business. Probably have to look at funding the training myself or finding a junior role with training included. Thanks for the feedback though :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted 12 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 12 May, 2011 What route did you take Shrek? Did you company train you etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Bateman Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I currently work in IT but have been thinking about a career change into Project Management. Has anyone done this or can offer me an advise on best routes to take to get into Project Management? Prince 2 is sh*t and of no use in any fast-paced environment, i.e. Mobile, eCommerce and most IT functions. It works in public sector where everything is governance driven. You're better off doing this - http://www.apm.org.uk/APMQualifications It's far more useful and well respected - all the Programme Managers I have worked with have all gone through this and are MAPM etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 You must work in the public sector! That happens absolutely everyday too in the biggest private sector company in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint si Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I wouldnt want to get into software management, so looks like Prince2 is the way to go. Might speak to my employers although i doubt they would train me as its not something they would use or I could use within the business. Probably have to look at funding the training myself or finding a junior role with training included. Thanks for the feedback though :-) What is your current role? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 If your looking at Project Management within the software development arena then I'd consider Agile rather than Prince2. Depends what industry as Agile is not recommended for validation of systems. Perhaps a Six Sigma course would be good as it's not IT focused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 God, what is all this gobbledegook? All these made up jobs sound like excuses not to do real work ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyLove Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I'm a PM and you don't need an accreditation but it does help. Best thing is to start taking an interest in projects at work and see if you can get in that way. Worked for me. Although to be honest it's ok just depends on the projects you get to work on sometimes they can be rather dull, other times you get a great one. Now I am working towards changing to more of a consultant / solutions architect / business analysts role so becoming a PM probably wasn't such a bad idea in the end. For qualifications you can do Prince 2 via an OU course. I have a qualification with the APMP (Which is more project management theory / practice rather than a methodology that Prince 2 is). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Prince 2 is sh*t and of no use in any fast-paced environment, i.e. Mobile, eCommerce and most IT functions. It works in public sector where everything is governance driven. Oh well that's me buggered : I work in the Public Sector, in ICT, and I have Prince2. For all that, in my opinion, Prince2, ( if you want it to be ), is the best way I know to slow a project down - "Hold a meeting, the practical alternative to doing work". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I rest my case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I currently work in IT but have been thinking about a career change into Project Management. Has anyone done this or can offer me an advise on best routes to take to get into Project Management? IT Project Management? If so I suggest going into Business Analysis. Most Business Analysts develop into Project Management through time. I suppose it also depends on your age, and how quickly you want to get to that position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibden Purlieu Saint Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 If your looking at Project Management within the software development arena then I'd consider Agile rather than Prince2. This! The move to Agile is happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I rest my case. There is a school of thought that says if even I can get PRINCE2 then it proves how easy it must be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prince Jazzbo Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I've been managing IT Projects since the mid 1980s and I have to say that nearly all the PRINCE trained/qualified people I've come across are great at producing all the documentation and telling you how the project should be managed, but they never actually deliver anything. For me good project managers are good communicators, negotiators and can get the best out of the team they are working with. There's a lot of experienced people out there with the skills but dont have the qualifications, unfortunately for them most companies want to see a peice of paper with PRINCE2 on it before they'll give them ajob. Luckily I've got the qualification, but half the time I avoid producing reams of documentation and concentrate on delivering the end product, and its worked for me (touch wood). I think Agile is very good for software development, but I'm not sure if it fits in with organisational change or business transformation that is often runs alongside many IT projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerx16 Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Go for the Prince2 as it will open doors and opportunities that otherwise, and needlessly, may not be available. It does provide a useful framework, and makes sure that you keep things organised in your approach to a project. However, as with many other systems and processes, it is "for the guidance of wise men, and the obedience of fools". Is there any element of your current work, or opportunity alongside it, that could be used to give you a start in PM ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefunkygibbons Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Prince2 is the piece of paper you need but you must learn to adapt it so it is fit for purpose, otherwise it drowns a project in paperwork Have a look around to see if you can get a job in one of the consultants such as PA Consulting as they will give a good grounding in PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted 13 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Thanks for all the feedback Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notnowcato Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 It's a very tough time to change career paths, most employers will be after the finished product in their new hires. I think you will need to go for an entry level position. I suggest you speak with Michael Page http://www.michaelpage.co.uk they have an excellent website which should help you along your way. I'm a BA with Agile / Scrum expertise. Having worked Waterfall and Prince2 I can say that the Agile approach is far more rewarding, for me anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 One of my daughters is an IT PM and she has PRINCE2 (as well as a Maths degree). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 I've been an 'unqualified' IT Project Manager for many years now. I find common sense works just as well as the usual 'CV filler' qualifications....try telling that to some of the blinkered senior managers that litter our industry though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 14 May, 2011 Share Posted 14 May, 2011 Do Baj or Steve have PRINCE2? May explain some things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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