Project Manager

[Sockpuppet]

Right. I've got a mate who has just transferred from technical (IT Support) to project management for a IT company.

He's hoping to do this for x years (about 2) and transfer into contracting.

What should I tell him to focus on. Will his PM jobs be limited to x technology that he has used (or seen used) or does it not matter.

Will his lack of technical knowledge (i.e. not being a developer) hinder him so should he start learning C# / .net etc to help him on his way.

Or should be focus on paper quals in the next 2 years (ITIL and PRINCE2).


Oh, and no jokes about PMs being useless so it doesn't matter etc. I've already got those covered.

[miffy]

Well at the two IT resellers I've worked at, all of the Project Managers didn’t have a single technical qualification or even basic knowledge on any product or technology.

One guy I worked with was an exception because he liked Project Managing and actually cared about what he was doing. He just learnt from people around him and it was quite impressive what he'd picked up over the years.

The others didn’t want to learn anything and just kept asking the same questions over and over and over until eventually you wanted to stab them with a biro or something.

I’d say concentrate on the Prince 2 and ITIL stuff and pick up the rest as you go along. The eye opener for me was working with a contractor PM who had a bad case of dyslexia. If he could do it, anyone can.

Oh, and no jokes about PMs being useless so it doesn't matter etc. I've already got those covered.

You couldn't run a bath etc, etc.

[Sockpuppet]

If he could do it, anyone can.

Oi! I'm a PM. Its just use logistics PMs are a cut above

[miffy]

Oi! I'm a PM. Its just use logistics PMs are a cut above

That I can believe.

Most IT PM's are just buffoons. I've only worked with 3 good ones in my entire career. It's shocking.

IT PM's are just selling fresh air. Most of them can't even identify where the obvious risks are for example.

[BrowneIssue]

Right. I've got a mate who has just transferred from technical (IT Support) to project management for a IT company.

He's hoping to do this for x years (about 2) and transfer into contracting.

What should I tell him to focus on.

PRINCE2, provided it is either public sector or they already use it.

Otherwise, don't bother with anything. Very few of the PMs I have worked with have had much appropriate training or experience. Admittedly they were generally all tulipe, but they didn't know that so they were happy.

It'll take ClientCo at least 2 years to get rid of him anyway.

[malvolio]

I keep saying it, one day people will listen. It's now what you know, it's what you can deliver. I've worked with PMs with PRINCE2, ITIL Managers and a string of other courses who have wrecked programmes with their complete lack of planning and /or people skills. I've worked with mad Irishmen with no qualifications in anything other than piano playing who have built entire datacentres to time and budget. My last measurable role was putting 1800 servers through a rolling 13-week migration programme 15 at a time without dropping any and hitting all the required deadlines, but I've never taken a Prince exam in my life.

Good PMs are like good drivers - you never notice them.

[Tensai]

PRINCE2, provided it is either public sector or they already use it. Otherwise, don't bother with anything.

Mmmmm.... not sure I agree. Like most contracts through agencies, you've got to tick the boxes on the client spec, especially starting out. I'd get PMP and PRINCE2 as a minimum (they're not difficult... they're aimed at PM's FFS) and back it up with a couple of tech qualifications as well. Like WHS above, if you can show some technical knowledge then you have less chance of Charlie-Foxtrotting the project through ignorance.

Once you have the contacts and experience, you can pooh-pooh the certs and play up your strengths.

Also, in my limited experience, it's hard to switch between apps and infrastructure PM roles, but industry knowledge goes a long way.

HTH

[badger7579]

Just basing this question on my experience I spent 4 years in a technical analyst role for an oil company and then moved into PM for the next 3-4 years working for the same company.

I left that secure job and started contracting with the intention of continuing the PM role. Unfortunately I didn't have any PM qualifications (Absolutely vital if you want contract PM roles.) so I took on what to me was a down grade taking a 3rd line support role while I took the PRINCE2 and ITIL exams. I completed these and have not looked back since.

My advice to your mate is do the PM role in his present company for the 2 years and get as much training and experience out of them as possible before leaving. That was my only regret. If you look at the majority of contract adverts PRINCE2 and ITIL are prerequisites.

P.s PM's are not all useless tossers and I have met many good ones in my career. I'm sure there are as many useless developers and analysts as there are PM's..

[Peter Loew]

Worked differently for me. I had no PM qualifications when I first started PM contracting and only about 3 years PM experience. Got my first PM contract and then became a PRINCE 2 Practitioner.

BTW, since when was ITIL a PM qualification?

P

[badger7579]

Worked differently for me. I had no PM qualifications when I first started PM contracting and only about 3 years PM experience. Got my first PM contract and then became a PRINCE 2 Practitioner.

BTW, since when was ITIL a PM qualification?

P

You're quite right ITIL is not a PM qualification but most IT projects, when they go live are going to come under the management of ITIL (assuming the company is using ITIL) so therefore having an understanding of ITIL is useful for the PM and the client.