Prince2 and ITIL

[Belle]

Starting to get sick of Test Manager adverts that ask for Prince2 AND ITIL or MSP qualifications . We're friggin Test Managers not Project Managers. Wonder how many benched TM's have these anyway?

[Hawkeye]

They might want the candidates to have an overall understanding of the project lifecycle. Having the foundation qualifications on both would probably more reasonable than practitioner. I have noticed all adverts are very focused but I guess they can be picky at the moment. A lot of PM roles I have seen are asking for technical expertise (basically a jack of all trades).

[Belle]

They might want the candidates to have an overall understanding of the project lifecycle

I have an overall understanding of the project lifecycle having worked for 10 years within a huge amount of different projects. And it's taught me that practically, these methodologies mean jack sh*t. 'Scuse the language but it's frustrating when you know you can do a job but don't have the one mandatory tick (which is useless anyway).

[Belle]

And I know people are going to reply that clients can ask for anything at the moment due to the economy blah blah blah. It's just frustrating. Should I be doing an online Prince2 course just to get it on my CV (£470!) and will that help?

[Hawkeye]

I agree but it seems to be commonly asked. I have never been in an organisation that used Prince2 end to end but they definitely requested it on the job description.
I remember when I graduated everyone needed to see some qualification in order to believe that I could use Microsoft Word or Excel! I had to go out and do an IT course on the MS Office suite at a local college just to keep them quiet.

[kaiser78]

And I know people are going to reply that clients can ask for anything at the moment due to the economy blah blah blah. It's just frustrating. Should I be doing an online Prince2 course just to get it on my CV (£470!) and will that help?

I did the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam back in 2001 I think it was, out of my own pocket having been made redundant. This was an enabler for me getting my first contract and the rest is history as they say. Best £1000 I 've ever spent...I am in the PM line, so will be more relevant than testing to do.

[HeadOfTesting]

I've also noticed clients asking for test management staff to have these qualifications. To be honest, this trend started well before this downturn. If anything I'd say it's more common for test managemnt job specs to specify these than it is for them to ask for the advanced ISEB/ISTQB testing qualifications.

Bring a certified Scum master is also looking increasingly necessary. I'm looking at that right now because from Oct 1st you'll need to take an exam to get it rather than just stay awake in a 2 day course

Personally I'm a great believer in giving the market what it thinks it wants. Not what I think it wants. Not what I think it should want. Not what I think it will want in more "normal" market conditions etc.

[dozer]

I've also noticed clients asking for test management staff to have these qualifications. To be honest, this trend started well before this downturn. If anything I'd say it's more common for test managemnt job specs to specify these than it is for them to ask for the advanced ISEB/ISTQB testing qualifications.

Bring a certified Scum master is also looking increasingly necessary. I'm looking at that right now because from Oct 1st you'll need to take an exam to get it rather than just stay awake in a 2 day course

Personally I'm a great believer in giving the market what it thinks it wants. Not what I think it wants. Not what I think it should want. Not what I think it will want in more "normal" market conditions etc.

master of scum, king of nothing.

msp to become a test manager? sounds like bollocks.

[Belle]

Can anyone recommend the best (i.e. cheapest) way to get these certifications (Scrum and/or Prince2)?

[Belle]

msp to become a test manager? sounds like bollocks.

Totally agree but kind of agree with HeadofTesting as well - right now just give them what they want even though you know you won't ever use it