Breaking into Project Management

[51st State]

For a few weeks, I thought I had my ideal break... back into an old client as a kind of Junior Tech Project Manager, but it looks like its fell through, so as of Friday I'm on the bench.

Any tips on how to break in to PM'ing? I've got my PRINCE2, but woundering how to get the experience... its one of those viscious circles... any ideas?

Thanks

Can you explain what a technical PM is? Do you mean a development manager, or do you mean an IT PM?

PM's do nothing technical, in fact that is the most difficult step in moving from a technical role to a management role: you don't do the doing any more, your role is to ensure that other people can do the doing.

I think people have already summed it up. At the moment, there are too many good, seasoned PMs on the lookout for work. Now may not be the best time to be making the switch. But it could be a good time to start to lay the foundations, such as becoming the technical lead on a workstream.

HTH

[Worzel]

Can you explain what a technical PM is? Do you mean a development manager, or do you mean an IT PM?

PM's do nothing technical, in fact that is the most difficult step in moving from a technical role to a management role: you don't do the doing any more, your role is to ensure that other people can do the doing.
HTH

My experience is the same, PM's do nothing technical however there do seem to be quite a few job ad's where they ask for a "technical" Project manager. In these cases they want someone who has at least done the tech side of things before so has a greater appreciation for it rather than just another Prince 2 box ticker

[kaiser78]

I am a contract PM with x number years experience - pretty good at what I do (without sounding whatever) and lucky to have had virtual back to back contracts over the past couple of years.

Breaking into PM / IT PM / PMO / PSO / Planning - is always possible. However in my experience and HO there is no such role as a contract Junior Project Manager - you are either a PM or you are not.

However, you a probably going to get the best oportunities to break into and also progress as a junior PM initially as a permie, because even contract level PMO/PSO roles (which is the advisable route to start) require a couple of years experience in this area.

If you are not sure what PMO/PSO is, do your homework first, and map out how you wish to progress.

PRINCE2 is valuable to a point, but is more of a value add (or leveller) on a CV than anything else in this current market.

[Francko]

At least you appear to be a native English speaker, that's a better start than some.

Where is the smile with that sentence?

Please rephrase the whole sentence in one of the following way:

a) Add a couple of smiles here and there

b) Add the usual - "go back where you belong instead of stealing my job"

c) Include a summary of your genealogical tree where you can show your seventh generation in this country and prove your ancestral superiority