Get your training in now

[cojak]

Absolute rubbish! You're wasting your money. I dont know any client who accept training courses as a qualification for a role. What they want to see is 12 months commercial experience using the skill \ application.

Qualification and training is only worthwhile if doing it on the job at the client site.

So I'll ignore the contracts that I got as a direct result of the courses/exams I've got on my CV then...

[s2budd]

I second this. Three times now I have taken a course after finishing one contract and then walked strait into another contract using the skill set that was covered on the course. Each time without an interview. I did have previous experience though of the subject matter though but it does make you wonder.

However I have been on a few courses during my six months on the bench and not a whisper. I suspect that the lack of available work may have something to do with it though.

[BolshieBastard]

So I'll ignore the contracts that I got as a direct result of the courses/exams I've got on my CV then...

Of all the contractors I've worked with in over 10 years (and that's a lot), not one, including myself, have secured contracts as a result of having completed a training course. I know contractors who've spent over £5k on different courses and not picked up roles that required that particular skill.

I'd say you were fortunate or demand exceeded supply in your circumstances. When the market is how it is now, virtually every client will look for 'commercial' experience on the cv rather than 'attended training course xyz.'

Footnote, Im not talking exams here as clients view those differently to training courses.

[cojak]

Of all the contractors I've worked with in over 10 years (and that's a lot), not one, including myself, have secured contracts as a result of having completed a training course. I know contractors who've spent over £5k on different courses and not picked up roles that required that particular skill.

I'd say you were fortunate or demand exceeded supply in your circumstances. When the market is how it is now, virtually every client will look for 'commercial' experience on the cv rather than 'attended training course xyz.'

Footnote, Im not talking exams here as clients view those differently to training courses.

Fair do's - I only take courses that have an exam at the end of it, although I'm breaking my own rule next month when I attend a Benefits Management course - it is the Benefits Management course at Cranfield, however so I'm hoping the exception proves the rule...

[zara_backdog]

I've seen their site before.

I do recall someone saying he had a course available that he couldn't attend, but that wasn't long ago was it? It took the better part of 3 months to get the Practitioner results when I did the exam, I was wondering how long it took for your result with the new exam format.

2 weeks - sent an email first of all - waiting for the cert.

[zara_backdog]

Absolute rubbish! You're wasting your money. I dont know any client who accept training courses as a qualification for a role. What they want to see is 12 months commercial experience using the skill \ application.

Qualification and training is only worthwhile if doing it on the job at the client site.

I have several years PM & BA experiance and got fed up of beeing passed over by pimps becasue I had not got a piece of paper. Not saying it will improve my skills but just backs then up.

Anyway - I think the point of the thread was if your benched and have the spare dosh - do some trainng - prices are much cheeper at the moment.

[denver2k]

I have been in development/analyst roles(contract+perm) for a while. I have no PM experience,but have been part of different sorts of Projects in different roles and have observed both good and bad Project management(i.e. I have good understanding but no experience of management at all). Now, I would like to break into Junior PM or BA/PM sort of roles.

Would this Prince2 course(certification) be handy for me ?

I have started reading (Project Management for Dummies) and that seem quite interesting and straight forward to me.

I just need to know shall we suppose to get experience first and then certification or is it the other way around?

I know, in this doom and gloom its nearly impossible for a non experienced person but Im in no rush. Im just planning to get myself prepared first and then try when things start picking up....