Getting Out

[Peter Loew]

So fake it till you make it then. Well, I guess that's why we're all here :-)

I have some ideas on how I can emphasise my private sector expeirence. Thanks for all your replies!

P

[Fred Bloggs]

No truer words ever spoken on this board.

Very true.

[SuperZ]

You're a public sector PM, the private sector won't want you unless you go with the above (ie bluff your way in etc)

[nomadd]

Bulltulip, bluff and buy your way into it the same as the rest of us...

No truer words ever spoken on this board.

[dspsyssts]

Does anyone have any advice or ideas on how to move out of Gov. and into the private sector / how would I go about it?
P

Bulltulip, bluff and buy your way into it the same as the rest of us... research the subject magnify any experience you have to make you suitable for a role, take a cut to get the experience etc...are gov v private like chalk and cheese?..are they really so different that you can take nothing from one and turn it to your advantage for the other?....

[Tensai]

I've been doing Project Management now for circa 6 years. As fate would have it I've specialised in Information Management (IM) projects / implementations (e.g. Oracle / Microsoft enterprise solution strategy and delivery) mainly for Central Gov and Public Sector clients.

As a PM I have transferable skill-sets to any industry and I could theoretically manage any kind of project. I have gotten involved in completely non-IT related projects in and around my formal role description over the past few years. In fact, I would not consider myself to be an IT Project Manager per se, more accurantly I would consider myself to be a PM that sits on the business side, and has the skill-sets and experiences to deliver the technology with where the business needs to go. I often find myself advising on the strategic direction of projects / programmes either to the CIO or to the Portfolio / Director level.

I feel my downfall has been in not acquiring any specific form of business knowledge (e.g. knowing how the finance, banking, insurance etc. industries work). I feel I am a generalist that can just 'get the job done' because I understand technology and business change. I feel this can be a double-edged sword as companies often want that all important industry experience and overlook the transferable skillset that all PMs should have. As a result, I want to move towards a specialist type of consulting, e.g. Financial PM, Banking PM etc., rather than just a 'PM' with an IM background.

The reality is however, I find myself going from gov. to gov. clients, working on similar things (IM strategies and implementations). I'm starting to realise that maybe it's a better idea to specialise in a specific kind of consulting and / or industry sector. I've had enough of the gov. sector and would very much like to move into the private sector as a first step out and hopefully towards the finance, legal or insurance industries, especially as I hope to move to Australia in the coming 6 - 8 months.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas on how to move out of Gov. and into the private sector / how would I go about it?

Thanks,

P

I suspect you're going to struggle. There are a couple of reasons for this;

- contractors are hired to hit the ground running. Your not knowing the jargon and specific industry issues/challenges from day 1 will be problematic for your client.
- many industries are very incestuous, and like to see the same client names in your list of previous clients... gives them a warm fuzzy feel.

IMHO the only ways in are (a) using someone in your network who is in that inductry to vouch for you as a quick learner, or (b) having a specific niche technical skill that will force the client to overlook your lack of industry experience, or (c) try and get into a permie role [shudder] where they aren't so fussed about your industry background, and only stay long enough to pick up the experience you need.

I'm in the O&G business, and they are amongst the worst for only looking at a small pool with relevant experience. I've seen really good people being turned down in favour of O&G people of lower calibre.

[ratewhore]

Oh yes. I should have read your post from the start. Bit long though...

[Peter Loew]

IM = Information Management.

Funny though cause I've recently had some IDM encounters!

[ratewhore]

Assuming the IM in your post is identity management, that is not a bad thing to be into right now. A quick look on jobswerve will tell you that. You should be able to move sectors with that history, assuming you delivered on time and to budget, which isn't a given considering you worked public sector.

You can always go straight to the IM vendors to see if they need resource...

[Peter Loew]

I've been doing Project Management now for circa 6 years. As fate would have it I've specialised in Information Management (IM) projects / implementations (e.g. Oracle / Microsoft enterprise solution strategy and delivery) mainly for Central Gov and Public Sector clients.

As a PM I have transferable skill-sets to any industry and I could theoretically manage any kind of project. I have gotten involved in completely non-IT related projects in and around my formal role description over the past few years. In fact, I would not consider myself to be an IT Project Manager per se, more accurantly I would consider myself to be a PM that sits on the business side, and has the skill-sets and experiences to deliver the technology with where the business needs to go. I often find myself advising on the strategic direction of projects / programmes either to the CIO or to the Portfolio / Director level.

I feel my downfall has been in not acquiring any specific form of business knowledge (e.g. knowing how the finance, banking, insurance etc. industries work). I feel I am a generalist that can just 'get the job done' because I understand technology and business change. I feel this can be a double-edged sword as companies often want that all important industry experience and overlook the transferable skillset that all PMs should have. As a result, I want to move towards a specialist type of consulting, e.g. Financial PM, Banking PM etc., rather than just a 'PM' with an IM background.

The reality is however, I find myself going from gov. to gov. clients, working on similar things (IM strategies and implementations). I'm starting to realise that maybe it's a better idea to specialise in a specific kind of consulting and / or industry sector. I've had enough of the gov. sector and would very much like to move into the private sector as a first step out and hopefully towards the finance, legal or insurance industries, especially as I hope to move to Australia in the coming 6 - 8 months.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas on how to move out of Gov. and into the private sector / how would I go about it?

Thanks,

P