Reply to: Junior PM looking for 1st contract role

[VillageContractor]

I've seen contracts for Junior PMs - but like everyone else you're going to have a hard time getting new contracts. Only a good idea if you have zero to little outgoings or large savings to allow you to be searching for contracts for months

[Jog On]

ohh man you cant do project planning without putting in the years of experience required, unless you count planning as what the PM tell you and you enter in into MS Project without challenge

That would depend on the rate on offer. When I did it it was programme planning involving MSP plans for about 13 projects all wanting the same test environments at the same time and PMs moving their dates all over the place every week. Wasn't very intellectually taxing but mentally exhausting. I'd had 0 experience in it before that gig.

[tarbera]

When I made the flip from tech to BA it was on an HP gig where they had grads who's job description was 'project manager', this is what made me realize the field was wide open.

Although HP have grades/levels of PMs - this kind of thing.

If I was OP I'd look for PMO, project planning, resource planner type of roles citing PM/PMO experience whilst getting Prince 2/ITIL/Agile etc onto the CV ASAP. Prince 2 and ITIL foundation certs can be done very quickly.

That's pretty much what I did 6 years ago when sat next to HP 'project managers' made the penny drop.

ohh man you cant do project planning without putting in the years of experience required, unless you count planning as what the PM tell you and you enter in into MS Project without challenge

[mattfx]

The best project manager I ever met was actually not a project manager. No formal qualifications, but seemed to know his stuff. Everything was done on time and in budget, somehow... Maybe he just had a good team beneath him...

[Jog On]

Thinking about it get a contract with Crap Gemini, Crapita or any of the other big consultancies.

My experience of their PM's is they have not got a clue so if you have even half a one then you should be okay....

When I made the flip from tech to BA it was on an HP gig where they had grads who's job description was 'project manager', this is what made me realize the field was wide open.

Although HP have grades/levels of PMs - this kind of thing.

If I was OP I'd look for PMO, project planning, resource planner type of roles citing PM/PMO experience whilst getting Prince 2/ITIL/Agile etc onto the CV ASAP. Prince 2 and ITIL foundation certs can be done very quickly.

That's pretty much what I did 6 years ago when sat next to HP 'project managers' made the penny drop.

[Lance]

Thinking about it get a contract with Crap Gemini, Crapita or any of the other big consultancies.

My experience of their PM's is they have not got a clue so if you have even half a one then you should be okay....

As long as you don’t mind £250 a day.

[original PM]

Thinking about it get a contract with Crap Gemini, Crapita or any of the other big consultancies.

My experience of their PM's is they have not got a clue so if you have even half a one then you should be okay....

[jamesbrown]

I got mine with 28 years experience. Your point is?

I assume the point is that the OP may get lucky. They may get lucky. There is, of course, a tendency for established contractors to warn against contracting.

That said, if the OP quits their permie job to look for a contract, as they would need to do, they'd be trusting an awful lot to luck with only 3 years of post-grad experience. You'd need to be pretty desperate to hire a PM, of all things, with only a couple of years post-grad.

[malvolio]

I got my first contract with 2.5 years of experience

I got mine with 28 years experience. Your point is?

[tiggat]

Don’t bother unless you want to work in the PMO even then you are too wet behind the ears. Put in another 6 years permie at least as a PM earn your stripes to evidence more depth of experience which is what you need to compete, there are no short cuts

I got my first contract with 2.5 years of experience

[original PM]

You will need to look at small companies - probably best to go perm as in a small company you need to wear lots of hats and you will learn a lot more than just the PM side of things - once you have that then look around.

A bit of a tip for you - project management is a lot more than asking someone when it can be done and if it can be done any quicker.

Remember at 25 you will be dealing with people who have 20-30 years experience and will know more than you.

[woohoo]

I went from tech support to app packaging discovery to BA in 3 gigs (6 years ago and got Prince 2/ITIL/Agile certs during the transition). Been a BA since.

Sometimes you have to sink or swim - I don't think there is such a thing as moving up the ranks as a contractor, which is part of the beauty of contracting. The ability to up your rate and role description at each gig is something that can be fully exploited.

I've seen programme managers in their 20s in some places. If OP knows they can do the job then go for it IMO.

I agree, contractors don't have ranks or promotions, they just get old and one day they end up invoicing a higher power.

[sal]

Why are you interested in contracting? Is it the money? If so you might want to reconsider.

Although it's possible to find a contract role with your limited experience and get your foot through the door, the chances are slim. Keeping your foot on the other side is even harder, this will be a major concern going forward as the second gig is often harder to find than the first and you might end up without income for months and limited funds.

[Jog On]

Not so sure even that is going to work. The client still wants the experience even if they are penny pinching. You are in wish and a prayer territory here so not really a good basis to keep contracting. As they say, the 2nd gig is the hardest to find.


I don't think this is a good idea either. You'll be tagged as that. You can't move up through the ranks as a contractor. Only as good as your last gig and all that. Contracting is not a place to try build a career.

I went from tech support to app packaging discovery to BA in 3 gigs (6 years ago and got Prince 2/ITIL/Agile certs during the transition). Been a BA since.

Sometimes you have to sink or swim - I don't think there is such a thing as moving up the ranks as a contractor, which is part of the beauty of contracting. The ability to up your rate and role description at each gig is something that can be fully exploited.

I've seen programme managers in their 20s in some places. If OP knows they can do the job then go for it IMO.

[northernladuk]

1. Use the link on this site - or jobserve
2. Same as above
3. If you feel like you do and can go into a new project and be productive and deliver good value then yes go for it. Look at the lower rate gigs that the more experienced contractors wouldn't consider

Not so sure even that is going to work. The client still wants the experience even if they are penny pinching. You are in wish and a prayer territory here so not really a good basis to keep contracting. As they say, the 2nd gig is the hardest to find.

Might be worth looking at project support/PMO roles to start with. make sure you read all the CV guides on here as well.

I don't think this is a good idea either. You'll be tagged as that. You can't move up through the ranks as a contractor. Only as good as your last gig and all that. Contracting is not a place to try build a career.