Jog On said:
I've decided that I'd like to get into project management - having done support up until now the most natural direction would be to go into 3rd line but I don't fancy it, I don't fancy support manager either - I'd like to go in more of a business oriented direction than heavier tech direction.
Can anyone point me in a good direction to start with? Any good books/websites/certs I should look at? I do have some project experience but nothing really meaty. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
PRINCE2 is the standard methodology and a qualification, foundation or practitioner, is often required. Check out the prices of courses and you may find that it's not that much more to do the practitioner. In my (non-techie) experience, both as a project manager and someone project managed, a PRINCE2 qualification tells me that someone knows project management methodology but it doesn't necessarily make them a competent project manager, which among other things takes experience. So if I were to put together a list of things to do, it would be:
- Think of all the projects you've worked in, and extract from each of them project management type activities/responsibilities you've taken on or can reasonably claim to have taken on.
- See if you can become more involved in project management activities in your current/future contracts (I'm new to contracting so guess this may be harder if you're not a permie) - but you can try to think more like a project manager and identify risks and issues, dependencies, and report progress against and exceptions to whatever plan you're working to (assuming you're working in a project).
- Alter your CV so past contract don't just focus on what you've delivered, but how you've been involved in projects, e.g. Led the technical workstream of a project to implement new helpdesk: planning timescales, dependencies and resourcse, managing risks and issues, reporting progress/exceptions and delivering within budget, timescale and to the agreed quality standards. Just make sure you can back it up at interview.
Good luck!
