Career change - into IT

[torqueofthedevil]

I'm approaching 30 and have been working as a Project Manager in the construction industry since university.

Always had my doubts over the industry and feel like I really need a change.

I did a business studies degree and have a good awareness of business. Im not great with IT (I can use typical software well but never tried any programming (other than excel stuff which I'm quite good at - i know its not really programming but using functions etc.) and im no good with setting up internet / modems / routers / ip adresses ...etc etc.

However, I have a mate in the IT industry and he says that his firm do recruit people from all backgrounds and my PM skills would obviously be useful. Also, if they had a job for a construction industry client, then obviously I would have relevant knowledge.

I also think I'd be ok in business analysis, helping to identify software needs etc.

I just want to know if people have seen this done much? Its a big risk to make a move at this point in my career but I want to weigh up the options.

cheers

[Podie]

You'd be dropping to the bottom of the salary ladder I imagine.

A change of industry, but continuing to work as a PM seems a more obvious route out (to me)

[torqueofthedevil]

Yes, a PM in IT though?

[ewenm]

torqueofthedevil said:

Yes, a PM in IT though?

The big IT companies employ loads of PMs. Places like IBM for example. If you can demonstrate your projects coming in on time and budget and application of standard PM methodologies then the lack of specific IT experience isn't as big a problem as you might think.

[Mr Gearchange]

Use your industry knowledge to sell IT to that industry.

I used to work in supply chain - then I started selling supply chain software - I earn about 5 times more selling to the industry than working in the industry.

[98elise]

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

[Podie]

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

Agreed - but it helps to know if you're being bullstted.

[prand]

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

Ha, I'd not employ a PM who had no IT experience. Too many IT experienced people out there, however "good" you are.

An excellent PM, which is who I'd be after, would have both experience in the technical field I am after, and great PM skills too.

[Podie]

prand said:

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

Ha, I'd not employ a PM who had no IT experience. Too many IT experienced people out there, however "good" you are.

An excellent PM, which is who I'd be after, would have both experience in the technical field I am after, and great PM skills too.

"Experience" and "Technical Expert" aren't exactly the same thing though.

[98elise]

prand said:

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

Ha, I'd not employ a PM who had no IT experience. Too many IT experienced people out there, however "good" you are.

An excellent PM, which is who I'd be after, would have both experience in the technical field I am after, and great PM skills too.

IMO Its better that PM's (and BA's) focus on delivery of a solution, and draw on experts for the technical stuff. An IT solution might not be what's best for the business.

Having a pure IT PM, with a technical background, can could their judgement on what's best for the business, and how it should be implemented.

That's just my experience though (as a Business Analyst with a lot of Oracle experience).

[Podie]

98elise said:

prand said:

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

Ha, I'd not employ a PM who had no IT experience. Too many IT experienced people out there, however "good" you are.

An excellent PM, which is who I'd be after, would have both experience in the technical field I am after, and great PM skills too.

IMO Its better that PM's (and BA's) focus on delivery of a solution, and draw on experts for the technical stuff. An IT solution might not be what's best for the business.

Having a pure IT PM, with a technical background, can could their judgement on what's best for the business, and how it should be implemented.

That's just my experience though (as a Business Analyst with a lot of Oracle experience).

Well, here is the other side of the coin - I'm an IT Infrastructure Project and Programme manager.

I've found it helps to have decent knowledge around the subject, as I know when someone is trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

Techies often only do geek-speak, and the ability to translate to stakeholders in terms they understand means they feel more comfortable with my projects than some of my peers' - I can translate geek-speak into English

As for clouding judgement, perhaps - but I'm too mercenary for that. Someone pays me to deliver. So whilst I may have opinions, I deliver what I am asked to do.

[Fittster]

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

There are PMs who have even a vague grasp of technical issues???

[Podie]

Fittster said:

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

There are PMs who have even a vague grasp of technical issues???

Me

[skahigh]

Podie said:

98elise said:

prand said:

98elise said:

A good PM doesn't need to be a technical expert, they need to be good at delivering projects.

Ha, I'd not employ a PM who had no IT experience. Too many IT experienced people out there, however "good" you are.

An excellent PM, which is who I'd be after, would have both experience in the technical field I am after, and great PM skills too.

IMO Its better that PM's (and BA's) focus on delivery of a solution, and draw on experts for the technical stuff. An IT solution might not be what's best for the business.

Having a pure IT PM, with a technical background, can could their judgement on what's best for the business, and how it should be implemented.

That's just my experience though (as a Business Analyst with a lot of Oracle experience).

Well, here is the other side of the coin - I'm an IT Infrastructure Project and Programme manager.

I've found it helps to have decent knowledge around the subject, as I know when someone is trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

Techies often only do geek-speak, and the ability to translate to stakeholders in terms they understand means they feel more comfortable with my projects than some of my peers' - I can translate geek-speak into English

As for clouding judgement, perhaps - but I'm too mercenary for that. Someone pays me to deliver. So whilst I may have opinions, I deliver what I am asked to do.

This.

IT PMs will generally have to act as the intermediary between the producers (techies) and stakeholders (non-techies) as well as actually planning the phases of work and appropriate deliverables and deadlines.

PMs with no technical knowledge can gain it as they go but it's not necessarily easy and will largely be specific to the particular area of IT they are working in. E.g. an infrastructure project PM wouldn't necessarily have the technical know how to successfully deliver a large web development project.

The ability of a PM with little technical knowledge to learn on the go will to some extent be dependent on the ability of the techie colleagues to describe technical subjects in plain english.

[Podie]

I steer well clear of software stuff!

[TedMaul]

torqueofthedevil said:

I'm approaching 30 and have been working as a Project Manager in the construction industry since university.

Always had my doubts over the industry and feel like I really need a change.

I did a business studies degree and have a good awareness of business. Im not great with IT (I can use typical software well but never tried any programming (other than excel stuff which I'm quite good at - i know its not really programming but using functions etc.) and im no good with setting up internet / modems / routers / ip adresses ...etc etc.

However, I have a mate in the IT industry and he says that his firm do recruit people from all backgrounds and my PM skills would obviously be useful. Also, if they had a job for a construction industry client, then obviously I would have relevant knowledge.

I also think I'd be ok in business analysis, helping to identify software needs etc.

I just want to know if people have seen this done much? Its a big risk to make a move at this point in my career but I want to weigh up the options.

cheers

Take it one step at a time. Project Manage construction of IT Critical Facilities, Data Centres, even revamp of critical facilities. Get to understand the m&e as well as the critical IT underpinnings, UPS, Generatorsm switch gear, whatever, then manage a facility that you have built and take it from there? You wont suffer the salary drop. Companies like Crown House, Digital Realty, maybe even hosting companies like Equinix, Safehost or Telecity? Just a thought

I did it the other way round, started of as an IT techie, team leader, manager, project manager, moved from IT PM to data cenre PM, then running a site, then multiple and now global set of data centres, including managing the construction of a few more.

Christ knows what i'm going to do now. Wish Halfords paid better, would happily arse abou there for a few years before retirement!