ITIL - Service Operation or Operational Support & Analysis

[JapFreak786]

Slight background,nearly 3 years of working in an ITIL defined environment for numerous companies (contracting),have ITIL V3 foundation and I start a role doing Incident Management for a bank in Birmingham next month.

Got some time off inbetween finishing this contract and starting the perm role at the bank,looking at doing a course to increase chance of progression within the bank.

I have done Incident & Problem Management before for multiple clients, user base from 250 to 5,000+ so the job experience isn't an issue IMO. Long term goals would like to get into Project Management, ideally within the bank.
Already have Prince2 Foundation, failed Practitioner by 4 marks but resitting this very soon.

Any advice that I can receive from here on those who have sat the Operational Support & Analysis exam? I know what to expect from the Service Operation course,but would like to know which I may find more benefical in terms of career development, considering that I don't intend on staying within an IM/PM role and would rather move to a Transitional role leading into Projects hopefully.

Cost wise, the Service Operation course via Knowledge Academy is roughly £600, while Service Operation one is roughly £900, also have a Prince2 exam to pay for so not wanting to splash out to much cash. Self study is cheaper but it means I'd take months and months to do it, a 3 or 5 day course suits my needs better.

Service Transition is also on the list of things that I may look at studying in the future.

Any advice from the great folks of PH? Thanks for reading

[PlankWithANailIn]

Do you have any experience using all of this training? Your combination of skills looks truly bonkers unless backed up with proven experience..and if you have proven experience you don't need all of this certification.

[rgw2012]

Seriously mate, stop wasting your money on all that training. The best skill you can have is common sense closely supported with experience in a variety of roles. I've employed loads of people based on experience rather than bits of paper as the real world is where it's at, not the classroom. I've also employed people with all the certificates and relatively little experience and they have rarely worked out to be a satisfactory choice.

Chances are if you take the Prince exams now and don't have a role that's going to exploit that training while it's fresh, it's value will fade quickly - use it or lose it! Don't get me wrong, there's definitely value in learning the processes, frameworks etc but there's no substitute IMHO for being actively engaged and operating the elements of those processes in a real environment.

Having the bits of paper do mean something to some employers so they can be a foot in the door to getting an interview but generally you'll need relevant experience to back it up or you wouldn't fair well when quizzed in an interview. On that basis I would suggest you put the effort into working your way into roles that give you the experience, doing a good job in them and grabbing any opportunities that come of the back of an improving reputation for being great at what you do.

Good luck with the new job, hope you make it a success

[JapFreak786]

Thank you rgw2012, I have experience within Incident and Problem Management and have assisted in some transition work,but no direct project experience yet. I've found the certifications help you get the interview, hence why I am looking at sitting Prince2 again. I've worked my way up already within the companies that I have been at,head hunted for one by an old collegue (I'm never sure if I spell that right ever!) and recommeneded for my current one. I've been asked to go perm where I am now, but there isn't any progression in the near nor distance future in the areas I want to progress with - already exhausted all my options having sat down with team leaders etc, must admit my team leader has done the most he can for me.

I agree experience tops everything else,but I've discovered people value the qualifications in order for you to be noticed and get your foot in the door,even if it's just for the interview. With me working for a bank, my opinion was that if I have the right qualifications already,and assuming there is progression and the company see's my potential, I'll be at a better chance to move roles.
Experience cannot be taught nor brought,qualifications can. I just want the experience, but all the roles I see advertised want Prince2 etc etc to even be put forward for an interview, that includes PMO/PSO roles

Thanks again