How to get into IT Project Magement?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I'm currently working on an IT helpdesk for E-learning company, I have been in the role a couple of years although my heart isn't really in the job and fancy a move back home to the UK as I'm currently based in Dublin.
Wouldn't mind looking into Project Management, can you guys recommend the best way to start i.e junior roles etc. I except an initial pay cut is probably on the cards but if the future prospects seem better I can live with that?
Obviously I have no real world experience in the field and it was a couple of years since I studied a bit at uni but any tips on getting started, what software to learn would be great!
Thanks
I'm currently working on an IT helpdesk for E-learning company, I have been in the role a couple of years although my heart isn't really in the job and fancy a move back home to the UK as I'm currently based in Dublin.
Wouldn't mind looking into Project Management, can you guys recommend the best way to start i.e junior roles etc. I except an initial pay cut is probably on the cards but if the future prospects seem better I can live with that?
Obviously I have no real world experience in the field and it was a couple of years since I studied a bit at uni but any tips on getting started, what software to learn would be great!
Thanks
Agreed, look for a project leader or project coordinator role - gain the experience and then move on. Its also worth spending a little bit of money on getting your Prince2 foundation, unless you are flush I would not worry about the Prince2 practitioner yet, wait until you decide to make a career of it.
It is also worth baring in mind that the title 'project manager' is a bit of a catchall with many companies and the role and responsibilities of a PM will vary widely from one company to another, do your research before accepting a job.
Spending time as a project leader or project coordinator will give you time to decide if a PM role is really for you or not. I have been a PM for 5 years, I am glad of the experience but am looking to move away from the role now to do something else - possibly account management or into an IT manager role.
The role of a PM can be quite frustrating, you act as a bit of a s**t buffer stopping the crap from the client hitting your team and the crap from your team hitting the client! Generally speaking the role also requires a good eye for detail and the ability to follow process quite closely.
Other roles that you might want to consider are Service Delivery Manager, Engagement Manager and Delivery Manager.
Good luck with the move!
It is also worth baring in mind that the title 'project manager' is a bit of a catchall with many companies and the role and responsibilities of a PM will vary widely from one company to another, do your research before accepting a job.
Spending time as a project leader or project coordinator will give you time to decide if a PM role is really for you or not. I have been a PM for 5 years, I am glad of the experience but am looking to move away from the role now to do something else - possibly account management or into an IT manager role.
The role of a PM can be quite frustrating, you act as a bit of a s**t buffer stopping the crap from the client hitting your team and the crap from your team hitting the client! Generally speaking the role also requires a good eye for detail and the ability to follow process quite closely.
Other roles that you might want to consider are Service Delivery Manager, Engagement Manager and Delivery Manager.
Good luck with the move!
Without wishing to sound rude, I would say that moving from a helpdesk role to a PM role would be quite a significant and difficult step to achieve in one single leap, and although it may be possible to do it via a project co-ordinator role or business analyst type job, if you aren't really very good indeed, with a substantial IT background you will soon fall down. By susbstantial IT background and as an explanation to that remark, I would suggest that most of the key ITIL skills should be under your belt with a substantial number of years doing these roles for a large company (blue chip would be ideal) and then obviously some core technical skills would also be useful (technical skills not always required for some PM roles). With this experience you should have a good grasp of the political, business, customer focused, process, ITIL and technical skills that are required to be a successful PM.
To be a good and successful PM takes a lot of skill and dare I say it, a certain sort of character. ;-)
As has also been said, Prince 2 is a good qualification to have but like a lot of things, in my opinion quite worthless without a valid and extensive working background to display that you have put this qualification in to practice for a number of years. Much like ITIL, Prince 2 is considered essential and a bit of a key to the door in IT, but the reality is that it is a catch 22 situation, you really must have the experience and the qualification to really get a job, the qualification alone is unlikely to achieve much if anything.
Just to add, I have never been a PM so those that have/are may diagree with what I have written, my experience of PM's (good and bad) is based upon my dealings with them over the last 19 years in IT.
And to finish I would add that I started on a helpdesk, moved in to 2nd/3rd/4th line technical support, s/ware control & deployment, change management, release management, problem management, major incident management, vendor management and led various IT teams along the way and have worked as a permie and a contractor, and I am proof that there are always lots of interesting jobs following varied routes to do outside of PM roles and I truly believe that a helpdesk backgorund is a great starting point for career progression in IT. Best of luck with the future!
To be a good and successful PM takes a lot of skill and dare I say it, a certain sort of character. ;-)
As has also been said, Prince 2 is a good qualification to have but like a lot of things, in my opinion quite worthless without a valid and extensive working background to display that you have put this qualification in to practice for a number of years. Much like ITIL, Prince 2 is considered essential and a bit of a key to the door in IT, but the reality is that it is a catch 22 situation, you really must have the experience and the qualification to really get a job, the qualification alone is unlikely to achieve much if anything.
Just to add, I have never been a PM so those that have/are may diagree with what I have written, my experience of PM's (good and bad) is based upon my dealings with them over the last 19 years in IT.
And to finish I would add that I started on a helpdesk, moved in to 2nd/3rd/4th line technical support, s/ware control & deployment, change management, release management, problem management, major incident management, vendor management and led various IT teams along the way and have worked as a permie and a contractor, and I am proof that there are always lots of interesting jobs following varied routes to do outside of PM roles and I truly believe that a helpdesk backgorund is a great starting point for career progression in IT. Best of luck with the future!
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