Guest post by Erika Flora
With the current economic conditions, an increasing number of people are either afraid of losing their jobs or desperately searching for work. Just like it’s a buyer’s market for housing, it also seems to be a buyer’s market for employers. Those who are hiring can be extremely selective in whom they choose. That’s why smart Project Managers plan today for tomorrow’s “what if.” We need to be smart about managing our own career “risks” and have a mitigation plan firmly in place now. There are three simple, cheap, and super smart things you can start doing now to avoid any unneeded worry and panic if you do, in fact, find yourself looking for other career opportunities.
1. Invest in yourself. First, make time to invest in yourself. No more excuses! If you do not currently have your PMP® certification, now is the time. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. A PMP exam prep course can range from about $800 for a PMI® chapter sponsored course up to $3,000 for a professional training course. All told, your total required investment is small compared to the rewards (significantly better pay and more visibility as a job candidate). Further, if your current company pays for training, you really have no excuse; that’s a benefit you can’t afford to pass up. Nothing in life is guaranteed, and that includes the job you have today. Take the time to invest in your career now, so you do not end up having to scramble if things take a turn for the worse.
If you already have PMP certification, look into some advanced training that is complementary to project management. There are a number of niche areas that employers are starting to look for (i.e. Six Sigma, ITIL, CMMI, Agile/Scrum, etc.). There is a strong emphasis on “doing more with less” these days, and employers are looking for people who can help improve how they run as a business. Broaden your skills, and differentiate yourself by being a project manager who understands the world outside of just managing projects.
2. Create a buzz. Now is the time to start making a name for yourself! Start a course of action to position yourself as an expert in your field. One way to create a buzz is to write articles on what you know. You can do this a number of ways. First, try submitting articles to your local chapter of PMI or another local professional organization. Groups like this are always looking for new content and will often be more than happy to publish your work in an online newsletter.
Another way to get your ideas out there is to start a blog (or even just start posting your thoughts on this site). Also, WordPress, offers free blogs that take only a few minutes to set up. You can write as often or as little as you like. Write about whatever you are passionate about, and you may be surprised at how many readers you end up with!
Consider joining a local Toastmasters club in your area. If you’re feeling adventurous, book a speaking engagement or two! This will provide you with credibility in your industry, and you will undoubtedly become a better speaker as a result. Plus, it’s a great way to meet influential people in your industry.
Demonstrating your communication skills, both written and verbal, is a good way to make you a better project manager and get the word out that you are an expert in your field. Start building your reputation by putting your thoughts and ideas out there.
3. Make a difference. If you are busy making a positive difference in this world, you will be rewarded. Volunteer your time! If you are not doing so already, get involved as a volunteer with your local PMI chapter, or work with another non-profit organization in your area. By giving of your time and talents, you will likely find you get tremendous satisfaction in mentoring others around you. You will also strengthen your own skills and maybe even pick up a few new ones. It’s also another great way to meet good people in your area. I personally know a lot of people who have found wonderful new jobs as a result of becoming a volunteer. Make a difference in the lives of others, and your life will positively benefit as well.
If you focus on developing these three areas, you will undoubtedly have an amazing road ahead of you, both personally and professionally, regardless of the ups and downs of our economy.
Erika Flora, PMP, ITIL Expert
Principal, Beyond20
erika.flora@GoBeyond20.com
http://blog.erikaflora.com
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Erika, great post. A few points:
Although the PMP is the predominant certification in the US and other countries, it’s not the only option or even preferred worldwide. IPMA offers an alternative or complementary certification…check into your regional IPMA organization on their web site.
While in-person PMP prep courses may start around $800 and go up from there, there are alternatives. The PMPrepcast is what I used to study and what I recommend as a self-study option for less than $100 USD.
I really like the point about volunteering in the form of writing articles or doing something for various organizations. It’s great to be able to direct someone to a set of articles or a blog so they can become familiar with your background and how you think about your role and the discipline as a whole.
Thanks Erika, great post. A few points:
Although the PMP is the predominant certification in the US and other countries, it’s not the only option or even preferred worldwide. IPMA offers an alternative or complementary certification…check into your regional IPMA organization on their web site.
While in-person PMP prep courses may start around $800 and go up from there, there are alternatives. The PMPrepcast is what I used to study and what I recommend as a self-study option for less than $100 USD.
I really like the point about volunteering in the form of writing articles or doing something for various organizations. It’s great to be able to direct someone to a set of articles or a blog so they can become familiar with your background and how you think about your role and the discipline as a whole.
Josh, great thoughts. PRINCE2 is also a popular Project Management certification, particularly in Europe and other countries worldwide. Here is a link to learn more: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/methods_prince_2.asp
Josh, great thoughts. PRINCE2 is also a popular Project Management certification, particularly in Europe and other countries worldwide. Here is a link to learn more: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/methods_prince_2.asp
Erika, great post! I’m sure this will help a lot of project managers out there who might be struggling.
Josh, keep up the good work with this website!
Erika, great post! I’m sure this will help a lot of project managers out there who might be struggling.
Josh, keep up the good work with this website!
I’d second Josh’s comment about the PMPrepcast or other similar low cost alternative. The one I used back in 2005 is PMCampus.com
I’d second Josh’s comment about the PMPrepcast or other similar low cost alternative. The one I used back in 2005 is PMCampus.com
My blog at the asapm website (www.asapm.org) probably includes more than you want to know about the design of our version of the IPMA certification.
I second Bill’s recommendation to check out asapm.org for the US version of IPMA certs!
My blog at the asapm website (www.asapm.org) probably includes more than you want to know about the design of our version of the IPMA certification.
I second Bill’s recommendation to check out asapm.org for the US version of IPMA certs!
For me the most important thing has always been to manage my career in interim project management. I personally have never been keen on specialising in a specific area, so have ensured I have delivered big projects and programmes in most areas of IT and in numerous industries. Few people do this and after getting stuck in a rut find themselves unemployable.
So what does this mean now? Well if you are out of work and are forced to take a lesser paid job, then don’t despair. Think of what you will get out of it and how it will benefit your career. In the last IT recession of 2003 I was forced to take a contract paying half my normal rate but it got me into infrastructure project management which I had never done before. That in itself has opened numerous opportunities for me as so many projects / programmes nowadays have a software development and infrastructure element to them.
So think consider the big picture of your career and keep networking. And remember, there may be a recession going on now, but if you have a track record of working in the right industries and delivering the right projects, your phone will still keep ringing for the simple reason that top notch experienced project managers are still very much in demand.
Regards
Susan de Sousa
Site Editor http://www.my-project-management-expert.com
Hi Susan and many other IT folks….
My best suggestion to you would be to FORGET looking for jobs as “project managers”….. That is, IMPO both an over-rated and notoriously vague position.
If you are looking for a JOB, then my strongest suggestion would be to look beyond the world of IT and PMO’s and set up a Google Alert for “PROJECT CONTROLS” or EARNED VALUE”.
Hardly a day goes by that I don’t get 3 or 4 very attractive looking positions for what you call PMO people and the rest of the world calls Project Controls….. (Don’t believe me, Google on “project controls” and “job”)
Now, most of these positions are CONTRACT rather than permanent, but hey, they pay pretty respectably and if you are unemployed, it beats going to the unemployment office every week…..
Hope this helps a few of you anyway….??
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.build-project-management-competency.com
For me the most important thing has always been to manage my career in interim project management. I personally have never been keen on specialising in a specific area, so have ensured I have delivered big projects and programmes in most areas of IT and in numerous industries. Few people do this and after getting stuck in a rut find themselves unemployable.
So what does this mean now? Well if you are out of work and are forced to take a lesser paid job, then don’t despair. Think of what you will get out of it and how it will benefit your career. In the last IT recession of 2003 I was forced to take a contract paying half my normal rate but it got me into infrastructure project management which I had never done before. That in itself has opened numerous opportunities for me as so many projects / programmes nowadays have a software development and infrastructure element to them.
So think consider the big picture of your career and keep networking. And remember, there may be a recession going on now, but if you have a track record of working in the right industries and delivering the right projects, your phone will still keep ringing for the simple reason that top notch experienced project managers are still very much in demand.
Regards
Susan de Sousa
Site Editor http://www.my-project-management-expert.com
Hi Susan and many other IT folks….
My best suggestion to you would be to FORGET looking for jobs as “project managers”….. That is, IMPO both an over-rated and notoriously vague position.
If you are looking for a JOB, then my strongest suggestion would be to look beyond the world of IT and PMO’s and set up a Google Alert for “PROJECT CONTROLS” or EARNED VALUE”.
Hardly a day goes by that I don’t get 3 or 4 very attractive looking positions for what you call PMO people and the rest of the world calls Project Controls….. (Don’t believe me, Google on “project controls” and “job”)
Now, most of these positions are CONTRACT rather than permanent, but hey, they pay pretty respectably and if you are unemployed, it beats going to the unemployment office every week…..
Hope this helps a few of you anyway….??
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.build-project-management-competency.com
This post was extremely useful. Especially the volunteering section and joining the PMI. Is a route I intend to explore further.
Thanks Erica and Josh for posting this on pmstudent.
This post was extremely useful. Especially the volunteering section and joining the PMI. Is a route I intend to explore further.
Thanks Erica and Josh for posting this on pmstudent.
Hi folks,
Not to be a party pooper but I create and deliver some of those “expensive” courses, and in my travels around the world, I run into many graduates of the “prepcast”, “PMP Exam for Dummies” and others from the “shake and bake” or “boot camp” crowd and all I can say is you get EXACTLY what you pay for.
Now, I know Josh has an undergraduate degree in project management, so I can understand him taking the “prepcast” approach, but how many others have 4 years of solid project management education under their belt?
Just before Christmas, I ran a three day “Advanced Project Management” course in Shanghai, China and in the class, I had two PMP’s both of whom graduated from the most popular of the “cram courses”…… And guess what…… While they knew the definitions and even could remember a few of the formulae, they didn’t have a CLUE about how to actually apply what they learned.
Now, perhaps people think this is funny, but when people like that get their PMP (or any other credential for that matter) then go out in the world and haven’t a clue on how to do anything but pass the exam, what do you think that does to the value of YOUR PMP?
So before we all run around touting how cheap or how fast we were able to get our PMP, I would ask you to think seriously about the “Tetrad Trade Off” or “Iron Triangle”….. You can have it fast and good, good and cheap or cheap and fast, but CANNOT get it fast AND good AND cheap…..
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.build-project-management-competency.com
Hi folks,
Not to be a party pooper but I create and deliver some of those “expensive” courses, and in my travels around the world, I run into many graduates of the “prepcast”, “PMP Exam for Dummies” and others from the “shake and bake” or “boot camp” crowd and all I can say is you get EXACTLY what you pay for.
Now, I know Josh has an undergraduate degree in project management, so I can understand him taking the “prepcast” approach, but how many others have 4 years of solid project management education under their belt?
Just before Christmas, I ran a three day “Advanced Project Management” course in Shanghai, China and in the class, I had two PMP’s both of whom graduated from the most popular of the “cram courses”…… And guess what…… While they knew the definitions and even could remember a few of the formulae, they didn’t have a CLUE about how to actually apply what they learned.
Now, perhaps people think this is funny, but when people like that get their PMP (or any other credential for that matter) then go out in the world and haven’t a clue on how to do anything but pass the exam, what do you think that does to the value of YOUR PMP?
So before we all run around touting how cheap or how fast we were able to get our PMP, I would ask you to think seriously about the “Tetrad Trade Off” or “Iron Triangle”….. You can have it fast and good, good and cheap or cheap and fast, but CANNOT get it fast AND good AND cheap…..
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.build-project-management-competency.com
Paul, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I, myself, took almost a year of coursework in Project Management prior to taking the PMP exam and have taken numerous courses since. Thus, I encourage everyone to continue with on with their education after obtaining the PMP credential.
With that said, there are some things to look for in a PMP prep course that will help you become a better Project Manager once the class is over. First, find a training provider that teaches the PMBOK concepts in a chronological fashion, the way you as a Project Manager would actually carry out the activities (rather than by the 9 knowledge areas). Second, check out the instructor and make sure they have extensive experience working as a Project Manager. This way, they are better equipped to bring real-life examples into the classroom. Last, find a course that provides templates for project management documentation mentioned in the PMBOK (Project Plan, etc.). This will help you immediately begin to apply your knowledge once you are back at work.
In summary, do your homework and really look at what the different companies offer. Find the best option that you can afford as there is a wide range of quality out there.
Paul, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I, myself, took almost a year of coursework in Project Management prior to taking the PMP exam and have taken numerous courses since. Thus, I encourage everyone to continue with on with their education after obtaining the PMP credential.
With that said, there are some things to look for in a PMP prep course that will help you become a better Project Manager once the class is over. First, find a training provider that teaches the PMBOK concepts in a chronological fashion, the way you as a Project Manager would actually carry out the activities (rather than by the 9 knowledge areas). Second, check out the instructor and make sure they have extensive experience working as a Project Manager. This way, they are better equipped to bring real-life examples into the classroom. Last, find a course that provides templates for project management documentation mentioned in the PMBOK (Project Plan, etc.). This will help you immediately begin to apply your knowledge once you are back at work.
In summary, do your homework and really look at what the different companies offer. Find the best option that you can afford as there is a wide range of quality out there.
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