What Organizations Really Want in New Project Managers
19 April 2010
Play now, or download the podcast | Duration: 33:58
How can you make your mark as a young project practitioner? Find out from three veterans: Harold Kerzner, PhD, executive director of International Institute for Learning; Iain Fraser, PMP, PMI Fellow, PMI past chair and advisory board member at Victoria University; and Peter Taylor, PMP, Europe, Middle East and Africa project management office director at Siemens PLM Software.
Here’s a sampling of what you will learn:
Seek out a mentor. Young professionals often have a tough time mastering the nuances of the company culture, the people and the field. A mentor can offer insight into all of these areas and help you build a strong network — both inside and outside the organization.
Show enthusiasm, a positive attitude and excitement about becoming a project manager. Although exposure to the profession and project experiences are vital, many organizations are also looking for interpersonal skills in young talent. Demonstrate these traits to an employer by asking great questions, showing your presentation skills and business knowledge, and showing a cooperative personality. Be well prepared for your interview and ask questions that can help display your competencies.
Establish a career path. Although credentials will enhance your career, focusing on those alone could be distracting. Ask your employer for a capability assessment to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Build those into a career path, gaining certifications and qualifications along the way to help you continually improve and advance.
Build up your risk management skills. When there’s a lot of red ink, project management can help get work done faster, cheaper and without any sacrifice to quality. You must know which risks are worth taking and which are not.
Think small. Focus on gaining experience — show that you are willing to learn, ask questions and be mentored. If you do it right, the opportunities will be there.
Listen to the full interview.
