Prince2: Anyone recommend?

[silverlinedclouds]

Can anyone recommend Prince 2? Did it help with your career?

I'm considering a career change. Whilst I've worked with a lot of project managers (as their stakeholder), I've never managed a project myself and I'm considering this as a career option.

Any advice?

Prince 2 is very structured and in reality I've not seen it used as described. It is however seen as a must have qualification so if you want to get into project management I'd recommend you do it.

I'm an ex-academic (PhD in sociology) turned project manager, almost 10 years experience now - as previous poster said, PRINCE2 is a very rigidly structured framework that bears little resemblance to the reality of running projects... at the same time, most organisations recruiting project managers will ask for when recruiting, so it is pretty much essential if you want a project management job. But don;t expect that the course will teach you much about project management,

Thanks both. Seems like it's a necessary evil if I want to do anything project management related.

I've passed the exams but have never used it on a project. All the PM contracts I've had have used in-house systems or things like Remedy (going back a bit there!). I've only got my Foundation now as I haven't bothered to go back and re-sit but I do find it useful sometimes, when I have to point out to some arse that I do actually know my stuff, even if I don't have forensic knowledge of their tiny little component.

I passed both Foundation and Practitioner last year but don’t use the methodology—too rigid. It was about gaining more credibility in a new role for me.

Prince is pretty old school - it's all about Agile these days, which is the opposite of Prince!

Agree with all pp... P2 is a box tick if you're recruiting a PM but tbh you'd be better off getting some real world experience in whatever way you're able then doing a qualification. I wouldn't employ a PM just because they had P2. Also agree re Agile being a more in demand qualification right now, though depends what business you would be looking to move into.

Not hugely helpful reading the above, sorry, it's difficult to advise more without a bit more info re background, aims etc.

Out of interest what industries would Agile be used in ?

Groupon often do prince courses.

Agile is mostly used in the IT world

I'm a PRINCE2 practitioner. I did it when an NHS project manager. It was useless! I wouldn't recommend it, however as PP have said it's a box to tick if your employer is paying for you to do it.