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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay for this training course for my DH?

127 replies

ChilledTomotoes · 18/10/2020 12:19

My DH has been unemployed for nearly 4 years now due to health reasons (severe anxiety). He is now much better and has been looking for work.

He used to have a professional job in the NHS and earned a good salary. He’s adamant that he wants to get into project management and wants to do Prince2 training. He has no experience of project management really.

If he does the Prince2 he would still need to apply for trainee roles as he has no experience. But he thinks the qualification will help him get a job. Would it really though?

It would cost approx £500 and although I have the money, we have very minimal savings. I’m scared to lose this money on something which will have no real benefit.

On the other hand would it show he was really serious to employers?

AIBU - yes you should give him the money
UANBU - no he should get an entry level job first

OP posts:
Namenic · 18/10/2020 20:16

He’s probably anxious about applying for jobs, rejection etc. But perhaps looking at some entry level jobs like junior analyst might help - especially if it has a link to healthcare?

LIZS · 18/10/2020 20:18

If he really wants to do this course and is on uc, he may be able to get a discount at a local college provider. However would agree even part time work might be worthwhile to reenter the workforce after such a long break before or while studying. What transferrable skills might he have from his previous role?

goteam · 18/10/2020 20:24

There are free level 2 Lean Project Management courses online offered by various providers. I don't think employers are wedded to Prince2 methodology and as previous posters have said, the prince2 wouldn't enable him to walk into a P Mrole but he could look at project officer type roles depending on previous work experience.

goteam · 18/10/2020 20:26

Also maybe voluntary work that incorporates PM skills eg taking on a small project for a local charity or similar. That coupled with a free PM course might be better and the voluntary work would get him more used to the workplace after a while out

CurlyhairedAssassin · 18/10/2020 20:36

FutureLearn courses are not really qualifications, they're a beginner's introduction to the topic.

Earthworms · 18/10/2020 20:39

Rookimere i was a PM for many years and took the step up into program management. Multi million pound stuff but It was dull as fuck. 🤣. All spreadsheets and reports (and I do love a good spreadsheet) but no.... ooomph. No sweary phone calls, no last minute fuck ups. No angry customers or last—Minute seat of the pants negotiations.

Yeah. I moved sideways back into a pm Role as soon as was decently possible

And a pp who isn’t a PM nailed it with this description:

*But even I know that it's probably one of the last career someone with severe anxiety should be pursuing. So many deadlines, so many other people involved who can fuck something up and who won't care if it's YOUR head on the chopping block, so many highly pressurised situations where you'd have to deal with a sudden unexpected occurrence. The buck stops with you and no-one else.

I mean that’s why I LIKE it, but it is no career for anyone with any shreds of self doubt. Let alone a 4yr career gap due to OCD and anxiety.

LIZS · 18/10/2020 20:40

@CurlyhairedAssassin

FutureLearn courses are not really qualifications, they're a beginner's introduction to the topic.
That depends. There are some Openlearn (OU) project management modules and you can get certificates for completing other courses.
Plussizejumpsuit · 18/10/2020 20:54

Future learn do other courses that aren't the free ones.

I did a free one on history topic. It was good. But not sure if the do more practical ones like project management.

Eng123 · 18/10/2020 21:13

Project Management can be very stressful, if you're an anxious person I would not suggest this as a good fit. Obviously i don't know your husband or the sector he wants to PM in but it may be best to consider this carefully.

LIZS · 18/10/2020 21:15

I meant the Openlearn pm courses are available free on Futurelearn.

rookiemere · 18/10/2020 21:45

@Earthworms it's all the spending time with super senior stakeholders and the politics at our own side that I can't stand at the more senior level. Whereas everyone on my project team - whilst they have their quirks and foibles - are wonderful to work with. Plus I'm just not strategic, which at the grand old age of 50 I'm not bothered about any more.

Howlooseisyourgoose · 18/10/2020 21:55

He sounds thoroughly useless.
Why are you with him, OP?

AuntPeggy · 18/10/2020 21:59

I've done PM2 and other similar courses of various methodologies across the years - always paid for by my company/part of my role but there are usually 1 or 2 attendees who are doing it to access that kind of role. There's nothing wrong with doing that per se but it doesn't guarantee a role and isn't necessarily attractive to employers in itself. It almost certainly wouldn't be enough to get an experienced PM role of reasonable size or budget. If he really is attracted to PM-ing look for project office roles/support (strong excel etc needed, decent roles in their own right, looking after budget etc) and get an 'in'. Finally there are lots of articles/books/free online Prince and beyond learning - much of it free. He could show willing by demonstrating that knowledge and that shows a good interest/determinant. He shouldn't be wowed by the certificate on itself though.

ClareBlue · 18/10/2020 22:24

@MarriedtoDaveGrohl
Whatever the merits of the issues around the OP, your ability to extrapolate and make assumptions based on minimal information are impressive even by MN standards.

Therealjudgejudy · 18/10/2020 22:53

Sounds like he is just stalling getting a job.

I've suffered severe anxiety for years but it didn't stop me getting my degree and working a low paid job...because I had to but I understand that not everyone can do that... However, not doing any housework while you single handed support the family Shock.

What does he do all day? He sounds totally selfish.

tttigress · 18/10/2020 23:17

My personal take is that the bottom has fallen bout of the generic project manager market (this trend started before covid), but Covid exacerbated it).

Can't he do something with is NHS experience? Maybe going back to his old job part time, or as someone else said something data science-ey to do with clinical outcomes (I know someone that does this, sounds pretty straight forward).

He could maybe do some learning on Udemy, which has courses for £10-15.

I know that probably isn't the answer he wants to hear, but it is what I am seeing working non the ground in I.T.

BigChocFrenzy · 18/10/2020 23:26

He needs to get a job, any job, then save the £500 himself

If he can't even earn that much, then project management is likely far too stressful for him
No qualification will substitute for the mental strength & discipline to get out and go to work each day

He can either cope with an ordinary job and then a PM job, or with neither

BigChocFrenzy · 18/10/2020 23:28

It does sound like he is stalling to avoid actually getting a job

In this job market, he needs to lower his sights & his pride, keep applying for jobs, get a job, any job he can do

violetbunny · 19/10/2020 00:41

How on earth is he going to manage a training course and stressful job if he can't even manage to pull his own weight with housework?

Sounds like you have bigger problems here than just paying for a short course. He sounds like a millstone around your neck. What does he actually contribute to your life?

MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 19/10/2020 01:34

Also as an employer someone signed off with stress who was unemployed for 4 years and did no voluntary work is very very much at a disadvantage. I wouldn't hire someone like that. Not for a challenging job

myshoelaces · 19/10/2020 04:17

What's your long term plan op? You can't support him indefinitely while he sits around, be responsible for the housework and never have any money for yourself.

NeedToKnow101 · 19/10/2020 04:42

He can't project manage your home life while he is off work so why he thinks he can do it as a career is anybodies guess.

He needs to just get a regular job, driver, covid test centre or something, or NHS non-clinical role and work back up from there.

GrumpyHoonMain · 19/10/2020 04:46

@ChilledTomotoes

My DH has been unemployed for nearly 4 years now due to health reasons (severe anxiety). He is now much better and has been looking for work.

He used to have a professional job in the NHS and earned a good salary. He’s adamant that he wants to get into project management and wants to do Prince2 training. He has no experience of project management really.

If he does the Prince2 he would still need to apply for trainee roles as he has no experience. But he thinks the qualification will help him get a job. Would it really though?

It would cost approx £500 and although I have the money, we have very minimal savings. I’m scared to lose this money on something which will have no real benefit.

On the other hand would it show he was really serious to employers?

AIBU - yes you should give him the money
UANBU - no he should get an entry level job first

Yes Prince 2 Practitioner is now the minimum requirement for most PMO and Project Management roles.
KiposWonderbeasts · 19/10/2020 08:17

Surely the most relevant responses are from those PP who hire PMs.

They’ve all said Prince2 wouldn’t influence their decision and his 4 years out would put them off him for such a competitive and high stress role.

I think that’s what your DH needs to hear, @ChilledTomotoes . He needs to think more junior positions until he’s got experience, resilience and stamina.

GenuisJ0b · 19/10/2020 09:18

I agree that he needs to get any job now

I've already seen companies advertising for Christmas work

This would surely also help his confidence & be some work to add onto his CV

He could also earn the money himself to pay for the courses

It seems that he is putting off looking or applying for jobs now