Is it worth me doing Prince 2?

[Feelingsensitive]

I recently started a thread and got some very helpful advice about moving into project management. I have been trying and so far not succeeding in getting a job as a project co ordinator/administrator. I am thinking of signing up to the Prince 2 training. Its about £800. Is it worth my while?

I work in the third sector and employ project managers. I don't care about prince2 or other quals ... Experience and aptitude count far, far mor when recruiting.

Trouble is I can't get the experience. I would say I have an aptitude for it as the skills needed align well with my previous role. Its the chicken and egg scenario.

Have you had any feedback on your interviews/application forms?

I haven't managed to get an interview. I am awaiting feedback on my form for one company but find most either don't reply or send out a standard reply. A friend works in the field and has helped me with my form and I feel fairly confident that I have done as well as I can. I haven't worked for a few years (at home with the DCs) and my previous role is probably making people wonder why I would want to be a project co ordinator whereas I see it as a way to get a PM role.

I worked in local government as a project manager. We would send anyone that needed it on PRINCE training as and when they needed it, general view was that it was most useful when people had a certain amount of experience under their belt.

I just asked my husband who is a project manager who employs people and he said it would be worth it as it shows you are motivated and plenty of companies wouldn't want to pay for training for staff.

Thanks all. I think I will try and do it.

You can teach yourself from the book and sit an open exam to save money. My recollection of Prince2 Foundation (and to lesser extent Practitioner) that is largely learning the Prince2 terminology and applying it to standard project mgmt practices, rather than a course that teaches you how to be a project manager. So it shouldn't be too hard to teach yourself.

details of open exams:
www.apmg-international.com/APMG-UK/PRINCE2/Qualifications/Open_Centre_Exams.asp

Or try an elearning course such as the one these people offer:

www.prince2.com/prince2-foundation-training.asp?totrain=individual

I heard of someone getting a Prince2 qual through the Jobcentre Plus. If you are on benefits, it might be worth enquiring before you pay out your £800

I would say you could easily teach yourself to pass the foundation level from the book but the practioner exam I think needs a course.

I think that without some form of relevant experience or transferrable skills prince will not be much use in the current climate but good luck anyway.

I agree with hairyfairylights....

Thanks all. I have plenty of transferable skills (I think). My previous job required working on individual scientific projects from beginning to end which in turn involved planning and organising, good communication and presenting skills. I am going to look into the open exams for the foundation part as it may make the difference between getting an interview or not.

Great stuff.

When applying for jobs, use terms like 'project management' 'project administration' 'task and finish' etc.

If as you say you have the experience that shows you can do the job, then go for it.

Thank you. I will alter some of the terminology I have used in my CV. Onwards and upwards.

I did Prince2 a couple years ago (week-long intensive course, foundation and prac exams), and without having done a fair bit of project work (working on and managing), it would have made no sense at all.
On the other hand, if I'd learnt anything about Prince2 some years earlier, we'd have been a lot nicer to the project manager imposed upon us!

If you've got the experience then it should be feasible to learn from a book, but otherwise the course is very hard. By itself it's not very useful - the cliche at my work (civil service) is that the important bit is knowing when not to use it!

Do you have any experience that could be dressed up on your CV as project work and/or management? Basically making anyone else do something on time and to budget and keeping track of risks?

Can anyone advise which book would be best to get to study the Prince 2 foundation part of the exam. I have found these on Amazon but no idea which is best

I recently did the online course for the foundation exam (passed that one) then a 2 day top up course for the practioner level (still waiting for the result- don't think I've passed though).

The official book is this one.

Everything is in there to pass the foundation but I agree with those who've said that project work experience is needed for the practioner exam. I hadn't got a clue really and only did it because I got funding from BusinessLink.

Thank you for that. I am hoping the foundation will at least give me a better chance of getting an interview.Seems as though the practitioner part should wait until later. Are you looking to go into PM then? Any luck with interviews since taking the exam?

I only did the exam 2 weeks ago and I'm already working, that's why I got the Business Link funding.

Having said that I think it never hurts to keep topping up my CV

Forgot to say that you have to redo the practioner qual every 5 years too so bear that in mind if PM is where you are heading.

Exactly. Good luck with the practitioner results. AM weighing up buying the book and self studying before doing the open exam (£215), online training (£450) or attending a course (£600). Any opinions anyone?

I have 2 DCs (one at school) so could only study in the evenings really.

Yes I heard it was every 5 years. My previous role had similar requirements so thats OK. I am just itching to get back into work after 3 years off. Even the thought of self study is appealing!

What I did like about the online course was the interactive activities. Having said that the trainer on the two day top up was really good and I think if I'd have had 5 days with him I'd have taken more in.

But some of the others on my course had done the first 3 days with a different trainer who they said was rubbish.

If you've done PM work before then I'd say read the book first then you can make up your mind whether you need any more training.

FYI the foundation is a multi choice paper about the terminology used and all of that is in the book. The practitioner paper is also multi choice, but a bit more convoluted. You are given a scenario and then have to apply the Prince2 methodology to various questions. A common style of question is to be given a list of statements and the reasons for them. You have to then choose a combination of answers about the validity of the statements/reasons. It's easy to lose marks on these though as you only get a point if you get the right answer for the statement and the reason (is this making sense?).

Thanks again. I am bidding on ebay for the book so will get it and take it from there. My last role was PM in style but not officially so I lack direct experience of terminology. I think I just have alot of the core skills but lack the detail.