Advice on Project Management Careers

[OccupantofInterplanetaryCraft]

Hello,

I could do with some advice🙂 I have secured a post in an university working as a project assistant. I’d like to aim to be here at this level for 2 year - 18 months and move to a Project Manager post (either here or somewhere else).

I have completed lots of CPD ( in this particular domain) and in tech and PM so how do I make the next move to Project Manager?

I have applied for lots of managerial level posts in the past and am just not getting them so took this post to get me in the door.

I was a teacher, worked in admin afterwards and have lots of additional things I can add to my CV/application ( set up an educational project/worked at Executive level for a charity as a volunteer).

I am not getting far wage wise in London and am bewildered at the salaries I see on here yet I do feel I have strong skills and a lot that, on paper hits the mark.

So, how do I approach my next move other than apply for PM jobs, tailor my CV for them, etc. I have volunteered to take on a specific ‘sub’ project at work.

What else? Quite depressing to see so many on good wages when I feel I am working hard in an area that no one sees and doesn’t really utilise my skills ( plus all my studying).

A lot of my recent experience is in tech and I have completed some software development courses so I thought PM in tech would be a good field to look at.

Hi OP - could your uni fund you to do something like PRINCE2 or Agile? With your techy background I think you'd really get on with them.

Can you find jobs you would like to be in and go through the requirements to see if you're missing anything? Could it just be managerial experience - if so, it sounds like you have the right idea volunteering to take on a project at work. Are you perhaps underselling yourself and what you have already done, ie can you find examples of how you have managed projects already even if it's just sorted a new milk rota or whatever and apply some project management speak to it when you next apply for a job?

Good luck op x

Hi @ChillysWaterBottle

thanks for reading!

I wonder the same ( am I underplaying things) and then just read a thread about needing 10 years experience before even getting considered!

Thing is, I feel I have really strong qualities that aren’t coming across - I am responsible and conscientious- I’ll make something work and can adapt to pull things together so that they do. I have studied some agile on my recent software course and it gave a very thorough grounding in tech. I also have a cyber security certificate ( foundation level but still very good in its grounding).

I have just finished a large 2 year project I solely worked on and my job title was manager but couldn’t get anything afterwards so took this assistant post ( it is in niche field so makes sense). I’m hoping that the fact I ‘m in a credible environment that is regulated will help me get into something similar just at the higher level.

Where I work, we wouldn't hire anyone as a junior PM with less than 5 years project management experience. With your experience, you'd be looking at the level below where we tend to be more interested in BA skills. Even at the junior PM level, we prefer BA skills as there's more demand for hybrid BA/PMs until people have built up sufficient experience to be considered as a 'standalone' PM. We don't really care about your CPD or PM qualifications (it's all very well but that doesn't mean you can actually successfully deliver a project). We prioritise experience and a track record of delivery. Continue trying to build your project experience, or the alternative is to use some of your admin experience to try and enter via the PMO route instead.

@HundredMilesAnHour

thank you. I have excellent admin skills with lots of experience but wanted to avoid being pegged as admin but if I could work it as PMO ( Project management officer?) then that’s a good place to start. Would you have an idea of salaries that you pay at that level?