How to Get a Job in Project Management?

At some point in your IT career you are going to encounter change. Whether that be new technology, replacing old systems or implementing new systems it is inevitable that you will be involved in the change process. With that brings the potential for risk. Risk of something going wrong, risk of spending more money than has been allocated, risk of implementing something that is either not fit for purpose or does not meet the original requirements. As a result one of the most prolific and rewarding roles in IT today is the Project Manager (PM). I love being a PM. No two projects are the same, you get to meet some fantastic people, you get to be involved in cutting edge technology and there is an enormous sense of achievement once the project has been delivered (as long as it has been delivered well and is fit for purpose).

However, there is often a huge amount of pressure. You are often working to very tight deadlines, on very tight budgets and are often working with people who do not directly report into you so you must have excellent man management and motivation skills. Good project managers can earn six figure salaries especially with performance bonuses. The average (according to itjobswatch.co.uk) is approx. £45,000 that's about $70,000. The career potential, therefore, for good project managers is excellent. It is also a field where you do not need to be an IT guru. Managing projects is about process, managing risk, managing people and managing logistics.

Qualifications
There are a number of globally recognised standards for Project Management i.e. Agile, Lean or the Project Management Institute (PMI). One of the most recognised and popular world-wide is Prince2.
If you work in IT you will come across and be involved in using ITIL. ITIL is one of the most important qualifications to have in your toolkit. In most blue chip companies ITIL will play a role in terms of the framework for delivering IT services. It will be imperative that a PM understands how ITIL fits into the change process. A lot of what you will learn studying for certifications like Prince2 will overlap with your ITIL studies so it is not like re-inventing the wheel.

How do I get into Project Management?
Career paths are varied in this field. Many come through the ranks working as Support technicians and working their way to third line support and managing change as part of that remit. Other routes include managing business system change and showing an aptitude for delivering change or often from the business where people are trained to deliver change to customers and then transfer those skills into the IT arena. There is no hard and fast rule about the journey other than an individual has shown an aptitude for delivering services and applications, working with people and managing complex change.

Top 5 Tips for getting ahead in Project Management
1. Get qualified - Prince2 certification, ITIL certification, PMI Certification. There are many different forms of qualifications that a good PM should get on their CV.

2. Speak to existing project managers - If you know a project manager, whatever the field of expertise, then go and speak to them about how they got into the profession, what they consider to be the main attributes of a PM and a great question 'what is the one thing that I should get on my CV if I want to be a PM?'

3. Get some experience - If you are applying for Project Manager roles then it is essential you have some experience of leading change projects, large or small. Open your mind to past experiences, if you have swapped out a departments desktops for new one, this is a change and had to be managed in terms of planning, communication and implementation. Think about when you have managed such changes in your recent previous experience.

4. Get to know ITIL - In order to earn good money as a project manager sooner or later you are going to find a role working for a large corporation. It is very likely they will be using ITIL as a standard for delivering IT services. If you don't know ITIL then you will not likely make it to first let alone second interview.

5. Start reading - Add a short term objective to read some form of development or help guide aimed at Project Management.

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How to Get a Job - First Steps

Where to Start?
Embarking upon a job search can be a daunting experience. A seemingly endless stream of resumes, researching companies, customizing for key-words, not to mention the stress of being unemployed all the while, is exhausting. Looking for a job becomes your job when you are between things, or just starting out.
There are a few basic things that you can do to make the search a bit easier. Most of them have to do with preparation. Having your ducks in a row can take a lot of stress out of finding a job. As with anything in life, "fortune favors the prepared" is an apt axiom.

How to Begin
One of the first actions that you can take is to define what you are looking for. Do you want to pursue a vocation in construction or investment banking? Maybe you just want something to pay the bills right now, and day labor is what you are looking for. It doesn't matter what you want, just know what you want. That will eliminate useless work pursuing job leads just because you need something, or anything quickly. A little focus will simplify your life greatly.

Get a specific email account for your job search responses. If you use your personal account, it could lead to some confusion. Make the email address professional and discreet. If it is provocative or even if it reflects your crazy, fun-loving personality it's probably not appropriate for a business setting. Once you have established a professional address, you can organize the responses and stay on top of your communication.
Have some standard cover letters that you can customize. If you already have a template, you don't have to spend a lot of time making something from scratch for every company that you apply to. There are many resources for cover letter formats. Do a little research and find one or two that you are comfortable with. Practice customizing them to your personal situation.

Your Personal Presentation
Put some thought into your personal presentation. Know what you want to convey about yourself. If you select a wardrobe and brush up on your interpersonal skills ahead of time, you will be much more comfortable and focused when you get to the interview. Personal presentation also includes being on time. It seems obvious and hardly worth mentioning, but it can be an issue. If you need to scout the location, either an online map service or live, do it. Allow for traffic and make sure that you don't need to stop for gas.

Get to know standard questions that interviewers ask. The majority of questions can be anticipated if you have done some digging. Again, there are lots of resources online that you can use to find standard interview questions. Some are generic and some are industry specific. If you know generally what to look for, you won't be caught off guard, grasping for an answer. Also, take some time and develop some stories about your accomplishments.

How did you resolve a conflict?
What have you done to increase sales or production?
Have a story about a particular challenge that you overcame or about an original idea that ended up being used by an employer or organization.

Conclusion
If you take a bit of time and effort to get things in order before you get into the stressful world of the job search, it will pay off. It may cut down the time it takes to find employment, and it will at least save you the unnecessary stress and frustration that you don't need.

Kyle Sutherland has been in the financial business for over twenty years and has been on both sides of the interviewers desk. Being prepared with answers to common, and not so common interview questions is essential to success.

Get one of the best resources for job interview answers at http://www.answersforjobinterviews.info

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How to Get a Job: Learn to Pitch Yourself

For those who are ready to get a job, the first step is not to adjust your resume or to buy a few impressive suits. Rather, you need to learn how to pitch yourself. When you pitch yourself successfully, you are able to show to the hiring manager and others on the job that what you have to offer is valuable to the open positions the company has. Think of this process as marketing yourself. When you pull off the marketing right, the hiring manager and the company itself cannot stop itself from hiring you.

How to Pitch Yourself
How do you pitch yourself to get a job? Start with aligning your goals and making a list of the qualifications you have. Your qualifications should include things like your job skills, your professional licenses, your work-related attributes, and your overall ability to do the job the company is hiring for. Make a list of these as a first step.

The next step is to look at the job description of the hiring company. To learn how to get a job with this company, you need to specifically examine what the employer is looking for from a new hire. To pitch yourself, you need to relate your job skills with those listed by the employer as desired job skills for a new applicant. Find the areas that you fit these qualifications listed in the job description.

Pulling It Together
Once you have done this, take a few minutes to create a 5-minute commercial of yourself. That means you will want to show the hiring manager why you are the best person for the job based on the connections you've made, such as your ability to meet the requirements of the job description. You will want to pitch yourself in such a way as you showcase your best talents, job skills, and work history as it relates specifically to the job.

To learn how to get a job, you have to know what you have to offer and what the company needs applicants to have. By pulling together a pitch, you can easily show the employer what you have to offer. You will also benefit from being confident and believing in yourself. Take the time to develop your pitch. Work to achieve the goals you have in your career by landing the right job. That means finding job descriptions that fit your qualifications. Then, showing how well you can do.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at www.integritystaffing.com

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