I currently hold a degree in Constuction Management and have almost 5 years of experience in this profession. However, I am not very satisfied and want to move on. I was thinking of getting a PMP certification which would enable me to manage projects in other industries as well. Getting a PMP looks like the fastest way to move on to a different industry - I am looking for a family friendly industry where I dont have to move from job to job. Any advice is highly appreciated.
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Career Change Question
- Thread starter civilenv
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There are two items here. PMP accreditation (I have mine) is only one of several attributes that I have. In many respects, I didn't get work because I had the qualification but, rather, when I was compared with others who had a similar employment background and experience, I got the work because the qualification differentiated me from them.
Career (well, Industry) change. My personal experience is that moving from one industry (I'm in IT) to another isn't easy because many of the skills that are developed during employment tend to be specific to a particular knowledge area. Just because I am an experienced IT PM doesn't mean I'll get considered for a construction project -- if anything, it's the opposite: there's always a learning curve to bring someone up-to-speed on things like nomenclature, industry-accepted practices, etc.
Family-friendly is, I think, not a function of an industry but of an employer. You could research Google's employment environment and then compare that to Electronic Arts'. Both do software but which company would you rather work for?
Career (well, Industry) change. My personal experience is that moving from one industry (I'm in IT) to another isn't easy because many of the skills that are developed during employment tend to be specific to a particular knowledge area. Just because I am an experienced IT PM doesn't mean I'll get considered for a construction project -- if anything, it's the opposite: there's always a learning curve to bring someone up-to-speed on things like nomenclature, industry-accepted practices, etc.
Family-friendly is, I think, not a function of an industry but of an employer. You could research Google's employment environment and then compare that to Electronic Arts'. Both do software but which company would you rather work for?
johnherman
MIS
I agree with PDQBach. Simply getting PMP certified does not make you qualified to lead/manage any project. You have expertise in the construction industry. You understand risk and risk management in that industry (weather, equipment failures, labor issues, subcontracting, etc). The risks and risk management on other projects is not the same. And risk management is alot of what we do. As he also said, learning the lingo, laws and regulations, quality standards, etc are all different across the industries.
And to further reinforce PDWBach's point, the certification should be considered an add-on bonus or differentiator between two otherwise qualfied candidates. I'd hire an experienced IT Project Manager without credentials before a Construction PM with credentials, all other things being equal.
You might want to check out the sister site, geared to Engineering. You might find some interesting job opportunities or descriptions which are closer to Construction in terms of risks, resources, etc.
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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright
And to further reinforce PDWBach's point, the certification should be considered an add-on bonus or differentiator between two otherwise qualfied candidates. I'd hire an experienced IT Project Manager without credentials before a Construction PM with credentials, all other things being equal.
You might want to check out the sister site, geared to Engineering. You might find some interesting job opportunities or descriptions which are closer to Construction in terms of risks, resources, etc.
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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright
johnherman
MIS
The sister site is
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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright
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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright
- Thread starter
- #5
Thank you for your responses. I understand that any career change requires time and there is a learning curve. I may have to start at a lower level, take a paycut and I understand that no one may hire me as a project manager directly, but may be as an asst. PM. I know of friends who have done this and have suceeded. So, am just thinking positive and will probably go in for the change. I may have to take a few courses depending on the industry I may go to, but thats what a career change is all about... learning and growing. Hopefully, I will like it and be happy.
johnherman
MIS
If you are determined, there is a strong likelihood you will succeed. Best of luck to you.
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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright
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The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was - Steven Wright
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