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  • #2074071

    Project Management

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    by adadl ·

    I have a B.A in MIS, Marketing, and Business Admin-long story. I currently work as a helpdesk analyst with 4 years experience with A+ certification and am working on MCSE.
    1. I would like to move to Project Management and wanted to know if thereare entry level jobs for this type of position? 2. Do I continue with my current path which is get my MCSE(even though I won’t be working on the network doing Network admin. work) and look elsewhere for entry level Project jobs(if they exist) and network jobs that can hopefully lead to Project Management. What are my options?
    My current employer doesn’t have this type of opportunity.
    Help
    Thanks
    Lou

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    • #3777270

      Project Management

      by mckaytech ·

      In reply to Project Management

      I’m relatively new to IS so I’m sure I don’t have the big picture yet, but in the organizations I have experience with, having an MCSE (or network administration experience for that matter) is not part of the career path to project management.

      Inmy current organization, the usual path is Programmer/Analyst, Project Team Leader and then Project Manager.

      There seems to be a thought that Network Admin and help desk are both maintainer roles rather than builder roles and Project Managers arebuilders rather than maintainers. Different skill sets, I suppose, although I personally am not certain of that.

      But I think your best shot is going to be to aim for a project team position and work your way up from there.

      paul

    • #3779089

      Project Management

      by elaine d. ·

      In reply to Project Management

      Make your own opportunities! I don’t think you need to have “project manager” in your title for you to be able to develop and practice effective project management skills.

      Some steps you can take towards being a full-fledged project manager:
      – Figure out what it means to be a project manager then develop and practice those skills needed.
      – Read up on project management techniques and use them in your daily work life.
      – Big or small, treat your work (and volunteer) tasks like projects.- Take a class in project management.
      – First be a strong team member and motivator and eventually, a team lead.
      – Remember to work on both your functional skills as well as your people skills!

      I personally think it’s more important that you beable to demonstrate that you understand what is involved and have solid experience in the skills needed than having a title’s experience. There’s many folks out there who have the titles on their resumes, but don’t have the substance that makes them effective. If you

    • #3783014

      Project Management

      by em-interim ·

      In reply to Project Management

      First of all: it looks to me that you need to find another employer. That is if you are really eager to do projectmanagement.

      The MCSE is not usefull for a career in Project Management (but I have the impression you figured that out yourself).To grow to a projectmanagement position you might consider one (or more) of the following steps:
      1 Do a Projectmanagement course (there are plenty of those)
      2 Try to get involved in projects doing project office tasks (archive, setup meetings, take notes at meetings, and stuff like that). This will give you the opportunity to 1: walk along with a projectleader/manager and 2: train in these project assistance skills (you still need being a projectmanager).
      3 Try to work in projects as a projectmember as this will at least get you into contact with projectmanagers. You can then look at their approach of matters and possibly you can ask them how they got where they are now.
      4 Combine your current expertise (I’m not really sure about this because I’m not into

    • #3782991

      Project Management

      by em-interim ·

      In reply to Project Management

      Answer of e.moen@ohra.nl (continued)

      4 Combine your current expertise (I’m not really sure because I’m not into Network admin. and MCSE) with projectmanagement and try to (after al least step 1 and probably 2 or 3) sell yourself as a technical projectleader. Technical projectleaders is a not uncommon position before the one of projectmanager.

      Egbert

    • #3784500

      Project Management

      by dsmith ·

      In reply to Project Management

      I think you should continue with your MCSE since you’ve already started it, plus it looks good on your resume. Project Management even in Network Administration needs Software Engineering expertise as well as Network Engineering expertise, so get some programming experience especially in the Client/Server Technologies.

    • #3783406

      Project Management

      by debfromca ·

      In reply to Project Management

      Depending on how far you’ve gone with your MCSE, I’d continue.

      I managed a project management unit for a Behavioral Health HMO until recently. I would have LOVED to get an MCSE in my group, even though it would have been an entry level position. I’m currently serving as a Sr. Project Manager in an IT group because I wanted to get back to the area of my interest, IT. You are only MORE valuable with your MCSE, especially if you are nearing completion of that cert, to a project management group. The only caveat I would send is that if you expect to get MCSE league compensation as an entry level project manager, you won’t. It all depends on the compensation you expect. In Southern California, you can expect, as an entry level PM in a nontech area, about 50-60K. However, there are lots of jobs in the tech arena for PM’s and that pay range would be in the area of 70-100K.

      debfromca@hotmail.com

    • #3767945

      Project Management

      by rsspires ·

      In reply to Project Management

      There is no one career path, or entry job position, that will take you to a project manager’s position. However, this should not discourage you from pursuing your project management desires.

      In today’s rapid growth of technology and it’s impact to the economy, good project managers (much less good consultants) are very hard to find. While there is a large supply of technically competent individuals in the market place, there are very few individuals who possess technical and management skills.

      My recommendation to you is to first join the Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org) and starting educating yourself in the PMBOK (eventhough it requires an update due to the new capabilities provided by technology). You can also join “Significant Interest Groups” (SIGs) that address various industries and vertical issues.

      The second step is to start becoming involved with activities associated with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). CMM is a good benchmar

    • #3765889

      Project Management

      by dion jensen ·

      In reply to Project Management

      Project management and technical education. … Not a bad combination !!
      Is it the straight way to be the most efficient project manager ?? No I don’t think so !!

      What is a man to do ?? – First of all. I’ve been working as a project manager for the last 10 years – doing everything as coordination, technical assistance and practical tasks – so for me the best way to succeed as a project manager is to understand the issues.

      Business knowledge combined with the knowledge of your product / service will bring you a long way on the task for project management. First of all, project management isn’t that big a science – it simply a way for make humans relate to technical problems – as well as overcoming the mountings of being scared for changes..

      Good luck.

    • #3765704

      Project Management

      by jcparkerconsulting ·

      In reply to Project Management

      I do Technical Project Management and Project Management. I have a MCSE as well as other technical certifications. If you want to be a project manager, look at http://www.pmi.org. Also look for the verious certifications in the area.

      I manage projects which cover large technical infrastructure implementations or upgrades, but I have been doing this for 15 years. If I was to start over today, I would advise you to complete your MCSE since you have started it, if only to finish what you have started. Next what are your intrests, if it is IT then look at the business side of IT. Such things as SLA’s and Change Management Procedures. These are part of your everyday work experience on which to build.

      Take a course in Project Management, look at the available certifications available. You will need experience before the certification actually becomes valuable. Experience can be gained from part time work even at your church or for your community. When you get a chance become part of a management team.

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