Project Management Career Paths CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Student Version Copyright © 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill/Irwin

18–2 Where We Are Now

18–3 Project Management Career Issues Career Paths Temporary Assignments Pursuing a Career Professional Training and Certification Gaining Visibility Mentors Success in Key Projects

18–4 Career Paths There is no set career path for becoming a project manager. Advancement generally occurs incrementally. Project management responsibilities expand as you move up the organization’s hierarchy.

18–5 Temporary Assignments Project management assignments tend to be temporary. Permanent job tenure is rarely granted to project managers. A promising career can be derailed by one unsuccessful project.

18–6 Pursuing a Career Find out what specific project job opportunities exist in your company. –Talk to people in project management positions and find out how they got to where they are and what advice they can give you. Share your aspirations with your immediate superior or someone who can champion you ambitions, make training available, or assign you to PM work.

18–7 Professional Training and Certification Training Resources: –On-the-job training –In-house training programs –Professional workshops –University degree programs –Professional organization membership

18–8 PMI Certification Requirements TABLE 18.1 CAPMPMP Full Name:Certified Associate in Project Management Project Management Professional Project Role:Contributes to project teamLeads and directs project teams Eligibility Requirements: High school diploma/global equivalent AND 1,500 hours experience OR 23 hours pm education High school diploma/global equivalent 5 years project management experience 35 hours project management education OR Bachelor’s degree/global equivalent 3 years project management experience 35 hours project management education Exam Information: 3 hours; 150 multiple-choice questions 4 hours; 200 multiple choice questions

18–9 Gaining Visibility Get actively involved in local community opportunities to manage projects. Develop contacts by volunteering for task forces and projects that allow access to higher-ups and other departments.

18–10 MentorsMentors Mentors are typically superiors who take a special interest in you and your career. They require loyalty and superior performance. Take advantage of formal mentoring programs in which experienced project managers are assigned to promising young managers. Attending conferences, trade fairs, and workshops provides good opportunities to “network” and develop social connections that might precipitate project assignments.

18–11 Success in Key Projects Pick projects more for the quality of the people working on them than for the scope of the projects. Keep a diary of your observations and review and refine lessons learned. Avoid run-of-the-mill projects or assignments. Seek high-profile projects that have some risks and tangible payoffs. Consider moving to a different company or even a different industry that might provide more project management opportunities.

18–12 Key Terms CAPM Mentor PMP