PRINCE2 - Is it worth it?

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tiger2008
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Anyone!

I'm thinking of doing the PRINCE2 certification and was wondering, as I'm looking at the job market, which requires at least 1-2 years experience as Junior PM, considering what prospects I will have with a PRINCE2 certificate without any experience behind me, is it really worth it?

Regards
T
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dhaughey
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Hi tiger2008,

If your ambition is to become a project manager, (I'm assuming you are just starting out in the world of work) you need to start somewhere. A PRINCE2 certification is as good a starting point as any. I would suggest making a project plan and treating your career goal as a project.

Objective: Build a Career in Project Management

Tasks:
  1. Obtain PRINCE2 Practitioner certification
  2. Write a compelling CV
  3. Circulate CV on job sites and with prospective employers
  4. Investigate work experience opportunities
  5. Read up on the subject, listen to podcasts and attend free webinars
  6. and so on...
I'd be impressed if I had somebody taking their career seriously enough to turn it into a project.

Let me know how you get on.

Good luck!
Duncan
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I have the PRINCE2 Practitioner, and it provides a good framework to manage projects of all shapes and sizes in various industries.

In regards to career planning using project management, I have recently used Primavera P6 to plan my engineering HND using the modules as WBS's and correctly resourcing them for time and costs...sad I know but I needed to learn how to use Primavera.
stonesfan
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Very much worth it. My 'goal' was to become a project management professional in around 3 years. This was exactly two years ago. So I've got a year to achieve my goal.

In that two years I have managed to:

Achieve PRINCE2 practitioner.
Have sat APMP with Parallel and awaiting the results of the exam (finger crossed confident!)
Have led a number of small £30-250,000k ish projects within my position of IT support.
Have led a number of small projects at a local sports club totaling around £300,000

I don't really think I need to get any more qualifications at this stage. PRINCE2 and APMP compliment each other really well so on tenterhooks awaiting the result.

Probably now need to become familiar with something like Primavera. It would seem a lot of Assist PM or PM roles are asking for familiarity with planning software.

Then a case of optimising my CV and applying :)

Hopefully will achieve my goal in less than 3 years.

However, I'll admit I've not really ran it as a 'project' so to speak.
easyprojecthub
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Hi Tiger2008,
I often have to recruit project managers and definitely use PRINCE2 as a differentiating factor. The theory might be a little harder to get your head around if you have no real, practical experience to apply it to, but I would still say go for it and do the course. It will stand you in good stead in your Project Management career and in getting a job.

Good luck!

Julia | easyprojecthub.com
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David Walton
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I wouldn't state that a PRINCE2 course is a waste of time, but on its own a PRINCE2 qualification does not automatically make you a good project manager.

The best experience comes from having a good mentor to help project managers deliver their projects. This, to me, is the most beneficial way of improving project delivery. A mentor can help a project manager deal with questions or phases of their project that they are currently running. For example, the mentor could coach them in managing difficult stakeholders, highlighting key issues to sponsors, even questioning the business case of the project. The advice or coaching could be in many different areas.

The difference between a PRINCE2 course and mentoring is that you are using the mentor’s experience on a real life project. As long as you have the right mentor in place, this is going to improve your project delivery for any organisation.
I'm David Walton. Project, Programme and Portfolio Management specialist, and director of Bestoutcome, makers of the PPM tools PM3 & PM3time
stonesfan
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David

I guess for those wanting to enter the PM Profession, this means first of all gaining a role in the project support office. Maybe if you have PM qualifications and some experience in successfully running small projects, then you could look at an Assistant PM role. This way you will have natural mentoring taking place from within the project office and probably from experienced project managers themselves. Like all professions, even if you manage to blag your way through to jump in at the deep end ill prepared, its only likely to result in a disappointment.

Qualifications though, are always a good thing. If only to assist you with gaining an interview. Shows you have the motivation and dexterity to complete a fairly rigorous course of study.

Agree though, can't beat experience. Sadly that can be a chicken and egg syndrome for some.

Regards

Adam
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David Walton
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Stonesfan,

I agree with the logic completely. But I do not think that a training course in project management necessarily improves project management capability. Indeed some of these courses seem to teach people how to pass the exam and not how to be a better project manager.

Training certainly has its place in making sure you are at the right skill level, but I would always advise mentoring as the most effective way of improving project management capability.

I've actually written about this very subject on my blog:

http://bestoutcome.com/agile-and-scrum/ ... -delivery/
I'm David Walton. Project, Programme and Portfolio Management specialist, and director of Bestoutcome, makers of the PPM tools PM3 & PM3time
stonesfan
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Thank you for that link David, was a very worthwhile read. Having just passed the APMP, I have been offered membership of the APM at half price. Would appear there could be some useful 'virtual mentoring' within that organisation. Membership promises knowledge sharing and useful tools and techniques from those at the sharp end of the project management profession. Could learn some invaluable advice there.

You have to be careful when well qualified but inexperienced. Seen plenty of colleagues come into the IT profession with a full MCSE or Cisco qualifications. Sadly, a number will fall at the first hurdle time and time again due to over confidence and an inability to seek advice from more experienced but sometimes less qualified staff. That over confidence can soon turn into a lack of confidence.

I think above all. Listen. And don't be scared to ask questions.
jayashree
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It is definitely a great worth for you and it can help you to grow up your career in the desired field of choice.
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