I recently had this query through from a candidate which I thought would be worth further discussion:
“Is it worth me taking a Prince2 Foundation E-Learning course? I’d like to get into Project Management, so I assumed a Prince2 qualification would be the right idea…”
Eons will pass before your foundation of solid experience in project-related work is swept aside. And by foundation, we're not necessarily talking about methodology.
Project Management is now clearly seen as a career path thanks in some part to a greater recognition of methodologies such as Prince2 within the project environment. It would not be an unfair assumption to say that in the past PMs have been groomed for the task from individual areas of speciality and were thrown into the role not so much out of choice but out of company necessity. As the discipline has become more widely respected to the point of being a profession in its own right it does, therefore, beg the question: “How does one get into Project Management as a career?”
The starting point for many a candidate does seem to be a Prince2 qualification. The Foundation course gives you a good grounding in the tools and techniques of a project environment and is user-friendly enough that a novice would feel at ease delving into the content. This is great for a newcomer to the profession, and the option of completing the course as an E-Learning option holds obvious appeal for those who are unable to attend a more formal course for whatever reason.
There is a ‘but’ however, and quite a big one at that. Part of the problem with Prince2 and the Foundation qualification in particular is that its accessibility is also in many ways its weakness. Our experience of employers’ needs during the recession has shown an increasing importance placed on experience over qualifications. As a supplement to good, practical experience in a live project environment, Prince2 is a great accompaniment. On its own, however, candidates are struggling to break into the roles they seek due to a lack of practical skills. I have lost count of the number of candidates who have become disheartened over the past year because their applications for Project Management roles are being rejected at the first hurdle, even though they have Prince2 Foundation on their CV.
So what next? There are a large number of candidates out there who do intentionally set out to pursue a career in Project Management and are hugely successful. What do they do that makes them successful? Getting to know your domain / sector is a good first step. Project Management is a pretty broad field – Construction project management is quite different to IT project management, for example. What area do you want to work in? Once you have an answer to this question, you can target the market appropriately. For newcomers I would recommend looking for openings of any kind in your chosen sector that will help you get your foot in the door to more project-focused roles. You are much more likely to pick up on potential openings in an organisation where you already work. Likewise, employers are often more open to promoting internal staff with drive and ambition than they are to recruiting from elsewhere. Trust me on this one; I know from experience and this was how I secured my first project role.
It is also important to not let your ambition get away with you. You are not going to jump into a Project Management role straightaway. Instead, focus your efforts on roles that will allow you to climb the ladder, such as Project Support or Project Administration roles. These will give you the practical experience you need, along with the potential opportunity to shadow and learn from more experienced PMs, provided you show you are willing and able. It is at this stage that the benefit of a Prince2 Foundation really becomes apparent, as you will have the experience to back it up. Moreover, you may be able to get your boss to pay for it!
One final point: If you do decide to go down the qualification route, there are other options besides Prince2. Just because it is the most widely known doesn’t automatically make it the best option. The APM runs a widely respected Introduction to Project Management course, for example, which is also worth looking into before you go jumping in.
Hope this helps!
Image derived from flickr, attributed to Brooklyn Museum and reused with permission.
Very useful post. I have one question. Prince 2 certificate is often seen as one of the requirements in PM job ads of UK companies. Do you recommend that an experienced Project Manager with proven track record and other certifications like PMP still should take Prince 2 to improve their chances of landing a permanent or contract job?
Hi Stanislav, obviously each situation is different but I would say that personal circumstance often plays a big role in this type of decision. Although Prince2 is undoubtably a good accompaniment to any CV, if you have PMP accreditation I would question the validity of sitting Prince2 as well, especially if you have a good level of PM experience to call upon. Likewise if you have experience of working in Prince2 environments I would be including this detail on your CV. Clients often come to us looking for Prince2 accreditaion or experience of using it in a practical environment. If you are in the fortunate position of having an understanding employer who will fund you in attaining Prince2 however, then I would certainly go ahead and sit the exam. Hope this helps…
Gary
Thanks Gary. This helps a lot.
Stan