Forty-two percent of people polled think it would be "very difficult" to find a new job in today's economy, according to a survey of more than 2,5000 LinkedIn users by Right Management, the talent and career management arm of Manpower.
With those kinds of numbers, it's no surprise that the job market seems to be top of mind with just about everyone these days. Whenever I interview people for stories (or even when I'm just having a casual conversation with project managers), the topic seems to weave its way into the discussion.
It was a subject that came up a lot at the PMI global congress a couple of weeks ago. At one point I was talking to Al Zeitoun, PhD, who was representing his organizations Booz Allen Hamilton in the PMI Career Center.
He told me project managers looking for work need to make themselves relevant--to the work they're doing and the industries they're serving.
But what does that mean and how do you do it?
Mr. Zeitoun went on to explain that your experience and background have a lot to do with it, but it's also about being able to relay these experiences in an interview, to an executive, etc.
I didn't really give this second point too much thought until I started talking with Stewart Kidd from CSC and he said something very similar. He told me project managers have to be able to describe their experiences and skills--from the basic information (the number of direct reports you've had, the industries you've served) to the more thoughtful (how you've overcome challenges).
That got me wondering: How are people keeping relevant in today's job market? And then, what are some good tips for selling yourself and your experience as a project manager?
With those kinds of numbers, it's no surprise that the job market seems to be top of mind with just about everyone these days. Whenever I interview people for stories (or even when I'm just having a casual conversation with project managers), the topic seems to weave its way into the discussion.
It was a subject that came up a lot at the PMI global congress a couple of weeks ago. At one point I was talking to Al Zeitoun, PhD, who was representing his organizations Booz Allen Hamilton in the PMI Career Center.
He told me project managers looking for work need to make themselves relevant--to the work they're doing and the industries they're serving.
But what does that mean and how do you do it?
Mr. Zeitoun went on to explain that your experience and background have a lot to do with it, but it's also about being able to relay these experiences in an interview, to an executive, etc.
I didn't really give this second point too much thought until I started talking with Stewart Kidd from CSC and he said something very similar. He told me project managers have to be able to describe their experiences and skills--from the basic information (the number of direct reports you've had, the industries you've served) to the more thoughtful (how you've overcome challenges).
That got me wondering: How are people keeping relevant in today's job market? And then, what are some good tips for selling yourself and your experience as a project manager?
In response to the question posed; "what are some good tips for selling yourself and your experience as a project manager?".
Project Managers have to be particularly careful that they don't become too insular with the way they demonstrate their skills and experiences, especially on the CV. One of the main mistakes we see is a CV which focuses too much on deliverables outcomes; organisational acronyms; and job description type styling in the CV.
To counterbalance the focus on deliverables outcomes (i.e., what they project delivered), project managers need to focus more on their competencies (the how you delivered). Stay away from acronyms and information that is too focused on the last company you worked for, new employers will be baffled and quickly lose interest (try and think about the reader perspective when you write the CV!) and finally, you need to invest time and effort in getting a really great CV together. Too many people cut and paste from a company job description and pad it out, here and there.
One tip to thinking differently about this is to take a blank sheet of paper and draw the project lifecycle across the top. Then at each stage of the lifecycle, start to make notes about what you did, how you carried it out, where you were successful etc etc. This is a great way to start formulating your CV.
For other project management careers help, I'm the author of the PMI Career Track that can be read quarterly in the PM Network magazine. Leave a question with the editor of the magazine if you would like project management careers advice
Best Regards
Lindsay Scott
http://www.arraspeople.co.uk