CAreertRACK

THE BAttLE OF THE RSUMS

Mixing solid, on-the-job experience with advanced education can prove a winning combination.

BY MICHELLE BOWLES

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MARCH 2011 PM NETWORK

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For project professionals on the job huntno matter the level of experience, no matter the breadth of educationthe words Youre hired arent heard often in this tight market. In the past, Ive worked for companies that pretty much hired anyone with a moderate amount of experience. Thats not the case anymore, says Steven Oh, PMP, an independent project manager in Los Angeles, California, USA. Employers are asking for the best of the best now, and until we have a lot of positions available in the market, I dont see that changing. For more and more hiring managers, solid experience just isnt enough to earn a candidate an interview. So, in this employers market, how can project managers set themselves apart in the large pool of fellow job seekers? Blending work expertise with formal education and certification could be exactly what project professionals need to secure that competitive edge.

THAt PRICELESS PIECE OF PApER

There are some skills valued by employers that are difficult to learn outside the classroomspecifically, fundamental project management tools and techniques, says Langeswaran Supramaniam, course leader in the project management masters degree program at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. In the classroom setting, project managers learn skills such as teamwork, leadership, documentation trails at each

phase of the project life cycle and project management standards to build upon in their career later on, he says. Fundamental project management skills, competence and knowledge gained while in school will prove to be useful for facilitating decision-making processes. Organizations with low project management maturity might value on-the-ground experience over education. But those with a more systemic view of project management tend to lean toward candidates with advanced degrees who understand the theory behind repeatable processesallowing successes to be replicated and mistakes to be consistently avoided. In the past few years, there has been a shift toward a repeatable-system approach to project management in more mature, larger organizations, says Paul OConnor, sessional lecturer at the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. But apart from the guided academic process of learning about theory, many students also find that through classroom interaction, they are able to develop a broad peer network. As more project managers try to move beyond implementation roles into director roles, theyll likely seek higher degrees, he says. In many cases, degrees and credentials are requirements for program manager jobs. And for numerous government projects, clients require certain education levels, points out C. Scyphers, chief

The best management lessons I have gotten have been from watching horrible managers and learning how not to do things.
C. Scyphers, Daemon Consulting LLC, McLean, Virginia, USA

Certifications are evidence that captures the candidates experience, skills and competence in project management.
Langeswaran Supramaniam, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland

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technical architect at McLean, Virginia, USA-based Daemon Consulting LLC, which specializes in IT projects. Project managers without a formal education are likely to hit the proverbial glass ceiling when trying to move up the ranks. For instance, its almost unheard of for executives or upper-level managers to be without a degree, Mr. Oh adds. In Australia, many project managers in the IT, mining and heavy industry sectors who dont have a formal degree hit a wall after a few years when trying to move to a program manager role, Mr. OConnor says. Of course, just as experienced project managers without formal education can find themselves unable to advance, so too can educated project managers without experience. I have noticed that schooling does not provide an adequate amount of training on how to deal with real-world scenarios, Mr. Oh says. This leads to unrealistic expectations and disappointment once people get out into the real world.

Most clients want the credentials, but they dont all want to pay for them, Mr. Oh says.

IN tHE TRENCHES
Emphasize your experience, Mr. Scyphers advises. When it comes to sorting through project manager rsums, on-the-job training is the number-one distinguishing factor, he argues. There are many areas of expertise where the educational background can be extremely importantthe math behind data mining, the legal requirements of data retention, etc., Mr. Scyphers says. But project managers need the proper time and place to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom. Employers such as Daemon Consulting believe interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence can be obtained more readily through real-world experience. Thats critical, Mr. Scyphers says, because the human component is of utmost importance. In my experience, most projects fail not because of technological factors but human ones, like conflicts among team members, political issues or different departments not wanting the project to succeed, he says. Theres no better place for negative learning than in the real world. The best management lessons I have gotten have been from watching horrible managers and learning how not to do things, Mr. Scyphers says. For example, he encountered one chief operating officer who stood over an IT team members desk and wouldnt allow him to leave for more than 22 hours until an issue was fixed. The employee quit on the spot. Actual experience in the workplace also teaches project managers to remain agile and react quickly to problems, Mr. Oh says. Several years ago, when working for the Los Angeles Unified School District, he was accosted by an angry contractor who hadnt received payment from the district. Back in my youth, I might have gotten confrontational back, he says.

THE POWER OF INItIALS

Because obtaining and maintaining professional certifications such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential often requires onthe-job experience and formal education, they can be the key to scoring a job interview. Certifications are evidence that captures the candidates experience, skills and competence in project management, Mr. Supramaniam says. Because rigorous exams are part of the process, they validate a high level of knowledge. Whats more, Mr. Oh has noticed that employers often seek out credentialed project managers so they can note that level of competency on responses to requests for proposals from potential clients. Even still, particularly in todays tight job market, many employers carefully weigh the benefits of hiring credentialed professionals with the added cost they bring.

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But as you grow in the profession, you learn to quickly adapt to situations, not overreact, and stay calm and collected. Borrowing from lessons learned through years on the job, Mr. Oh calmly went back to his office, made a few phone calls and mediated the situation. Thats something not taught in schools, he adds. And when it comes to complicated, extensive projects, experience is essential, Mr. Oh argues. Inexperienced employees can cost an organization a client. He once worked with a senior project manager on a project to build a parking structure for a local community college. She didnt have the experience or working knowledge of the state architects office to obtain approval within the allotted schedule, Mr. Oh says. Due to the delay, when the project managers firm was up for renewal on its contract, it lost out to another company.

THE DOWNSIdE OF NO EdUCAtION

Still, there is a downside to being an experienced project manager without any formal education: Employers may assume you have no interest in pursuing a theoretical understanding of project management, Mr. OConnor says. They may view you as a project manager who thinks you know it all but actually knows the least, he says. Employers may see you as someone who tends to rely on previously documented procedures, rather than someone who goes through the process of problem-solving by using collection and observation of facts, reflection and critical enquiry, which higherdegree graduates tend to display. A total focus on experience, with a lack of education, can lead to project managers being overly procedurebased and failing to think outside the box, Mr. Oh adds. Because so many schools focus their curricula on theoretical applications, it allows for project managers to be unconventional in problem-solving, he says.

A total focus on experience, with a lack of education, can lead to project managers being overly procedurebased and failing to think outside the box.
Steven Oh, PMP, Los Angeles, California, USA

THE WHOLE PACKAGE

The best-case scenario for project managers seeking employment is a careful balance of applicable job experience, professional certification, and recent, relevant formal education. A more professional organization is likely to see an advanced degree as a sign of real achievement by the candidate and a commitment to professional engagement with project management, Mr. OConnor says. However, on the flip side, someone who has achieved these qualifications with limited practical experience is likely to be less valued than a candidate with a track record of success on projects. Until the employment market fully recovers, employers will likely continue to demand the whole package. PM