Chris Haynes is an eight year veteran of project management having worked across both public and private organisations, in two different continents. Active in the Project Management community, Chris has mentored multiple trainee project managers to become highly successful in their profession.
When did your interest in project management begin?
I first became interested in project management at University, when I did a course on the subject. However, this seemed like the sort of job you only got after many years of experience, so I didn’t really think about it until I began working. My interest was further stoked when I worked in my first IT position and I was working next to a project manager who was earning in a day, what I was earning in a month. Although this shouldn’t be the soul motivating factor for going into a profession, I always thought it was pointless going into something that paid badly and the profession seemed to fit other aspects of IT that I enjoyed.
What attracted you to the Project Management profession?
Whilst working next to a project manager I noticed that they were in a position to oversee all aspects of the IT project, whilst also taking a commanding position. I’d be a liar if I said that the opportunity to earn three or more times what I was currently earning wasn’t a good motivating factor as well!
What qualifications, skills and experience did you have when you first started out?
I had a degree in computer science which meant that I had a fairly good depth of understanding of IT. However, other than giving me a confidence in understanding the subject matter, I don’t believe that my degree helped me any more than if I had a degree in any other subject.
What qualifications or skills would have helped you more?
Any project management qualification would have been helpful. As I was quite blind to the profession, other than what I’d learned at uni (which was very academic and more like project planning than project management) it would’ve been useful to have had an introductory course on project management. The Association for Project Managers (APM) offers a good introductory course on project management, which also leads into their more advanced courses and qualifications.
Did you do work experience to help get you your first paid job in Project Management?
Getting my first project management position took several years and several jobs, before I was seen as credible. In hindsight, this was a fairly short time to get a project management position without having been on any training or mentoring scheme and with little in the way of formal qualifications. Before this first position, I had been contracting in Project Support and it was here that I learnt my trade. I had had no formal training in project work, so all the skills I learnt were through trial and error and taking the advice of those around me. This really is a baptism of fire which I wouldn’t recommend unless you are very hardy, as although I gained jobs fairly easily, I also lost one or two, due to both my inexperience and lack of knowledge around the subject. Therefore, I’d definitely recommend getting some basic project management courses under your belt, work on several projects in a supporting role and try to use this as a springboard into a project management trainee role.
Where did you look for Project Mangement jobs?
As I was contracting (during the economic boom years) I used to use Internet recruiting sites to gain jobs. Within a relatively short period of time, the electronic CV that I’d posted to these sites and subsequently submitted to recruiters, was resulting in recruiters head-hunting me and interviews being arranged. I finally landed my first full project management job when I was working in an organization that had very little experience of formal project management and I impressed a senior manager with a project plan (that’s a document that contains information on how a project will proceed, the budget, the timeline, the risks and issues etc) that I’d produced for him. As he was in need of a pool of project managers he invited me to come to an interview that same week for the positions he was trying to fill.
What was your first job in the Project Management sector?
My first position in the project management sector was as a project analyst. It was a short-term position (just a few months) that I’d seen advertised on an Internet recruitment website. I tailored my CV to highlight the experience which they were looking for and sent it over to the recruitment agency. A few days later I was sent for an interview. Due to it being a short-term position, it was just a case of answering some basic interview questions and impressing the boss sufficiently enough to get the job. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to do that and received the news the next day that I’d been unsuccessful, which wasn’t a surprise due to some fundamental questions that I’d got wrong in the interview. However, I received another call the next day from the recruiter apologising for what he was about to ask, but the person who’d been offered the job had dropped out and the manager had asked whether I would be able to step in and start the next day! There was a small part of me which had a little pride and wanted to say no, but then I realized that maybe this was that opportunity that everyone gets and I should seize it – which I did.
How did you get your current job? What job experience helped you?
My last project management position was in a medium sized government department, working as a project manager. They were looking for someone who was already experienced in this field, so my previous project management positions and project work all helped in getting the job. In particular, the original application had 12-15 questions that were aimed at people who were both knowledgeable and experienced in project management, and even with five years experience, it still took me a whole day to answer all the questions to the level of detail required.
Was the salary negotiable and what other benefits were on offer?
A lot of project management positions are negotiable, especially when demand is high for those skills. However, within government, the room for negotiation is limited. Due to the recession and having been out of work for several months, I did not try to negotiate my salary. I have since found out that there is very little room for negotiating in government due to fixed pay-scales, but I may’ve been able to wrangle a recruitment bonus of approx £1000 and/or the full holiday entitlement of 25 days had I asked. I did try to get relocation costs covered, but this was rejected. In private industry, negotiation is open to however far you are willing to push (and however much you can afford to loose!) I have been able to obtain a salary of twenty-five percent more than initially offered, just for stating my minimum salary expectation. But be prepared that recruiters and employers will walk away if you’re not worth what you’re asking or if there are lots of people willing to work for less.
What are employers looking for at entry level and mid level Project Management positions?
Entry level Project Management positions tend to be open to candidates that are already working in the organization and have several years experience in the industry, whatever their skill. There are sometimes opportunities to join straight away for an entry level, trainee position in project management. However, it is likely that some work experience in any field will be required and especially if you can show if that experience has been attained within a project. Mid-level is likely to either be an experienced project manager or senior project manager. For this role, it would be expected to have a minimum of five years or more experience and have attained several qualifications in project management, such as APMP, PMP, PRINCE2, ISEB Project Management. Often, they will be looking for a project manager that has completed a similar project in the previous two years and had experience of managing large budgets and bigger teams.
What new skills and knowledge did you aquire whilst working as a Project Manager?
In each job I had, without doubt the largest amount of knowledge I gained was in how to deal with people, which I am still learning. People skills is one of the hardest aspects of the job and being likeable, jolly and/or fun does not mean you will make a success at the people side of the work. Every person is different and an approach that is successful with one person will be an unmitigating disaster with another, to your complete horror and surprise!
What do you think are the pro’s and con’s of being a Project Manager?
Pro’s of being a project manager:
- Leading a team
- Motivating a team
- Being involved with finding solutions to complex probelms
- Being across all aspects of a project (finance, procurement, people management….)
- Liaising with very senior people in the organization on a regular basis
- A great feeling when a complex project is delivered and celebrations are taking place
- Many organisations will reward you well for your efforts.
Con’s of being a project manager:
- A good project manager makes the job looks easy and everyone thinks they can do it
- The buck stops with you when things go wrong
- You can easily become bogged down in paperwork, if you do not know your subject
- It can be a lonely and isolating place, as you are neither one of the technical team, nor the senior management
- Do not expect too much praise. When things go well it will be expected of you and the teams you manage will take the praise for success.
How does a person progress in the Project Management sector?
Progression can be in one of several ways:
- By delivering more and more complex projects, you will naturally become one of the more experienced and knowledgable project managers in the organisation. This should either lead to you being formally recognised as a senior project manager and earning a greater renumeration or the organisation as a whole respecting your skill level and paying you accordingly.
- Some initiatives in organisations will require a programme of work (multiple projects) as opposed to one large project. This will sometimes allow a project manager to progress into programme management, which will come with a far greater level of responsibility. Programmes do need many of the skills learned from project management, but also require other skills that are less utilised in project management, so this isn’t always a natural path for all project managers. For those that do proceed on this path, the door can often be open at more senior positions in an organisation, possibly even to board level.
- For those that wish to hire out their services to the highest bidder, competent project managers can be aptly rewarded by becoming freelancers. Organisations will pay a good premium to those project managers who can demonstrate the necessary proficiency in their chosen field, to deliver their important projects. Earning potential can be very high for those that choose to do this work, but equally you will leave behind the comfort of a full-time job with the associated benefits of pensions, leave, sick pay, development opportunities and a slightly more forgiving regime for failure. In the world of the Project Manager contractor, even a hint that failure is in the air, will likely result in swift dismissal.
Have you worked abroad in a similar Project Management role?
I have worked in two different positions in Australia as a project manager. The work is identical to that found in the UK, with very similar pay scales and conditions of employment. The APMG which provides project management qualification such as PRINCE2 and MSP is highly regarded and the professional Project Management body is the AIPM (Australian Institute of Project Management) which is aligned with the PMI (Project Management Institute) based out of the USA.
Are you a member of any professional organizations? Is membership considered essential to progress in your career?
I am a member of the Association of Project Managers (APM) and the British Computer Society (BCS). I have considered the PMI, but the APM fulfils this niche within the UK. The reason I chose these two, is that the APM is recognised as being one of the leading professional organisations in the UK for project management and the BCS is the Chartered Institute for IT in the UK and compliments my skills in the industry. Professional membership is rarely required to attain a job, but it does show a commitment to your trade and industry and keeps you abreast of new advances within the community. I think in the current job climate, being recognised by a professional body does set you apart when all your skills and experience are the same as another candidate and definitely demonstrates your ongoing desire to develop. In the future, I would expect professional membership to become mandatory, but this is still a way off.
If you could start over, would you make the same career decisions again? Would you still become a Project Manager?
If I had my time over again, I would still choose project management, but with the knowledge I have now, I would enter the profession in a different way. I would probably undertake a broader degree subject, such as business with IT and work for a large consultancy. The breadth of projects they undertake would be fantastic experience and as part of your development you would be able to get all the courses you need fully paid. I have no doubt that my career would be at least one if not two or three rungs higher, had I chosen this path, instead of doing it the pretty difficult way that I chose. However, the path I set out on has made me very resilient, flexible and creative, skills I would never want to give up.
What does the future look like for the Project Management profession?
It is likely that the profession will continue to increase in importance and will at some point in the near future be recognised as a profession, not unlike accountancy. However, I believe it still has some mountains to climb to get there and the shape of projects may change course as we understand more about successfully delivering projects and reducing the chance of failure.
What advice can you give to people looking to get into Project Management ?
First of all, there really is no set path to getting into project management, so if this is something you wish to do, there’s little holding you back. However, do not be scared of getting your hands dirty, before becoming a project manager. It will only strengthen you as a project manager if you have been part of a project team previously, either as a technical team member, an advisor or a project support. Knowing what it’s like to work in a project will greatly help with the soft skills of people management, once you are a project manager.
Secondly, no two project managers are born equal. You will find it hard to cross some industry sectors, who like their project managers to come from certain professional backgrounds. For example, construction project managers will often have come from an engineering background, as will those that work in the petrochemical industries. In IT, there is no such barrier and on some occasions, it may even work against you if you are seen to be too technically close to the topic.
Thirdly, understand the project lifecycle as best you can and the tools that are needed to deliver a project. A good way to understand the project lifecycle is to think of a house building project. How would you break up the tasks of a building a house and what sequence would you do it in. The principles are the same for complex it systems projects. Once you are familiar with the project lifecycle, think about specialising in a methodology such as PRINCE2, DSDM Atern or other agile method.
Lastly, many organisations will use project managers for IT projects, so if IT doesn’t float your boat even slightly, then make sure you specialise in something away from IT. If you’re in IT you will be regularly meeting with people who are very technically minded and being able to come up to speed with the high level tasks will help you to succeed.
What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job as a Project Manager?
People skills are by far the most important skills a Project Manager should have. You will need to understand how to motivate all the people in the project team and those associated with the project, to successfully deliver. Remember, as a project manager you are a manager of people, as well as a project manager and if at anytime you ignore one or other, you are running a greater risk of a project failure. People skills are not just the ability to get on with people (although this is very important) it is also the ability to listen, negotiate, having empathy, perceiving, understanding and knowing when to put pressure on at the right time and to what level.
What are the best websites for information about Project Management?
Association of Project Managers (for APMP)
APMG (for PRINCE2, MSP,P3O, DSDM Atern etc..)
BCS (for IS Project Management ISEB
Best websites for Project Management jobs?
The places where I’ve found the most job success in project management are:
What books and other resources would be useful for someone looking to get into Project Management?
- An introduction to project management book would be best – APM introductory certificate book.
- Once you understand the basics, it is useful to explore some of the APMG’s books, i.e. PRINCE2, MSP
If you have any questions, please feel free to add a comment to this page and I will get back to you.
Thanks for reading and good luck with your move into project management should you choose to follow this as a career path.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Chris, this is a great article about your career as a Project Manager. I appreciate your really honest account which shows both the up’s and down’s of being a Project Manager. It’s show’s there are many ways to get into this profession and it is not just for IT grads.
I have been working for just over a year since graduating and would like to develop in the area of project management. Should I be doing PRINCE2 or PMP? Thx, Soph.
Hi Sophie,
It’s not really a case of either/or with the PMP and PRINCE2. The PMP has been a bit of a gold standard for project management for a number of years, but you will need five years of project management experience to gain this accreditation. PRINCE2 is widely used across the UK and some other countries in the world (Australia for example), but the accreditation will only give you understanding of PRINCE2 and not project management. However, you do not need any prior experience, so there’s nothing stopping you gaining this accreditation tomorrow, should you wish. This is unfortunate, as PRINCE2 is a valuable asset for any project manager to have, but really should be gained alongside project management training, so a practitioner can understand how to apply the methodology.
My recommendation would be to follow the Association of Project Management (APM) courses, as there are several stages, most of which do not require prior experience to sit the exams. The Introductory Certificate will give you a good grounding in the principles of project management and from here you can go on to study for the more complete APMP, which some liken to the PMP. At any point after the Introductory PM course, it would be beneficial for you to look at studying a methodology, PRINCE2 being one of them, but depending on your industry, you may wish to consider an agile method, such as DSDM Atern. The websites for all of these certifications are at the bottom of my article above.
As a side note, I have not recommended the PMP, simply as you require five years experience. However, any training which is based on the PMI’s PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) is very worthwhile and the certification will most likely be a requirement should you wish to work in the USA as a project manager.
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