Jamesemt

There is an internal vacancy at work for a Project Manager, and was thinking about applying for it. I do not have any previous experience, but the application does state that experience is not required.

I feel that I meet all the other criteria, the role is primarily to do with organising IT training for NHS staff.

Does anyone have any advice for research, what people look for on application forms etc? Is it still worth including a CV, when I can probably cover most of the material on the application form?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated, as being a Paramedic is getting me down

Robertio

iTrader: (1)

Unless they ask for a CV I wouldn't bother, they tend to be 90% the same. No harm in putting your name in the hat, I get the feeling most project managers have no prior experience so that may well be an advantage

Can't give any advice on research - you already work there so should have a fair idea of how things work so if you get an interview they will be looking for enthusiasim and a willingness to learn. Best of luck.

Hol

iTrader: (1)

It normally depends on the industry, but most companies will want you to have learnt some form of 'methodology', that you will use.

This is basically, the method that you will use to plan, monitor and review the project from inception, through to the post-mortem of what went right/wrong.

A lot of the consultancy firms have their own in house systems that they will use, but all of them are really just common sense.
The most common, is Prince2, which is an enhanced version of an original methodology created by the civil service.

There are loads of sites on P2, like this one: http://www.spoce.com/PRINCE2%20P2Introduction.htm

I have passed the exams, but don't necassarily follow it completely, nor do most people I know. At the end of the day, it all about common sense and learning from previous mistakes.

However, my advice is read up on a few of the websites.

Chip Sengravy

I always found the 'wait till they are on the phone screaming a rake of ***** at you' before you action & prioritise, to be the best method of PM. The phrase 'all best plans.....' was made for that job. However hard you try, some half-wit, below, above, or alongside you in the line of command will **** things up, and it's your job to sort it out. Unless you thrive on stress, I wouldn't bother.

Ray_li

I work bloody well under stress but there is not stress in my current job so I do **** all

Bakerman

IT project management

boring
paperwork
boring
paperwork
boring
paperwork

Get the picture ??

Foot_Tapper

Buff up on MS Project , ( put on cv u have used it )
put on cv ur good at organising, prioritising.

Jamesemt

I used MS Project at Uni!!!

With regards to the stress, I would rather have paper stress than people dying stress...

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Remember to always 'push back'

F

Bartop

Here's a couple of tips that can get you out of most situations..

1) It's always the customers fault for not defining the requirements properly.

2) Contingency is like oral sex - try and get as much of it as possible and you can never have enough of it.


Seriously though, as said, a lot of it is about common sense. You can learn all you want about methodologies / project plans etc but at the end of the day the thing which makes a good project manager is spending time managing the project and not the project plan.

It's no good having a micro level project plan which you spend hours updating on if you aren't managing the Risks / Issues and dependencies, managing the people and coordinating and checking and facilitating what people are doing.

Make sure you have clear governance and escalation, who makes the decisions, who's accountable for what, regular checkpoints, open and honest communication in the team and bobs your uncle..

If all else fails though and the **** hits the fan remember points 1 & 2

Hol

iTrader: (1)

It doesnt paint a good picture does it.

MS project is a tool, to make pretty pictures and tell you when you should have started.

Hol

iTrader: (1)

The perfect project

Lum

Since you are asking this question on this forum I assume you know how to use a computer.

Therefore you are overqualified and should not apply, sorry.

RichS

Brilliant

Mind if I borrow this? - it'll save me an hour in a meeting I have tomorrow....