I just started a new position a few months ago and would like some feedback on the best way to keep it afloat.

I have no formal education. As a matter of fact all of my background in project services has been working on 20mm - 100mm projects on the downstream side of the petro-chem construction industry. Its all been sink or swim experiences.

In the past 3 years I have been building small "maintenance style" P3 schedules (with almost no variables such as cost and resources just spitting out bar charts for critical areas), tracking earned value, coordinating/estimating EWO’s, RFI’s, helping field supervision manage workloads, etc. Prior to that I was in field supervision (<1 yr) and before that a pipe fitter (>5 yrs).

That’s it.

I have had some lucky breaks, I have worked extra hard, and I have been around some excellent people on some extraordinary projects.

I get laid off due to lack of work and while looking for a Jr. scheduler position I get an offer as a project manager/coordinator by a small company to contract to a not so small chemical manufacturer.

This time projects are from concept all the way through execution and my hands are in all of it.

I feel great about it. It has gone well so far. No complaints from anyone. But I feel as though I am a little out of my league and slow. I am doing all I can but am a little paranoid that something is just going to go wrong and that if I get cut my next job will not be as well paid and I will end up taking a blow in position.

What is the best way to keep this gig going even beyond this company? How do I continue to excel?

Should I pursue PMI credentials? I don’t meet any of the requirements as of yet. I may never meet the scheduler requirements at this job.

Should I bother going to taking PM classes at the local college? They are expensive and most PMs I know have never taken any of those classes?

Should I ride the tide of uncertainty and just take what is handed to me as is? I’m just saying if I have to go off and look for a new job what should be my new standard? Probably not a jr. level scheduler, right?

Just some things I am trying to work out. Maybe someone on this board is dealing with or has dealt with a similar situation. Maybe someone has some questions for me and I can help you. I believe I have an exceptional situation. Aside from some pseudo-paranoid concerns, I have done (and am doing) quite well. LOL!

Thanks.