The organisation I work for uses PRINCE2 as its Project Management Methodology. The vast majority of our projects are IT projects, but PRINCE2 is equally applicable to non-IT projects. Since you have secured a planning job that you are happy with, use the time to build up experience in planning and scheduling before deciding to make the transition to project manager.
As for PRINCE2, there are two stages of qualification.
The first of these is the Foundation qualification, which consists of an intensive one week course followed by a multiple choice exam. A lot of people think that it is going to be a walkover, but you do have to be thoroughly familiar with PRINCE2 basics in order to pass the exam.
The second stage is PRINCE2 Practitioner. Again the course is intensive and demanding and at the end of it is a three hour Practitioners’ Exam. The exam is a narrative exam usually based around a case study and is demanding, but you are allowed to use the PRINCE2 manual to assist you.
PRINCE2 Practitioner status is seen as advantageous for project managers, but again only with those organisations that use the PRINCE2 management methodology. However, if you can ally that with experience in planning and scheduling, then you are in with a chance at a project manager’s job even without direct experience in the role. The good thing about it, though, is that PRINCE2 is not just restricted to IT projects, it can be used to manage any sort of project.
Member for
21 years 5 monthsRE: Planning in the IT sector
John,
The organisation I work for uses PRINCE2 as its Project Management Methodology. The vast majority of our projects are IT projects, but PRINCE2 is equally applicable to non-IT projects. Since you have secured a planning job that you are happy with, use the time to build up experience in planning and scheduling before deciding to make the transition to project manager.
As for PRINCE2, there are two stages of qualification.
The first of these is the Foundation qualification, which consists of an intensive one week course followed by a multiple choice exam. A lot of people think that it is going to be a walkover, but you do have to be thoroughly familiar with PRINCE2 basics in order to pass the exam.
The second stage is PRINCE2 Practitioner. Again the course is intensive and demanding and at the end of it is a three hour Practitioners’ Exam. The exam is a narrative exam usually based around a case study and is demanding, but you are allowed to use the PRINCE2 manual to assist you.
PRINCE2 Practitioner status is seen as advantageous for project managers, but again only with those organisations that use the PRINCE2 management methodology. However, if you can ally that with experience in planning and scheduling, then you are in with a chance at a project manager’s job even without direct experience in the role. The good thing about it, though, is that PRINCE2 is not just restricted to IT projects, it can be used to manage any sort of project.
I hope this has been of some help
Chris Oggham