Any project managers out there? If so tell me how you like your job

[noahmijo]

Cause I'm targeting that area of employment someday.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Project manager for what?

That's a broad job title.

[noahmijo]

2. Could be anything, but to narrow it a bit more let's say in the IT field

ANYWHERE in the IT field.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. I work with construction project managers.....

They seem to like it just fine.

Do you know anything about construction? Have a degree in construction management, civil or construction engineering or architecture?

Many fields have project managers. Your subject line should reflect the IT field.

[SharonAnn]

4. I'm a IT Project Manager, have been for 15 years. What's your background?

It helps to have IT technical experience.

Why are you thinking abaout going into IT Project Management? It's not for everybody, but if it suits you, it's a good career. No authority but lots of reponsibility. I describe it like wearing a T-shirt with a target on the back and the phrase "It must be my fault" on the front.

Jobs are hard to find these days, since so much IT development is being outsourced and many companies are not implementing much new stuff.

[noahmijo]

11. I've recieved a degree in MIS from the University of Arizona

and I'm about to finish a second degree in Operations Management.

I know to become a project manager it takes some years of experience working your way up ect, but it's a likely target for me to so to speak, you know it's what I'm shooting for in the long run.

No work experience right now, but that will change as soon as I land some sort of entry level job after I graduate this year.

[partygirl]

5. my father is a project

manager, but in the engineering field. He (and all the coworkers as far as I can tell) just love their company and what they do. But it is probably a lot different from IT. Also, he did not get to be a "project manager overnight. He has been with the company over 30 years and was there 27 before he became a "project manager". Usually that title does not go to a person until they are fairly senior (at least in his field).

[comradebillyboy]

6. i used to be a project manager for a large engineering

company. now i teach math. i deal with teen agers a lot better than clients and upper management. my life is much more plesant now

[partygirl]

7. I think a lot depends on the

company. Where my father works, it is employee owned and they have a lot of latitude. They dress casually and do all kinds of stuff that makes it friendly. They are also encouraged to telecommunte if they want so he was able to be at home most of the time. It was pretty cool, cause he could be home around the house (even while he was working) most of the time. But I doubt all companies are as cool.

[DancingBear]

8. I used to be a PM in IT

Real time location systems/wireless LAN's.

One time I was supposed to meet a guy from GE Medical Systems for a project review. He said his plane arrived at 12, so I said OK, we'll talk over lunch.

He informed me that his plane got in at 12 Midnight, and we could talk then. I told him I'd be two hours into REM sleep by then - sorry.

He called the President of the company to complain. I said sorry but I wouldn't meet God at midnight. The comany went under (Chapter 7) five months later, and I'm now a very contented furniture designer/builder.

Any questions? :)

[BigMcLargehuge]

9. I am a project manager at a telecommunciations training company

it's okay. Beats washing dishes. I wish they paid me like a project manager instead of like a junior course developer... but them's the breaks in our "robust Bush economy"...

Here is what a typical week looks like for me -
(FYI I work 8AM to 5PM, and refuse to work overtime)

Mon-

8-10AM, collect any progress e-mails from the weekend.
Check project spreadsheets for completion (as of Friday the previous week)
10AM-12PM, call each department and check progress on current project, animation, narration, sales, marketing...
12-2PM, prepare project report or weekly status meeting.
2-3PM eat lunch, deal with any calls or e-mails that arrive.
3-4PM status meeting
4-5PM, prepare minutes from meeting, develop To-do list or remainder of week.

Tues
8-10AM, deal with any problems that arose between status meeting the day before and 10AM. If no problems, start organizing the next project's "Big Project Sheet".
10AM-12PM. Look over edits, check narration, begin QA on prelim builds of courseware
12-4PM continue QA course product.
4-5PM record information about QA pass in separate project tracking sheet and document, deal with any incoming calls or e-mails, expedite problems when necessary.

Wednesday
8-10AM, deal with any problems that arose between 5PM yesterday and 8AM today
If no problems, continue organizing the next project's "Big Project Sheet".
10AM-12PM. Look over edits, check narration, begin QA on prelim builds of courseware
12-4PM continue QA course product.
4-5PM record information about QA pass in separate project tracking sheet and document, deal with any incoming calls or e-mails, expedite problems when necessary.

Thursday
8-10AM, deal with any problems that arose between 5PM yesterday and 8AM today
If no problems, continue organizing the next project's "Big Project Sheet".
10AM-12PM. Look over edits, check narration, begin QA on prelim builds of courseware
12-4PM continue QA course product.
4-5PM record information about QA pass in separate project tracking sheet and document, deal with any incoming calls or e-mails, expedite problems when necessary.

Friday
8-10AM, deal with any problems that arose between 5PM yesterday and 8AM today
If no problems, continue organizing the next project's "Big Project Sheet".
10AM-12PM. Look over edits, check narration, begin QA on prelim builds of courseware
12-4PM continue QA course product.
4-5PM record hours for cross-company billing. Collect hours information from animation and marketing departments, prepare short hours breakdown with spreadsheet. Estimate hours remaining on project VS total hours left before we cease profibablity. Adjust workload to keep project profitable.

In the spare time I have, and there is a surpring amount, i also edit instructor transcripts, create new course slides and documents, prepare best practices entries, collaborate with the software people to add or subtract features from our e-Learning development software, schmooze with customers.

[partygirl]

10. could I ask

Noahmijo what his educational background is? Just curious. we may be able to give better advice...

[noahmijo]

12. Yes you can BS in MIS from University of Arizona

and I'm about to finish a second degree in Operations Management.

I know to become a project manager it takes some years (typically 5-7+ years) of experience working your way up ect, but it's a likely target for me to so to speak, you know it's what I'm shooting for in the long run.

No work experience right now, but that will change as soon as I land some sort of entry level job after I graduate this year.

So far most of your responses are on par as to what I'd expect to hear which is good news because that means I'm about what I think you have to go through.

Of course actually DOING it well we'll see, but for some reason it seems like something I'd like to do, I like being in charge of projects and planning and organizing and essentially taking a leadership position.

[partygirl]

13. very very nice

background for the IT field. I wish I could help more, I know a lot about project management but all from the perspective of Civil and Environmental Engineering. It sounds like you have really planned well and prepared yourself for the career that you want.

Important things (once again in Engineering not IT) that may carry over to your field--the most important things that my father looks at when he hires people are 1) willingness to travel and 2) willingness to relocate (his firm is worldwide). I don't know if it is similar at all--but those are two important things he asks people. Personally, I would love traveling. The relocating depends on where. But in his firm they don't actually relocate people except rarely (it is too expensive--and it is easy to telecommute from wherever you are) he asks just because it is important to see how WILLING the people are to do it. Good luck!