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Interview for PM position

2/2/2007 6:32:29 PM

814115

2 posts

Interview for PM position

Hi all:

I am preparing for an interview as a Software Project Manager. I have 10 years combined technical and management experience, but lack "formal" PM experience. I have recently completed a university course on Project Management as part of my B.Tech degree, and I have joined PMI to take advantage of the vast resources they offer.

I am looking for advice in how to woo the interviewers and prove to them that I have the ability to perform as an effective PM. I know that ideally, they would like a PM with the PMP certification, but the dillema exists: I can't get PM experience without PMP, and I can't get PMP without PM experience - catch 22.

I know what I need to do, and that is to prove to them that I can be an effective PM and draw on my education and experience and apply them to principles of PM.

Just curious if anyone has advice or suggestions to help me in my endeavour.

Thanks in advance!

Carl Murphy

2/8/2007 1:22:12 PM

memberJan

2 posts

Re: Interview for PM position

Hello Carl,

Before answering your question on wooing the interviewers, here is something you should know. PMP certification is a measure of your PM abilities and continuously improving your skills and project management knowledge. It is a wrong perception to think that you do not get PM experience without PMP certification.

Just to let you know I am a Sr Project Manger managing multiple software development teams. Even though I was working as a PM for past 6 years, I took the PMP Certification exam, just last year and got my PMP. As far as your interviews go in you job search as Project manger read some of the Project Management article and books advices by PMI. You can build confidence on how to associate you current work with the processes and terminology being used in PMI/PMP professionals.

Here are some URLs to get to some of the questions a SW Project Management professionals can face in their interview:

http://projectmanagement.ittoolbox.com/documents/popular-q-and-a/project-manager-interview-questions-785

http://discuss.fogcreek.com/joelonsoftware/default.asp?cmd=show&ixPost=146790

http://groups.google.com/group/prg.jobs/browse_thread/thread/7ead9e9fb3b9bc58/3d9c35797dbb712b?lnk=st&q=software+project+manager+related+interview+questions&rnum=2&hl=en#3d9c35797dbb712b

Hope this will help you.

All the best in you search and endeavour.

Jags Pannala PMP.

2/8/2007 6:08:42 PM

814115

2 posts

Re: Interview for PM position

Jags:

I appreciate your reply. I think you've hit the nail on the head with saying that I need to associate my current work with PM processes. I do also realize that you can get employment as a PM without PMP certification, however, the company in which I applied for a position are seeking someone with PMP.

I will read further into Project Management Processes and take advantage of the vast resources on the PMI website, and try and relate fundamental Project Management processes to my experience as a technologist and manager.

Thanks again for the reply. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

CM

2/13/2007 7:53:38 PM

56973

2 posts

Re: Interview for PM position

Hi Carl,
You CAN get your PMP without having experience as a PM. As long as you worked on projects and managed some deliverables, you qualify. I''d suggest you tell them at your iterview that are willing to take the PMP exam within a year if they want you to.
Kathy Schwalbe, Ph.D., PMP
ISSIG Director of Communications

2/8/2008 3:05:17 PM

83684

1 posts

Re: Interview for PM position

Carl:

You might also cehck out interviewing on Gantthead.com. they have some pretty good advice. What you want to focus on in the interview is how you ensure quality in the product you; how well you can manage stakeholders and risk; and how you have been able to deliver things on time. You said that you have management experience, so you should be able to speak to how you motivate employees to get a job done. The real difference is the time constraint that a PM operates under. how well can you plan and manage your time to meet the plan.

Best of luck to you,

Jim Muller, PMP

2/11/2008 6:47:50 PM

159438

1 posts

Re: Interview for PM position

Carl, what a pleasure to help as much as I can. How about you emphasize how much money you've saved your companies by implementing PM practices. Could you woo them with the prospect of knowing a project is heading downhill and knowing how to save it due to your "vision" with PM? Just some ideas that would get my attention.

Wishing you the best! -Tresia Eaves, PMP

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