Project Management Careers

Introduction

Many people call PMSA’s offices to ask which course we would recommend,which is the best / cheapest / fastest / easiest option? Your learning path is your responsibility and whichever route you choose is likely to require a significant investment as far as both time and money is concerned. It is,therefore, very important that you carefully consider your options, your motivation, your resources and your expectations and not leave the decisionto a third party.

Everyone has a different expectation and requirements and each of our. Registered Education and Training Providers (RETPs) is a credible provider in their own right, so it is impossible for PMSA to make a specific recommendation. We will always refer callers to our lists of RETPS.

Why Project Management

Before you make a decision about pursuing your project management career, we just you ask yourself the following questions:

  • Are you employed and your employer require that you improve your knowledge in project management?
  • Are you in the process of making a career change?
  • Do you want to improve your marketability?
  • Are you a school-leaver starting out in the workplace and think project management is a good
  • route to pursue?
Do you want to round out or refine your knowledge to assist you in practice?

Project Management Qualification

What qualification / experience do I already have?
  • Do you already possess a tertiary qualification and would like to pursue a new graduate or
  • post graduate qualification in project management?
  • Do you qualify to participate in a programme offered by one of the universities?
  • Do you meet the entry requirements for a course offered by an industry training provider?
  • Is there a natural next step to pursue with your existing qualification as a foundation?
  • Do you already have some of the knowledge you would gain from an introductory course in
    Project Management?

Project Management Training

What expectations do I have in terms of the outcome of my training / education?
  • Is your organisation going to pay for this course?
  • If so, do they have requirements in terms of the service provider related to outcomes,methodologies followed or SAQA / SETA accreditation?
  • Would you like a tertiary qualification, an industry-related certificate, an accreditation, an internationally-recognised credential?
  • Do you want to have gained knowledge that will help you to be a project team member, how
    to be a project manager, how to be a better project manager, how to be better at a particular
  • project management knowledge area or discipline?
  • Do you want to pursue a particular credential / accreditation? If so, which one and how far are
    you from meeting the criteria to apply for or complete the accreditation?
    Would you prefer a course that geared specifically to a particular industry?

What study / course format would you prefer?

  • Do you want to study full-time, part-time or by distance education? All of these options areavailable. Some part-time courses are run during the week, over a series of weekends, in the evenings.
  • What does your working schedule, lifestyle and other commitments allow for?
  • Are you set-up technologically to study online?
  • Are you sufficiently motivated to study via distance education?
  • Would you prefer the interaction of a classroom environment?
  • How important are the credentials of your course leader / facilitator or trainer?
  • Should they have an academic or industry-specific focus, or a good combination of the two?
  • Where are you based? Which major centres do you have access to?

Do you have a preference for a particular practice standard or methodology?

  • Some courses are developed around the Project Management Institute (PMI) body of knowledge for project management, others around the PRINCE2 methodology, the IPMA certification levels, or other prevailing industry standards, tools or good practices. Have you done some research to understand how they differ?
  • Which one is readily practiced more in your working environment?
  • Which one makes the most sense in terms of your development, where and how you are
  • working or intend to practice as a project manager?
  • Have you asked a few project managers in your environment what worked for them?