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Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Old Oct 15th 2008, 8:56 pm
  #16  
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

pmhut - a very interesting link indeed.
I suppose if I am new in a country, and looking for challenging and rewarding work, I should consider the certification. But it is not going to happen now.....and the question then becomes....when!

Aruba....phew! An interesting question. We truly have an amazing life here, with good life balance, and financially we do just fine. We have lived here for 8 years and when we moved here, it was never a "forever" decision. We didn't have kids at the time, and maybe we could afford to not think about the decision that microscopically.
However, now we have a 5 year old and I am starting to think about three key things:
1. Her education: The primary education her is good, but the secondary is questionable and the teriary non-existent. And a good education is the greatest gift - I need our child to have that, and for that I need to look outside Aruba.
2. My old age: I know that this is some time away, but if we are to move internationally, better now than later. Whilst I LOVE Aruba and our lifestyle, I want to grow old in an English speaking country. I feel the Australian culture will better suit us (as South Africans) in the long term, than Aruba.
3. The island is small: We are used to getting away for long weekends and find a change of scenery recharging. Here that is impossible. The island is 74 sq miles, and any change of scenery involves international travel, great expense, and alot of time. I find the island small, and whilst it has been fine whilst our child has been small and our world has suited it........we need to move on.

So......whilst Aruba is paradise.....it is not the long term answer for us. After 8 years we are still on a temporary residences permit, and that too is not a secure future. I jave just turned 40.....and we need to start thinking about the long term.
So.....Aus here we come !

Guess you didn't expect such a long answer !

Nix
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Old Oct 16th 2008, 4:04 pm
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Nix,

Thanks a lot for the insight on Aruba and your plan. I did learn a few things from your post, and I was able to relate.

PS: Sorry I have included PRINCE2 by mistake, the 4500 hour experience applies only to PMP.

Last edited by pmhut; Oct 16th 2008 at 4:17 pm.
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Old Oct 16th 2008, 5:03 pm
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Hi everyone

Interesting thread, I too currently work in the UK and as a PM/Business Improvement specialist, have been Prince 2 Practitioner qualified since Nov 2003 and have been trained as a 6 Sigma Black Belt (although not accredited) and have a foundation degre in PM (one year left of a Bsc which I am probably not going to be able to complete)

Would it be wise/necessary to redo my Prince 2 Practitioner as it is up next month or would experience be enough (with previous qualification of course) or are Oz going to penalise me for my P2 expiring 6 months previously when I apply for a job?
Any help appreciated, live the dream!

Sean
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Old Oct 16th 2008, 9:07 pm
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Originally Posted by seanpears99
Hi everyone

Interesting thread, I too currently work in the UK and as a PM/Business Improvement specialist, have been Prince 2 Practitioner qualified since Nov 2003 and have been trained as a 6 Sigma Black Belt (although not accredited) and have a foundation degre in PM (one year left of a Bsc which I am probably not going to be able to complete)

Would it be wise/necessary to redo my Prince 2 Practitioner as it is up next month or would experience be enough (with previous qualification of course) or are Oz going to penalise me for my P2 expiring 6 months previously when I apply for a job?
Any help appreciated, live the dream!

Sean
Any current qualifications are good - it might help choose whether to shortlist you for interview or not.

Buzzy
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Old Oct 16th 2008, 9:46 pm
  #20  
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Prince2 certification is the way to go in UK, Oz and increasingly most parts of the world.

It provides the best bang for your buck. Increasingly, companies won't even look at you unless you hold the certification, no matter how many years experience you have. The new version of Prince2, Prince2:2009 will be a significant improvement.

For more senior management positions, a PM qualification isn't going to cut it. An MBA is a much better long-term investment.

And experience, experience, experience. Some of the worst PMs I've encountered have been the most qualified.

By the way, potential employers - in fact anyone - can check the status of your Prince2 qualifications on-line at http://www.apmgroup.co.uk/examquery.asp - and it includes the qualification's expiry date.

Last edited by MikeStanton; Oct 16th 2008 at 9:50 pm.
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Old Oct 17th 2008, 12:28 am
  #21  
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Mike - thanks for the great info!

Nix
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Old Oct 17th 2008, 5:14 am
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Originally Posted by MikeStanton
Prince2 certification is the way to go in UK, Oz and increasingly most parts of the world.

It provides the best bang for your buck. Increasingly, companies won't even look at you unless you hold the certification, no matter how many years experience you have. The new version of Prince2, Prince2:2009 will be a significant improvement.

For more senior management positions, a PM qualification isn't going to cut it. An MBA is a much better long-term investment.

And experience, experience, experience. Some of the worst PMs I've encountered have been the most qualified.

By the way, potential employers - in fact anyone - can check the status of your Prince2 qualifications on-line at http://www.apmgroup.co.uk/examquery.asp - and it includes the qualification's expiry date.
This is all true, but people you talk to have to know what this thing means. Since majority of the jobs go through recruiters, them being what they are, they're just looking for a tick in a box - and this is where that certificate can get you in for an interview with a real person. That being said, people look for reliable PM with experience - and the experience plus references are more valuable than those certificates (I personally know a PM with PMP and all that, who I would not trust to build a dog house because he is a complete idiot).

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Old Oct 17th 2008, 10:51 am
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

In my experience Prince2 and PMBok seem to be the most sought after in WA, but the certification needs to be backed up with very good real-world experience (for senior PM roles).

You state that you have a number of years experience of project management. Without having done any formal PM qualifications are you aware if your experience would fall in line with traditional processes? I know I shouldn't have this preconception, but a part of me just can't imagine formal PM in Aruba (although I'm sure there must be a need for it). It makes me think of the excellent Malibu ads ...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4OC4sef9964&NR=1

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ca-HZ7qiR0I&NR=1

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6BnjwXLekVA

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MUjVIZLiOkw&NR=1

I think your reasons for wanting to move are very valid and I think Oz would suit your desire for the right mix of lifestyle and first world expectations (also an ex-saffer). Perhaps you should consider doing the formal certification once you're in Oz?
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Old Oct 17th 2008, 12:31 pm
  #24  
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Kalenge - some very amusing adverts !!!! Although Aruba is very different to the typical perspective of a Caribbean Island. There is no unemployement here, and it is an interesting mix of first and second world...no third world. It is a Dutch island and quite sophisticated. Not alot of the "informal" sector at all. No crime (that is what attracted us here in the first place!) and pretty good daily living.

Here I have moved from being a project manager that worked primarily with corporate clients (Coca Cola, SKB, Kellogg's etc) in South Africa, to being a more general project manager. In Aruba, one of my biggest projects has been the development of a new shopping mall - all aspects from contruction through to getting the right tenants and developing the launch strategy. So quite diverse.

You make a good point about getting the certification when I get to Aus, but I know that the first year is always stressful (been through it once already). There is the pressure to settle financially, and now we have the added pressure of a child....and making sure that she has some stability in her life. So, I am not sure I want to add to that......
But we will see.
Life will unfold as it should !

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Old Oct 17th 2008, 12:39 pm
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Thought I would post some pics of Aruba that I took recently.....Will give you a perspective for the place....
Attached Thumbnails Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?-aug-08-083.jpg   Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?-day-rodgers-beach-july-08-020.jpg   Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?-pics-aug-2008-035.jpg  
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Old Oct 17th 2008, 12:48 pm
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And some more..... (and one of my 5 year old!)
Attached Thumbnails Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?-sunset-beach-jan-08-003.jpg   Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?-pics-aug-2008-050.jpg   Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?-mike-lorrie-visit-feb-08-004.jpg  
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Old Oct 18th 2008, 2:40 am
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Default Re: Anyone have an opinion on this project management course?

Your pictures look great. Reminds me a bit of our holiday in Barbados about 6 years ago. We have family who spend 6 months of the year in Sint Maarten, but we've not ventured over there yet.

Your experience sounds extensive enough - I think a certification would round things off nicely for you. I did the 5 day Prince2 course back in the UK which included the foundation exam (day 3) and the practitioners exam (day 5). It felt quite intensive (more than any other course I've done), but what took up more time was the preparation beforehand as we pretty much had to read the Prince2 guide from cover to cover. I reckon a lot of the theory should flow quite easily for you so it needn't be an additional pressure point - just replace your usual book with your PM book when you're sitting on a lounger on the beach

Once you've read the training material you'll have a better understanding of whether you need to do a formal course, or just get hold of a couple of mock exams before sitting them (when you get to Oz).
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Old Oct 18th 2008, 9:29 am
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Default Re: Anyone haveanopinion on this project management course?

Originally Posted by Nix and Mike
Thanks for the input.
I have been a project manager for many years (and have two degrees, but they are not related to the work I do!) but never got certified in any way, as it has never really been necessary in the countries that I have worked in. I guess I do general business project management.
Ideally, I would like to remain self employed in Aus, and stick with my work experience. Doing a little "googling" of the oportunities, it seems that they all ask for certification....not only work experience.
So I thought I would get that.....
Seems that whether it is PMI or Prince2 it doesn't really make a difference as they simply want paperwork?
So....on line courses here I come !
hiya,

Depends on what sort of work you want to do as well. Prince 2 is ok for govt sort of work really, cos they're a bit less prone to take risks (ie construct of a project board etc). in my opinion if its private sector they usually put speed of delivery as paramount, and for that it needs to be a bit less governance oriented (they want a pm and sponsor with their necks on the block, tends to 'encourage' the right focus)
Have a think about the sort of work you're aiming for too and then pick, maybe. A piece of paper's a piece of paper, if your experience is good, you'll be fine whatever you pick. best of luck.
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