Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Role of IT Project Manager

IT project management is a sub-discipline of Project Management in which informatiom technology projects are planned, monitored and controlled. An IT project manager is the person who is responsible for the services of the construction and manufacturing industries, with extensive background in software development.IT project manager, the hard part is translating that business requirement into an end product that fully meets that business need. Traditional project management takes into account the waterfall model, although the field of IT project management also includes adaptive and light methods such as DSDM, SCRUM and XP. The methodologies are based on the Project Management Professionals development of new software systems and advocating incremental and small scale development cycles for ensuring the growth of the organization. The models are time based and produce results for the entire firm. The software systems are likely to change and it is almost impossible to demonstrate all the requirements in a single project.

The key is good project management. Companies with lax project management are far more likely to have professional liability claims than those with formal project management processes in place. An IT Project Manager Job is one where the IT project manager has to be responsible for the development and execution of internet technology of the projects in a professional laboratory environment. IT project management also necessitates working your way through the ranks of various IT professionals through a full time work environment with a technologically savvy organization.

The IT project manager is required to have a degree in computer science, information technology or a related field where they need to embrace the functions of a software engineer. You also need to get a 4 year degree in the above mentioned fields and if you are a major in the latter discipline, you can move on to a specialized computer trade school for seeking IT education in IT project management. A lot of employers allow candidates for substituting classroom education for experience in practical necessities. A lot of professions require a meager amount of experience and a background in engineering.

An IT Project Manager has to be a good communicator, share the same vision with the company or organization and have the capability to hand over tasks.Skills that need to be acquired as an IT project manager are the result of knowledge and a lot of them are expected to hold a PMP designation that is offered by the Project Management Institute or an advanced degree in the same field like MSPM or graduate technical qualifications. The skills of an effective IT project management professional are to help projects meet their deadlines and empower other employees for investing the best of their efforts. You need to have a keen sense of people and how the organization works.

In IT industry we have to handle projects from time to time which involves with project planning, developing, and executing a project.Prior experience in the IT Project Management Jobs can take you a long way. If you can work as an IT professional for a couple of years or more, you can expect to construct and develop on your base as a learner. The experience in addition is something that helps you apply your knowledge to practical situations and work on skills like developing your team work and leadership abilities. Speak to someone who is already an IT project manager as it will help you know all about the growth curve and it will help you to take on bigger and more complex jobs.

The primary concern of the IT project management jobs should be to build your skill set and it is important for the management professionals and their professional development. You are required to outline all your responsibilities and function in an efficient manner. Remember, you may have to handle complex work related issues in the organization and even have to work on night and weekend schedules if you are into IT project management. Make sure that your team consists of a variety of talents. Your experiences should also lie in settling databases and keeping the project on track.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Most Valuable Tips for Project Manager Job Interview

High-visibility project Interviewing in the Project Management industry internally or a new opportunity outside your company can be terrifying. Using mind-mapping techniques to organize your introduction, elevator speech, key experiences and follow-up questions can help you prepare.

If you are looking jobs in Project Management industry or the next internal high-visibility project, interviews are a common occurrence in the Market of Project Management. Understandably, senior management and perspective employers want to audition and approve the project manager before handing over a multinational project. As project managers, one can looking for the next available project when the current project closes.

Preparing for an interview for Project Manager Job is a challenging experience. You know everything you say and do is being evaluated. You are concerned about your appearance, making a good first impression, responding with articulate answers, and hoping you’re providing sufficient detail without overwhelming the hiring manager about past project nuances, acronyms and tidbits. The amount of preparation may vary depending on your risk tolerance, interview skills and the job importance. Some project managers can simply walk into an interview with little or no preparation and describe their qualifications like a recap of last night’s American Idol performance. Others spend a few hours updating their resumes, making notes, and even rehearsing for the interview. I’ve always been a fan of preparation, although usually five minutes before the interview, I’m reviewing my resume and comments frantically thinking I forgot something. After all, I wanted to be prepared for any possible question with the perfect answer.

Positive Approach for interview

The approach must be positive for a an interview, It is important to remember the key points you want to communicate in addition to answering the interview questions.

Below is key points for An interview.

Introduction : The introduction is a lot more than a greeting while looking the hiring manager in the eye with a firm handshake. Onsite office interviews are often scheduled in-between meetings during a manager’s free time. Often, the interviewer may be a few minutes late or generally unprepared to start the interview. This is an excellent opportunity for you to direct the discussion with a brief summary of your background.

Position Overview : The next five to ten minutes the interviewers will typically provide a brief overview of the project. Depending on the dialogue, the interviewers may go into additional detail before asking key questions. You want to apply your listening skills because the next series of questions will try to determine how well your background fits the project.

Relevant Experience : After the project overview, the interviewers will likely ask about your experience as it relates to the project. Assuming you know a little about the project, you can reflect on your experiences and find a related example. If the Project Management Position interfaces directly with clients or business customers, you’ll want to highlight past experiences demonstrating how you connected with customers for effective delivery.

Technical Skills: The title of project manager is often bestowed upon anyone in a leadership position despite their lack of technical project management knowledge. The technical project management question is intended to determine if you really know the science and not just the art of project management. This is an opportunity to highlight your technical experience performing critical chain analysis, calculating earned value, or resource leveling a project schedule.

Soft Skills : The soft skill question is usually asked to test a project manager’s team management skills and overall leadership behaviors. Look at your experiences and recall examples of conflict resolution, issue management, managing customer’s expectations, and team building. You’ll notice this technique focuses on experiences and not specific positions. Citing experiences from multiple positions is an effective technique to demonstrate breadth.

Wrap Up : Remember to reiterate your interest in the position and ask if there is anything else that requires further clarification.