masters or professional qualifications?

easyontheeye

hi,

Im working in IT/telecoms as a software engineer for the past 4 years. I have started address my career direction which has led to some questions about what i should do. I dont really see where i want to be in say 10 years time but i have a number of interests...being business analyst or project manager.
Now there is a masters in business analytics that caught my eye in smurfit UCD, but im thinking would this be any benefit to me? would i be better off doing the PMI/PMP exams and getting a job as a PM. I have also considered going contracting...outside option.

I suppose what im asking is, is there anyone in IT that did a masters in something not as technical as say computer science but still related to IT and if so has it benefited their career? I suppose its now im beginning to be motivated by money and hence why i am considering contracting also.

cheers!

AARRRGH

In my experience, the best way to move into project management is to get friendly with the head of product management in your current company and apply for their next vacancy...

helimachoptor

AARRRGH wrote: »

In my experience, the best way to move into project management is to get friendly with the head of product management in your current company and apply for their next vacancy...

I would agree with this, I presume you've been do some managing in your current role? It is easier to move into a PM role in your current job rather than make a break to a new company.

You could do a Prince2 course Foundation takes 3 days and Practitioner takes 2. A good foundation and may help you get a break in work. Once in the door you could then see about getting something more formal.

One piece of advice, you can get all the qualifications you want but if you cant manage.. you can't manage.

Stheno

helimachoptor wrote: »

I would agree with this, I presume you've been do some managing in your current role? It is easier to move into a PM role in your current job rather than make a break to a new company.

You could do a Prince2 course Foundation takes 3 days and Practitioner takes 2. A good foundation and may help you get a break in work. Once in the door you could then see about getting something more formal.

One piece of advice, you can get all the qualifications you want but if you cant manage.. you can't manage.

+1 my main qualification in work is ITIL (Service Management) and it's helped me get the last three jobs I've had, combined with the practical experience I've had.

I think the likes of Prince2/PMI is probably more relevant, especially PMI as to maintain your certification you have to log x amount of hours yearly afaik.

Best of luck

easyontheeye

what do you reckon on careers in project manager in ireland? lucrative? interesting? a safer career path than development?

Stheno

easyontheeye wrote: »

what do you reckon on careers in project manager in ireland? lucrative? interesting? a safer career path than development?

Depends what you want imo, I've not worked in development (have worked as a PM), there is always a demand for good Project Managers, PRINCE and PMP are qualifications you can travel with etc.

As AAARRRGGH (sp) said, if you can get chatting to/involved with the Programme/Project Management team/office in your company and see what their approaches are etc, then that will help you

Serafijn

I'd say go for a masters if there's a specific area that you're interested in moving into.

If you just want to move up in your current field then I'd recommend professional qualifications every time. You get a lot more bang for your buck, so to say, in terms of both expense and time spent in class and studying.

easyontheeye

pm work was just something i was considering, doing the masters may show/open doors to me i currently cant see. i suppose im just looking to do something different but remain within IT. stuck in a rut so to speak!

AARRRGH

I'm not sure if a masters really does open any doors. I think it would be worth doing anyway (I certainly don't regret it) and worst case scenario it shows you are reasonably ambitious and have some sort of brain!

The two guys I know who work in project management earn a lot of money. From my own limited exposure to it, it seems like a very political job, where saying the right thing is more important than having accurate data.

helimachoptor

AARRRGH wrote: »

it seems like a very political job, where saying the right thing is more important than having accurate data.

+100:D

demon83

Employers generally prefer professional qualifications to a Masters. If you are interested in becoming a PM, it would be good to get either Prince or PMI qualification. The PMP requires you to have 3 years documented experiance in Project management and is therefore preferred but PMI also offer CAPM qualification which any who work with projects can sit.

Mrs OBumble

easyontheeye wrote: »

Im working in IT/telecoms as a software engineer for the past 4 years. ....
Now there is a masters in business analytics that caught my eye in smurfit UCD, but im thinking would this be any benefit to me? would i be better off doing the PMI/PMP exams and getting a job as a PM.

Some will tell you that BA's grow up to become PMs. Smart BAs know that this isn't the case, the roles are quite different (and both are needed on decent sizes projects).

Do you like thinking through knotty logical problems, and facilitating business people into saying what they really mean? Then consider a BA role.

Or do like planning work, monitoring progress, finding solutions to problems that are stopping work from being done now, organising stuff, chasing up overdue timesheets, finding staff who want to work on your stuff. Then consider a PM role.

Either way, don't go jumping into a masters first and then hope for a job. Find the job that will let you grow into the role, and do some study (IIBA certification for a BA, PMP or Prince II for a PM) as part of the growing. Maybe do a masters later if you want to get into managing the fields.

IMHO.

easyontheeye

hey all thanks for the input, was really useful!

re justMary,
this is were im unsure, I like aspects of both roles. I can't really say which i'd prefer more unless i worked in the roles full time which isnt likely at the moment. I have tech leaded projects which i enjoyed and i have also done analysis, requirements gathering and spent many meetings twisting marketings rubber arms until i got out of them what they really wanted!

I shall take all this advice on board and put some sort of career plan together!