What are the biggest challenges Veterans face going into the Project Manager career path?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 10:13:13 -0500

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 13 at 2017 10:39 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 10:39:19 -0500

The biggest challenges are probably 1) articulating their military experience into private sector terms and 2) articulating their credentials without an accompanying degree or certification. If they have a degree and/or certification, they know the language (which solves #1) and won't have people questioning their credentials (which solves #2).

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 13 at 2017 11:58 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 11:58:50 -0500

To enter the Project Management career path, the veteran should:
-Translate his or her project management experience so that civilian project managers and hiring managers understand the range, diversity, and scope of their experience.
-Gain project management education and certification.

Project Management is both a function and a profession. Many officers and NCOs manage projects, that is, an endeavor with a defined start and end providing a customer with a unique product or service. Veterans may have managed projects for years but they were never called the project manager. They have experience functioning as a project manager, but need the terminology to explain their work. This is the intersection of project management function and project management profession.

The Project Management Institute (PMI.org) provides a standard for project management, the Project Management Handbook. It explains the project management process and terminology. They also provide internationally recognized project management certifications. Project Management Professional (PMP) is the best known. Some universities offer courses in project management leading to certification as a PMP. Commercial training companies also offer PMP "cram courses" guaranteeing passing the PMP exam. Veterans should check carefully what their VA education benefits will pay. Some employers will pay for the PMP class and certification.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jan 13 at 2017 1:37 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 13:37:30 -0500

Having sufficient project management hours of experience can be a challenge for attaining the PMP. With a 4-year degree it is 4,500 hours. Without a 4-year degree service members would need 7,500 of hours leading and directing projects.

Service members can still get their CAPM as an initial step before the PMP. All case dependent.

Most important, and as stated several times on this thread, knowing how to translate military experience into civilian & project management terms.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jan 13 at 2017 2:06 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:06:53 -0500

Another consideration is that Project Managers are also managers of people, and managing a civilian fresh out of college is much different than managing a squad/platoon/company/etc. I found that to be one of the biggest challenges. Solider's can be effectively managed in a way civilian professionals cannot. It's not a good or bad thing, it's just different.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 15 at 2017 1:46 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 13:46:51 -0500

I'll chip in the "Mental Game" aspect. Our organization has taken in many MIL engineers to be construction design managers and project managers. It can be a shock to take say a recent O-3/O-4 and tell them they need to function and think like a Skipper and your job is to make this $7M thing appear and BTW do primary award before the end of the FY. What am I responsible for? Everything. I'm not a financial type. You're still responsible. Who works for me? Everyone that contributes to the completion of your project. But I don't do their timecards. You're responsible for their performance. (Start the MIL culture gag). You need to take action to correct or have corrected for you to problem that's inhibiting the project. Know when to engage your boss to help. Part of a good PMs' make up is a broad perspective of all the gears and how they should work together. That typically isn't taught prior in this age of specialization. So you have to learn enough about finance to understand if the bean counters are getting their stuff taken care of that supports your project. Same with legal. Same with insurance. Same with suppliers. Same with labor force. Same with the Admim types and the pile of restrictions you have to deal with. So the big challenge is acceptance of the total responsibility aspect. You can't run and hide. You're very visible. You have to absorb the body blows. And your reward for doing a great job? Do it again, quicker, better, cheaper. What have you done for me lately? Eeyore need not apply.

Response by PO2 Gerry Tandberg made Mar 26 at 2017 11:21 AM

PO2 Gerry Tandberg — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 11:21:14 -0400

Interesting question. I've read all the responses to date, yet none address what is necessary to understand the tasks involved in engineering/construction. Certainly some experiece is achieved if you have a background in the Army Corps of Engineers or SeaBee's. A desire to succeed in engineering, design, and construction would be paramount. There are so many disciplines involved, i.e., carpentry, steel workers, pipe fitters, electricians, instrumentation, laborers, etc., etc. Do you understand the role each of these crafts play? Do you understand the processes involved in getting a project off the ground in engineering and the design disciplines and phases? Can you read blueprints, and construction drawings? Can you effectively interface with engineers, construction superintendents, and the crafts themselves? Do you understand the challenges they face to succeed in their role? Can you appreciate their role and listen to their advise, or are you going to strictly stick to what you learned in school? Some of the best ideas and advise comes from the craftsmen themselves. Listen, listen, listen. Be patient, because the career in Project Managing takes experience, experience, experience. Be prepare to be someones apprentice for a long time until you understand all the above. You can BS you way into some positions, but you won't last long.