I’m still in search of a job - things appear to be picking up after the school holidays - more jobs in the paper, but none I can really apply for today.
A lot of the jobs I could* apply for are specifying PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.
*(that is, the job spec seems within my grasp)
I’ve done enough reading around to more or less understand what PRINCE2 is, and I guess the fact that it’s a fairly widely-required qualification alone is a strong enough recommendation that I should pursue it - and I’m pretty sure I’d be able to absorb it and pass the exam.
Just wondering if anyone here has any experience of it or anything to say on the subject before I fork out a big wedge of cash to put myself through the training and exams…
While I don’t know much personally about PRINCE2, where I work (in NZ) we use PRINCE2 methodology to manage all our IT projects. The impression I get from our project managers is that PRINCE2 certification is definitely regarded favourably.
We use it for implementations where I work. I have done the 3 day PRINCE 2 Foundation course, but not the follow on course with the case study.
One of the strengths of PRINCE2 is it’s scaleability. If you are only working on a small project, then there are huge chunks of the methodology that you can bypass as being overkill, but for larger projects the framework is key. Another important point with PRINCE is the importance of having active input from your Sponsor/Steering committee. The entire framework depends on the project manager reporting to the Steering Committee at key times and receiving direction. If you are trying to use PRINCE2 at a company where you are just expected to get on with it, then this aspect doesn’t work.
My husband did a PRINCE2 course earlier this year. He said it was interesting and made sense but was useless in practice because of the way his company is set up. Because he didn’t use it on a day to day basis he forgot what he learned pretty quickly. I read out One And Only Wanderers’s assessment and he agrees completely. He said it’s actually quite frustrating to have been on the course and seen its potential but not be able to apply it.
His company is hiring PMs at the moment and they’re mainly interested in experience - he said he wouldn’t be surprised if their job ads required PRINCE2 because as far as upper management is concerned they do use it. He has a say in the hiring and for him PRINCE2 is irrelevant - if the company wants the certification they’ll pay for the course.
Well <gulp> I hope this is worth it - I just spent the best part of 850 quid* on a distance learning course, including prepaid exam fees for foundation plus practitioner levels.
*That’s cheap - classroom-based courses start at £1500
I think it ought to be worth it, because it will mean I can shoot for a higher level of income. Lack of formal qualifications is the most significant weak point on my CV, I think.
Having done the classroom foundation course, I can confidently say you will walk it just learning from the course notes. Haven’t done the practitioner one so can’t comment there.
If it’s one of those keywords that all the recruiters want to see on your resume, then yes, it’s worth it. For now, put down that you’re pursuing PRINCE2 certification and apply for all those jobs.
