Posts Tagged ‘Events’

To Credential or not to Credential: Project Managers and The PMP

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Over the last several years, there has been a dramatic increase in the need for Project Managers. Large and small organizations are increasing their use of Project Managers for IT initiatives. Along with the increase in positions, we have seen the number of job requirements for Project Managers increase steadily. In the past, many clients expressed only a preference for certifications. Now, it seems, the majority of job descriptions for Project Managers require that candidates be a Project Management Professional (PMP). This trend has us thinking about the value of getting certified versus the potential danger of not.

To that end, BRIDGE would like to share information about the PMP certification: where to get it, required time, costs associated, and potential benefits. Read on:

The Project Management Institute, which administers the PMP Certification, has designed the process to ensure only serious project managers are eligible by requiring a minimum of 3 years of project management experience (more if you don’t hold a bachelors degree). During your three years they require 4,500 hours spent leading and directing project tasks. There is also a four hour computer-based exam. The exam costs $550 ($405 for PMI members) and covers material from the Project Manager Professional Examination Specification. The 200 multiple choice questions cover content from six domains including; initiation, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closing, and professional and social responsibility. Once you decide to get certified it can take from one month to one year to get through the application and testing.

There are many reasons why you might decide to get certified; it could be a personal goal, you want to distinguish yourself from others, you want get a promotion or a better job, or you think it might be required for your next job. This last reason might be worth considering given that many companies are moving from preferring to requiring PMP certification.

Related Events:
On Thursday, January 8th, BRIDGE Technical Solutions will be sponsoring the Ocean State PMI dinner meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Providence, RI. The topic will be “Case Study: How Project Management Guided Harvard Pilgrim from Near Collapse to #1” presented by Lisa DiTullio of EPMO Advisory Services of Cohasset, MA.

Check out our new web page exclusively for Project Managers. We have collected information on PM certification, training opportunities, and current news which we hope will be useful. We also provide links to local project manager professional organizations. If notice something missing from our page please let us know.

So what do you think? Is PMP certification worth the cost? We appreciate your insight.
Thanks, Joe Devine

 

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Posted in Career, Project Managers, professional development | 7 Comments »

Turning NetWORKing into NetPLAYing

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

First, a confession: growing up, I played with Barbie Dolls. Exclusively. I ADORED Barbie. (For those of you who don’t get sentimental over hot pink, kindly think back to your G.I. Joe, Voltron, Masters-of-the-Universe days. Now you know exactly what I mean.) That exaggerated, plastic caricature inspired worlds of fun. Barbie provided a controlled way to act out current and future ambitions, goals, and conflicts. It was a way to play grown-up.



My Barbie nostalgia was conflicted in the mid-nineties when “Teen Talk” Barbie exclaimed, “Math is HARD!” launching national debates about gender and educational inequities. Ouch. Chalk it up to sardonic wit, but I reserve my special, mock-Barbie voice when I find myself avoiding certain events because: “Networking is HARD!”

It’s true. Sans the luxury of only playing grown-up, networking does seem hard. It requires time, commitment, follow-up, and worst of all, ENERGY! Many networking groups are characterized by requisite lead-passing, tedious meetings, and good, but empty, intentions. And your life is busy! The dog has to go the vet, a business meeting conflicts with a family commitment, and suddenly, your new furniture doesn’t look quite as good because your transmission just failed. So what could possibly motivate anyone to make time to NetWORK? The word itself implies an elected obligation when you are already balancing work/life on the high wire.

But wait! There’s more! What if we stop thinking of netWORKing as work? It’s time to rethink and reclaim the entire concept. How? Make it fun! Look for casual events that blend personal and professional interests. Rhode Island is chock-full of unique activities, social groups, public workspaces, and special events that provide fantastic opportunities to make netWORKing into netPLAYing. Meeting new people, sharing ideas, and learning new perspectives is critical to advance a career or grow a business, but it can be fun, too.

Before you make a grown-up “play date,” be sure to do some preparation. Develop a 30 and/or 60 second intro. Think of it as your personal “elevator pitch” - a succinct and interesting way to describe yourself and what you’re up to. It should be genuine and sincere. Think about how life shapes your goals, what you’re passionate about right now, and ways you can share that information.

Instead of reiterating a resume “bullet-point,” try explaining what it is you enjoy about what you do. Why are you doing what you’re doing RIGHT NOW? What led you into your field? How does it translate into your activities? Not only will this yield a charming introduction, but you might just discover something new about yourself.

Now for the NetPLAYing. Below are some local activities that you will enjoy while making contacts and, more importantly, new friends!

Have fun! ~Amber

Providence Geeks monthly dinners. Grab a snack and get to know the local tech community at AS220. The art gallery/ meeting space provides a casual atmosphere, and each month features a new speaker.

Meetups webdev; PHP, etc. There are a number of meetup groups in RI focused on technology. Pick your hobby and meet likeminded folks.

Volunteering for Waterfire It’s easy to sign up, fun to do, and many of the participants are volunteers from the hosting organization (so you never know who you might meet!)

Hop aboard a Bay Cruise! There is still time in October to take the 10 Lighthouses tour, meet new shipmates, and enjoy the Ocean State’s beauty.

Though Trick-or-Treating may be a thing of the past, here are some frightfully fun ways to enjoy a spirited October:

Paranormal Pawtucket, A Walk in the Night Head north to Slater Mill on October Fridays at 7pm for a stroll through the haunted history of the Blackstone River.

Trails to Terror. Head south to Wakefield, RI for fright on October weekends. Beware - it’s truly scary.

The Original Providence Ghost Tour In October, when the leaves whirl in a chill autumn wind and the sun sets early, join Rory Raven for the Providence Ghost Walk, a stroll through the haunted history of Providence, Rhode Island. Weekends in October,3pm at the Providence Athanaeum

Providence Ghost Tours Meet at the Roger Williams statue at Prospect Terrace on Congdon St at 7pm every night in October for a haunted tour of the East Side of Providence.

Ghosts of Newport, Portsmouth Free Public Library Listen to tales of haunted sites such as the Jailhouse Inn, Astor’s Beechwood, the White Horse Tavern–America’s oldest tavern–and many more. October 23, 7pm

Fort Adams Fortress of Nightmares On the nights of October 27-31, starting at 7:00pm, historic Fort Adams in Newport, RI will unleash the restless spirits of its past on special haunted tours.

All Hallows Eve Masquerade Ball, Cranston For the brave of spirit: Spend your Halloween night at the Spooky Sprague Mansion. Halloween Night, Friday, October 31, 2008, 8:00 pm to Midnight

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Posted in F2F Networking, professional development | No Comments »