After 13 years of working in the corporate insurance sector, Ryan decided it was time for a change and began investigating the most effective route for making a successful transition into project management, a field he was keen to pursue.
He finally took the necessary steps to make the change and enrolled for the programme in information technology (IT) project management and the BTEC professional certificate in project management offered through the XPert Academy.
He began his studies in March 2011 and completed them in November, while continuing to work full-time. He has not looked back!
A day in the life of Ryan Jones
A typical day will begin with checking e-mails and meeting requests. His next order of business is to meet his boss. They will discuss the day’s agenda, how to effectively manage project-related issues, which meetings need to be scheduled and which clients they need to meet.
He is occasionally required to co-ordinate and run project workshops and to draft presentations.
Working on a full-scale project entails applying the proper project management methodology, comparing progress made against the project plan, monitoring and escalating risks or issues related to the project. and compiling reports and having meetings with the project team.
A vast majority of the day is taken up by meetings. He finds it works best to put aside a day for admin to catch up on everything. His admin day is usually on a Friday.
“One of the aspects that I love most about my job is that it is so diverse; I get to interact with a variety of people on a daily basis. I love running workshops, such as project post- mortem reviews, as it gives me an opportunity to be creative and engage with people,” says Ryan.
Notable Achievements
Ryan’s employer, Metropolitan Health, has a rewards and recognition programme called Inkanyezi.
During his brief time in their project management office, Ryan has managed to achieve recognition for his work on a project rating and capacity planning framework that he designed for his office.
He has run the workshop which applied the framework. He attributes this achievement to his studies in project management as he believes that it helped him to recognise the niche and successfully fill it.
Advice for others wanting to enter the field
If you really want something, then you must work for it and make it happen.
“I would recommend the BTEC professional project management course. It’s given me the edge I needed to get noticed, it demonstrates that you know the basics of the profession, and also that you will be able to hit the ground running.
“The qualification is widely recognised in the field locally and internationally, and the course material is relevant and captivating.”
To be successful in project management, you will need to be a good listener and a great communicator as you’ll be dealing with many people at all levels daily. You also need to be structured in the way you work as this field entails lots of planning. Most of all, you need to be driven.
l For more information on a career in project management, visit the Xpert website at www.allabout xpert.com
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