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If you are trying to learn up new things and stay in and around London, you should follow Maven Training's blog along with PM4Girls

While they talk about the latest happenings in the world of project management for all of us to read, you also get to know about the next seminar and workshops and everything thats happening in the city!

To know more about the latest launch of PRINCE 2: 2009 click here.

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What you didnt know about blogging

That it takes a lot of consistency to blog.

Writing is the easiest part of it. You have started blogging because you like writing and the topic you talk about.

Writing 2-3 times a week for years is not easy. At some point you might feel not so inspired because you are not getting feedbacks from readers or well wishers and you still have to continue.

It's hard reaching out to the core group of bloggers writing on the same topic. You are working on your blog every single day and no one is reading it. How maddening would that be?

Before starting out you should know: If you started your blog with a target or are you simply writing for the love of it on topics ranging from your first car to your first job?

Who are your visitors? What do they want from your blog?

Blogging is fun but doing it day after day will take zeal, new ideas, killing procastination and waking up to the fact that your voice can reach millions for real!

Are You New to Project Management?

Ladies and Gentlemen- I'm honored to present before you the first guest blogger of steppingintopm- Josh Nankivel from pmstudent

I received an email from someone the other day who is very interested in becoming a project manager. She doesn’t have any experience in the field yet, and wanted some advice on how to proceed. She assumed that the PMP exam is what she should be looking into getting.

She mentioned that she is saving up for a training camp that claims they can train her to pass the PMP exam without project experience. I want to thank her for writing to me and taking action towards her career goals!

Unfortunately, that training camp is engaging in unethical practices. If they are condoning that people take the PMP exam without any work experience as a project manager, that really burns me!

Becoming a Project Manager

For those who would like to get started in project management the RIGHT way, here are a few suggestions:

I’ve said this before, but when it comes to project management, general management, and many other careers you just need to go get some experience. Get on a project team somehow and find someone who is doing what you want to get into. Ask them to mentor you. Do odd jobs for them, things they find tedious but that you will learn from. Go above and beyond and tap into the veterans. You will be surprised how quickly a great attitude and passion can open doors for progressively greater levels of responsibility.

If you have no experience yet, the PMP certification is NOT for you. Neither are the IPMA certifications. The lowest-level IMPA certification requires “2 FTE years working on projects or 6 months and BA/BS” experience. The PMP requires 3 of experience with a BA/BS, or 5 without. I interpret “leads and directs project teams” as experience as an actual project manager.

A great way to get some formal education and an introductory certification is to go for the CAPM exam. The minimum requirements for this exam are 23 contact hours of project management education OR 1,500 hours where you “contribute to a project team”.

If you do seek education in project management, I would like to add that it’s value is greatly diminished unless you are actively working in a project environment where you can implement the concepts you are learning, or at least use a real project environment as a means for comparing “book learning” to real life.

Get more advice for new project managers.

I hope that helps if you are wanting to break into project management. Any more advice from veterans out there who are reading this? (Besides “run away! What are you thinking?!? It’s hell in here!!!!)

Photo by squant via Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons for commercial work

Josh Nankivel, PMP

is the founder of pmStudent.com, a site dedicated to helping new and aspiring project managers succeed. He is a project manager for the ground system of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, a joint project between the USGS and NASA. Josh's academic background includes a BS in Project Management and he is PMP certified.

Resource for project managers

Heres one cool resource to use from pmstudent to know more about getting into project management.

I subscribe to it and the frequently sent personalized emails that Josh sends is a great way to get your hand on amazing tips, resource links and best way to have the awareness that you should do a little more to be in the domain.

Right, you already are certified. So, here's something for you as well Project Managers.

Thank you Josh.

Why it’s hard being a newbie?

Obviously because no one will take you seriously.

People are hesitant to give you the chance to whip up a really nice project. They will always blame your inexperienced soul, your lack of domain knowledge, your inability to handle deadline and pressure.

I know. Newbies might not have 16 years of experience behind them but they sure have the new technology, the zeal to work harder and flame to learn more. Try that.

So, if you are having a hard time getting a spot in the team:

• Observe well. Swoop down on every opportunity to volunteer for extra work.
• Get the best mentor possible and use your persuasion skills to convince them that you are here for real- to be a project manager.
• When you are pushed to the sidelines, work harder. Finish your assigned task and dive deeper into projects. Read through project documents if you get nothing else.
• Start a blog. It can turn people around- write truly, honestly and on what you can. Now they know you are into it and want to grow.
• Don’t take a NO personally. It’s just that most people don’t want to spend the time to train you; they would rather do it themselves. Persistence pays.
• Stick around. Be there. Listen to client calls, meeting updates, anything really. Try taking meeting notes.
• Read about terminologies, technology, clients- anything that will help you understand the next conversation better. Scribble the technical jargon you don't understand that you overheard two seniors talking about to "search" them later and learn about.
• Get along yet be professional. It’s important to be objective as well. Know where to draw the line.
• Never give up because it’s not happening right now. It will because you won't give up.
• Do the right thing. Don’t get involved in politics or back door policy to get what you want. It will backfire.

(Picture Courtesy: Google Images)