Our Blog
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One of the key topics in the Chapter Board of Directors' meetings of late has been ...... "How can we appeal to and reach our member base more effectively?" One way, we theorize, is to start blogging about topics of interest to members and other supporters of Project Management in the Mid-South.
With the addition of this capability to our website, it is my hope as VP of Communications that chapter leaders and volunteers will be able to take a little time to offer opinions and insights occassionally. And, we know that many of you out there have great ideas and useful input / feedback that can help our members, improve our chapter and our cause. So, we are starting this blog to provide a tool to enable our collective urge to get our thoughts in print. All are invited to offer comments and counterpoint as we build the depth of our Project Mangagement Community. Just click the link at the end of each article....anyone can add a comment and build a discussion. Starting March 1st, 2011, we are opening the blog to article publishing by all visitors that have registered with PMIMemphis.org. You may do so via the "Create Account" link at the bottom of the Login screen (on the right)....or via the login link at the top of each page (near the LINKED IN logo). Be patient....it may take a day or two for the site admin to release your article. Note: Initally, all comments (not original article submissions) will be allowed to auto-post......so, help us maintain this policy by keeping your comments brief, respectful, etc.....you know, something you wouldn't mind your mother reading.
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Why Did I Get.....Certified? Sunday, 14 November 2010 11:33 |  |  | 
It happens to many of us sometime during our careers....that dreaded phone call summoning you to the front office where you are told......"I'm sorry to say that your position has been eliminated". No matter if you've been expecting it or at what stage in your career it happens, you'll probably find yourself stunned. Particulary in this job market, you immediately begin churning over in your mind the specter of extended unemployment and all of the life changing decisions that are likely on the horizon.
For the few months following, I went through mind-numbing and soul searching efforts to identify the techniques that would help me remain relevant in a world of dramatic and rapid changes in the way people must search for and ultimately find employment. I've tried many tools and techniques and had several interviews but, sadly nothing has worked yet. One thing I have accomplished that can never be taken away is the advances in knowledge and perspective I have gained from obtaining the PMP certifcation. It has opened many doors for me to establish contact with a larger network of professionals and perhaps more importantly, to continue to learn and develop personally while we all wait for the balance of "Supply and Demand" to swing once again in favor of the job seeker. I must admit that I sometimes feel frustrated from being continuously passed over by employers who are able to select from a pool of many, many highly qualified and experienced professionals. And yes, I have asked myself in moments of weakness and fear..."Why Did I get Certified?" To help come to terms with this question, I decided to get involved more with the local Memphis Chapter of PMI. Doing so has helped me get more grounded as I endeavor to re-invent myself in a rapidly changing world. Here are a few of the advantages I can see from going through the certification process......
So, for me at least part of my strategy for survival has been to look for ways to "Level " the Playing Field. In today's world, there is no simple or single answer to this challenge. But for me, Project Management's fundamentals has helped to validate my belief's. My year's of experience in the high tech industry has taught me that almost all failed initiatives and/or business strategies are routed in the fire fighting that comes from a failure to "Plan the Work...and Work the Plan". Let's all try to apply this concept to the management of our careers as well. Doug Price
VP Communications
PMI Memphis Chapter Comments (2)
Last Updated (Sunday, 14 November 2010 15:39) What's On Our Minds?.....Tuesday, 02 November 2010 12:57 | | |
As a mid-term appointee, I am just getting to know the key players in the Memphis PMI Chapter ...its leaders and members. Of course, I have gotten to know my fellow board members the best and I am truly grateful for the chance to serve and utilize my skills in a way that continues my personal development while making a contribution to the chapter's goal of advancing the discipline of Project Management in the Mid-South.
As the VP of Communications, I am truly committed to utlilizing technolgy to advance the level and quality of communications between our members and the Project Management community. Towards that end, you will see more frequent communications that utilize our web tools and I hope to draw your interest and support as well. There are so many topics for discussion and in this economy, jobs and the lack thereof is pretty close to the top of the list. Recently, I heard the news that one of our local banks was forced to lay off 19 project managers, many of whom are chapter members or have been guests. We all need to work together to support these members of the community with job leads, shared successes and just about anything that helps to keep up morale during what can be a long search. This topic is near and dear to my heart .... I am still looking for my next role since being laid off last year. To do my part, I have recently added a tool to our site that allows anyone with a job opportunity to post the details on our site (click here to see). If you are the hiring entity, you can even elect you receive applications from our site visitors by including the appropriate submission info (email address) when posting the job. I am planning other tools for the site such as polls and more interesting articles from all of us including PMI Global. Lets all be aware of the challenges our job seeking members face and do what we can to assist. Post your comments or suggestions to this article ...or contact one of the board members. We all want to help. Doug Price VP Communications PMI Memphis Chapter Last Updated (Sunday, 14 November 2010 15:25) Participate!Monday, 08 November 2010 08:23 | | |
Our 10th Annual Professional Development Day was a major success. Many thanks to our volunteers and guest speakers including a shining light of progress in our city, the eloquent and compassionate Mayor A C Wharton.
The coming months are an important time to participate with our chapter. We have board member elections, which provides an opportunity to hone your resume to stand out in the crowd and gain great networking and professional experience. We're also offering Director level positions for PDU credits. Last Updated (Sunday, 14 November 2010 15:26) |
Why Project Networks Beat Project TeamsTuesday, 14 June 2011 08:49 | | |
I read this article from the most recent magazine of MIT Sloan Management Review called, Why Project Networks Beat Project Teams. It discusses that based on their research, "the project network, is an important tool for accomplishing knowledge-intensive work."
As explained by MIT Sloan Management Review, "a project network is most beneficial for accomplishing knowledge-intensive work. Typically, project networks consist of a core set of team members who bring in noncore contributors (such as other company employees, suppliers, consultants or customers) from their personal networks who can provide knowledge, information and feedback regarding the team’s task. The project network thus takes advantage of both the project team as a whole and the personal networks of the members.
Unlike a project team that relies only on the knowledge held by members or a personal network that individuals use to solve their individual problems, the project network combines the knowledge held by the members of a team with the problem-solving capabilities of the team members’ personal networks to achieve a project goal. The integration of project team members’ knowledge with the capabilities from their personal networks is what differentiates a project network from other kinds of individual and team-based work."
I recommend registering for free and reading the whole article which is only about two pages for a better understanding of project networks and the research behind it. Click here> http://sloanreview.mit.edu/the-magazine/2011-spring/52307/why-project-networks-beat-project-teams/
What is your opinion on project networks; do you see it as a beneficial strategy, or not?
Have you used this strategy with your projects?
Was was the outcome?
Shane Perkins
U of M 2010
Management Info. Systems
U of M: MSBA Student 2011 Fall
Recruiters Not Calling You? Five Reasons Why-And How To Fix ItWednesday, 10 November 2010 08:01 | | |
You've been hoping for a new job, but your phone is silent. No recruiters calling, no job offers; it's so quiet you can almost hear the crickets outside. Maybe it's time to reassess.
Does this sound like your job search efforts? You've sent out hundreds of resumes to countless job postings but received little or no response.You've left dozens of voicemails to recruiters explaining why you are a perfect fit-and they never return your call.You've tweaked your resume so many times you no longer recognize it. If this describes your situation, you are not alone. Many talented, qualified job seekers get ignored by recruiters and hiring managers simply because their resume has one or more of the following problems. 1. Your resume highlights your lack of industry experience Most recruiters are looking for a point-by-point candidate match when screening resumes. Industry background usually ranks high on the list of qualifying issues. If you don't have experience in that industry, your resume is going straight to the circular file- unless you can give them a compelling reason to keep your resume in the stack. If you lack specific industry experience, but you know you have the basic skills for the job, try highlighting your transferable skills instead. Job seekers who lack industry experience can make it past the resume screener by proving their ability with skills they have that transfer from industry to industry. Examples of transferable skills include expertise gained in sales, customer service, finance, accounting, negotiation, cross-functional communications, and/or team building. Look at the skills they need, then figure out how your background is a match. 2. Your resume shouts "Overqualified!" Nothing scares off a recruiter faster than a candidate who is obviously overqualified for the job. The two main concerns are (1) that the candidate would soon get bored and leave at his earliest convenience, and (2) that the candidate would be too expensive to hire. Even worse is the assumption that the over qualified candidate is on a downward career slope-a has-been with all his best years behind him. There are, however, many valid reasons job seekers wish to downsize to jobs with fewer responsibilities. Whatever your reasons, tailor your resume to fit your current career objective. This means you'll want to play down your prior responsibilities, list only relevant education (don't list a PhD if you are applying for a mid-level management position!), and emphasize tactical experience over strategic planning when appropriate. 3. Your resume is crammed with information, but not the right kind Pity the poor recruiter who must get through 200 applicant resumes before lunchtime. If your resume is in the pile, it will get a quick scan and pass over if she can't find what she is looking for in less than 30 seconds. If you have a resume that is disorganized or full of dense blocks of text, how will the recruiter learn anything about you? You'll catch the recruiter's attention if you have a clear, easy-to-read resume that highlights your skills and accomplishments, even at a glance. The first rule of resume effectiveness is relevancy, so edit out the past data and redundant facts that aren't relevant to your current career path. Fill your resume only with the skills needed for that particular job, and you'll go a long way toward getting a recruiter's attention. 4. Your resume has too little information While the "strong, silent type" may be attractive in men, it just plain flops in a resume. A resume that looks more like an outline just doesn't give the reader enough to work with. Recruiters don't want to guess what you did at your last job. You need to include enough information to give prospective employers a vision of the possibilities if they choose to hire you. 5. Your resume doesn't include accomplishments. If you haven't thought lately about how your employer has benefited from having you as an employee, it's a sure bet that your resume is lacking in accomplishments. Remember, as a job seeker you are selling your talents, and you are competing with many others who have the same qualifications as you do. Accomplishments give recruiters a reason to choose you over others for the interview short list. Give screeners ample reason to select you for interview. Highlight how you have saved time, increased efficiency, cut cost and increased client satisfaction. After all, if you don't tell them, nobody else will! If you use this five-point checklist to restructure your resume, you'll soon hear back from recruiters who appreciate qualified, articulate and confident candidates. The time you spend enhancing your resume could shave off months of fruitless labor and frustrating effort in your job search. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach Last Updated (Sunday, 14 November 2010 15:22) |
