IT Project Manager Review

Project managing IT change within a financial services organisation. This includes creating the business case with the sponsor, creating a project plan with the resources required, use of MS project, stakeholder management including steering groups, project meetings, minute writing, PID creation and management, leading people on the project team, working with department leads to obtain resources, following processes, directing project activity, challenging situations, managing problems, making decisions, encouraging people, celebrating success, reporting, financial management etc.

I have developed a number of skills. As you can see from the job spec I have, I carry out a wide range of activities in my role. The training showed me ways to do my job with a better approach, new techniques and how techniques and models I may have heard of work and why, and how they integrate with each other to provide a good selection of things I can use to do my job well.

I found it very hard to start with because it had been over 20 years since I was in a classroom and the structure around the learning wasn't something I had been great at 20 years ago either. I had to learn how to learn. As time went on, with repeated practice, this became easier and I found learning to be something that I enjoy as a process, not just as a means to an end

It was very structured but also had the flexibility we needed when work situations/ holidays etc. meant that less time could be dedicated to the learning that month, for example. The repeated visits on a regular basis by the tutor gave us a framework around which to hang homework, revision, self led learning etc. The tutor was always there in between sessions if we had questions, too, which was very helpful. Knowing all the dates 2 years in advance was wonderful

Obviously they paid for this. As a company they are very supportive and permit me time to carry out learning but in reality it was hard to find actual real time in the working week to make this happen sometimes. I had 4 different line managers in the 2 years that the course ran which meant I needed to explain to them how the apprenticeship worked each time. However work always gave me time for meeting my tutor.

A huge amount. The provider gave me monthly training on site, unlimited contact in between site visits on the phone to review assignment queries, carry out professional discussions, and when the course was more complete, we talked about how learnings from different modules complemented each other and we could see it as a holistic package. The support during revision was outstanding, too. I would thoroughly recommend the provider and specifically my trainer, certainly

It gives me more knowledge and tools to dip into. It gives me greater understanding of the tools I already used. It enables me to think about how I would approach a situation. It has taught me how to think about something before doing it, and how to reflect upon the work I have done and the work situations I am in so that I can learn from that. It has taught me that feedback is there to learn from, not to fear!

Socially yes. In terms of networking there are mentoring circles etc but not as much networking as I would like. I make my own up or look externally to the company

Yes

Because they look after their staff

Research the company to identify the section you are applying for as it's a very diverse company