Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Contact VCTP Syracuse for assistance. 100% free for post 9/11 Veterans and spouses.

see also: https://acp-advisornet.org/question/927/a-checklist-for-veterans-how-to-learn-more-about-the-project-management-professional-pmp-cert./p1

Paul Trejo ⋅ Austin, TX University of Texas at Austin ⋅ 40 years experience

Dear Billy,

Here's some feedback from the trenches of industry. Today's Project Manager will essentially shepherd technicians to complete a project. Their major challenge in the past thirty years has centered around computers, obviously, since computers are now mandatory in every office and company around the globe, and most workers are still not fluent in every aspect of computers.

The Project Manager tends to be a middle-man between the very technical computer staff and the less technical User staff. Let me use Accountants as an example. Accounting is an extremely demanding field with its own technical terms and schedules for closing the books according to Government specifications. Computing is an equally demanding field with a very different set of technical terms imposed by computer machines themselves; proper program syntax, space limitations, security access and so on.

In this example, the Accounting Staff needs a change in their computer system because Government rules have changed for a specific tax deduction. Only the Accounting staff understands these rules perfectly -- and they must somehow convey this to the Computing staff so that the Computing staff can change the computer programs correctly, with full testing and validation, in time for the next closing of the Accounting books.

Typical problems arise when the two Teams cannot communicate well enough with each other. This results in unproductive meetings, then excuses and finger-pointing blame, and in the end, the deadline is missed and there is tremendous pressure from Upper Management to work nights and weekends to clean up the mess.

The well-trained Project Manager is expected to avoid these disasters and keep the lines of communication open, smooth and free from misunderstandings. Personal persuasion is a major part of the skill. Communication superiority is another major part. Dedication and determination are also indispensible, i.e. when everybody else is ready to quit, the Project Manager provides a new burst of energy.

It's not the Project Manager's job to master Accounting, nor to master Computer technology; but it's the Project Manager's job to master the Project itself -- including all the vocabulary that will be used on both Teams during that specific Project. Documentation is the Project Manager's best friend, and the Project Manager must demand excellence in documentation -- no matter how much resistance is presented.

In this way, the Project Manager can guide meetings in such a way that misunderstandings are minimized, so that all meetings become productive, and there is no blaming between the Teams, and projects can be completed on time.

That's only one example, but perhaps it's a good illustration of the problems you will face.

That said, I would point out that a Project Manager's skill is required everywhere in every modern company -- including the Military. I recommend that you apply the principles of the Project Manager in your current post in the Military -- no matter what it is.

Those persons who master the vocabulary of every meeting, and who ensure that everybody else in the meeting is corrected whenever they show signs of misunderstanding that vocabulary, are worth their weight in gold, even without the Project Manager title. This skill shines forth as excellence. This sort of orientation will also prepare somebody for the high-paid career of a Project Manager in private industry.

Best wishes,
--Paul Trejo

Mary Cobine ⋅ Mckinney, TX Boeing ⋅ 20 years experience

Once you begin the classes you'll learn to use more of the jargon "burn down", "Customer requirements", "Cost savings, cost avoidance", "percent improvement", "Budgets, budget constraints", etc. You could start an electronic journal of the projects you've worked (don't forget volunteer and off-hour projects). Take your time, write a simple version like your example so as you go along in your training, you can tweak the terminology. Don't hesitate to get versions viewed and tweaked by your support network. We can do this by email if you prefer. As you create these examples, it'll then be easy to transfer it to your resume.

Billy Austin ⋅ Valdosta, GA U.S. Air Force, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Thank you for the suggestions Mary. I'm beginning to learn how big my network of support really is and I'm also posting here (and eventually on PMI.org) to expand that network. I feel that doing as much work as possible before my classwork will help out a lot. Not only will it help me document any experience that I might have but it will also help me to better understand my future classwork as well.

I'm glad that I'm on the right track, my last post was the first time that I've really written out exactly what I did on that project. I can see where relating impact to current operations would be better suited for the civilian sector where as mission impact is better suited for the military. I'll use references to operations like you mentioned more often.

Now I just need to take what I wrote in the last post and figure out how to clean it up and make it suitable enough to turn in for experience when I am ready to take my PMP. I really like the amount of support everyone gives here and how willing everyone is to help. Thank you everyone!

Any other suggestions?

Mary Cobine ⋅ Mckinney, TX Boeing ⋅ 20 years experience

I understand your current commitments. Please know that you have a network of support to help you. I agree, it is amazing how any branch simplifies an entire project. Doing the work upfront before you begin the classwork is still the right approach. It'll take time, but what you did here in this example is exactly what you'll need to do to get them to accept the hours. The data will then help build an impressive resume. One phrase you might want to consider using - "with minimum or no impact to current operations". Continue to reach out within ACP and other resources as you compile the informaiton. We're here to help you succeed in reaching your goal.

Billy Austin ⋅ Valdosta, GA U.S. Air Force, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Hi Mary and thank you for your response. I currently do not have a resume but I do plan on starting one soon so that I can edit it and keep it up to date as things change. Right now I'm utilizing most of my spare time to study for my promotion text next month. Once that is out of the way I plan to make my LinkedIn profile and begin making my resume. My idea when I posted this question was to find out how to translate something like the example below into something that corresponds to project management. I suppose this could also be used in a resume which is also helpful.

The example below is pretty vague so I added the longer section below to say what I really did.

Example Bullet Statement from my Performance Report:
- Led team of four in Gp ADPE draw down; turned in $524K ADPE assets--Op NEW DAWN end state reached

What I actually did:
- Developed plan to cut the number of computer systems by a certain percentage each month until they were all turned in.
-- The plan involved computers for 1300 people spread throughout 15 buildings, each with its own function.

- Presented/updated the plan weekly to our Group Commander (Commander of 1300 people) and our base communications unit (every unit on base turned their equipment in to them).

- Led a team consisting of myself and three others

- Coordinated with my organization sections to pull computer systems that were not absolutely necessary.
-- This involved juggling numbers and taking more from shrinking sections while not taking any from sections who absolutely needed them.

- Made sure that my team members completed monthly inventories of their assigned equipment and ensured that monthly turn in numbers were met if and when possible.

- Worked with the communications unit to keep mission essential systems as long as needed maintain base security.
-- The numbers caught up at the end of the mission and the final turn in goal was met on time.

- Developed plan to move systems off of the main base network and onto a network managed by an outside agency (Army) allowing the main base network systems to be shut down and shipped back to the U.S.

- Coordinated with outside agency (Army) to use their equipment and their temporary (tactical) network until non-base security personnel were safely moved to another base at which point we packed up and officially closed the base.
--Worked closely with the Army network engineer to make this happen.

It's a lot and I don't know how to translate the information above into project management experience. I know I hit all parts of the project management lifecycle but still need help.

I'm sorry if this is confusing, this was the first time that I've wrote out exactly what I did. It's amazing how the Air Force takes all that and turns it into a single bullet statement with the same impact.

Mary Cobine ⋅ Mckinney, TX Boeing ⋅ 20 years experience

Billy, Thank you for your service to our country. Your forward thinking is right on! Wanting to "begin to document my experience now" is a great step. I'd like to offer assistance by first reviewing your current resume, then I can ask you some specific questions that could help develop an overview of experience for your 4500 hours. Please send me a copy of your resume at mary.d.cobine@Boeing.com so we can begin some dialogue.

Damin Kirk ⋅ North Charleston, SC Boeing ⋅ 21 years experience

You already have the Project Management experience. The main thing is how you demonstrate your management skills and translating your military experience. Can you handle multiple tasks, manage cross functional teams..etc? Having a PMP will help be isn't required for you to land a Project Management job.

Billy Austin ⋅ Valdosta, GA U.S. Air Force, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Thank you for the information and advice Paul.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

VCTP can help you document your work and apply for certifications.

Billy Austin ⋅ Valdosta, GA U.S. Air Force, Staff Sergeant ⋅ 8 years served

Thank you Tom! Definitely what I was looking for and then some. I do plan on joining PMI.org and getting with the chapter thats close to me.