Expertise is gained only over time, one mistake at time. To be good at
scheduling requires careful analytical thought and a thorough understanding
of the principles of Project Management including scope, budget and schedule.
Get yourself a mentor, someone who you feel does it very well. Learn from
them. Read in these forums .... a lot. You will be surprised what I learn
out here from my peers. I can't tell you how many times I go to answer a
question out here and I create a small three line schedule "Project1.mpp" and
try things. You learn by experimenting and a lot of colorful metaphors.
What I've learned is being able to manipulate a scheduling tool has nothing
to do with being good at it. I consider myself blessed that I have been able
to get very good at this tool by studying how it behaves compared to
management expectations and make it do the correct things consistent with
good practices.
Certification tests and the like really don't tell us too terribly much
other than an independent 3rd party says we rise to the height of some
knowledge bar and experience. That is all well and good; the world is full
of people who have been off to "boot camps" to cram their heads full of
enough information to pass the certification exams in any field you can
possibly name. The real measure of expertise is advertised in the quiet
confidence portrayed in answers to questions, and the value added assistance
provided to customers. As you said, you know it when you see it. When I
interview candidates, I want to hear about success stories and how they
overcame obstacles, not just they rate themselves 9/10 in Project.
All that said, I did go out an sit for the PMP exam (I are one thanks) and
it makes my phone ring. But the real reason I land contracts is becuase of
service delivery not the letters after my name. The ability to provide
service comes from years of doing it well and learning from my mistakes, not
a class.
Two other things you may want to consider. Although a certification does
not guaranty success or expertise, it certainly is a check list item (like a
college degree). A cert will tell others, "Hey, they say I am supposed to
know what I am doing." To that end there are two exams making the rounds:
Project Management Insititure (
www.pmi.org) has a new credential called the
Scheduling Managment Professional. Here's a link:
http://www.pmischeduling.com/Home.aspx
The cert and test are brand new, there are fewer than 100 of them out there.
They contacted me and I will hopefully join their ranks on Monday. The
prerequisite is several years scheduing experience and 45 contact hours of
instruction in a somewhat formal manner (like an online class). We'll see
how it goes. It is a test about "scheduling" and not about "MS Project."
Microsoft has also jumped into the fray with their own exams. They have a
series of exams dealing with general using MS Project through enterprise
project management and Project Server. Obviously the exams are tool driven
and there will have to be some overlap between those exams and what PMI is
advertising. Here is a link to the Microsoft Test:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-632.mspx
Hopefully this helps. If you poke around on the link below, you will
eventually find a way to contact me outside this forum.
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If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.
Jim
Check out my new blog for more information:
http://www.msprojectblog.com