fergamy Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Hey all, well i am at a bit of a crossroads with my job at the moment, I'm a carpenter,working in Perth, with 12 years experience nearly all of that as a foreman/supervisor,i have heaps of work here but want to progress my career. I know i won't be able to stay on the tools for the rest of my working life. So my question Are the project management courses worthwhile or am I better off doing a diploma? Am I mad to be even thinking about getting into this side of construction? How can i kick start a career in project management? many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 I was in the same sort of predicament when I was in the UK in my late 30's. I had an apprenticeship as a fitter with the coalboard, worked for several different companies over a few years, so had heaps of experience. Jobs were disappearing fast though and it got to the point where I had to decide whether to go back into education and try and change my career path or just carry on. I was single at the time so chose a HTC course followed by a 3 year degree. Didn't enjoy it that much 'cos I had been used to having as much money in my pocket as I needed for anything I fancied from being about 16. Going back to surviving on a grant and living in student digs was a shock to the system. It's worked out great now, 20 years down the track where I now work in IT and have done project management and several other interesting jobs. I don't know about the project management courses as a means to getting a job. I guess they will give you the theory and show you what tools are available as a PM but you still need the first job to get the experience. You will be taking a hit in salary for a few years probably, with no guarantees of a better job at the end of it. Project Management is pretty stressful, sometimes meaning being available 24 hrs a day and maybe wouldn't be a heap more money than your on at the moment. If you have a lot of work on and are fairly happy in your job at the moment it's a big call to try and change your career. Another option would be to have a word with your employers and let them know of your ambitions. They might have a training scheme or some way for you to get where you want with in the company. If not ask around a few of the bigger companies around Perth and see if they have anything on offer. You never know if you don't ask. Good luck, being a carpenter is a pretty good job but physical work gets harder as you get older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergamy Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 Thanks Paul, yeah the mind is doing overtime at the moment, i'll staying on the tools for a while yet, am just trying to get an idea in my head for the future, as for the company i work for, well lets just say they don't plan or look to the future its all about the quick $, have a bunch of clowns running the show, and i really do think the company motto is "we pay peanuts" one of the construction supervisors has no construction experience just a ticket for the forklifts and i do half his job for him at the moment, right thats my moan over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Thanks Paul,yeah the mind is doing overtime at the moment, i'll staying on the tools for a while yet, am just trying to get an idea in my head for the future, as for the company i work for, well lets just say they don't plan or look to the future its all about the quick $, have a bunch of clowns running the show, and i really do think the company motto is "we pay peanuts" one of the construction supervisors has no construction experience just a ticket for the forklifts and i do half his job for him at the moment, right thats my moan over. I would still make enquiries with the bigger companies in your field. There are not that many young people who have a thought about how they can further their career so you might be pleasantly surprised by the response if you are keen to get on. It was touch and go whether I completed my degree or not. I could have easily quite after the first year as I went to Uni running round in a Lotus Cortina and had money to burn, used to go abroad with mates 3 or 4 times a year, hated Birmingham Uni where I went and ran out of cash in the second year. Had to take the car home as the diff was making a noise and I couldn't afford to fix it or insure it. Even after finishing I was on a new graduate training scheme and earned about as much as I had just after I finished my apprenticeship. Took a long time to get back on decent money. If you can get a traineeship with one of the big miners or something that might be the way to go. I know they take on a few time served guys as well as graduates. It's not easy to get on as there are a lot of applicants, but possible. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensdad Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 A diploma is the bare minimum ideally a degree and if obtained in oz even better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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