Originally Posted by Unregistered

Are you kidding me? I'm a program manager where I'm at now. I have a few project managers and engineers around the world reporting to me currently. That explains the staggering disparity in the pay they offered. (For better perspective: Project > program > portfolio) program managers usually require >8 years experience and good track record as PJM.



Thought about that when I started working but realised if I want to do well at where I am, I will need more than a degree. A degree is nonetheless a parameter to a bigger output. It is not the output and most certainly not the only consideration. I interview and hire people. I met some candidates who thinks the degree is the ultimate destination forgetting that he still needs to value add. You can tell when they answer you "because I have a degree" with the conventional why should I hire you sort of question. Not asking you to not take a degree, but don't treat the degree as the only key to opening doors. Overly obsessed with it that you forget to deliver. I look for integrity, good personality, perseverence, humility and hunger for knowledge. Projects cost to run and when milestones aren't met at defined timeframes, we lose money and sometimes even get into a possible lawsuit. We need to work with so many other functions and everyone has different concerns, budgeting, critical paths etc all come into the picture. In a nutshell, I got no time and money for freeloaders. You either deliver or you go, the degree isn't going to save you.