Project Manager Path

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Actually beside having a nice name card any reason why you are so hung up to be a manager? Most people talk about pay, company, industry, prospect, professional development etc but you seem more interested in calling yourself project manager. What you hope to achieve with this designation?

got to agree. if your direct report is only GM, then u are better off looking for a company where there are more levels in between for you to get a nice title.

btw, i don't have manager/president/director in my title but i earn way more than my AVP wife.

[aspenx]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

got to agree. if your direct report is only GM, then u are better off looking for a company where there are more levels in between for you to get a nice title.

btw, i don't have manager/president/director in my title but i earn way more than my AVP wife.

Thanks for chirping in. I agree too.

And I understand there are many people who don't have fancy titles yet make a lot of money.

I think the other aspect of my initial post has been largely neglected. What are the suggested professional developments I can look out for and take up to better myself? I don't expect to be become a "decently-paid" manager nor reach my target pay level overnight and without hard work so...

I will wait for more opinions on this.

Originally Posted by aspenx

I see the designation as a form of safety net. I understand some firms can be difficult with their recruitment process and a suitable title for the kind of work I do should help in the event that I want to make a jump again at that time. Of cos the real skills and experience will have to show for it too.

My goals on pay and company aren't that firm as obviously I may have to readjust my expectations now and expect to do so continuously.

I hope to find some more ideas and plan what I should do next.

In all my years of hiring and letting go staff, this is the 1st time I hear that having a manager title provides a career safety net. Nobody cares about job titles when it comes to hiring, having a name card that says manager certainly does not help in providing job security. What use is a silly manager title when during a recession thousands of Vice Presidents / Directors were getting fired everyday.

I think your 1st goal is to stop setting goals base on worthless things like business title.

ithe fastest way to get good money and promoted to senior level is to join b2b sales or banking fo.

[aspenx]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In all my years of hiring and letting go staff, this is the 1st time I hear that having a manager title provides a career safety net. Nobody cares about job titles when it comes to hiring, having a name card that says manager certainly does not help in providing job security. What use is a silly manager title when during a recession thousands of Vice Presidents / Directors were getting fired everyday.

I think your 1st goal is to stop setting goals base on worthless things like business title.

Thanks for sharing your experience. You are definitely right about job security. Regarding hiring, I have heard some funny things regarding titles and from both sides of the fence. I will have to learn how to filter my information better but before that I thought it could be a temporary goal to work towards.

[aspenx]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

ithe fastest way to get good money and promoted to senior level is to join b2b sales or banking fo.

I have heard from old hands that b2b sales was once considered as part of the job scope for my current position byut was removed/not added. It is largely being handled by the directors (from the other divisions) and GM now.

Job prospect and pay negotiation is determin by CV branding and exisiting salary, not job title, thats why all the deg grads from good unis try to get into a branded mnc if possible. once stuck in sme very hard to recover

[aspenx]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Job prospect and pay negotiation is determin by CV branding and exisiting salary, not job title, thats why all the deg grads from good unis try to get into a branded mnc if possible. once stuck in sme very hard to recover

How hard? What can be done now? Want to make a rational informed decision for my "next step".

I think the threadstarter sees himself as having good people management skills as well as having the drive to get things done and thus wants to position himself in a role which he thinks requires both of these skills in abundance. In that respect I think for him to position himself accordingly makes sense

[aspenx]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think the threadstarter sees himself as having good people management skills as well as having the drive to get things done and thus wants to position himself in a role which he thinks requires both of these skills in abundance. In that respect I think for him to position himself accordingly makes sense

Yes, although I can't claim to have "good" people management skills yet.