It’s no secret that transitioning back into the civilian workforce can be a big challenge for ex-military personnel and Veterans. Gaining qualifications for a new role can be daunting, especially after so many years dedicated to serving the country. Finding a job that excites while still offering the benefits needed can be like trying to locate a needle in a haystack. Not only that, but locating an opportunity that fits the skill set of a veteran is also tricky. This is why project management is a prevalent career path for military veterans. They have experience gathering large teams and planning and executing important projects while taking inventory of all risks.
In this article, we will explore why project management is an excellent career for veterans and explore how to get the proper training to excel in this field.
The excellent part about project management is that the skills required are highly transferable. Many jobs in the field of project management relate to the military. Dust, it is more than possible for veterans to earn their p.m. pee after attending a certification training course tailored explicitly for ex-military personnel.
Why Project Management Is a Great Career Path
Most military personnel and Veterans will find project management to be a very fitting career path. It is very similar to military planning, as all of the phases are parallel between the two fields. One of the main differences veterans will have to overcome is the industry-specific knowledge required to excel in certain project management fields. This is why gaining formal project management training can be such an asset for these individuals.
Training For Veterans
Luckily, there are specific project management courses tailored to ex-military personnel who wish to obtain their PMP certification. Many training providers will focus on Veterans-specific training so that you can get the most out of the course. The PMP exam offers a certificate that is needed to get hired in many roles within this field. The project management professional course can provide many benefits, such as cost-effectiveness and higher hiring rates. Not only that, but most courses offer a refund policy so that if the veteran decides not to proceed with the course, they can withdraw And earn money back.
Of the online courses available, we strongly recommend Brain Sensei’s Self-Paced PMP Exam Prep course. They include a pass guarantee, money-back guarantee, and access to the entire course with unlimited practice questions for an entire year.
Common Certifications
The project management Institute offers a few different certifications that apply to military and Veterans. Here are a few of the most popular courses you can explore:
CAPM Certification
This certification is perfect for entry-level individuals. You do not have to have experience managing projects. This course will prove your understanding of project management’s terminology, language, and prophecies. The individual must collect 1500 hours of experience and 23 hours of project management education.
CPM Certification
This course is one of the most important certifications that is offered. This is a prerequisite that individuals must have before directing and leading Global teams. The certification proves that you are able to understand the global language of project management. The certificate will also allow you to connect to a community of other project managers worldwide, which can be extremely beneficial, especially for military personnel who are used to making friends outside of their own social bubble.
In order to apply for the certification, you need 7500 hours of project management experience, or 4500 hours if you have a bachelor’s degree. You can earn these hours from Real World experience working in the field of project management. You will also need to attend 35 hours of training from a certified Institute. Keep the certification active. You need 35 PDUs to remain accredited.
(PRINCE2) Certification
If you are focused on earning a global project management certification, this is one of the best certifications you can earn. Prince2 will offer project management methods to improve your skills and collaborate with other managers worldwide. There are also different levels that you can achieve, such as professional, agile, and Foundation. Remember, p m p is one of the most renowned certifications for Veterans, as the PM I is widely known throughout the US.
PMP Certification for Military Personnel
Many of the skills individuals learn in the military can also be applied to project management practices. It is vital for military personnel who are transitioning two speak about their experiences in a way that makes sense to civilian workforces that are hiring.
For example, having a collection of accomplishments is a great place to start. Try to collect your individual strategic leadership Skills so that you can prove that these are directly transferable to the field of project management.
Earning your PMP certification will allow you to grow rapidly on the project management career ladder. Also, you will be able to qualify for a higher salary after earning this certification. Your leadership and planning skills will be proven, and your future peers will look up to you for achieving this accreditation.
Project management could be an incredibly fulfilling career if you work as an operations planner, training officer, Sergeant, or commander in the military. Each of these roles has skills that can be transferred to the field of project management.
PMP Certification for Veterans
Keep in mind that most veterans have project management experience already. It is likely that this experience is categorized under a different name.
Project managers can also exist in various industries such as Information Technology, Administrative Services, Finance, Tech, and Healthcare.
What Is The Best Choice?
Below, you will find some of the best reasons why the PMP certification is a great fit for veterans:
- Military and government personnel have a lot of experience working with project-based initiatives in the past.
- Project managers will need to be able to track details, enforce processes, and handle complex details. All of these skills are typically held by people who are ex-military personnel or veterans.
- Project managers must also be able to be highly responsive, flexible, and have great communication skills.
- Military personnel are also very quick to adapt to technology, which can be a huge advantage in the field of project management. There is lots of different software out there that can help improve organizational effectiveness end boost team engagement.
The demand for project managers has increased over the past couple of years. Business Leaders and corporations are actively seeking qualified candidates who can command a room and get the job done right. Many of these skills have already been gained through the experience of those serving, making this the perfect career choice for people transitioning back into the civilian workforce.
Support Veterans & Military Personnel
Many project management course providers offer discounts to veterans and military personnel. Brain Sensei is one such provider. They regularly award free scholarships and provide discounts to all veterans and military personnel on their courses. Learn more about their Military Scholarship and how to apply.
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