APM Mentor series

What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d received when you were starting out in your career?

Kathryn

I wish I would have been encouraged to network more at an early stage in my career. To connect with more experienced people, listen to their stories to use as a guide around what might be good for me to do and what might not.

I wish I'd have found a way to go to more events to gain some wider insight from outside of my organisation.

I wish I have had access to/been encouraged to seek a Mentor or a coach to support me - I think the latter so powerful particularly if the organisation you work for doesn't provide much in the way of support and/or development.

Find a trusted individual to learn from and turn to for guidance, support and just talking through situations. In our hybrid world it is easy to be left with situations to resolve alone; water cooler moments getting less and less possible with home working. Create those connections for yourself because they are so valuable for all of us.

Alexander

The following isn't strictly my personal experience but it's advice I would give.

Don't be afraid to ask for help or guidance. The vast majority of people should welcome your curiosity and desire to learn.

Don't be intimidated by the organizational structure. Senior people will welcome questions from enthusiastic and curious young professionals. They are, after all, the future of the business.

It's not something I experienced personally but if no-one in your organisation has the time to help or mentor you move on but make the most of your time while you’re there.

Respect the experience and expertise of experienced people. They may not have your qualifications or life experience but they may have a lot to teach you.

How can students make the most of networking opportunities while still studying?

Kathryn

Look for local events as a first port of call, to connect with people in your area if possible. Attend conferences that are of interest to you and as your time and budget allows. You can guarantee that you will meet people who share your interests particularly if you are pro-active whilst you are there ensuring that you will be able to connect with them for future learnings, conversations and seeing them at future events.

Join APM Network Interest Groups and locality groups to connect with people who share your interests or are in the same geographical area as you to keep the cost down. In those you can be as active as you would like to be/have time to be to fit around your studying.

Join online events which are often small and you can find connection in (LinkedIn Live for example). Connect with as many people as possible and engage in whatever conversations you have time to do: LinkedIn, APM Community, for example.

Lots that can be done to pro-actively network whilst studying!

Alexander

I would strongly recommend joining the local APM Network and, if you can, participating in the local version of the APM Project Challenge. I’ve been involved in my local networks version for the last 3 years and I think it’s an excellent opportunity for apprentices and people in full time study.

What’s a common mistake you see early-career professionals make, and how can students avoid it?

Kathryn

Don't rush into project management qualifications. Get some experience under your belt and in the process assess what qualifications are out there and might be most appropriate to you. I remember being asked to undertake Prince 2 early in my career.

At the time of the course it meant very little to me as I had so little real life project experience to hang the information on. Studying at degree and post-graduate levels might put you off development for a while; just don't let that while become too long a period!

Take your time and once you feel ready to study, learn, develop keep doing that in whatever ways you have time and energy for: reading, engaging with others, listening to podcasts, taking formal exams. Continued professional development is a vital part of being a project professional - keep it going!

Alexander

Understand that you are at the start of your career. Regardless of your academic achievement there is much to learn both from your own professional development and the people you will work with both inside and outside the organisation. Networking with, and learning from, people in upstream and downstream organisations in your supply chain will give you a different perspective on, and insight into, your role.

What skills or qualities do you think will be most valuable in the workplace over the next few years?

Kathryn

Whilst I think that an understanding of and competence in the use of newer technologies such as AI will be essential, I still feel that being a strong, empathic leader/project professional who is emotionally and culturally aware/intelligent, will be of immense value and will in fact be a standout quality. Teams can fail without good, solid, appropriate care, support, in-time coaching and guidance.

The ability to offer this, combined with having strong technical project management skills, based on the APMs competencies, and grounded in real life experience, will be absolutely key.

Alexander

An understanding of the benefits and limitations of AI, particularly it’s data requirements will be key. An ability to recognise data patterns which support the application of AI will be key.

The usual set of skills and competencies will still be critical. AI may be able to produce a schedule or analyse a document but you will still be accountable for project outputs.

How can students build confidence in their abilities, especially when they’re just starting out?

Kathryn

Working with and learning from more experienced professionals, will help to support confidence in the right way to do things. Undertaking small discrete elements of a project to know that you can confidently undertake certain tasks, understand required documentation, be confident in how to support and how to challenge appropriately. Observe others and note who does things well and how they do it.

Discuss with you manager opportunities to practice these things in real life settings and get feedback on what you've done well and what you could have done differently. Don't be afraid to ask for the latter because, uncomfortable as it can be at times, such feedback feeds continuous improvement for us all and is one of the best ways to learn, develop and to gain your confidence.

Alexander

I think this is largely a matter of personality and the support provided by others. Maybe seek out people who are willing to help and support and do not allow others to influence you. Accept that you will not succeed in everything but seek to learn when things don’t go your way. In the words of a better man than me – Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to carry on that counts.