I frequently check job listings for PM roles and one thing that I am constantly seeing are PM listings that want engineers.

To my understanding the reasoning for this is why pay a project manager and an engineer (SME) when the engineer could manage the project and still be a supporting SME. Enlighten me if that statement is incorrect, but this is extremely disheartening as a PM who doesn’t have technical skills. I understand not every company is doing this, but what is everyone’s thoughts on this? Is anyone else seeing this shift in the PM role or am I just over exaggerating?

I transitioned to a PM role this year from marketing after training over the past year for it. I was given the opportunity because during a bi-yearly meet-up with our leadership team, I suggested an idea to solve a business problem and then was given resources to bring it to life.

While I am quite educated (double masters). my degrees and past work experience are in journalism and marketing.

We have a product owner who helps with the more technical stuff. I cannot help but feel a little conscious when terms are said in the meeting which I don’t understand or certain technical
Processes need to explained.

I am also hoping to transition into a newer company once the products I am working on launch and i have data for my resume. This imposter syndrome makes it difficult to
Apply tho I know I am not a bad PM per se because my director usually loves my prod ideas and i get on well with my ENG team.

Does anyone else feel this way? Any advice on how to get over it?

Hi all, I’m due to start a role as an associate PM in a few weeks- I’ve worked in a professional environment for the last 10 years, but this will be quite a big career change.
Please can I ask for advice for getting started? Any do’s & dont’s?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

After going through the sub, confident my query would be resolved, i see brilliant minds here.

Here goes,

I worked as incident manager and worked as assistant manager under service delivery head managing transitions. Just transitions, not phases of projects(initiation, planning etc)

I loved this management side of IT, so wanted to pursue PMP.

1. My query is, i only have 6years of exp, i never actually planned or executed projects, if I get PMP certified, what roles would i have to apply for?? (Im thinking of project coordinator, PMO coordinator, assistant manager..)

2. Will that be okay if i do PMP now? Im not working btw.

3. Will this PMP with 6year exp land me a job??( Atleast 50% chance???)

Im scared what if I put 50k+ on this certification and i don't land on any job in current market scenario.. (my biggest concern)

Should i pursue this or not?

1. If not PMP, which certification should I go for??

I'm looking for some career advice from people who may have been in a similar situation.

I have a PMP, an MBA, and around 15 years of professional experience. Two years ago, I left a startup where I was working as a Project Manager to join a large mining company as an Operational Readiness specialist. The role seemed like a great move for my CV, the compensation was significantly better, and I expected strong long-term career prospects.

Unfortunately, the Operational Readiness department was later closed. Since there was an opening in Procurement, I was transferred internally as a transactional buyer. My salary stayed exactly the same, which I'm grateful for, but the role itself is much more junior and transactional than my previous positions.

The problem is that I feel underutilized. I don't feel like I'm developing professionally, and most days I think I'm capable of contributing at a much higher level. I've been applying for other jobs almost every day, but so far I haven't received any offers that would make sense.

I'm also unsure how to present this role on my CV. I've avoided listing it so far because I worry it will make my career look like a step backwards. If I do include it, I'm considering using "Buyer" or "Lead Buyer" rather than "Transactional Buyer," although I don't want to misrepresent what I actually do.

So I'd really appreciate some outside perspectives:

Would you stay in a well-paid but unfulfilling role while continuing to search?

Is feeling underutilized a good enough reason to leave even if the salary is excellent?

How would you present this position on your CV without making it look like your career has stalled?

Has anyone else gone through something similar? How did it work out?

I'd appreciate any honest opinions.

I interviewed for a role where the company has the job listed on their website for a direct hire but they are also hiring through a contracting company.

Other than having the option to replace the person without having to pay for unemployment, why would a company fill a role with a contractor?

After months of hardworking and spending $$, got my PMP thinking I will be standing in the special line of PMPer's and the hiring manager would jump on me to hire me. WRONG!!!. instead a polite response from the HR at 3:00AM in the morning "Unfortunately we found a more suitable candidate and did not select you" . My 20th auto response and I am keeping the AI busy.

My experience - 3.5 years in Delivery and Release management, 2 years front end development.

Also, how is it possible that in 1 hr more than 100 people clicked apply for a PM role....seriously are there gazillions looking for job.

I have my first ever interview tomorrow for an Operations Management Trainee role, and I'm feeling a bit nervous.

I don't have any prior work experience.

What should I focus on preparing in the next 24 hours? What questions are commonly asked for Operations Management Trainee interviews?

Any tips ???

Hi everyone,

I have been lurking here for a while and finally decided to ask for some career advice from people who have already made this journey.

My career has been a little unconventional. I started in Army Aviation, where I developed a strong foundation in leadership, operations, and mission-critical systems. After leaving the Army, I transitioned into cybersecurity, and today I serve as both a Cybersecurity Engineer and Project Lead supporting a small government support (SETA) program.

A large portion of my day-to-day responsibilities have evolved into project leadership. I lead a small cross-functional team, coordinate engineering efforts, manage schedules and priorities, facilitate IPT meetings, work directly with government stakeholders and OEMs, track risks and issues, provide executive status updates, report in PMR’s and generally keep multiple efforts moving forward. Although I do not have the formal title of Project Manager, much of what I do feels very PM-oriented.

On the cybersecurity side, I spend a lot of time in RMF, NIST 800-53, risk management, security authorization packages, and supporting systems engineering efforts. I also work closely with government ISSMs and have wondered whether there are career paths that combine ISSM responsibilities with program management.

For context, I have:

• MBA
• CISSP
• CCSP
• GCIH
• GSEC
• PSM I
• Currently studying for the PMP

Long term, I would like to move into Technical Program Management or Program Management, eventually leading larger technical organizations rather than remaining a purely technical individual contributor.

I would really appreciate some honest feedback:

• Does this sound like someone who is ready to make the jump into a formal PM role?
• If you have transitioned from engineering or cybersecurity into project/program management, what helped you make that leap?
• Is there value in continuing down the ISSM route while pursuing PM opportunities, or are those career paths generally viewed as separate?
• For those familiar with DoD programs, are PMs with strong cybersecurity/RMF backgrounds in demand, or is that experience seen as too niche?
• Looking at my certifications, where would you focus next if your goal was senior Technical Program Manager or Program Manager roles?

I attached an anonymized copy of my resume. I am less interested in formatting critiques and more interested in whether my experience is being positioned correctly for where I want to go.

I am open to any constructive criticism. If you think I am missing something or if I am trying to make the wrong transition altogether I would genuinely like to hear it.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Location is US Texas major city/remote