Joe Paschall ⋅ Madison , AL nLogic, LLC ⋅ 26 years experience

Upon prompting from Tom Cal, I have just joined. Pursuing the PMP is one of the most valuable things you can do with your time on transition- especially if you aspire to management positions in the defense sector or IT sectors. I applied while still in uniform, using my military experience. I used a single study guide and passed the exam 90 days later. I then chose to pursue the PgMP, which is another level of difficulty entirely. However, PMP is sufficient for any transitioner and actually more valuable in the short term than the MBA. Involvement with PMI is also a great way to quickly get integrated into a local community among professional managers. I am currently President of the local PMI Chapter, and that also offers the advantage of getting me involved at the regional and national levels in various conferences. I most certainly recommend pursuing the PMP as an effective way to take charge of one's transition.

Robert Yopps ⋅ Altadena , CA Veteran Business Concepts ⋅ 12 years experience

Hi Mike,
Just joined this conversation. Sounds like you have a good plan in the works. And good luck with the move. My business partners and I run a Veterans small business incubator in Altadena. Based on your questions above, it sounds like you are more interested in corporate positions, perhaps with an IB focus. But, we are always looking for good candidates for our program. We usually recruit out of MBA programs. If you are interested in running your own company, please feel free to contact me when you get in town. If nothing else, it's always good to connect with Vets in the area. Again, best of luck. Take care.
Rob

Robb Stanton ⋅ Olympia , WA Zones, Inc. ⋅ 15 years experience

Mike, I live in Olympia and work in Long Beach, California. Quite the commute. I have worked with several transitioning veterans and also used my military skills to apply for the PMP exam. I see this thread is a few months old, but if you are still looking for some direction or assistance let me know and i would be willing to assist.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco , CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Thanks for joining and helping Joe!

Michael Morgan ⋅ Olympia , WA U.S. Army, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 9 years served

Great article. Thanks for sharing. I'll keep everyone posted on my PMP Certification quest. So far I have completed 4 hours of online education and I just got my PMBOK 5h Ed in the mail today.

I am working on a timeline breakdown of my Warrant Officer time to help me derive what I did in the context of project management. As the article stated, the terminology is different, but conceptually PMP processes are very familiar.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco , CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

MIke,
Re:"I'd like to talk with someone that has applied using their military experience"

The gentleman interviewed in this article applied for the PMP certification using his military experience.

http://www.northalabamapmi.org/documents/papers/2009_Joe_Paschall.pdf

"As I began the interview process it became obvious that a lot of interviewers I talked with were asking about a PMP certification. It took me by surprise because I had assumed that having an MBA and 20 years of management experience spoke for itself. I thought, certainly I was well prepared for anything.

However, I thought I better look further into the PMP since the lack of it seemed to represent a potential flaw in my resume, at least in the perception of some interviewers. Upon doing a little research with PMI, I discovered I already had the requisite experience and training – although in some ways it was really quite different as well. I was not in the acquisitions community of the military; and if you are not in that community – then you are typically in more of a functional organizational role versus a matrixed or projectized type of organization.

From my 20 years of military experience, although I had experience at higher levels of management, not all of it was in the direct management of projects or programs. I had to reach back within my experience to look at all of the things I managed that were actually called projects, or met the PMI definition of what constitutes a project.

Looking back over the past decade of military experience, it was not difficult to come up with the three years of experience needed for the PMP exam application. After being authorized to test, I got one study guide and prepared about 90 days for the PMP and passed the exam."

Michael Morgan ⋅ Olympia , WA U.S. Army, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 9 years served

Tom,
how are those Mets doing :)

Re the PMP certification, I'd like to talk with someone that has applied using their military experience. I've been back tracking the various projects/missions that I have had to initiate, plan, execute, and monitor. I'm feel I could do a pretty good job putting the application together, but I am always looking to share ideas.

For work, I intend to stay within commuting range of North Los Angeles, which would include Downtown and possibly a little beyond with the right opportunity. I am interested in multinational corporations that I can eventually put my MA International relations and eventual MBA in Int'l Business to good use. Focus sectors include: consumer tech, entertainment and communications. I have actually been in contact with Lavonne on this site regarding opportunities at Verizon. I just had a good first contact in a virtual job fair with NBCUniversal. I am also looking at Warner, Disney, Amazon, Google, Yahoo and others of the like. I am particularly interested in emerging technologies related to media and content distribution. I have a pretty good network of friends and acquaintances in the entertainment sectors.

Bottom line, getting a good job in a good company with good growth opportunities plays a higher priority for me. I get job satisfaction through accomplishment, team building and mentoring.

Mike

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco , CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Mike - I think joining local Project Management Institute chapters is a great way for Veterans to network and to seek advice and mentorship. (http://www.pmi.org/Get-Involved/Chapters-PMI-Chapters.aspx)

So we all can better help you, are there any particular industries (Construction, IT, Finance, etc.) or firms in which you are interested? Are you open to locations beyond Los Angeles?

(BTW Go Mets!)

-Tom

Michael Morgan ⋅ Olympia , WA U.S. Army, Chief Warrant Officer ⋅ 9 years served

Hi Chris,

Thanks! Rosamond ehh? So are you into cars at all? I used to go road racing up at Willow Springs.

Sounds like you've done good for yourself after you got out, congrats. I sent you a LinkedIn connection request.

Mike

Christopher Birkinbine ⋅ Rosamond , CA NASA Dryden Flight Research Center ⋅ 1 years experience

Hello Michael, welcome!

I am answering because your story sounds similar to mine. I just moved to Rosamond Ca. about 2 months ago (about an hour east of LA) from Pullman Wa (about 5 hours east of Olympia)

I also joined the army a little later than most (and I really do mean little, I was 20 rather than 18 ha!) I got out in 2008 on a medical discharge, finished up my schooling and am now here working at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

I unfortunately do not know anything about PMP/PMI, and I'm not a huge Lakers fan (at least yet), but if you ever need any help with any general hardships or what not, I am available. I'll hit you up with a private message with my contact info.

Good luck on your upcoming move!