Chris Richmond, VA Agile Project Manager looking for experience
I made the decision several years ago to make a career change into the software development field and returned back to school and obtained a BS in IT Management. I also obtained certifications in Project Management as well as CSM and CSPO. I have been actively looking for a position for the past 9 months only to be told repeatedly that I possess all the knowledge and required skills for the positions I am applying for BUT they are looking for someone with more experience. My question is how does someone gain the experience if no one is willing to allow me to apply my knowledge to the position and get the experience?
Hi Christopher: Great question! I'd say a great place to start is to contact your school and see if they have any career resources you can take advantage of. Maybe your school works with certain employers who love their graduates, or they have special opportunities for more work experience. Let us know if that's a viable step for you!
Hmm, interesting. Have you ever thought about consulting in order to build up that portfolio? There are definitely a lot of clients out there who could benefit from your knowledge and expertise. Check out sites like Guru.com and Upwork.com; these sites post outsourced projects from employers who are ready to work with consultants.