Network Project Manager Testimonial
Network Project Manager Testimonial
The following testimonial is based on an interview conducted with one or more employee(s). This interpretation of their job role reflects their personal opinion and may differ from others' perceptions.
Network Project Manager
Bell
What's it like on the inside?
It's an extremely friendly environment where everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand. All employees need to work in tandem for one common goal: to keep the network up and running. This all-pervasive goal means everyone is always at the ready to take the appropriate steps and to adapt to just about any situation.
What's most satisfying about this job?
As one Network Project Manager explains: "The Bell network is at the heart of what this company does. Without it, Bell would simply not exist. That's a huge responsibility and it's deeply satisfying to know that you are playing a part in guaranteeing the reliability of this network for Bell and for its customers." Because Bell is constantly evolving - and its network evolves along with it - every day brings a new challenge. There are always new and developing projects to work on, and that's exciting.
What's most challenging about this job?
The biggest challenge is breaking through the roadblocks. As a Network Project Manager, you are required to work with different groups and it can sometimes be challenging to get people to cooperate. Every project is linked to other groups, and when one link in the chain gets kinked, everything gets slowed down as you wait for it to get straightened out.
What is the key to succeeding in this role?
Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it will get you far in this job. The more knowledge you have and the more networking you do with other groups, the faster you will get things accomplished. As one Network Project Manager advises: "Success in this job revolves around your ability to network and communicate with other people. You need to get to know them and, more importantly, become familiar with what they do."
What qualities do potential candidates need and what skills and key lessons will they acquire in this role?
You should go into this job with some good management and organizational skills. While a background in Operations is not necessary, a basic knowledge of the Operations group and the network will give you a leg up. Once on the job, you will learn key negotiation skills that will help you to deal with different groups. You will also expand your project management skills, learning how to view projects in their entirety and how to align all the necessary pieces to meet your requirements.
What type of career experiences can lead you to this job and help you succeed in it?
One Network Project Manager bounced around a number of jobs in the Provisioning group before landing in this job: "I started off in the Design Group, then moved to the Control Centre and then to a Client Rep. position before being promoted to Project Management. These experiences helped me learn many skills that provided a good base for this job, such as learning how to track orders and schedules, and how to keep a check on critical dates and priority requests."
Where could someone in this job go next?
This position provides a good launching pad for a job as a Senior Project Manager. It also provides a gateway to any project management job within the company (e.g. Customer Project Manager). Alternatively, because this job changes all the time, you can grow within this position by working in different areas, such as Internet Protocol, Transport, etc.
