Career Path towards Process Engineering

[Dennis Escueta]

A colleague of mine is getting tired of programming. She's a LOTUS Notes developer and seeing that this technology is pretty much being scaled down or phased out from our company, she'd like to get into Process Management. She's done quite a bit of training in RUP methodologies and other areas of Rational, but she doesnt know how to get into that position. She's applied for jobs in this area, but obviously she needs experience.
If your a Process Engineer, how did you get to where you are?
I am in my position, by pure luck I guess cause my manager was looking for expressions of interest, and I thought I'd see what Process Engineering is like. I just didnt want to be a Developer, I wanted to learn other areas.

[Mark Herschberg]

Well, first it should be noted that a process engineer, as most people use the term, has nothing to do with software. I assume you're talking about software process engineering.
I got into it by being in a startup that was chaotic and disorganized. I had to create a process because if I didn't do it, no one would. I was subsequently the de facto process guru who would refine and be responsibile for processes used at the company.
Subsequently I worked with a few early startups and helped them devises processes. Unfortunately early stage companies are hard to come by these days. Those that are around don't have the resources to invest in that area.
--Mark

[Lasse Koskela]

HR is generally unwilling to hire non-experienced candidates for a job. An old employee looking for a change is in much better position to get the job -- even if he hasn't got the experience either.

[Dennis Escueta]

Originally posted by Lasse Koskela:
HR is generally unwilling to hire non-experienced candidates for a job. An old employee looking for a change is in much better position to get the job -- even if he hasn't got the experience either.

Yes, this is what I told my friend. She went out to agencies and they basically said, she needs experience, if she wanted to go into that field.