How can a guy with good technical background get into Project Management?

I have another post out on this topic. Someone responded advising me to get certs like PMP or Six Sigma. However, these certs are expensive and nearly impossible to get unless you are already working as a PM for some company. How can I break into such a job with my current background of systems, software, and small business so I can finally get on a new career track? I've worked with people that have or were getting PMP certs but I never quite understood how they got there other than company politics, right place right time, etc. Is it really that tough? Any practical way to do this? Thanks.

OMFG. OBVIOUSLY I need to "get a job with a large corporation". LOL. The question is "HOW?!" All jobs for my background are not available and I don't have a PMI cert. That was the point of the QUESTION. NEXT!

TTH- OK, managed to find this question. The website that tells you about the requirements to get PMP Certified is www.pmi.org
Its really not that expensive to get certified- it was less than $500 if I remember right (it was a couple of years ago that I got mine). It only gets expensive if you take a training class for the test- which I admit, I did take, and that cost more like $1600. Luckily for me, my employer covered the cost, it doesnt sound like you are that fortunate.
Anyway, to meet the PM requirements, you dont necessarily have to have been the PM for an overall project. You mention running an IT consulting business- I would suspect if you look back at your experience there, you are very likely to find the PM hours you need. Did you manage Developers through a development process? Even if you didnt have a formal methodology that you used- that counts as PM time. Did you perhaps manage (even just your own work) for an integration project or something like that? Again- those hours count. Just take all those one-offs where you managed pieces of projects, even if it was just informally, and see if you can add them up.
If it doesnt come up to enough, there are two other alternatives. The first is to go for the CAPM before the PMP. The requriements are quite a bit less for the CAPM, and the test to get that cert is a lot easier. Its not as widely recognized as the PMP, but it does essentially tell companies that you are an entry-level PM. The second alternative is that they recently started up a Program Manager certification through PMI as well. If you cant find the hours for the PMP, I would again suspect that your experience in owning a consulting business might qualify you to take the Program Management certification.
It takes a good bit of time to properly fill out the application, as you really have to think back to all the little bits of work you've done in past years, and say "well, it was only a week's worth of work, but I was managing a small piece of a project during those 40 hours, so it should count", and then documenting those hours.
Its amazing the doors that having your PMP will open. It doesnt have to be limited to technology (IT), there are plenty of other non-IT jobs that need PMP's as well. You can go pretty much anywhere you want with it.

i would suggest getting a job with a large corporation. based on my experience, there are always a lot of ad hoc projects going on within my department. most seniors in the department are assigned to either support of spearhead some projects. get some experience under your belt. sometimes it does take politicking to get you assigned onto bigger projects. if you have expertise (i.e. technical, six sigma, pmp, etc) and good communication and leadership skills, then chances are you'll score.

I did an interview with Thomas Cutting on the topic of "How can I become a Project Manager". The interview is about 35 minutes long and covers pretty much everything that you might want to know about the topic. You can listen to it for free and there is also no registration required. Just click on the Play button. It can be found here: http://www.thepmpodcast.com/index.php?op... - fast forward through the opening few minutes until you get to the interview.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
The PM PrepCast鈩?- http://www.pm-prepcast.com
The PM Podcast鈩?- http://www.thepmpodcast.com