15 LinkedIn Groups Every Project Controller Should Join

The demands and how busy it can get being a Project Controller can make it difficult to keep up with the constant shifts in industry trends. Working in various environments and with numerous project types you might be wondering where you can find the latest news about a specific sector or who’s looking to hire a Project Controller. This is understandable and Social communities like LinkedIn can help with that. Join in on interesting discussions through LinkedIn groups. To get a glimpse of 15 popular Project Controls LinkedIn groups and communities on LinkedIn check out the list below.

[Aside: Some of the groups worth joining are private, meaning if you click join you will have to wait for the group’s owner to approve your request, while others are public where any LinkedIn member can become apart the group.]

1. #ProjectControls – Global Network for Project Controls Professionals

Created: July 15, 2008
Type: Networking Group
Members: 38,628
Owner: Dustin M.
Why This Group Is Awesome: This is an exclusive group for Project Controls Professionals. If you’re in the engineering or construction industry the discussions that happen in this group is meant to inform its members on planning, scheduling, EVM, Primavera P6 and many more.

2. #ProjectControlsJobs – Post a Project Controls Job for Free!

Created: December 10, 2008
Type: Job Board
Members: 12,077
Owner: Dustin Massey
 Why This Group Is Awesome: This is a global group and is opened to those who are looking for a job in Project Controls. It’s free to post a job and for those looking, you can simply apply for a job you are interested in no matter where it is in the world. Focus on this group and specializations include:

• Project Controls Planning Scheduling Estimating Cost Engineering Contracts
• Quantity Surveying Risk Analysis Accounting Finance Claims Earned Value EVM
• Construction Oil Gas Chemical Infrastructure Civil Offshore Energy Mining Power
• Jobs Career Recruiting Staffing Human Resources HR Management

3. The Guild of Project Controls (GPC)

Created: July 5, 2011
Type: Networking Group
Members: 801
Owner: Theo D’Orgee
Why This Group Is Awesome: This group offers more than a forum for discussion and networking but it also provides its members with access to career paths, mentoring and resources to assist current Project controllers or Project controllers to be. Regardless of the stage you are in in your career, the Guild is there to help support project controllers find the right path or get advice on project issues.

4. Planners & Schedulers & Project Control Professional

Created: December 12, 2007
Type: Networking Group
Members: 33,742
Owner: Alex Wong
Why This Group Is Awesome: It’s a one stop shop where you can find experts in this field and learn a thing or two from their own experiences. It’s a group that helps support industry professionals and people who are working towards becoming a Project Controller and is also a great place to ask questions about Planning and Scheduling best practices.

5. The Project Manager Network – #1 Group for Project Managers

Created: October 17, 2007
Type: Networking Group
Members: 762,479
Owner: Miles Jennings
Why This Group Is Awesome: It’s the #1 Project Managers Social Media Group and Community on LinkedIn. This is a great forum if you’re looking for job in Project Management, or if you just want to join in on the discussions about Project Management, PDU’s, methodologies and many more. Some members include Project Managers, PMO leadership, Project consultants, and more.

6. Oracle Primavera

Created: August 13, 2010
Type: Networking Group
Members: 14,278
Owner: Lauren Gibson
Why This Group Is Awesome: This community is an open forum where you can discuss all things Primavera. If you are looking for best practices, advice or news, this group helps you to connect with other Oracle professionals. This group is organized by Oracle itself.

7. Project Management Professionals PMP

Created: April 7, 2008
Type: Networking Group
Members: 53,857
Owner: Assad Chaudhry
Why This Group Is Awesome: If you are certified or non-certified Project Management Professional who is looking to connect with link-minded individuals, this private group is worth joining.

8. Primavera

Created: July 27, 2008
Type: Networking Group
Members: 55,651
Owner: Majid Farahani
Why This Group Is Awesome: If you’re a new user of Primavera or an expert, this is an open group. It was create to connect professionals who specialize in Oracle’s Primavera and those who are just starting off. This group is great to share ideas, bring up for discussion and get some insight on what you want to know about mastering Primavera P6. If you have questions about Primavera P6, this is the place to ask them to get an answer from an expert.

9. Project Manager Community – Best Group for Project Management

Created: September 28, 2007
Type: Networking Group/Job Board
Members: 313,957
Owner: Jason Westland
Why This Group Is Awesome: When you become a member, you will not only be connected to other project management professionals, but get dibs on job openings, training videos and advice on how to successfully management your projects. Some topics being discussed in this group are PMI, PMP Certification, PMBOK PDU, Software Development, Si Sigma, PMO and much more.

10. Oil and Gas People

Created: October 17, 2009
Type: Networking Group/Job Board
Members: 406,831
Owner: Kevin Forbes
Why This Group Is Awesome: Working or recruiting for the oil and gas industry? Join this group to get the latest on all sectors of this industry – Geo-science, Drilling, Engineering, Offshore, Health and safety, Training and many more.

11. I want to be a PMP®

Created: October 4, 2009
Type: Networking Group
Members: 42,121
Owner: Oliver F. Lehmann, M.Sc., PMP
Why This Group Is Awesome: Studying to become a certified Project Management Professional? This group is similar to a live, global study group where you can get tips on how to best prepare for the examination from experts and credential holders.

12. Cost Engineering

Created: May 19, 2008
Type: Networking Group
Members: 12,535
Owner: Christiaan des Bouvrie
Why This Group Is Awesome: Find professionals who are active in this field and get valuable advice from their experiences. Connect with Cost Engineers, Cost Analysts, Quantity Surveyors, Cost controllers, Schedulers and many more around the globe.

13. Linked: Energy (Energy industry expertise)

Created: March 3, 2008
Type: Networking Group
Members: 228,522
Owner: Olivier Taupin
Why This Group Is Awesome: It’s the self-proclaimed #1 Energy group in LinkedIn and is the place where you can find professionals in the Petroleum industry, gas industry, Nuclear Power industry and many more. Start some discussions, get noticed by recruiters or just join to enhance your knowledge of the Energy industry.

14. BIM Experts

Created: May 5, 2008
Type: Networking Group/Job Board
Members: 41,280
Owner: Van Woods
Why This Group Is Awesome: Not sure where to turn when you need advice on BIM? Join this group to start discussions with Building Information Modeling (BIM) experts and learn from their experiences. Connect with industry professionals who specialize in BIM.

15. Humor in Project Management

Created: February 19, 2012
Type: Networking Group
Members: 49,111
Owner: Tejas Sura (MS, MBA, PfMP, PMP)
Why This Group Is Awesome: Some Project Managers take themselves too seriously – well not in thie group. In this group, you will find the lighter side of this demanding profession. Read some fun project experiences from the members of this groups or share your own.

Whoa, that’s a lot of LinkedIn groups focused on Project Management & Project Controls – but there are actually a lot more! In case you were wondering, the maximum number of groups LinkedIn will let you join is 50. These discussion forums can come in handy so don’t hesitate to join and get in on the discussion. Don’t only observe, participate and help out other fellow Project Controllers while you’re at it.