How To Start A Career In Project Management – Everything You Need to Know
August 3, 2022 2022-08-03 13:33How To Start A Career In Project Management – Everything You Need to Know
How To Start A Career In Project Management – Everything You Need to Know
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an ideal Project Manager? Starting a new career path in project management can be intimidating – which is why we’re here to help. Project Managers aren’t just necessary in every company and industry, they’re an integral part of any team that wants to see results. Unless you have firsthand information on how experienced lead team members take charge, keep track of multiple tasks at once, and provide project governance, you may feel overwhelmed at the thought of how much self-study you need to put in to master the ins and outs of project management. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
What do Project Managers Do?
The Project Manager is the captain of the ship. Project Managers coordinate efforts between team members and stakeholders to complete a given project successfully. All types of organizations including startups, small businesses, and large corporations employ skilled Project Managers to successfully deliver projects. Given their specialized skills, Project Managers map out the big, the small, and everything in between. They make sure that each project has a clear purpose and direction and sets measurable goals to be achieved accordingly.
Project Managers have 5 main roles in a company or organization:
- Risk Management
- Project Planning
- Project Execution
- Control, and
- Monitoring
Being accountable for the success of a project is one of the most difficult challenges for any leader or manager. Project Managers are responsible for developing a project plan according to the business need, budget, and schedule. They are also responsible for scheduling resources, including people, equipment, materials, and other resources that are part of the project lifecycle. In addition, Project Managers manage risks and challenges. To overcome many obstacles, they follow a plan of action.
Why should you become a Project Manager?
Project management is a lucrative field with plenty of opportunities for career growth and advancement. This is especially true if you have strong project management skills and know-how. To pursue a career in project management, you must obtain appropriate certification. Project Managers can use their skills learned during the certification courses to help organizations improve their productivity, cut costs, and increase efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, Project Managers can help to improve customer service by managing customer expectations, improving communication, and resolving problems before they occur. With the right experience and earning certifications, you can move into other roles, such as project management consultant or senior manager.
Essential Project Management Skills
Project management involves managing multiple tasks in a project. It is always good to have some basic project management skills under your belt before you start working. This can help you find work in more areas and improve your chances of landing a full-time project management position.
Project Managers should be able to both lead and follow instructions. Understanding the steps necessary to complete each task and knowing when to take ownership of the project is an important part of the job. To be an efficient project manager, you need a mixture of hard and soft skills.
Project Management Hard Skills
- Understanding of Project Management Methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, Lean, Waterfall and Prince2
- Team and Task Management
- Proficient with Project Management Software
- Time Management
- Project Planning
- Project Scheduling
- Budgeting and cost management
- Risk Management
Project Management Soft Skills
- Communication Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Negotiation Skills
- Organizations Skills
- Interpersonal Skills
- Problem-Solving Skills
Project Manager Salaries
By obtaining the relevant project management certifications, you may potentially earn an annual average salary of $97,073. The reported average base pay is $83,850, with the reported additional pay being $14,000, annually. In addition to this, your level of experience, education and team size, region, and industry may also affect your salary.
Best Project Management Certifications and Qualifications
To become a project manager, you should have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, business studies, environmental science, or any relevant field. Furthermore, you can take several courses and exams offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
PMI has several certifications you can earn by taking online classes, attending instructor-led training, or by completing a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. Once you complete the requirements, PMI will issue you a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Beyond the PMP certification, you may also consider earning the Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM) certification. This certification is designed for Project Managers who have at least 2 years of experience in the field. PRINCE2 certifications offered by Axelos are another entry-level certification that is widely recognized by employers.
To conclude…
Project management skills are in high demand, and they can lead you to a rewarding career. There are several certifications and degrees you can pursue to further your career as a project manager. Project management salary trends remain high, and there are opportunities in a variety of industries. To start your career as an aspiring project manager, get started today by researching the right Project Management certification here.
