Project Management: Discovering Your Ideal Career Path

There are many project management positions available. You can find thousands of jobs on LinkedIn through a quick Google search. We quickly searched for more than a half-million openings while writing this post. Here are a few more indicators that the project-based economy will be around for a long time.

 

You can start exploring this career if you are curious. Find out what it takes to get a job in project management and whether it’s the right choice for you.

Let’s begin with the basics.

 

This role is what it says: someone who manages a project daily. Imagine this role as a football coach or CEO of a temporary group that creates, manages, and tracks a project. This skill set is needed in almost every industry, from publishing to tech. You could work as a project manager for a large corporation or a small startup. You can work as a full-time employee, freelancer, or consultant.

 

The skills needed for this profession are easily transferable. Many project managers are able to move easily between industries. Antonio, one of us, spent 10 years as a consultant, then moved into banking. He got bored and decided to work in pharma. Yasmina, the other person in our group, stayed with telecom but was responsible for various projects ranging from mobile delivery to software.

 

You might ask yourself, “Can I really do this?”

Yes, you can. Anyone can become a great project manager. You might not have the right skills, but you will learn them with passion, dedication and perseverance. We’ll answer your questions based on our experiences, whether you’re a recent graduate or in the beginning stages of your career.

What is a real project manager?

Project managers have broad responsibility for the planning, organisation, and management of a project. They must also ensure that the project delivers the desired results within the scope, budget, and time frame.

 

Project managers’ duties will vary depending on the type of project, the industry they work in, and their organisation. All project managers have a common set of responsibilities that span the four phases of what is commonly called “the project life cycle”.

 

As a project manager, you start a project with the purpose, business case, benefits and high-level scope of the project (i.e. requirements for the project’s deliverables). This involves identifying key stakeholders or individuals or groups that will be affected by the project. Employees and customers are included. This information is used to create a project chart, which is a technical term for a detailed proposal.

 

Planning: After the project’s sponsor (usually the boss or senior management member) has approved the project charter, you will work with an expert team (assigned to your company) to define the scope and develop the overall plan. You set deadlines and key deliverables. You also identify any major obstacles or risks.

Execution and monitoring: You must ensure your team members are motivated and do the tasks outlined in the project plan. Make sure to distinguish this role from being a manager of people. People management is a part of project management, but it’s only in the context of creating high-performing teams and helping them complete their projects. You may have people in your team from different departments who report to others.

 

Closing: As a project manager, your role is to ensure the project runs smoothly and delivers the promised results. This last phase includes reviewing the business case, thanking your team, giving individual feedback and capturing the lessons learned.

 

2) What basic skills should I have to be considered for a position as a project manager?

You will need technical knowledge, soft skills and hard skills.

 

Start your career as a project manager in Virginia.

Virginia is a state rich in history, natural beauty and a dynamic place to start a rewarding project management career. Virginia’s vibrant economy, diversity of industries and proximity to significant metropolises like Washington D.C. provide numerous opportunities for project managers to work on various projects. Virginia’s dynamic job market, forward-thinking companies, and diverse industries offer a platform where project managers can thrive. Virginia’s cultural heritage, abundant recreational activities, and work-life balance make it a great place to start a career in project management.

 

Project managers should consider errors and omissions insurance in Virginia. Understanding the coverage needed for your particular profession can protect your career and your financial security.

 

Hard skills

You must have a basic understanding of project management methods, concepts and tools. This will allow you to make a reliable project plan, identify your stakeholders or manage project risks.

 

You can learn project management basics online by listening to podcasts or watching webinars.

 

It is also possible to learn a lot from those who do the job that you are interested in. If you are curious about the job, you can ask project managers at your company or people in your circle of friends for informational interviews. You can ask the following questions:

 

How did you become a project manager, and how did it go?

What do you do to keep up with the latest developments? What courses would you recommend?

What is the most important thing to remember as a new project manager?

What other advice do you have for me?

 

Once you have gained some experience in project management, you take a certification. Project Management Professional (PMP), a certification offered by the Project Management Institute, and Axelos PRINCE2 Foundation Project Management Certification are two good options. A well-known professional accreditation will help you get more project management jobs and advance your career.

Soft skills

You must develop your communication skills, actively listen to colleagues and stakeholders and motivate your team. We often learn these skills at school. For example, by working with classmates on a presentation or leading a trip. They can become dull without practice and must therefore be continually honed.

Here are some of the most important ones, along with tips on how to put them into practice:

 

Emotional intelligence means understanding your own emotions and those of others. Ask yourself the following questions regularly: What motivates you to progress? How do I handle negative thoughts when they arise? Ask for help from a coach, or get 360deg feedback. This will give you powerful insights to improve your life.

It is a rational and logical way of thinking. It allows you to identify the root cause of any problem. Pay attention to the assumptions you make when you are executing a particular project. Be sure to draw conclusions based on evidence and not biased experiences.

 

It is also essential to be able to make decisions because it allows you to select the right course of action and reason. To improve your decision-making skills, you should be deliberate (and not impulsive) before choosing a direction. Ask questions such as: Should I make the decision, or should the team? Should the team vote unanimously or by a majority?

Influence is your ability to influence or persuade others. You will need to be able to motivate others without having to have authority over them. Meet with each of your team members and learn about their goals. You can use what you’ve learned to inspire your teammates by tying their contributions to a cause they will be inspired by.

 

You will learn these skills after a period of time. It would be best if you were patient and persistent.

 

Know-how

You’ll also need a basic understanding of the technical elements involved in the project. If you are implementing an HR application, take the time necessary to understand some of the technical features of the software. For instance, the phases of development, configuration tools or how it is tested and incorporated.

 

It is optional to be an expert. A certain level of knowledge will help you gain credibility among the team members and stakeholders. This will help you to justify your course of action with your sponsor. You can learn more about a project based on a subject or industry that you need to learn more about by taking an introductory class, reading literature or talking to experts. You might say, “I am new to this field.” I want to be something other than a technical expert, but I want to gain a basic understanding of X to help me in my role. Would you be willing to meet me and share some insights with me?

 

This is not a one-time exercise. It would be best if you had a plan for keeping your technical skills up-to-date, depending on the projects you are working on.

Basic understanding of the business environment

 

It is crucial to the success of a project that you can connect the project results to the business challenges your organisation faces and its strategic goals. When this connection is made, most stakeholders, including senior managers, will be more supportive of the project because they can clearly see how it contributes towards an organisational priority.

If you work in social development and are asked to manage a program to increase education access in Mauritania, you will need to know the various educational systems. You should also be able to identify which ones are most successful and why. Also, which alternatives best suit the needs of the project?

 

This work will allow you to define better your project and its fit with your organisation’s priorities. When you can make and explain these connections, you will give your team more motivation (and purpose) in their work.

 

3) What are the opportunities in project management today?

The project manager role can be called many things: delivery manager (project manager), scrum manager (scrum manager), agile coach (product manager), etc. Titles can differ depending on where you are located. However, it is important that you know the role, its responsibilities and impact so you can make an informed decision.

A study of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the fastest and largest project management-oriented employment growth is projected in software development, with a 14{57bb35ed64c74d1ca0ab220c8cdf12db4c532c710df56eed501078598a90faa0} increase between 2019 and 2030. The rise of healthcare technology, mobile apps, and IT security will largely drive this growth.

 

Today’s leading industries are construction and manufacturing, publishing and information, finance and insurance. Four-fifths (45{57bb35ed64c74d1ca0ab220c8cdf12db4c532c710df56eed501078598a90faa0}) of the projected growth in project management jobs will be found in China and South Asia.

 

It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Success in your career doesn’t just mean climbing the organisational hierarchy. Consider exploring alternative development paths. For example, we participated in strategic frontline projects or led a team of global project managers. These experiences can both be enriching and rewarding.

 

4) How can I determine which companies offer the best job opportunities?

Project management is available in many different industries. Which one is best for you? You can use the following questions to help you decide.

 

Do you provide training/certifications to help your project managers build new skills?

Do project managers have additional responsibilities, or are they fully committed?

What kind of projects/tasks will I be managing/working on technology, strategic, customer, or internal?

What is your usual project scale — local, regional or global?

What are the average team sizes and budgets?

What are the sponsors of my project?

How do you rate the performance of project managers?

What is the career path of a project manager at this company?

Will I be allowed to manage multiple or larger projects simultaneously if I succeed?

 

5) Must I specialize in a certain area, or can I handle different types of projects?

We get this question a lot. We answer: “Yes” initially but “No” in the long run.

We recommend that a recent graduate or a professional in their early career choose a project within their area of expertise. This will maximise your chances of success and boost your confidence. As you gain experience, you can continue working on the same type of project, stay in the same field but with different technology, or change domains.

 

Your experience on the job, technical knowledge, and project certifications will determine whether you are successful. Continuous learning is the best way to develop and grow a career in Project Management.

 

It is not just about having experience on the ground or technical knowledge, nor certification in project management, that makes a person a successful manager. It’s about expanding your learning and building strong relationships with stakeholders. You can make a small contribution by pursuing a career in Project Management. This is important today more than ever.