Always take the lead in group projects? A career in project management could be for you…
Project management is a growing field that offers a wide range of career opportunities across various industries, from IT and marketing right through to construction and healthcare.
Not sure how to break into a career in project management? Here’s an overview of the skills, experience and qualifications you’ll need to start a career in project management.
What is project management?
Project management is the ongoing management of a project, which covers the organisation of everything from budgets and task allocation, to deadlines and goals.
A project management professional applies their knowledge, together with various methods, processes and skills, in order to effectively lead a team and deliver a defined outcome within specified timeframes and budgets.
What jobs are available in project management?
If you’re looking to start a career in project management, you might be wondering what kind of roles are available. Here are a few of the most common positions, and what they involve:
- Project manager – Plans, executes, and monitors projects from start to finish, including managing resources, timelines, and budgets.
- Project coordinator – Carries out administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, preparing reports, and tracking project progress.
- Program manager – Oversees a portfolio of projects, ensuring that they align with business goals and are delivered on time and within budget.
- Agile coach – Coaches teams on Agile methodology, facilitates communication and collaboration, and helps teams to improve their processes and workflows.
- Scrum master – Holds Scrum meetings, removes obstacles, and ensures that the team adheres to Agile principles and practices.
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Which industries could I work in?
Project management roles can be found in nearly every industry. Here are just some of the areas you could work in, and how your chosen industry could impact the scope of your role:
👷 Construction – From the building of shopping centres to the renovation of houses – construction project managers have their work (literally) cut out for them. They organise each phase of construction, working with clients, engineers, subcontractors, and architects, and ensure the project complies with safety, zoning, and legal regulations.
❤️🩹 Healthcare – Project managers in the healthcare industry work on a number of developments that improve healthcare services for staff and patients. Typical duties could include reviewing and improving health services, planning and implementing a new site or policy, and working with relevant stakeholders – such as local health providers, hospital board members, workforce planners, and local education and training boards.
🏗️ Engineering – Engineers are hired to find better, safer, and more efficient ways of doing things within their respective fields. It’s an engineering project manager’s role to manage and oversee these projects by focusing on allocating resources, keeping clients updated, and regular communication with the team.
🧑💻 IT – IT project managers are responsible for the organisation and management of a company’s IT systems. This involves working closely with IT professionals to decide departmental requirements, figure out what steps are needed to achieve them, and what tests should be carried out to ensure quality.
📢 Marketing – Collaborating with marketing strategists, designers, and writers, marketing project managers help to make a marketer’s creative vision a reality by taking into account timescales, budgets, resources, task allocation, and more.
Five reasons to start a career in project management
What are project management employers looking for?
To work as a project manager, you typically need a combination of skills, work experience, and qualifications. Here are some of the experience requirements you may encounter in job postings for project management positions:
Skills
Project management requires a combination of technical and soft skills. Some essential skills for project managers include:
- Leadership
- Knowledge of project management methodologies
- Scope management
- Communication and collaboration
- Writing and reporting
- Planning and organisation
- Risk management
- Budget management
- Proficiency in project management software
- Adaptability
- Delegation and decision making
Work experience
Whilst direct work experience in the field of project management is often desirable (i.e. as a project manager), you can also gain the required practical skills from:
- Working in a particular industry. If you’re looking for a project management role in a specific industry or sector, practical experience in your chosen field will be extremely valuable to employers. Some project managers may also need technical skills related to the project’s industry, such as knowledge of software development or construction techniques.
- Managing a team. As project managers are responsible for leading teams and ensuring that projects are completed on time, experience in managing teams is a great way to demonstrate your capabilities to project management employers.
- Managing budgets. Delivering projects within specified budgets is a key responsibility for a project manager. If you have any experience in budgeting or financing, you should highlight it in your job applications.
You can also gain other important transferable skills – such as communication, problem–solving skills, and adaptability – from almost any role. The key to standing out to employers is framing your abilities effectively in your applications.
Education and qualifications
Having the right qualifications can enhance your chances of landing a role as a Project Manager, although it’s not always a strict requirement.
A bachelor’s degree in business, management, engineering, or a related field is often preferred, and some people choose to pursue a master’s degree or an MBA with a focus on project management.
There are also a number of professional certifications which are widely known and respected within the field of project management, such as:
- Project Management Professional (PMP): One of the most widely recognised project management certifications globally, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Requires project management experience and passing a certification exam.
- PRINCE2® (Projects in Controlled Environments): PRINCE2® focuses on a process-based approach to project management.
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM): Also from PMI, this certification is aimed at those starting their project management careers.
- Agile Certifications: Agile methodologies are increasingly important, and certifications like Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) can be useful.
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