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Looking for an exciting new project?
If you’ve got excellent organisational skills and a knack for communication, project management could be the perfect career choice for you. But if you’ve never worked in a similar role before, it isn’t always easy to know how to get started – or even where to look to find the right job for you.
We spoke to The Knowledge Academy, one of the UK’s top providers of project management qualifications, to find out how you can break into the industry (even without experience).
Don’t discount your experience
Firstly, never be tempted to write off your own experience.
Just because you haven’t worked in a similar role before, it doesn’t mean you don’t have the right skills.
In fact, a lot of the key attributes you need to be a success in project management, such as leadership and time management, can be built up in a number of different ways – many of which you will have encountered throughout your time in work or education.
So whether it was the completion of a successful project at university, a new initiative you headed up in a previous role, or the leadership of an extracurricular team or club, there are plenty of project management examples to show off your skills.
Other examples of projects you could have managed include setting up your own blog, planning an event (e.g. charity evenings, weddings, etc.) and even home improvement projects.
Use your CV
Once you’ve built up a list of relevant experience, it’s time to put it to work on your CV.
This could take the form of a key skills section, something which works particularly well as part of a skills-based CV.
However, your project management-related skills should be visible throughout everything you write – including any previous roles you’ve undertaken, as well as during your education.
Struggling with what to write? Using the STAR model will help you back up your attributes, and find a winning formula to get them across in your application.
If in doubt, always use the job description to see what specific skills the employer is asking for.
Work your way up
Remember, no great project was built in a day.
The same is true when it comes to your career. Although you might have all the right skills you need to succeed, chances are some roles may still be out of your reach. Even if your CV has been specifically tailored to the role.
But instead of ruling yourself out completely, there are a number of entry level positions that will require little of no experience to get started – instead relying on mindset and being the right fit for the company.
Examples of entry level project management jobs you could apply for include Junior Project Manager, Project Assistant, and even Product Assistant.
And once you’ve got your foot in the door, you’ll be able to start building your experience up while you work – not to mention finding yourself first in line when a more senior role comes up.
Read around the subject
The great thing about project management is there’s more than one way to work.
There are a wide range of different approaches and methodologies to get to grips with, most of which have been written about at great length by people in the know.
Not sure what PRINCE2®, Agile or Scrum are? Find out, whether it’s by looking things up online, following blogs from industry professionals, or taking a course.
Not only will you be able to instantly add value to your application, you’ll also be able to talk to your interviewer at length about the subject, and demonstrate your passion.
Get certified
The number one way to get a job in project management is to get the right qualification.
Industry standards, such as PRINCE2® and AgilePM®, will instantly indicate to employers that you’re qualified for their positions. They’ll also teach you a wealth of project management techniques you can use once you’ve actually started the job.
These qualifications, as well as the aforementioned Scrum, all offer entry level certifications – meaning no previous experience is necessary to get started.
And, once completed, you’ll be able to apply for roles with confidence. Not to mention put yourself in line to earn an average salary of around £32,000 as soon as you’re qualified.
Still not sure? With so many options available, discounted courses and flexible payment plans are often on offer. So it doesn’t have to break the bank, or take too much time to get started. You just need to find the right course for you.
Why study with The Knowledge Academy?
The Knowledge Academy is the largest globally accredited organisation in the world.
They’ve provided high-quality training for over 100,000 students in more than 230 countries worldwide, including for leading brands such as JP Morgan, HSBC, Sony and more.
Benefits of studying with them include:
- Support before, during, and after your course
- Hands-on training, led by experienced industry professionals
- Extremely high global pass rates across all of their courses
- Online, classroom and distance learning options – so you can find the right study method for you
- Flexible payment options, and a whole host of other benefits
Interested in project management? Talk to The Knowledge Academy today.
The Knowledge Academy are global experts in project management training, with 10 years’ worth of experience in helping people start their project management careers.