How to get started in project management
Most children don’t have any dreams of becoming project managers when they grow up. There is no shiny car, fancy uniform, or global fame involved. dY~,
A rewarding career is more than just the surface. Project management is a rewarding field with lots of potential and can open doors to leadership.
How do you get into project managing? There is no one way to become a project manager. There are many certifications and qualifications that will get you into the door and help you start your project management career.
LetaEUR(tm), let’s get to the basics of being a project manager.
What does a project manager do?
It is a major decision to choose a career. It is important to understand the day-to-day activities of project managers before you make a decision about a career in project management.
Here’s a look at the basic responsibilities that project managers will have:
Make project estimates and plans
Manage the project process
Monitor and prepare project schedules, scope and budgets.
Manage the team workload and maintain morale
Provide regular project status reports
Lead and organize project meetings
Facilitate communication
Manage stakeholder relations
Project management education requirements
Although you can get a degree in project administration from colleges and universities, it is not necessary. Many project managers are either accidental project managers with no formal PM educationaEUR”, or specialize in a particular field and then become certified in project management.
Projects work in different companies, so no one set of credentials will guarantee you a job. It may be worthwhile to become Scrum-certified if you are looking to manage software development projects. However, a PMP credential could be useful in project management. It all depends on what type of projects you will be managing.
ItaEUR(tm).s is why itaEUR(tm).s important to do your research. You can find good guidance by looking at job listings for project managers across industries and career levels. This will help you to determine which certifications are necessary to improve your project management skills.
Educational opportunities that allow you to leave with a certificate or extra letters are not the only ones that matter. Every opportunity to learn how to manage projects better is worth it. It shows your team and leaders that you are capable of doing so.
Common project manager career paths
It can be difficult to land a job as a project manager if you are just out of college. It is important to know what entry-level positions you should be looking for in order to get your foot in front of potential employers and help you start your project management career.
These are some common career paths that can be used as stepping stones to becoming a project manager.
This is the place to start if you are looking to get involved in a project team. You’ll learn all the basics of project management and be able to become a project manager.
Business analyst: A business analyst is responsible for gathering and documenting requirements and acting as a liaison between stakeholders and the project team. This role is often associated with technology so it’s a great fit for those who want to enter IT or software development project management.
Software QA manager or test manager: The test manager oversees the QA team, plans and manages testing. This skill aligns well with project management. As a first step to this career, you can apply for software tester or developer positions.
Product or web designer: This job is great for creatives who are interested in project management. You are the one who actually builds and delivers things.
