How You Can Prepare For A Project Manager Role
If you’re considering a project manager position, you’ve made a wise choice. Employment of project managers is projected to grow by six percent during the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, the average salary for a project manager is $88,410 per year, which is 50 percent higher than the overall average salary in the U.S.
Project managers work in a wide range of industries. Their specialized skills help ensure complex tasks are completed on schedule and within budget. Success as a project manager requires a set of technical and interpersonal skills. You can acquire and polish these important skills through training and experience.
This article offers some suggestions to prepare for a project manager role.
What is a Project Manager?
A project manager is a specialized professional who plans, organizes, and implements or oversees projects while working within schedule and budget constraints. From hundred-story skyscrapers to life-saving pharmaceuticals to the space shuttle, project managers lead many different types of projects in various industries. Their management expertise helps complete projects that turn groundbreaking ideas into reality.
A project manager has crucial roles throughout a project’s life from conception to completion. His or her responsibilities include:
• Identifying and defining project goals and scope
• Planning project tasks
• Managing project teams and resources
• Effectively communicating with project stakeholders
• Ensuring project deliverables are completed and delivered on time
• Identifying and mitigating project risks
• Ensuring top-quality results
Some of the skills of a successful project manager are:
• Critical thinking
• Creative problem-solving
• Effective communication
• Motivation and team management
• Organization and time management
• Leadership and adaptability
Adaptability is one of the most vital skills. The wide range of the project manager’s responsibilities means each day and each project is different. The project manager's tasks include recruiting new team members, updating stakeholders on the project’s progress, and adjusting timelines to compensate for an unforeseen delay.
Along with human and interpersonal skills, project managers apply technical skills to keep projects on track to a successful conclusion. Project management methodologies enable project managers to track a project’s schedule and costs and quickly spot any issues. Specialized software helps project managers streamline processes, create and update plans and reports, and generate invoices. Collaborative tools help project managers communicate and work together with their teams.
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How You Can Prepare for a Project Manager Role
The main ways to acquire project management skills are through education and experience. A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement to become a project manager. Higher education helps develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed on the job. Many project managers have degrees in business or an industry-related field like construction, biology, or computer science. Some employers seek project management candidates with graduate degrees like a Master of Business Administration.
Along with formal education, experience is important for a project manager. Most project managers start by working in non-management positions on project teams. As they gain more experience, they may take on managerial tasks.
Earning certifications helps project managers refine their skills and document their expertise. Many certifications are available, such as the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) documents the basic skills of successful project management across industries and offers the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. To earn the PMP certification, project managers must have several years of professional project management experience, fulfill certain training requirements, and pass an exam demonstrating their knowledge of the PMI’s methodologies.
Entry-level project managers can earn the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. Earning the CAPM demonstrates knowledge of successful project management methodologies and can help a new project manager obtain project management positions to gain more experience.
Other Tips for Being a Project Manager
Communication
While technical and industry-specific knowledge is important, soft skills are key to success as a project manager. Good communication with the project team lets the project manager know about issues and deviations early. Communication with stakeholders helps identify scope and requirement changes so the project manager can adapt and revise schedules and budgets accordingly.
Leadership
The project manager must be a leader and motivator. The project team makes the difference between project success and failure, so maintaining project members’ focus and morale is crucial.
The project manager must build a relationship of trust and openness with the project team and stakeholders. The project manager must be open to feedback and input from all team members and stakeholders. He or she must also understand the organizational culture and what motivates different individuals to work toward project success.
Organization
Documentation is key to keeping a project on track and helping everyone keep up with the project status. The project plan, schedule, tasks log, risk log, and other documents help define the project, show its progress, document roles and responsibilities, and record lessons learned for the future.
Related:
Breaking Down Google Career Certificates: Project Management
What Is A Project Management Certificate And What Can I Do With It?
Top 4 Project Management Certification Programs You Can Complete Virtually
Meet The Writer!
My name is Taylor McKnight and I am a Digital PR Specialist representing Management Training Institute. The Management Training Institute is a company that provides management and leadership solutions and resources for those working within the field or wanting to learn more about it.
