A quick guide to a career in project management

The Project Management Institute has recently reported that project management related vacancies are expected to exceed 200,000 by 2021 in the USA alone. The need for dedicated project managers is only increasing across different industries as the work culture shifts from theoretical to results-oriented.

This blog can act as a comprehensive guide to project management careers. Read ahead to learn more about the concept, the path to becoming a project manager and the different career prospects in the field.

What is project management?

The Project Management Institute defines project management as “a temporary work schedule to create a product or a service”. Project management involves undertaking a series of tasks to accomplish an end goal in a limited time frame. It also requires planning and budgeting for tasks in a way that requires an efficient use of time and resources.

All project management tasks can be categorised into the following groups:

• Initiation
• Planning
• Execution
• Monitoring and control
• Closure

How can you become a project manager?

The first step towards your project management journey is getting the right education. There are plenty of specialist project management degrees and courses offered by leading universities. Picking a programme that can allow you to pursue an industry certification in the subject is a wise decision.

Apart from pursuing formal education in project management, you would do well to research the topic on your own. Attend project management webinars or talk to other people who have completed their certification. Ask them how a project management degree has contributed to their career development.

Apart from training and courses, you can also develop project management skills on the job, especially if you are in a managerial role. Try to take charge of short-term projects and learn how to lead a project from your seniors.

What kind of careers can you expect in project management?

There is a wide range of career options for qualified project managers in practically every domain from construction to IT development. Here are some trending careers with project management from different industries.

• Software manager: Software managers are usually from a software development background but have project management experience. They use their technical expertise and managerial knowledge to execute software product ideas. They also work with different teams to chalk out an action plan for the release of the product and its quality testing.
• IT project manager: The role of an IT project manager is perhaps the highest-paying project management career path currently. Recent reports suggest that the median global annual salary of an IT project manager can be around $142, 530. These managers have strong business acumen and technical prowess that helps them install upgrades and new equipment. They are also instrumental in negotiating IT deals and improving the efficiency of the IT department.
• Hospital director: Most healthcare setups, such as hospitals need project managers to oversee the maintenance and development of healthcare facilities in hospitals. Hospital directors look after the overall administration of a hospital. They also collaborate with doctors, donors, vendors and board members to expand the hospital facilities and set-up.

Apart from these roles, you can also become a marketing manager, engineering manager or a project manager in an architecture firm.

If you’re already calm, collected and organised in your personal life, those qualities can be a huge bonus in your project management certification. A project management certification can also provide you with other transferable skills like leadership and time management.

Invest in an appropriate project management certification programme today to supplement your technical expertise and career prospects.

 - This article was written by Sweha Hazari.