By the very nature of the work, project management roles are often temporary. While many larger companies and organizations may employ a full-time project management team or professional, many smaller companies do not, and instead rely on contract workers whose employment ends when the project does. Earning your certification demonstrates to potential employers that you have the relevant knowledge, skills, and experience required to work in a project management capacity. It also makes it much easier to transition to a new role at a different organization (should you decide to do so). A project manager is a professional who organizes, plans, and executes projects while working within restraints like budgets and schedules. Project managers lead entire teams, define project goals, communicate with stakeholders, and see a project through to its closure.
Here are a few different project management certifications that you can apply for. Several years of being a leader in project management might get you to high-level positions, like vice president of operations, or executive positions like Chief Operating Officer. These high-ranking business leaders implement new strategies across the business. PMI is the primary organization offering professional certifications in project management. On the flipside, maybe you haven’t had much exposure to some of the other knowledge areas, like risk management or stakeholder management.
Employment Opportunities for Project Manager
Exactly how you go about achieving this will, of course, depend on your career situation and which path makes the most sense for you. Scrum is a method of project management commonly used in engineering or development teams. The Scrum methodology gives development teams more adaptability so they can focus on improving their products, faster.
B) CAPM® – The CAPM requires a high school diploma and 1,500 hours of work-related experience. Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on Developer.com and our other developer-focused platforms. Luckily, there are steps that you can and should take to ensure your continued employability and relevance. Earning an advanced degree or new certificate, maintaining existing certificates, and staying on top of emerging technologies, trends, and methodologies can all help. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to determine your strengths and what weaknesses need to be addressed. There are many to choose from, which can make the decision less than obvious.
What degree do you need to become a project manager?
Common majors for project managers include project management, business and related fields. Aspiring project managers who plan to work in a specific field like health services or information technology should pursue a bachelor’s degree in that field. If you’re trying to build up project management skills, try looking for opportunities in your current work. Whether you work in a hospital or retail cloud certification for project managers store, tech company or restaurant, chances are there are several items that need to be planned, executed, or improved. If it makes sense to do so, approach your manager with ideas of how you can contribute, and let them know you’re interested in developing project management experience. Whatever path you’re hoping to take, here are six steps you should consider to become a project manager.
- Though many believe soft skills are something individuals are born with, this isn’t the case.
- It’s a process — one that thrives on embracing challenges, seeking feedback, fostering connections, and cultivating understanding.
- The Foundation Level certification offers an introduction to PRINCE2 principles, while the Practitioner Level teaches you how to apply them in a specific project scenario.
- Project manager experience — and the project manager skillset — is probably something you’ve been developing without even realizing.
While it’s possible to become a project manager without earning a certification, becoming a certified project manager has several benefits. In the U.S., the median salary for a project manager is $116,000 across all industries, with most project managers earning between $90,000 and $140,000. Professionals who further pursue program or portfolio management, however, often see an increased salary potential compared to more generalist project managers. While the career potential for project managers is already promising, those who specialize in a field can develop a more lucrative career. While the exact role and responsibilities of a project manager will vary between organizations and industries, most project managers will find themselves responsible for the same general duties.
Important Skills for Project Managers
It allows you to oversee your projects with more clarity, forecast more accurately, manage your resources more efficiently, and report more precisely. But once you’ve decided which project management certification is right for you, it’s all about knuckling down, putting in the hours, and preparing for the certification exam. You might also need to log more practical hours as well as making time for all the book-learning. Whatever role you’re currently in — marketer, designer, developer, whatever — you’ve likely been honing your project management skills all along.