Project Management is one of the most reputed and sought-after professional fields. Being a Project manager provides many opportunities to showcase hard-earned skills and excel in a career. Also, project managers are constantly involved in creating something new and innovative, as no two projects are the same. More than 1 million certified professionals have benefitted from the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification across the globe. So, if you want to find out if Project Management is your cup of tea or not? Do read the blog till the very end.
Let us start with a brief understanding of who a Project Manager is?
Who is a Project Manager?
A project manager is a professional who is responsible for the planning, procurement, and smooth execution of a project. They are also responsible for leading a project from the beginning to the end.
Project Managers are the go-to person regarding any problems or questions related to the project. They communicate with the team members, clients, stakeholders, and external resources associated with the project and make the project goals as their own goals and achieve them using their skills and expertise.
The project manager is responsible for all aspects of project planning and execution, including cost budgeting, resource allocation, risk management, client or external stakeholder management, etc. They are also in charge of keeping the company’s projects structured and ensuring it runs smoothly. In addition, they are in charge of assigning roles to all team members and ensuring that the project is executed successfully.
So now, let us understand more about project managers by talking about their roles and responsibilities.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Project Manager
The roles and responsibilities of project managers can vary based on the companies, the field they are working in, and so on. For example, the roles and responsibilities of a project manager in the IT industry will be different from that of a project manager in the education field. But here are some of the common roles and responsibilities of a project manager:
◉ Plan a project management plan
◉ Ensure timely completion of the project and within the given budget
◉ Communicate with the clients, stakeholders, and team members
◉ Analyze the risks and take measures to avoid them
◉ Organizing and Motivating the team members
◉ Monitor and Evaluate the progress of the project
◉ Resolve any upcoming issues
These were some of the common roles and responsibilities of a project manager.
Now, let us talk about the scope of project management.
Scope of Project Management
Project management has evolved over the last decade, and there are now a variety of tools and new approaches that are defining the industry’s future. Project management is rapidly being recognized as a critical area across various industries, from planning and scheduling to managing critical interactions with users and vendors. Let us discuss some of the scope of project management.
◉ Project managers are in high demand. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), 22 million additional project management jobs will be available by 2027.
◉ Project managers are in demand in a wide range of industries. Project-oriented employment is popular in many industries throughout the world, including business services, oil and gas, banking and insurance, manufacturing, construction, and utilities.
◉ Project managers have a higher salary package. In the USA, the average entry-level project manager income, according to Glassdoor, is $59,680.
◉ Learning helps aspiring project managers gain the many skills required to complete the multitude of responsibilities required to complete a job. This also helps in improving interpersonal skills.
◉ There can be growth in your career. Project management is a field where you can learn a lot and grow. Experienced, specialized, and credentialed project managers should expect to earn at least twice as much as entry-level project managers.
These were some points on the scope of project management. Now, let us talk about some of the various prominent careers in project management.
Different Careers in Project Management
Project Management offers a variety of job roles, and there is an equal opportunity to learn and grow. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional, project management offers a variety of career paths. So, let us talk about some of the prominent project management job roles.
Project Coordinator
A project coordinator frequently works under the direction of a project manager to ensure that a project goes smoothly and effectively. They deliver project financials to the project manager regularly. In addition , they use spreadsheets, graphs, and other reporting tools to specialize in project planning and finance. When unexpected costs or financial gaps arise, the project coordinator also assists with change management through budget analysis.
Project Manager
We have discussed this job role before; a project manager is a professional who is responsible for the planning, procurement, and smooth execution of a project. They are responsible for leading a project from the beginning to the end.
In order to achieve project goals, a project manager leads a team through a project while ensuring that the schedule, budget, and communications are all as planned. A project manager is the sole person responsible for project execution or has to report to a senior project manager, depending on the organization’s size.
Program Manager
A program manager is a professional whose responsibility is to oversee and organize all of an organization’s projects, products, and other strategic initiatives. They have a long-term view of how various initiatives contribute to a larger corporate plan. A program manager oversees many projects, and, as a result, he oversees several project managers. A program manager’s responsibilities include establishing project strategy and project success measures. So for this job role, multitasking and people management skills are very important.
Senior Project Manager
The Senior Project Manager position is a higher-level project management position that involves managing larger projects, such as distributing processes across teams, creating more complicated products, or directing projects with longer timelines. Senior project managers often have at least ten years of experience managing projects from the beginning to completion, showcasing leadership skills, strategic planning, organizational abilities, time management, communication, and focusing on the end results.
These were some of the prominent job roles in project management. I guess you now have some idea about what project managers do. So, let us talk about a few reasons why project management is a good career choice.
Reasons Why Project Management is a Good Career Choice
There is a High Demand for Project Managers
Project management is, as expected, one of the world’s fastest expanding occupations. Project managers are in higher demand than ever before. This is because of the advancement in technology and an increasing worldwide market. Every business will start projects to generate income, cut costs, and improve efficiency. However, According to a recent PMI survey, there is a scarcity of project managers compared to the demand. Moreover, according to the report, the demand for skilled project managers is increasing rapidly, and by 2027, 88 million individuals will be required for project management-oriented jobs. The increased need for project management professionals is a good reason to pursue a career in this field.
Offers a Very Good Package
Everyone wants a high-income job. For example, a project manager’s salary is relatively high. However, it varies depending on the company, location, and other factors.
But, according to Glassdoor, the average Project Manager salary in the United States is $88,907, with additional extra cash compensation. Project management jobs are still in great demand. Thus salaries are expected to increase exponentially. According to PMI, project management professionals who earn the PMP certification earn a 16 percent rise in their salary.
It is Versatile
Now, the Project manager is a very versatile professional, who uses a combination of knowledge, skills, processes, and methodologies to plan and execute a project within the given deadline and budget, So; as a project manager, you can work in various industries, it is not limited to a particular work sector. This is because every industry, be it the IT field, healthcare, education, industrial, finance, all need project managers. So based on your interests and skill sets, you can choose to work in any field you like.
There is an Opportunity for Career Growth
Now, project management is not limited to a set of job roles. There is growth. Therefore, one can start their career as a project coordinator or a project assistant. From there, they can learn, improvise, gain experience and knowledge, get a better job role, an increment, and become a project manager. Therefore, there is a great opportunity for learning and career growth.
There is a Lot to Learn
Project management is a field that uses new technology to enhance work processes. Also, no two projects are the same. Therefore you can learn something new from each project. Furthermore, project managers also communicate regularly with many people, including their team members, clients, and stakeholders. So, they get to communicate their ideas and opinions to others and also know others’ ideas and opinions in various matters. So, where there is sharing of information, there is a lot of learning as well.
Improvise your Skills
In order to become a project manager, it is necessary to have various organizational skills that are required for various projects. So, while one is preparing to become a project manager, one will have to enhance their skills. Some of the prominent skills include communication, leadership, team management, negotiation, problem-solving, technical and risk management skills. Enhancing these skills also leads to self-improvement.
So, these were some of the reasons why project management is a good career choice. Now, if you are interested and want to become a project manager, let us now talk about how to become a project manager?
How to Become a Project Manager?
So, there are mainly two paths to becoming a project manager: one is through official education, and the other is through a self-made project manager.
In a first way, to apply for a position as a project manager, you must first earn a degree. There are currently MS degree programs in project management as well as MBA degrees in project management available to help with this. According to recent research by Burning Glass Labor Insight, in addition to PMP certification, 34% of project management job postings required or needed a graduate degree.
As a result, earning a project management degree may simplify getting a job or advancing in your project management career.
If you don’t want to earn a degree but still want to be a project manager, the second option is to look for every chance to improve your project management abilities and knowledge. I’ll provide you with a few tips that will surely assist you in learning about project management and becoming a project manager.
1. Learn about Project Management
Learn about PMP by reading books, blogs, or videos on YouTube, or enroll in online courses that will teach you all you need to know. To mention a few, read the book Project Management Body of Knowledge, or PMBOK, which may be found easily and completely online or in printed format. In addition, this will assist you in understanding the fundamental structure of project management. PRINCE2 and Scrum are two more useful resources. Finally, the Project Management Institute also offers in-depth training that may be an essential source of information.
2. Attend Workshops, Conferences, or Local Networking Events
Attend workshops, events to learn about new industry trends and meet and learn from experienced project managers. The benefits are that you will learn the finest project management practices and learn about how to deal with challenges as a project manager. At Invensis Learning, accredited to PMI, we provide access to mock tests, case studies, and lifetime access to Project Management webinars conducted by domain experts.
3. Seek a Mentor
Simply by watching them, you can learn a lot. Observe and understand how they deal with problems, engage with shareholders and team members, and handle all other project parts.
4. Gain Experience
The next factor that will help you get a job as a project manager is experience. If you’ve managed many projects at a company or managed a team, you’ll have a better chance of being employed as a project manager.
5. Improve Project Management Skills
The next suggestion is to improve your project management abilities. The skills are mentioned in the previous section. The question now is how to enhance these skills. As a result, most skills will only get better with practice. For example, Communication, mentorship, problem-solving, and other skills improve with more practice. Project Management is simplified using these competencies instead of being a practice area full of unknown variables. Another thing you can do to enhance your project management abilities is to observe and learn from someone who you believe has strong project management skills, which is generally your mentor.
6. Get Certified
And finally, the most important step is getting certified. Based on the methodology established in the Project Management Body of Knowledge or PMBOK, earning project management certification can demonstrate to employers that you have the abilities necessary to manage the demands of most projects. This will also be beneficial for job interviews, as companies prefer certified employees since it guarantees quality. Certifications can also be beneficial to a person’s career. PRINCE2, MSP, P3O, CAPM, and PMP are several project management certifications. In conclusion, all of these certificates are globally recognized qualifications that provide an understanding of project management best practices.
Source: invensislearning.com
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