How Excellent of a Profession is Project Management?

Project management is a desirable career path for persons without technical skills who want to earn an average of £77,150 per year in the tech industry in a world that is becoming more and more digital. However, regardless of the industry, certified project managers are always in demand. To achieve their goals and acquire a competitive advantage, every company is continuously looking for someone to design and carry out new projects.  

People that appreciate making a difference every working day may find it difficult, satisfying, and even addictive to steer a project from inception to a successful completion. The job satisfaction of delivering a finished good or service is what many people find most fulfilling, even though a career in project management might result in great remuneration.

Project managers are responsible for defining their customer’s goals, communicating with stakeholders, and leading teams to deliver a solution within strict cost, time, and quality constraints. It’s an exciting role where no two days on the job (or two projects) are ever the same. Although it won’t always be sunshine and rainbows, you will have a team by your side, and the allure of new ventures that will keep you coming back for more.

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What makes a good project manager?

Project management terminology, frameworks, and methodologies can all be achieved through study and certifications, but soft skills are the biggest strength of a good project manager. Those that excel in the role are often resourceful generalists who are comfortable communicating and interacting with people at various levels across a business.

Organizational skills, critical thinking, and the ability to keep a calm head and lead a team during a stressful situation are essential traits for good project managers. But, make no mistake, managing the internal politics of multiple teams working together for the first time can be frustrating and rewarding.

Patience and adaptability are critical superpowers for project managers in overcoming disparate expectations and mediating conflict. However, these enthusiastic problem-solvers will see solutions rather than problems while also winning the respect of employees and building trust within the team. Negotiation skills are also critical when delegating tasks  

while demonstrating that they both trust and have confidence in the abilities of the team to complete a task.

What are the essentials for becoming a good project manager?

It’s not all about qualifications or certifications and industry-recognized qualifications. Sure, you will need them for employees to take you seriously and stand out from the crowd. They will also give you the tools to understand and leverage the frameworks and methodologies used in the industry. But it’s often the people skills that ensure project managers get the best out of their colleagues in cross-functional teams and keep things running smoothly throughout the project.

Project managers will be the wearer of many hats and be expected to spin many plates simultaneously. But unsurprisingly, many will share the same traits of being detail-oriented visionaries with a strong work ethic and by default are incredibly tenacious. At the very least, project managers need to excel at planning, monitoring, and reviewing tasks. Being decisive, working well under pressure, and adapting to evolving situations will often create an exciting buzz that gives everyone involved a sense of purpose. These are just a few things you may have already observed in the workplace.

Most project managers will naturally develop these skills throughout their careers. But even if you are new to project management, there is a good chance you might have been involved in completing project tasks and attending project team meetings. These experiences will have helped you understand how a project works without realizing it.  

From scope management, procurement, and working with stakeholders to resource, risk, or communication management. Think about some of the projects you’ve worked on. What areas have you been involved in? It’s a great idea to focus on where you have had little exposure to gain experience to help you become a more rounded project manager.

Best project management courses

Assuming you already possess the characteristics and soft skills needed to become a project manager, your next step should be to learn the terminology, skills, frameworks, and methodologies used in the industry. The good news is that there are no prerequisites to begin a journey into project management regardless of your current job position or the industry you are currently working in.

You don’t need a university degree, but employers will be looking for qualifications in business project management. PRINCE2 is one of the most attractive qualifications for employers. The structured methodology is used in most businesses for end-to-end project management. The courses begin at the foundation level and take students on a journey through to practitioner and agile levels.  

Unlike traditional project management approaches, Agile projects fix time, cost, and quality in the early phases of the project and manage contingency by developing a clear view of priorities in collaboration with the business.

Agile is particularly preferred in the fast-moving world of IT. What makes Agile different from traditional project management approaches, Agile projects fix time, cost, and quality in the early phases while managing contingency through a clear view of priorities in collaboration with the business. Shorter development cycles are referred to as sprints that focus on continuous improvement throughout a product or service development.

If you are interested in becoming an IT project manager, we also strongly recommend students familiarize themselves with ITIL (information technology infrastructure library). The framework provides businesses with a structured approach for delivering IT services that will efficiently enhance an organization's IT strategy. Ultimately, it allows teams to communicate using the same terminology as they navigate the fast pace of technological change and avoid unnecessary disruption or confusion.

Experienced project managers who already possess the AgilePM® Foundation can also work towards the AgilePM® Practitioner certification. This course helps students apply the underpinning philosophy and principles of DSDM (formally known as Dynamic System Development Method) in a project situation.  

Similarly, project managers with a minimum of two years of relevant practical experience in project management can also strengthen their CV with the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) Collection. These courses will help you align your project management skills to the APM Body of Knowledge. They give project managers the tools to manage everything from budgeting and costs to conflict, negotiation, procurement, and teamwork.

Best project management courses for beginners

The APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) Collection is the perfect starting point for individuals without any project management experience. Upon completing the course, you will have gained a complete awareness of project management terminology, skills, frameworks, methodologies, and communication styles. But most importantly of all, you will be ready to enter the world of project management as a qualified project manager.

The Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM) course will complement your PRINCE2® certification and will help you further develop and grow your understanding of project management. Once again, if you are considering or have your sights on becoming a non-technical IT project manager, you must consider the ITIL® v4 Foundation to understand IT’s role in business strategy and how ITIL® enhances IT service management.

Ultimately, these qualifications ensure that all project managers speak the same language and follow the same way of working. In addition, it unlocks the ability for project managers to hit the ground running and deliver a project in any business, department, industry, or location in the world. With globally recognized certifications on your CV, you will be confident implementing a project in any workplace and let you take your career as far as you would like.

Why project management is a great career choice

It has been widely reported that there’s a widening gap between the need for skilled project management employees and the availability of people with the required skillset. The Project Management Institute provided employers a timely reminder that they will need to fill 2.2 million project management roles each year until 2027.  

This wake-up call for businesses creates a massive opportunity for anyone to switch to a financially rewarding career and see first-hand how their work makes a difference. Good project managers are invaluable to every business. They will be at the heart of clarifying goals, streamlining processes, and ultimately increasing revenue.  

Our online training and support team can provide you with all the relevant skills and certifications to help you play a key role in managing a project from the initial planning stages to implementation. You can learn at your own pace to secure an entry-level position in project support, planning, project administrator, or as a project management assistant before progressing into a mid-level and advanced role.

A whole alphabet of project management qualifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, CAPM, ITIL, and PMI-ACP can feel both daunting and overwhelming. But which is right for you is not a decision you need to make on your own, and our career consultants will work with you to form the best unique path to help you thrive in project management.  

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