Are you wondering how to become a project manager but do not know where to start?
No worries!
I’ve put together a comprehensive reference for you to use as a starting point in your future project management career. You can now begin working in this field right away by learning the fundamentals of each area of a project manager’s career development.
Let’s start by going through some of the most often asked questions about being a project manager.
You have a lot on your plate. You’re probably working on a project right now! If you only want the TL;DR version, we’ve collected a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding how to become a project manager.
This is the quick-reference guide for when you have a lot of things to do and places to go.
Are you looking for more extensive, in-depth information? Continue reading to learn more about how to become a project manager.
Related: What do project managers do?
How to Become a Project Manager
On the road to becoming a project manager, there are two main paths. You can take the “conventional” approach, which entails setting out to become a project manager, earning a certification, and working as a project manager. You can also keep gaining project management experience and working your way up the project management career ladder without a degree, certification, or other “traditional” project manager education by continuing to gain project management experience and working your way up the project management career ladder.
As previously stated, there are two types of project managers in use today.
- The “conventional” project manager is someone who chose project management as a career path and possesses a project management degree or qualification.
- Project manager who isn’t a project manager: Also known as an unintentional project manager. These are the persons who never intended to become project managers yet find themselves managing projects on a regular basis. Marketers organizing a campaign, product managers coordinating the creation of a new product, and web designers constructing a new website are all examples of NPMPMs. They are present among us.
This is wonderful news for anyone wondering how to become a project manager: it means there are more opportunities than ever to climb the project management career ladder.
How to Become a Project Manager: Education and Certification
Project management is a broad field with a wide range of requirements that vary by sector and firm. Consider two primary categories when considering what you’ll need to start a project management career: education and certification.
Education
A bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, or a similar discipline is common among project managers. A degree can help you develop the leadership qualities you’ll need on the job, while it’s not necessarily a prerequisite. Some employers may want applicants with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or a master’s degree in management science (MSM).
Being a project manager entails more than just a set of credentials. While there are numerous certificates available, having a bachelor’s degree isn’t a must. You can take a variety of further steps to become a project manager.
Certification
A professional degree or qualification could help you strengthen your resume and make you more appealing to hiring managers, whether you’re fresh out of college or trying to pivot to a new job in project management.
- Project Management Professional (PMP): If you already have a few years of experience working on projects in a professional context, the PMP certificate from the Project Management Institute can help you progress your career (PMI). The UCI Project Management Professional Certificate meets the PMP exam’s educational criteria. You’ll be better prepared to pass the exam and acquire a university-issued credential for your resume if you earn this certificate.
Related: Find out how to obtain a PMP certification.
- If you’re just getting started in project management, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an entry-level project management credential offered by the PMI. It’s designed for people who don’t have any formal project management expertise and can help them get into a variety of entry-level project management jobs.
Project Manager Salary and Job Outlook
Certainly, employers will need to fill 2.2 million additional project management-related posts each year through 2027, according to PMI’s Job Growth and Talent Gap report. In the next few years, job seekers with a mix of leadership and technical skills will be in high demand.
According to a PMI survey, industries such as health care, manufacturing and construction, information services and publishing, finance and insurance, and management and professional services will see the most rise in project-oriented employment.
While project managers have a bright future ahead of them, individuals that specialize in a sector can have a more profitable career.
For instance, across all industries in the United States, the median pay for a project manager is $116,000. The most project managers make between $90,000 and $140,000. Professionals that specialize in program or portfolio management have a higher compensation potential than more generalist project managers.
TL;DR: The Steps to Becoming a Project Manager
- Begin to manage projects.
- Continue to manage your tasks.
- Learn the skills and theories of project management.
- Manage your tasks with the help of a team.
- Improve your project management skills.
- Make a decision on whether or not you want to pursue a project management certification.
- Maintain project management.
That’s it, I’m going to work as a project manager! : If you’re ready to start honing your project management skills, keep an eye out for these essential project management approaches.
Therefore, make sure your project management job is a good fit for you. Read about other project managers’ experiences, contact them, and ask questions, or apply for a project management internship. You can also take some beginner online courses to obtain a better understanding of the subject. These courses usually include tasks and assignments that are aimed to get you to interact with this company branch. Hence, the purpose is to see if you are capable of handling its obligations.
In conclusion, edX, Alison, Coursera, Simplilearn, and Udemy are some places where you can obtain online project management education opportunities.