When people hear “project management,” they usually picture someone standing at a whiteboard, barking orders. In reality, it’s way more organized and a lot more interesting. Research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that demand for project management specialists is expected to grow by 7% through 2033, faster than average for most occupations.
If you’ve ever planned a big event, coordinated a home renovation, or even organized a group trip, you’ve already touched on the basics of project management!
In this guide, I’ll break down what project management really means, why project managers are important, and how to build the right skills if you’re considering this career path.
Key Takeaways
- We Need Project Management: A project manager is like a general contractor for the corporate world. They’re constantly tracking timelines and finding solutions to problems that would otherwise cause delays in a corporate setting.
- Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight: Most PMs start their careers in other roles before finally landing a real project management job.
- Excellent Skills = Great PMs: A project manager understands/displays outstanding communication, leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills.
- Certifications Open New Doors: Certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) can help move your career forward.
- Find Your Niche: Projects come in many shapes, sizes, and “flavors”. Many project managers specialize by industry or project type.
What Is Project Management?
Project management is the coordination of several tasks from initiation to the closing of a project. This includes planning, execution, monitoring/controlling, and closing. Depending on the type of project management you’re doing, it’ll be different (per industry and per requirements).
Many are dubbed project managers just by leading small projects, and while this does count, it isn’t what people typically mean when they post a project management position. They’re looking for someone who:
- Is in Contact With the Client
- Follows the Scope
- Manages Risk
- Submits Reports
- Delegates to the Team
- Tracks the Budget
*And so on. On even larger projects (multi-millions), they’ll usually have people to do those parts for them.
Project management can be VERY broad. It generally requires several years of experience and an advanced degree, but sometimes it doesn’t.
What Does a Project Manager Actually Do?
As we touched on above, a project manager is someone who oversees and coordinates all the different parts of a project, making sure it’s completed on time and within budget. They manage tasks, resources, and people, keeping everything on track.
For example, if your friend worked at Apple, she might manage the launch of a new product, coordinating between designers, engineers, and marketing teams. It doesn’t necessarily mean working for various companies. Many PMs work within one company, handling different projects over time.
To put it simply, project managers are the people you ask when you aren’t sure what to do.
They’re constantly tracking timelines and finding solutions to problems that would otherwise cause delays in a corporate setting. It’s hard to give a specific set of roles they fill or rules they follow because every project is slightly different. However, there are several tasks every PM is strongly familiar with:
- Defining Project Plan and Scope
- Managing the Project Budget
- Assigning Tasks to Team Members
- Tracking Project Progress/Team Meetings
- Communicating with Stakeholders
- Solving Problems When Things Go Sideways
- Overseeing the Life Cycle of the Project
Sounds like a lot? It is. That’s why effective project management skills matter so much. If you aren’t well organized enough to produce a positive final result, this might not be the right career for you.
How to Become a Project Manager
Here’s what a lot of senior PMs recommend: Assistant > Coordinator > Associate Program Manager > Project Manager.
Interestingly enough, age is a factor. There aren’t many established project managers under 30. That’s likely due to the stages most aspiring project managers follow before landing the actual role. You could spend several years building up to being a PM.
Why?
Experience. A role that requires responsibility for a team and project-related tasks will not hire someone who doesn’t know how to perform the job. Employers like candidates who have extensive educational/real-world experience, especially if the position is high-stakes and high-paying. That’s why so many PMs pursue certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP).
Bottom line: A successful project manager path is usually a slow burn. While there are some who are given the opportunity to jump right in, it’s a less common route due to how intense project requirements can be. Take your time. As a PM, a project’s success falls on your shoulders, so you want to build those key skills.
How to Build Project Management Skills
Building solid skills can help you grow into the project manager’s role and greatly boost your educational journey. Here are a few ways to develop them:
- Find a mentor who can give you advice.
- Read up on different management styles and techniques.
- Set personal goals in areas where you want to improve, then work toward them.
- Earn a certificate or degree (business, project management, computer science, etc.)
- Sign up for training sessions, conferences, or workshops in your field.
- Practice skills like active listening, delegation, and staying organized.
- Join a public speaking group or take a class to improve your communication.
- Step into leadership roles at work, in school, at home, or through volunteering.
You’ll also benefit from taking a prep course if you want to be a project manager. Here are reviews I’ve written on some of the top PMP prep courses, including Brain Sensei and PM PrepCast.
Different Project Management Roles
Many project managers work for a project management office (PMO) inside a company, especially larger companies. Others act as freelance consultants, managing current projects for different businesses.
Some specialize even further. These roles also fall under the project management category:
- Head of PMO
- Head of Project Management
- Senior PM
- Project Coordinator
- Head of Business Analysis
- Senior BA
- BA
- Head of Process Analysis
- Process Analyst
- Head of Operational Enablement
- Implementation Manager
You might find project managers leading software development projects, construction builds, business reorganizations, or marketing campaigns. No two projects ever look exactly alike.
My Final Thoughts
Overall, project management is about making sure team leaders do their jobs without hitting barriers (and keeping the Project Board updated that everything is moving along fine).
There’s a fair amount of admin work involved, but if you have a great support team, most of that is off your plate. It’s a pretty straightforward role if you’re thick-skinned, stay calm under pressure, and like seeing a project through from start to finish. Plus, the pay isn’t bad if you’re experienced!
FAQs
Project management means organizing resources, people, and tasks to complete a specific project or goal on time and on budget.
Project managers plan projects, manage budgets, assign tasks, track progress, solve problems, and communicate with stakeholders.
You can start your project manager career by building management skills, getting project experience, and earning certifications like PMP.
Excellent project managers have strong planning, communication, team-building, time management, resource allocation, and problem-solving skills. They’re also experienced in risk management.
Project managers work in software development, construction, healthcare, marketing, finance, and almost every other business sector.
