How To Get A Job In Project Management

Introduction

Having worked for over 20 organizations in a half dozen industries, including the federal government, I can teach you how to get a job in project management.  

Selecting the right opportunity can really move you and your career forward - but only if you follow the correct steps.  

The first thing you'll want to do is master some foundational ideas which can benefit you throughout your career.  In this article, I share with you all you need to do this correctly.

Network with Project Managers

Just starting out to look at the possibility of project management as a career direction? Make yourself available to people already in the profession. Because PMI has chapters all over the world, this is the easiest step to take.  

If you're a technical professional who'd rather be alone solving problems, this may cost you some comfort as you step out of your preferred zone. But the benefits are worth it many times over.  Allow yourself a few months to learn what people around you are working on.  

Consider who could become a mentor, even just informally.

Ask questions.  When you hear about job opportunities, ask how important experience is.  

The demand for people who understand and practice project management is not controlled by whether or not you have achieved your PMP certification!

You'll be surprised at the comradery.  PMI chapters offer an environment where experts and novices can exchange information free of the constraints of our work environments.

Communication

There are many resources online that can help you improve in areas you need more skill.  Much of what a project manager has to communicate is audience-specific.  Knowing how to tell people what they need to know and nothing more is both an art and a science.  

And with practice, you can learn and improve.  I know I'm still learning.

Executives aren't usually interested in the technical ins and outs.  They want to know if the project is on track in terms of budget, schedule, and scope. 

Your technical programmers aren't looking for a discourse on the merits of the triple constraint.  

Certification

I worked in a project management role for five years before I passed the PMP exam.  

I was not aware of PMI, the Project Management Book of Knowledge, PMI chapters until I met someone who was all of those things.  

He explained how PMP certification and the corresponding association with the organization had really made a difference in his career.  

From a salary standpoint, twenty thousand dollars was a nice boost indeed.

I got on course to get my PMP certification.  And in 2003 on May 26 I did!  I had a technical background having started as a programmer in the '80s.  

Getting the PMP was the best career boost I've ever had.  

Interviewers don't often know the right questions to ask a project management candidate.  

But having the PMP certification helps to solve that because of what it signifies.

The Right Opportunity

Please don't think you need to be certified before you find the right job.  Certification can make a difference when changing jobs when it comes to salary.  

The right opportunity comes when you can leverage what you've learned to help the next organization in the way that they need.  It's not about you, primarily.  

Have you always worked for a company in-house?  Consider contracting.  But take your time and beware of "body shops" who have no plan to keep you between clients.  

The right company is the one that offers training and some career direction.

Conclusion

I have taught you the steps to get a job in project management.  

You now understand the importance of getting started with the right opportunity.  

You understand the correct steps to take and are looking forward to getting started.

But each situation and person is unique. 

What questions do you still have? 

What would you like to ask me? 

What things did I not cover that you have been wondering about?  

Have comments or questions about your specific situation?  Let me know in the comments below.