Organization is paramount to the success of project completion. Behind every well-executed plan is a project manager who understands the needs of both the company and clients as a whole. They act as leaders to execute the necessary action items to create deliverables and results that promote progress. Project management is a social, collaborative role that has massive potential in a wide variety of industries.
Interested in this career path? Read on to learn about the steps to becoming a successful project manager and to understand the value of this position.
What is Project Management?
According to Coursera, project managers are professionals tasked with the responsibility of organizing, planning, and executing projects that will promote a company’s growth and success. They are responsible for constant communication with several groups in regard to project stages, deliverables, and other facets of the relevant requirements.
Why Is Project Management a Good Career?
When researching potential jobs, the question that might arise is: “is project management a good career?” There are several positives to a project management role. While select details matter to the employee in question, some general benefits include:
- Growth potential: Project management provides the unique opportunity to assimilate into company culture from several angles, and grow into roles with collective experience.
- Diversity: Since projects can require a significant expanse of knowledge and skills, project managers can flex their expertise in a manner conducive for company gain. Working with a varied base of clients, company employees, and other personalities also provides diversity through consistent interactions.
- Workability: While other managerial roles may have defined expectations, project management specialists are often able to adjust their workflow to be flexible and productive. In addition, key players may live in different time zones, making remote coordination an important component of said workflow.
- Connectivity: Many project managers act as a point of contact for all involved parties. Meeting and networking with external entities allows the chance for professional relationships to form, which can benefit both the team and the company.
- Skill development: Continuous use of high-level practices within a project management role sharpens capabilities for future projects.
What Do Project Managers Do?
Responsibilities for project management professionals involve delivering information between clients, employees, and other relevant parties in a business through different channels. O*Net Online describes project management tasks as:
- Conferring with essential stakeholders on a project
- Delegating tasks and responsibilities to project members
- Problem solving and identifying issues with related personnel
- Creating and maintaining project plans including, objectives, processes, financials, and member onboarding
- Overseeing project steps and promised outcomes
- Setting deadlines and creating schedules for consistency
- Scheduling project collaborations and meetings
From a personal perspective, project management fits a special range of qualifications. According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS) handbook, individuals with the following characteristics and skill sets have the potential to thrive in this role:
- Analysis: Looking at a project and understanding its needs, from data and hypotheses to information and results
Time management: Working under specific deadlines and accounting for all stages of a project - Problem solving: Troubleshooting unexpected mishaps and solving problems with efficiency
- Critical thinking: Dissecting objectives and outcomes in order to achieve specific goals
- Communication: Speaking with both staff and clients to relay information and receive input
- Organization: Keeping streamlined and accessible materials and records across one or several assignments
- Interpersonal: Building relationships with open dialogues surrounding work, as an extension of communication and trust
How To Start a Project Management Career
Like any successful professional endeavor, project management typically starts with a quality degree. A bachelor’s degree in business or a similar field is often required for consideration. While these are relevant directives of study, some businesses may also seek out a graduate with a degree in their chosen industry, or one with a more technical focus.
Beyond the education component, additional certifications can be helpful when pursuing a project manager role. Accredited organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI) provide prospective employees with resources and materials to continue both education and credibility. For those just starting out, a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification provides the necessary framework for gaining the know-how and skills to enter the field.
Another suggested yet crucial step is the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification offered by PMI. This provides proof and validity to the recipient’s capabilities in using effective strategies and practices to complete projects at all stages.
What Is a Project Management Career Path?
Since project management is not exclusive to one occupational field, scalable experience can be the crux for this useful career path. Jobs usually start from entry-level positions in the industry of choice, as an introduction to the culture and general company practices. A management role can follow, as a means of gaining experience in leadership. Beyond fulfilling this administrative component, advanced project management and even senior positions can become available.
For more information on this role, consult the Department of Labor handbook.
What Can I Do with a BA in Project Management?
The requirements for a project manager are diverse, as this is a necessary position across several industries. Potential occupations for a project manager can include:
- Risk manager — Performs research and assessments to evaluate project risk potential.
- Project analyst — Provides data for project planning.
- Project cost estimator — Responsible for data procurement and analysis for projects and service estimations.
- Construction scheduler — Manages timelines of construction projects.
- Project management specialist — Coordinates project details for companies and clients alike.
For more information on potential job opportunities through a BA in project management, visit the BLS website.
Overview of Project Management
When a job demands care and conscientiousness, a competent project manager will get the job done in an efficient manner. It can lay the foundation for a robust career, and there will always be a need for leadership roles that can prepare plans and tasks accordingly. With the right combination of education, cultivated skills, and a clear idea of a preferred field, project management can prove to be a fruitful venture.
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Successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Project Management degree program at the University of Arizona Global Campus by itself does not qualify a student to sit for any certification examinations offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) including: the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP), or the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP). Graduates of this program may meet some of the requirements to sit for PMI certification exams, but it is the responsibility of each student or graduate to research the requirements for each. In most instances, the requirements to sit for a PMI certification exam include a secondary diploma or a four year degree, and a certain number of documented hours of project management experience.