Is Project Management the Right Career for You?

You might have heard about the term “Project manager” in this digital world. But have you ever wondered what exactly is a project manager and how to be one? And above all, are there enough opportunities in the market for a project manager?

Well, these questions are natural to ask. Know that the market economy is evolving day by day. From construction to the health industry, hundreds of thousands of projects are initiated on a daily basis. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Open LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor, and you will find thousands of jobs popping up on your screen.

Now that we've said that, let’s discuss the nitty-gritty of becoming a project manager and what are the gateways after becoming one.

What Skills Do You Need to Succeed in Project Management?

Strictly speaking of skills, you are not supposed to be a top-notch expert. There are certain hard and soft skills. All you have to do is master these skills. Well, this may take time but who’s in a rush, right? So, let’s take a look at skills that will help you become a project manager.

Soft Skills for Project Management

Communication Skills:

Remember, software project management is all about public dealing. You have to guide people. You will need to help them understand the project’s goals. For that, you must be a clear communicator. This means you should be a polite speaker and an active listener at the same time.

Leadership Attributes

A manager is, in essence, a type of leader. This means you will have to lead a team. And leading the team requires leadership qualities including conflict resolution, Motivating and fostering team collaboration.

Decision-Making

Being good at decision-making allows you to gain farsightedness. You just do not take actions abruptly and under the influence of emotions. This very skill is the essence of project management. Want to be good at it? Be thoughtful about any given situation.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is all about having control over your emotions. It is also about the understanding of your emotions and that of others. This skill will allow you to look at a project from multiple perspectives and make unbiased decisions about it.

Hard Skills for Project Management

Hard skills are a bit technical in nature but there is no rocket science about them.

Project Planning and Scheduling

Project planning has immense importance in project management. For instance, you will need to be realistic about timelines. To be good at that, you also have to be acquainted with management tools like Gantt charts and Kanban boards.

Budgeting and Forecasting

Everything has a cost. But you need to take care of that. This means you have to control the cost of the project i.e., budgeting and analyzing how much it will cost in the future, i.e., forecasting.

Understanding of Agile Methodologies

Agile methodology include Scrum, Kanban, and Waterfall. Having expertise in these methods will open many opportunities for you. We will not get into details of these methods here but you will have to work on that.

Budgeting and Forecasting

Everything has a cost. But you need to take care of that. This means you have to control the cost of the project i.e., budgeting and analyzing how much it will cost in the future, i.e., forecasting.

How Can You Determine If Project Management Is the Right Fit for You?

So far, so good. But how will you know if you are a good fit for project management and vice versa? Well, lowkey you always know. If not, have a look at aforementioned soft and hard skills. It is here to say that qualities like leadership, communication and problem solving are sometimes inherent in an individual. Some try to learn them.

If your temperament aligns with these qualities, project management is the right fit for you. Also, you can determine this by asking yourself self-assessment questions as:

• Do I enjoy organizing tasks?
• Am I good at public dealing?
• Can I resolve conflicts by communicating effectively?
• Do I find satisfaction in completing complex projects and seeing results?
• Can I effectively lead a team and make tough decisions?
• Do I have control over my nerves?

If most of your answers are Yes to these questions, you can easily adapt with project management.

What Are the Benefits of a Career in Project Management?

So, wondering what is in it for you? For context, project management offers many career prospects, competitive salaries and a number of opportunities for growth.

Career Growth Opportunities

There is a global demand for project managers. With millions of projects initiating globally, there will be a huge demand for project managers. As per reports, governments are going to invest $10 Trillion in multiple fields including construction, health, and IT in the next 10 years.

So, if you are striving to become a project manager, you have chosen the right path to follow. Doing this will allow you to have immense growth in the field of project management.

Competitive Salaries

Rewarding salaries is another benefit of a career in project management. Although salaries vary from industry to industry yet they are highly competitive. Remember, companies rely on skilled project managers. To keep them by their side, they are always willing to pay higher than market.

At present, construction, IT, Software development and health industries are peaking in the market. This implies that these industries can pay you higher wages than the ones lagging behind. Yet, one thing is certain: competitive salaries.

Job Security

Companies value project managers due to the limited number of people pursuing this field. This can also be a blessing in disguise. That being said, this ensures job security. Even in economic downturns, this field remains safe as big economies would still hire project managers to accelerate economic growth.

Transferable Career

Another advantage of a career in project management is its flexibility. You can switch industries at any time. For instance, you are leading as a manager in software development. Times change and you can apply to another industry for a position of manager, Meaning that you do not have to stick with one career for your life. Rather, you will have the choice to shift to a sector of your own choice.

Opportunity to Rise as a Leader

Project management allows you to explore your unexplored qualities. And a leadership catalyst is the most admirable one. For example, you would be making decisions, leading teams and motivating people. Not only this but you will also become well versed with problem solving and creating real impact in the industry.

What Challenges Do Project Managers Face?

All said and done. Project management seems promising but it's not without hurdles and challenges. You may face multiple challenges at once, exposing you to your pressure sustenance skills.

Tough Deadlines

Project managers are often tested by tough deadlines. It's not that they are not humanly possible to do. It’s just you have to work harder. Sounds a bit challenging? That’s how it works. And one more thing, you will have to meet deadlines while maintaining quality simultaneously.

Dealing with Difficult Stakeholders

Chances are you would deal with a complicated stakeholder, leading to unwanted stress and pressure. Under such circumstances, it is challenging for a project manager to keep his cool and manage the situation accordingly.

Risk Management

Well, risks are always there. It is not guaranteed that every project would go as per expectations. Unexpected risks can occur at times. Staying mindful of these risks and managing them accordingly will make you a good project manager.

Conclusion

To sum up, project management, no doubt, is a vast field. Pursuing it as a career can help you climb the ladder of success. All you need to master skills and qualities discussed in the blog. Doing that will allow you to become a nominated project manager. That was all about project management and pursuing it as a career. All the best in becoming a project manager!