Building a strong track record of successfully managing projects, gaining a project management certification, and networking within your industry can enhance your prospects. Some people become project managers Software engineering after several years of experience in their industry, while others may make the transition sooner if they gain relevant experience and skills quickly. Key skills include communication, leadership, problem-solving, risk management, and understanding of project management methodologies (like Agile or Waterfall). At this stage, you’re recognized for your project management skills and the ability to deliver projects on time and within budget. Start by updating your resume and LinkedIn profile, highlighting your project management skills, experience, certifications, and accomplishments.

Look for entry-level positions.

To become a Project Manager, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in fields like business, IT, or engineering. A master’s degree, such as an MBA, can help you further develop your strategic thinking and leadership skills. Additionally, certifications like Technical Project Manager/Business Analyst job PMP (Project Management Professional) are highly beneficial for validating your expertise when learning how to become a project manager. Becoming a certified project manager entails passing the exam for one of several available project management certifications. The certification you choose will depend on your career goals as a project manager, the industry you work in, and your professional and educational qualifications. You might consider earning more than one certification from various certifying organizations as you move forward in your career.

Do project managers need a degree?‎

The path to this role includes formal education, certifications, and years of hands-on experience. Continuous learning is essential due to the evolving nature of the field. While technical skills can be helpful, especially in industries like IT and engineering, they are not mandatory to become a Project Manager. However, having a basic understanding of project management tools and industry-specific knowledge can enhance your ability to manage tasks and resources effectively, which is key when learning how to become a project manager. In most cases, you can pursue entry-level project manager positions if you hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field like business or project management.

Applying for project manager jobs

Keep in mind that PMP certification requires 36 to 60 months of professional project management experience depending on your educational background. Some project managers are generalists who work in all business-related fields and are comfortable executing projects for clients in a variety of industries. However, many project managers choose to focus on fields like construction, real estate, information technology, sustainability and transportation. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer and information systems managers such as IT project managers earn a median annual wage of $159,010.

Technical Proficiency and Organization

• These skills would help you easily navigate through business complexities, and develop necessary decision-making capabilities.
• Companies rely on them to construct teams with the right personnel for each project, as well as understand what resources are needed to perform all tasks necessary to complete the project.
• Project Managers can work in a variety of industries, including IT, construction, healthcare, finance, and marketing.
• We’ll help you take right steps for your project management career journey.
• You might be asked about managing budgets and other resources, scheduling, handling changes in the project, and determining the best methodologies for the project.

At a machine learning company, a Project Manager might’ve been a Data Scientist before they took on their current role. Becoming a project manager requires a diverse set of skills and can be quite challenging. It involves mastering both soft skills like communication and leadership, and hard skills such as budgeting and risk management.

• A project manager is a professional responsible for the planning, procurement, monitoring, controlling, and seamless execution of a project.
• There are many books, articles, and blogs on project management that can provide new insights and ideas.
• A PMP certification also helps you learn to speak in a clear, universal, and standard format, following a set of best practices that peers and executives will understand.
• Requiring a combination of technical, business, and people management skills, project managers oversee a range of tasks.
• Another course you could look into is our Code Foundations Skill Path, which gives you an overview of web development, as well as computer science and data science.
• Stick with that job for several years as you gain essential skills for your future role as an IT project manager.

In contrast, others “accidentally” become project managers after gradually taking on more responsibilities in their current roles or switch from seemingly unrelated fields. Whatever path you hope to take, consider these six steps when exploring how to become a project manager. Project management specialists in the U.S. earn a median annual salary of $98,580, according to the U.S. PMI’s 2021 talent gap report projects that the global economy will have to add 25 million project management professionals to meet demand by 2030. Common majors for project managers include bachelor’s degrees in project management, business and related fields.

Starting on a project management career requires dedication, continuous learning, and adaptability. Using modern project management software like Productive makes you job more efficient and successful.It takes one click to book a short 30-min demo and get started today. For this type of project management, you’ll need technical knowledge alongside traditional project management skills to succeed in this role. You can tailor your progression to align with your professional interests and personal strengths.

To prepare for a project management certification exam, set a study schedule and try to stick to it. Research the relevant topics, post questions in online discussion groups, and make use of any free or paid training aids. For generalist project manager certifications, exam fees range from approximately $130 to $1,000 or more. Certification costs will vary depending on the certification type and certifying organization. For some certifications, you can also enroll in a program to help you prepare for the exam. In most cases, you will pay an application fee and exam fee to gain certification.

IT project manager salary and job outlook

According to PMI, the average age of project managers is around 40 for women and 42 for men, showing that many professionals enter or continue in the role at 40 or older. A career path for a project manager can start with an entry-level position as a department assistant or project scheduler. From there, you can pursue a project coordinator or assistant project manager role. You may consider higher-level positions, including senior project manager and executive roles, after gaining appropriate experience. A PMP certification demonstrates your expertise in project management and enhances your career prospects.