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Is a Career in Project Management Right for You?

October 3, 2008 | Author: PM Hut | Filed under: Miscellaneous

Is a Career in Project Management Right for You?
By Michael D. Taylor

A Career in Project Management

The need for project managers has never been greater than it is today1. Many corporations are looking for trained project managers who can fill the gap between executive managers and the “techies.” This means translating corporate goals into doable projects while speaking the “languages” of both the key stakeholders and the project members.

Demand is Increasing

Caitlin Kneram2 points out that “In the business world, project management is a high level skill, and a demanding career choice. Project managers are key employees in every industry and all types of companies, all over the world. Project Management itself is rapidly becoming one of the most important processes within a company. The number of PMs has risen considerably as companies have begun to realize the valuable benefits they bring to the business.”

Kneram continues, “Project management pays off for companies and it’s becoming increasingly more evident, ‘statistics show there is a higher risk of failure without a project manager, and oftentimes there can be more cost overrun and repeated projects.” This is why PMs are important when resources are scarce and time is limited, and they cut down on waste and conflict because they “provide good planning up front and improved communication between different groups.”

Critical Skills

All kinds of projects can benefit from a project manager, from constructing a car to releasing a new software program; managers ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget. Their demanding work requires strong skills in leadership, risk management, team building, and the ability to manage the business aspects of a project.

The Accidental Profession

Many corporations today will assign the management of a project to someone with superior technical and leadership abilities. The individual then “inherits” the job as project manager, often without any training. They become project managers accidentally. Unfortunately, without proper training, many project managers hit a wall in their career advancement. Proper project management training is vital.

Kneram continues, “It is important to realize that very few people start out as straight project managers. If you are interested in starting down the project management path, you can start out by vying for key or assistant positions on a project team and through these types of roles you will gain the experience and knowledge necessary. Start off by getting as much experience in as many areas as you possibly can. Over time you will find yourself taking on more leadership roles and eventually start leading projects of your own. Working in smaller companies will allow you to take on more roles and get more hands-on experience in different areas than you would in a larger company. This will also allow you to determine if project management is the right career for you.”

1According to Information Week, Project Managers are the most sought-after tech talent.
2Caitlin Kneram is a regular contributor to a high profile recruitment website.

MICHAEL D. TAYLOR, M.S. in systems management, B.S. in electrical engineering, has more than 30 years of project, outsourcing, and engineering experience. He is principal of Systems Management Services, and has conducted project management training at the University of California, Santa Cruz Extension in their PPM Certificate program for over 13 years, and at companies such as Sun Microsystems, GTE, Siemens, TRW, Loral, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and Inprise. He also taught courses in the UCSC Extension Leadership and Management Program (LAMP), and was a guest speaker at the 2001 Santa Cruz Technology Symposium. His website is www.projectmgt.com.

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