Why Project Managers are in High Demand
Many years ago, businesses didn’t think that much about dedicated project management. Generally, people worked under a supervisor or manager, and that position was charged with conducting daily tasks and making sure that things within their department ran smoothly. Toward the turn of the last century, companies realized the benefit of having a dedicated professional whose primary task was to manage projects from start to finish. That position slowly evolved into today’s project manager.
Project managers make sure that projects stay under budget, finish on time, and ensure that the team is working efficiently with clients. It’s no surprise that as more and more companies realized the importance of project managers, that project managers quickly found themselves in high demand. However, this demand is in no way slowing down. In fact, over the next decade, it’s estimated that over 22 million project management jobs will be created across the globe.
Why is Project Management so Important?
Project managers ensure that the delivered products or services are correct and that they provide value to either the business and/or the client. They also make sure that scope creep doesn’t derail the project or cause it to run on in perpetuity without ever delivering anything but a huge price tag.
Additionally, project managers control communications between their team and the client. They help manage customer expectations if unforeseen issues should arise during the project while they also shield the work team from overbearing customers who keep adding new elements to the project or keep imposing new rules – all the while still expecting the project to finish on time. If the PM does a good job, the end product is more robust and precisely fits the needs that it was initially designed to address.
What Traits Do Good Project Managers Possess?
Different employment positions require different strengths and skills. Project management is no different. Check out a few of the necessary traits below.
Communication
An essential trait of a good PM is that they are an excellent communicator. A large percentage of their time is spent interpreting and delivering communications between customers, functional teams, and management.
Integrity
Project managers should be honest and straightforward and always be an example of ethical standards. This is because they are the direct representative of the team to both the internal and external stakeholders.
Leadership and Decision Making
Making good decisions and setting a positive example for the team sets the tone of the project. Good project managers should always be the person on the team who has the answers or knows how to get them.
Organization and Problem Solving
Being able to quickly answer questions or formulate a solution are excellent traits in a project manager. If they don’t know the solution off-hand, they should be able to look at the material and come up with one quickly or work with others to formulate a solution.
Getting Started in Project Management
First, you’ll need to get a bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to the industry that you want to work in such as business management, information technology or computer science, marketing, finance, human resources, and so on. You can also participate in project management programs and training offered at the university.
Additionally, certifications in project management are available. To obtain a certification, you’ll need to participate in specified training followed by an exam or a series of exams for advanced certifications.
Certifications for Project Managers
CompTIA Project+, Project Management Institute Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and Project Management Professional (PMP) are the three main certifications available for project managers. Luckily, training classes for all three of these certifications are available through ONLC. Contact us today to see how we can start you down the path to obtaining project your management certification.
