Making The Move From Project Doer To Project management

So you are good at your job and you want to move up within your organization. You see what the project managers at your company do and you know you can do it better. Maybe it’s time for you to take the next step and move from project doer to project manager. First, ask yourself a couple of questions. Are you a planner and organizer? Are you great with people and love to be a supervisor? Can you handle the stress of being responsible for the success or failure of a project? If you can honestly answer yes to all these questions, then maybe you are right. You should be working as a project manager.

The project management field in general is showing incredible growth right now. As companies continue to look for ways to cut costs and retain their profitability, they also look for people with top notch project management skills who can implement measures designed to streamline the company and keep projects on track. Plus, successful project managers are often plucked from projects and put on the fast track to company management. So how do you get such a great position?

Let’s assume you have already developed some marketable skills in some sort of specialty area. Maybe you are in IT or construction. Perhaps you are working in engineering or in the healthcare field. How quickly you can move to a top job in project management position will depend on how many layers of management your company has and how much experience you have. You should be open to accepting a lateral move or a move to an assistant project manager or project coordinator role in order to get started. This is give you a chance to learn the ins and outs of what a real project manager does and get your feet wet. As you become recognized for your project management skills, you can begin to assume more responsibility and in no time you’ll be ready to move into an actual project management position.

There are some things that you can do to help improve your chances of getting a project management job. There are many formal educational programs that offer certifications in a variety of project management disciplines. Many of these programs are designed for working professionals who need to take their coursework at night. With a little research you will find programs designed specifically for you industry. If you are interested in the international aspects of project management, there are certifications you can earn for this as well. Trade groups and industry associations can be a particularly good source of information on how to make yourself more marketable as a project manager. Chances are your industry has its own special group dedicated to project management.

There is no doubt that the field of project management will continue to show growth in the future. It has never been more important for projects of all kinds to run smoothly and efficiently. The project manager is the key resource that is responsible for making that happen. So go ahead, get some training and start looking for a position that will help you make the transition. Once you’ve earned your stripes you’ll make a great project manager!