Is there a "best" way to start a career in project management? Assuming that you have started a career in an organization already, how should you focus on it? If the "by accident" approach isn't for you, there are two very distinct planned paths.
So you want a career in project management? What will it take to be successful, and what about earning potential? This article will explore the pursuit of a career in project management, including looks at characteristics of successful PMs, what employers are looking for and salaries.
Just as we always look out for the good of our projects, we must also look out for the good of our career. We can never assure that they will continue to advance and grow, but there are some factors we can look to that might optimize our chances. Taken by themselves, none of these factors will assure a smooth and rewarding career progression. But leveraging several of these factors can help maximize success.
Employers often look only at their own industry when hiring, because not every PM can make the jump--and if they can’t, things can get very bad very quickly. So what should employers look for--and by extension, what should PMs demonstrate that they are capable of doing? Does industry matter in your career? How transferable is the project management skill set?
Project control is not about the minutiae, it’s about the big picture. Here we provide some guidelines on how to move from micro-level project management to a more macro-level control phase.
There are many different ways to launch a successful career in project management, but depending on your particular background and goals, your path will vary. Here are four common scenarios and appropriate advice for individuals who are trying to get into project management from different backgrounds.
The head of the PMO has a significant responsibility to the project managers to act as career coaches and mentors. Are you taking that role seriously?
A lot is riding on your project plan, such as the success of project itself, not to mention your career! Wouldn't it be nice to check to make sure it contains the basics from which to run your project?
As achievers, we all want to know how we’re progressing toward career goals, advancement and greater financial rewards. A simple career development matrix is a helpful tool to prepare for future success and put practical steps into action.
What’s the best training for a project manager who already has the basics? Here's what you need to keep in mind when trying to advance your knowledge--and your career.
Three-way partnership with American University, Management Concepts and MCR provides training program for federal agencies and government contractors.
The average project manager has a challenge, and a large one at that. Most of us don’t have a career development plan. In fact, most of us didn’t necessarily pick this as a career--it picked us. But now that we’re here, the challenge is to figure out exactly where we go with it. To understand how our careers progress, it helps to have a model with which we can associate. Find out what important trio awaits inside...
Organizations are incorporating environmental considerations into their project planning and decision-making. Even if your organization does not, you can advance your career by taking a green approach to projects. Not only is it good for the planet, but it can differentiate you in a very positive way from your peers. After reading this article, think about the following questions and consider how you might adopt green project management principles on your next project.
Project managers usually tend to focus on the methodology for executing the technical part of the project. However, a good understanding of a practical SOA landscape and its associated challenges can help a technical PM make the SOA adoption on technology projects run even smoother.
Effective project activation is more than just hard work and good luck. It's an important focus on the work required to bring the project up to speed, and this article explores some ways to get from zero to 60 as quickly as possible.
What advice has helped you survive this crazy profession? One writer weighs in on some valuable tips of the trade.
How do the rules around communication change when we add the global element? When we add a global perspective into the picture, things can get a lot more complicated. The physical distance can be a big part of that--as can time, language and culture. In this article, we look at how communication needs to adjust on a global project in order to remain effective.
How did the corporate career development program and succession planning program impact your project? This questionnaire will allow you to analyze these processes, develop conclusions and make recommendations.
Nothing takes the place of solid work experience. So one PM decided to reach out to her colleagues and gather their everyday thoughts and insights into what they have learned over the years in working with different leadership styles. These important questions and answers continue that valuable research.
There are two key parts to employee evaluations: How they're doing, and where they're going. This template will help you with both the "now" of the performance appraisal and the "future" of that employees career path and development.
In the years ahead, the job of project manager will only become more complex. That’s largely because the profession has finally gotten the recognition it deserves, taking its much-deserved place alongside other essential organizational functions.
More experienced PMs are one of the greatest sources of assistance that you can have. Are you taking advantage of their knowledge? Use them and ask as many questions as possible, because there really is no such thing as a stupid question--except the one that you never ask.
Career development and training go hand in hand with mentoring. If you can find a few good mentors in your career, you’ll be much better off than having to experience the pitfalls of the work world all alone. This writer has been fortunate to have several formal and informal mentors help him along the way, and here he shares the top five bits of career advice that he still keeps fresh in his mind.
This writer has had enough with so-called "project managers" making a mockery of the profession on so-called "reality" television shows. So in this article he takes you into the near future to the next reality TV sensation--The Next Great Project Manager. It’s going to be epic!
Forget what the PM's background is, forget where their expertise lies. What is the optimal amount of business knowledge that a PM should have on a project? How well do they need to understand the business to be successful? Are you becoming the man or woman who knew too much?
A new global survey indicates disparities in the measurement and effectiveness of PMOs, leaving their value a great unknown.
Whether you believe their value to be intrinsic or monetary, PM-related credentials can open doors for both young and senior-level professionals. In fact, earning more than one may allow you increased mobility and security, and mitigate risks found in unforeseen situations such as changing jobs.
Your workforce improvement program will really take off if you use this Microsoft Project plan based on a real-life project to automate the workflow and improve organizational structure, communication and work processes.
Challenge but don't penalize. Be positive, not naïve. Oh, and act like a snowplow. That's some advice to project managers from A.C. Fred Baker, who has been managing and mentoring in the project world for 35-plus years. Here, he reflects on his career and shares a couple pet peeves.
Nothing takes the place of solid work experience. So one PM decided to reach out to her colleagues and gather their everyday thoughts and insights into what they have learned over the years in working with different leadership styles.
Is project management a profession? If not, should it be? And what would differentiate a professional PM from all the others managing projects? In this article, we explore what constitutes a profession, and whether project management should be considered one.
Use current demographic and marketplace constraints to your project’s competitive advantage.
Project management has its roots in technical environments and appears to be returning to those roots after years of being a haven for generalists. But does this trend short-change PM experience and resourcefulness? Is technical expertise really required?
As you embark on your next project journey, what techniques and tools do you absolutely need to succeed? Acknowledging that every initiative is different and some require more “items” than others, three project management veterans share their PM Survival Toolkit, packed with the bare necessities to bring most projects safely home.
Why do we do this job again? There are times when this writer wonders what he was thinking all those years ago. Here are some lessons he learned the hard way.
In hard economic times, it's more important than ever to be prepared. As our series concludes, we learn some valuable tips and job-snaring tactics for prospective PMs.
As the eighth annual International Project Management Day approaches, one seasoned PM saw fit to offer some words from the heart for “our” day. What does the special day have in store for you?
What sets PM Masters apart from the rest of us? Is it their learning, innate talents and aptitudes or is it more? In observing those who exhibit PM mastery this writer has found they share some common traits and capabilities that provide some interesting insights.
How do you lead and develop resources across the miles? Having a strengthened project team can be hard enough if everyone is located in the same location, but how do you ensure success when the project is global in scope? In this article, we explore different aspects of team and individual development and leadership--and some of the specific challenges that are introduced in a global project.
You’re smart, so why not share it with the world? In an effort to learn more about the ABCs of a project management career and your professional development, we want you to share your certification and educational goals with the gantthead community! Please take a few minutes to answer our quick and easy Professional Development Planning Survey. Not only will it help your fellow project managers, but you could win a free year of gantthead premium membership!
It's an ideal time to build your project management skills. But before you do, read about some mistakes to avoid and the secrets of career-building.
Ever stop to ponder all the different PM frameworks that have been developed over the years and which one you should be using in your organization? Is there really one best framework out there? The options are dizzying, so here we take a look at four of them in depth. What can they do for you? Remember, one size does not fit all...
It scares this writer how many project managers believe that projects start with the planning phase. It scares him even more that their employers often agree.The project starts during the justification phase of the initiative, and the project manager needs to be a part of that process.
How many times have you managed a project with so many bumps, there was no way you were going to finish on time or within budget? You likely have a customer on the brink of dissatisfaction--or already there. Here's how to mend wounds and fix relationships.
There's gold in them thar PMP hills! Are you mining for it? Three primary benefits await for those that pass the PMP exam, making the hard work well worth it.
Is there a “secret sauce” or shortcut that will help you pass the PMP Exam? Not really. However, there are seven essential resources, concepts and best practices that will make your PMP Exam preparation go smoother.
It is clear that both roles are essential and integral to the success of a project, but often on small projects the manager and administrator role are combined. Regardless of which role you are playing in your organization, it is important to understand the distinctions and the need for both.
Our writer was approached by the head of a PMO who was launching a major new program--a huge initiative that would consume more than half of the project management capacity of the organization for the next three years. If it sounds like a project manager allocation nightmare, it is.
When something goes rotten in your PMO or project portfolio, all of your projects may be in jeopardy. The best way to handle crisis across multiple projects is to treat it like the train wreck it appears to be. Take a lesson from the medical community and triage the damage before you start trying to treat the wounded.
Why do PMOs have such a high failure rate? It's time to take a look at the top 10 PMO worst practices--and advice on how to avoid them.
