The ABCs of a Project Management Career

Rob Saxon is a Project Management Professional, Certified Information Systems Auditor and a trained Six Sigma Specialist. Rob is currently developing methods to integrate project management into previously unexplored areas of business.

  Career Development   Manufacturing  

Developing a career as a project manager can be difficult. There are no hard rules about what the right career moves are, what the right experience and certifications are or what the career ladder looks like. Project managers know that we must deliver great solutions; manage time, cost and quality; and make our customers happy. If we don’t do these things, we are destined to fail. But even if we are delivering great solutions, our career path is not always clear.

Just as we are always looking out for the good of our projects (as good business practice and PMBOK require), we must also look out for the good of our careers. 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. I’ve represented some of these items in a simple “ABC” of PM career advancement. These simple tips/questions might help current and aspiring PMs make smart decisions about their careers:

Advancement opportunities: Does the firm you work for value and promote project management?

Business/Industry choices: Are you working in an industry where project management plays a key role?

Certifications and knowledge building: Do you have the right credentials to advance your career?

Taken by themselves, none of these factors will assure a smooth and rewarding career progression as a …

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