What's kickstarting a career in Project Management like?

Sunday, its fun. And promising.

Great advice in the answers above.

I would add:
- Get a mentor.
- Be aware you have been doing projects all time already. Just did not relate it to project management.
- Make sure you remember that project management is people business first (and yes, you need also methods, processes, tools)
- Stay humble and ethical
- project management = make it happen

Working on projects, any kind and in whatever capacity, is the way to project management. Get on any project then ask project leads to help. It will show that you are someone who wants to learn and someone who wants to get things done.

Oh... and never put yourself or someone else first: the project has to always be the most important thing.

Starting on a Project Assistant or Project Coordinator position is a good option. Other option is to work as a volunteer, for example, in your Local Chapter.

Often it is a progression of assignments over a few years.

You might start in a technical detail oriented role and then lead others in your area of expertise doing the hands-on work. From there you might lead your team's role participating in larger projects where you are one group out of many. With that new experience in how the bigger picture fits together, you then lead a project with a few teams including the one where you got your earlier experience and others you worked alongside previously.

That is how my career slowly expanded. Each new job included some things where I had experience, and other things where I had to learn on the job and integrate my new knowledge with my existing knowledge.

You need to apply for a job that exposes you to all aspects of project management. Project Coordinator is a good start!

Volunteering is another option, though sometimes employers take it lightly.

Volunteering, working as a team member, project coordination, etc.