"Human Resource Management to Project Management"

Career Development

Dharmachandra Chandrasekaran Human Resources Consultant| Morgan Stanley Bengaluru, India

I’m currently advancing my transition into project management while preparing for the CAPM certification.

Over the past four years, I’ve built experience across HR Operations, Identity & Access Management, and Global Mobility, where I’ve worked on process improvements, stakeholder coordination, compliance, operational efficiency, and cross-functional collaboration.

To strengthen my project management foundation, I’ve earned certifications including Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Microsoft PL-900, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and the Google Project Management Certificate.

Beyond certification preparation, I actively invest in continuous learning by: • Listening to project management podcasts • Attending PMI chapter events, webinars, and professional development sessions • Connecting with experienced professionals to learn from their insights • Building a project portfolio showcasing initiatives I've contributed to throughout my career • Exploring opportunities to volunteer and gain hands-on project management experience

As I continue this journey, I’m eager to learn from the experience and perspectives of this community.

What advice would you give to someone taking the next step toward a formal project management career?

Thank you in advance for your insights and guidance.

Posted: Jun 11, 2026 10:17 AM

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Luis Branco CEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, Ldª Carcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal

Congratulations on the progress you have already made.

One observation from over four decades of professional experience is that many successful project managers begin their journey long before they receive the title of Project Manager.

Looking at your background in HR Operations, Identity & Access Management, and Global Mobility, I see capabilities that are already fundamental to project success: stakeholder engagement, process improvement, compliance management, cross-functional coordination, problem-solving, and supporting change across diverse environments.

My advice would be to focus less on the transition to a project management role and more on strengthening your ability to create value through projects.

Certifications such as CAPM provide a strong foundation.
However, long-term success in project management depends on developing sound judgment, learning to navigate uncertainty, balancing competing priorities, building trust with stakeholders, and helping teams move from intention to results.

Continue investing in learning, volunteering, networking, and documenting the initiatives you contribute to.
Equally important, take time to reflect on each experience.
Knowledge teaches principles. Reflection develops judgment.

In my experience, the most effective project managers are not defined by the methodologies they know, but by their ability to align people, decisions, and execution around a shared outcome.

You already appear to be building those capabilities.
The title will eventually follow the value you consistently create.

Wishing you every success on your CAPM journey and in your future career in project management.

Posted: Jun 11, 2026 11:53 AM

Imran Afzal Author| The Strategic PMO Cary, NC, United States

Dharmachandra, first, congratulations on the progress you've already made. Based on what you've shared, I think you're closer to project management than you may realize.

Many people assume they need to start over when transitioning into project management. In reality, most successful PMs bring experience from another domain and then learn how to apply project management principles within that environment.

Looking at your background in HR Operations, Identity & Access Management, and Global Mobility, I see a number of transferable skills that are highly relevant to project management:

• Stakeholder management across multiple groups
• Process improvement and operational efficiency
• Compliance and governance activities
• Cross-functional coordination
• Managing competing priorities
• Communication and issue resolution

Those are all capabilities that project managers use every day.

A few suggestions that may help as you continue the transition:

Focus on experience as much as certifications.

The CAPM is a great foundation, but employers will ultimately be interested in examples of projects you helped deliver. Start documenting initiatives you've contributed to, the business problem being solved, your role, challenges encountered, and measurable outcomes.

Look for project opportunities inside your current role.

Many organizations have process improvement efforts, system implementations, automation initiatives, policy changes, and operational transformation work that need coordination. Volunteering for those efforts can often be the fastest path to gaining practical PM experience.

Learn the language of project delivery.

Become comfortable discussing scope, stakeholders, risks, dependencies, milestones, outcomes, and benefits realization. You may already be doing many of these things today without using the formal terminology.

Consider adjacent roles as stepping stones.

Project Coordinator, PMO Analyst, Program Coordinator, Business Operations, Change Management, and Transformation roles can all provide valuable experience while building toward a formal Project Manager position.

Most importantly, don't think of yourself as starting from zero. You're transitioning domains, not restarting your career. The combination of business knowledge, stakeholder management, process thinking, and communication skills you've already developed will serve you well.

Best of luck on the CAPM journey and your transition into project management.

Posted: Jun 11, 2026 1:55 PM

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"Human Resource Management to Project Management"

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