What was your first project management job?

My first job was as a Junior Engineer / Project Coordinator - I learned a lot which made me believe that this is the right position for a new practitioner to start.

The company came from overseas looking for new graduates at my university so I was interviewed and hired while I was working as a research and teaching assistant.

My journey started from there. Leaving from Jerusalem to Qatar / Gulf Region for 8 Years then Shanghai 3 Years before I moved permanently to Canada.

Good Luck to you Val - Best Wishes with your career path.

I started out as a project engineer with a strong knowledge of project management, I went through a series of consulting jobs which were project based. Eventually I was pulled into a Y2K remediation project in distress and help turn it around and left with a title as senior project manager. With most positions, I got them by referral by people who knew that I got things done and brought me in. A constant through all the roles I have had was a basis of getting the job done and using many of the core project management tenets.
You should look for opportunity not as a PM put as someone who can accomplish a goal. I see you are attending WCU, which is a part of the UNC university system, they are constantly doing system-wide projects. In your current role I am sure you can make contact with people who may know of these initiatives which are always looking for people to get things done.

Hi Val, I was on a pretty junior position in management consultancy and was appointed as a team member on a project but suddenly everything went wrong and I had to overtake a leading role until the company found a new project manager. It was great experience and it brought me to project management discipline as such though I was actually never project manager by a job title (I am now but it’s a volunteering part time assignment which I do because I’m on parental leave). But I did a lot of project management that was part of my job roles, I did project management trainings as a trainer, portfolio management. Project management is actually present almost everywhere in companies and it’s strongly needed even if your job title is not a Project Manager.

I agree with Kiron, it’s hard to be hired as a project manager without a track record. I would suggest to look around and take opportunities for active project roles in your current assignment. It does not have to be big for a start. Company leaders appreciate your initiative and will give you more stretch assignments later and you may gradually move a project manager role. Or you may look at volunteering opportunities as project manager to create a track record. I think it’s key to gain experience to have respect from teams you are going to lead.

Yes another slang term Rami lol. Sometimes it felt like I was falling out of a plane though on that project ;-)

Rami,

Thank you for sharing your background. I think a Project Coordinator role would be a perfect first position to dive into the PM field. Good luck to you as well!

Hi Val,
My first job as PM was quite unexpected. I was a leading content marketing specialist when our CMO introduced me idea of Copycrafter and asked to me present it, and become a project manager. I was scared it would be too hard for me, but it turned out that I've got all the required skills.
However, I cannot imagine how I could get into PM another way.
So, I suggest you as usually start with something smaller or volunteering opportunities as a PM assistant. And don't get into startup companies. Believe me, you don't need burnouts at the start of your career.