How to Become a Project Manager

Are you interested in becoming a project manager but don't know where or how to start? Whether you're new to project management or are a current project management professional looking to take your PM skills to the next level, this article is for you. 

Here are our top tips on how to become a project manager, including the critical skills and certifications, where to find project management jobs, what to do during the job search and job interview, and how to utilize resources to continue your education.

What is a Project Manager?

Put simply, a project manager is a person responsible for keeping together a lot of moving pieces within a company or project. Kerry Hoffman, a PM with 10+ years of experience, defined the role of project manager as the "single source of truth," meaning they are the person that knows everything going on with a particular project. 

A project manager's job is to coordinate all the moving parts so that everyone else working on the project can focus and do heads-down work. According to Jen Dickson, head of creative project management, a PM's responsibility lies in shepherding teams while looking into the future in order to understand what's coming up next. That way, they can appropriately manage any risk that comes their way. 

The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines a project manager as follows:

What Does a Project Manager Do?

A typical day or schedule in the life of a project manager is structured, yet open to constant pivots. 

Typical tasks include setting or changing dates of delivery, setting scopes of work, communicating with stakeholders, providing deliverables or feedback, resource management, budgeting, planning, checking in, and aligning tasks to the needs of the project. 

In short, a project manager's primary responsibility is to ensure that a project is executed and completed to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders involved. They are there every step of the way to ensure that a project is meeting deadlines and staying on a pre-determined timeline. 

A PM could work on one project at a time or be assigned multiple projects. Project managers rely on collaboration, organization, communication and many other important hard and soft skills to get the job done. Speaking of skills...

What Are The Key Project Management Skills to Have?

Since a project manager is the point person for a project, they must be incredibly detail-oriented and organized. Time management and all communication skills are equally crucial. You're also most likely going to be dealing with unexpected challenges or setbacks so utilizing key soft skill in order to handle these moments will make the job much easier. 

Since project management isn't exclusive to one industry, that means the specific skills required to become one will vary slightly. This doesn't mean you have to be an expert coder if you're a PM in the tech industry. Just having enough technical familiarity in the industry or niche that you work in will help you be able to set realistic deadlines. It will also give you enough of a working language to translate feedback and notes to team members and clients.

Regarding hard skills, project managers should know how to use project management software and platforms to keep track of projects. We recommend familiarizing yourself with common project manager software.

Most project management hard and soft skills can be gained through prior work experience, while familiarity with project management software and programs can be gained through direct experience. 

Many of the project management tools have their own tutorials or resources that walk through how to use the programs, so even if you've never used them at work, see if you can get a free trial so that you can poke around each program on your own time. 

Project Manager Qualifications

When constructing a project manager resume, it's important to highlight qualifications and work experience that display your collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills. 

Reflect on your hard and soft skills, your education and training (both formal and informal), relevant work experience, and certifications (which we'll get to in a bit). Remember that the most qualified project manager will have a well-rounded combination of skills, experience, and training. 

When writing your resume, divide it into the following sections:  

By the way, if you want more detailed explanations of how to build the perfect project management resume, read this article. 

Do Project Managers Need Advanced Degrees or Certifications? 

Some project manager roles require a bachelor's or associate's degree in business management or project management. Advanced degrees may offer up more job opportunities but are not a necessity for beginning a career in project management. 

If you are interested in transitioning into a project management role but do not have formal project manager education, don't fret. Many skills transfer into project management.

For example, one of our PM experts, gained crucial project management experience while working in the restaurant industry as a maître d', mapping out floor plans for 400 guests a night. 

By far, one of the best ways to gain project management education and training is to get a certification. Career coach, Ginny Cheng, explains that there are two main certifications both offered by the Project Management Institute: 1) CAPM (Certified Associate of Project Management) and 2) PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification

CAPM provides a great foundation for project management and is not as comprehensive. This is a good option if you are more of an entry-level project manager since it is meant for people with 0-3 years of project management experience. With CAPM, there are fewer qualifications for taking the exam. According to the Project Management Institute, applicants must meet the following requirements:

About PMP Certification

PMP is more renowned and prestigious; however, the exam is a bit more rigorous. Earning your PMP is a great next step to take as a project manager if you're looking to go out for roles with higher titles and bigger salaries. To apply for PMP certification, applicants must meet the following education requirements:

And, applicants must meet the following experience requirements:

While both CAPM and PMP certifications require time and training, they are worth it in the long run. Project management certifications are a great way to open up more career opportunities and earn more senior-level management positions.  

Where to Find Project Manager Jobs

There are many different ways to go about getting a project manager role. Your strongest entry point will be through networking and referrals. Flex your strong communication skills and reach out to professionals working at companies or within industries that you want to be a part of. Informational interviews will be very helpful, especially if you are just starting your career in project management. 

Keeping an updated and optimized LinkedIn profile is also crucial. Project manager roles can sometimes hide under various job titles. Cheng advises keeping in mind a few various job titles when searching for project manager jobs. In addition to "project manager" search for the following keywords: 

What Should You Expect at a Project Manager Job Interview?

Researching before your project manager job interview is really important.

If you are new or pivoting into project management, the key is to highlight all of your transferable skills. Maybe you were a stay-at-home parent that balanced the schedules of three busy kids, or you took on a project at your last job where you had to delegate tasks to your team members. 

Think about times in your previous positions when you exemplified great communication, time management and/or resource management skills. If you feel stuck, research the job posting. If you see a certain skill listed on a job posting and you possess it, add it to your resume. Then, practice ways you can share moments in your career where you exemplified these skills. Try to give as many concrete examples of success during your job interview.

Whether you've technically held a "project manager" title or not, most likely, you have worked on some sort of project. Use those examples as opportunities to demonstrate how you were a leader. 

Dickson, who has had her fair share of project manager interviews, emphasizes the importance of concrete examples as well. When interviewing candidates, she's interested in seeing what they do outside of work. She said she also pays attention to the types of questions the interviewees ask her about the role.

So, to prepare for a project manager job interview, rehearse more common interview questions about project success. To make your answers more compelling, figure out where you can tell compelling stories about yourself that exemplify key project management skills. 

One of the best questions Dickson was asked when she was in the interviewee seat was the following: "I know your life is organized, but tell me where your life is not organized." Since project managers are inherently very organized, this question highlights other strengths like adaptability and awareness. 

Story circles are a great way to prepare for more abstract and behavioral questions like this one. 

Project Manager Salary

As with any job title, salary can range depending on location, industry, seniority, and niche. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median average salary for a project manager is somewhere around $73K-$80K. 

Keep in mind that salary can be increased through certification. It’s estimated that project managers who hold a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification make about 22 percent more than those who are not certified. 

More Project Management Resources

If you're looking to expand or continue your project management education and training here are a few resources, tools, and communities to check out: