Why Professional Project Manager?

Large projects with predictive planning can benefit from the Professional Project Manager role who has in-depth knowledge. This helps to create integrated project plans, outline dependent features, manage scope, change requests, budget, collaborate on requirements, and controlling the project.

A professional project manager can manage projects of various sectors starting from fashions magazine to launching SpaceX rocket. Also, certified professional project managers have ample job opportunities in comparison to non-professional.

According to the PMI’s Project Management Salary Survey Ninth Edition, a PMP’s salary is on average 20% higher than the one of a non-PMP.

Whether employed inside an organization or working as an independent consultant, the nature of the project management experience and processes extremely varies. Also, this will also depend on the type of industry and projects.

So have you ever thought about how to become a project manager? 

Traditional Project Manager and Professional Project Manager

While working inside an organization, you may have come across two types of Project Manager: Traditional Project Manager and Professional Project Manager.

Traditional Project Manager is basically originated within the organization based on the in-depth knowledge of that particular domain area ( skill project manager). These project managers usually very well at the domain expertise with some basic understating of the project management process specific to that industry

Whereas a professional Project Manager is a certified project manager who can work in a variety of industries and projects. Due to his core competency in Project Management, a professional project manager understands the project processes and requirements. With core knowledge of Project Management & a basic understanding of the business operation, a professional project manager can easily integrate the project process with business goals.

Becoming a project manager is not an easy task.

Steps to Become a Professional Project Manager- your Project Management career

Step-0 

To become a professional project manager, the first step is to plan your career path. Even before initiating your learning process let’s first understand what is the current status of your professional journey?

Step-1

Depending on the current status of your professional journey, you will need to set your starting point. Whether you are a student, job seeker, or working professional, this will define how to plan your project management career path and ride the learning curve.

If you are a student or pursuing high school, then online courses (Coursera, Udemy, YouTube videos), articles, vlogs would best point to start your project management career.

If you are a high School Graduate/ Diploma holder then enrolling for Certified training courses (Offline as well as Online mode) is more suitable.

If you are Bachelor or Fresher / Looking for an entry-level job, then for a certified training course (Offline or Online) and start working on project work, it doesn’t matter how small the roles are. This is valuable (in terms of knowledge gaining) than a degree or certification course.

If you are a bachelor with experience then a certification course or pursuing a full-time university course in Project Management makes more sense. Also, you can start learning through the Project Management  Office (PMO) of your organization.

Step-3

Based on the starting point you can decide where you can start studying project management. Once you know where you can study project management, you need to identify which course or degree is best suitable for you. This will depend on the type of profession, available time, and aspirations. You will check Which qualification is most common in your industry? Which one do you see listed most in the kind of job descriptions you’re interested in? Which one is best suited to your available time and budget? Which one will better fit the kind of processes your company uses? Where in the world do you want to work? what project manager capacity?

Step-4

Once you zeroed out the right course, you will need to spend time and effort studying the curriculum. Again, the duration and effort will depend on the type of course that you have chosen and your current professional status. This process may take from months to years.
Becoming professionally certified means being recognized worldwide as a solid professional of project management, in compliance with the most well-known standard.

Step-5

The next step is getting real project work experience. Even though you do not have any formal project management training, certification, or degree, you start working on projects if you get the chance. Learning by doing is the best way to learn about project management.
Trust me with a couple of years of working experience and a Project Management degree or certification, you would be ready to handle the significant size of projects as a Project Manager.

Becoming a project manager is not the final destination of your project management career. You should continuously learn things and the latest happening in the Project Management field of your industry. You should develop your career as a thought leader.

if you are thinking that what does a project manager do then the below video might help you.

Conclusion

To become a professional project manager, you will first need to understand the project manager job description with the types of projects and industries that interest you. Based on the current status of your professional career, you will need to choose what is the best suitable course or program for you. Once you attain formal education, you must get practical experience in the industry-specific domain to enhance your knowledge and project management skills.