How to become a project manager
How to Become a Project Manager
The process of becoming a project manager is unique because there isn’t one single prescribed path to becoming one. Some take classes and get certified, while others with unrelated degrees or experience find themselves taking on the responsibilities of a PM with no formal training.
Here are two ways to becoming a PM
1) Education and Certification
There are two common certificates
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) - No prior Experience Required.
Project Management Professional (PMP) - Prior Experience required (Approx 4,500 hours)
Both are offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) with Chapters around the world. You can usually go for formal classes at any Post Secondary institute.
After passing your courses and exams you then are required to maintain your CAPM or PMP.
Even with the education and certification, merit and the companies business situation will always take precedence. Which brings us to our next point!
2) The Accidental (or not so accidental) PM
It may not be as cut-and-dry as getting a certification, but you can become a PM hands-on experience and taking on the responsibilities of a PM in your day-to-day work. Here are some steps we recommend in this process.
Leverage what experience you do have. You may already have some of the skills required: developing and sticking to budgets, planning schedules and timelines, and communicating with stakeholders and teams throughout a project.
What do you still need to learn? project managers usually need to be able to hold the project to a budget, manage contracts with vendors or contractors, and utilize project management software. If you do not have these skills, try developing them further.
Implement what you have learned. If your team is not using formal PM processes, try building and integrating your old and new skills to resource your skills to the team and beyond.