Future-proof your career with a role in project management
Growing Demand for Project Managers
If you’re often the designated leader of a project or the default trip planner for vacations, chances are you’d be a natural project manager. Project managers play an essential role in any company. Their main function is to oversee the delivery of a project from end to end while staying on budget, managing timelines, and leading cross-functional teams.
With an estimated 770,000 project management job openings by 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for project managers is increasing rapidly across the country. In the last year alone, Arizona had a whopping 52,000 job openings for those with project management skills—offering a median salary of $100,000. Arizona employers are demanding more project management skills than ever before; so, if you’re serious about a career in project management, you’ll need to understand the requirements to become a project manager and stay ahead of the curve.
Not only are these jobs in high demand, but they are also extremely transferable. Whether you’re interested in working in biotechnology, healthcare, or other fast-growing industries, you’ll be able to flex your skills, making a difference and propelling company goals forward. With minimal qualifications to become a project manager, this is an extremely rewarding and indispensable career path to choose.
What Does a Project Manager Do?
At this point, you may be interested in a project management role, but you’re still unclear about the main tasks and responsibilities involved, the project management tools you’ll need to become fluent in, and the top industries where project managers are in high demand. We’ll outline everything for you below.
Project managers are responsible for overseeing the delivery of a project, from organizing information and coordinating with stakeholders to monitoring budgets and managing deadlines. A good project manager is able to balance competing priorities and navigate the intricacies of multiple projects with ease and efficiency.
One of the many benefits of being a trained project manager, according to PMI (Project Management Institute), core principles of being a project manager typically stay consistent across all industries. So, whether you’re managing award-winning media campaigns or projects that aid in global sustainability, you’ll be able to use your in-demand skills virtually in any direction you choose.
According to LinkedIn, the demand for project managers is soaring and, among the myriad of exciting industries to choose from, these are the top 10 industries that are rapidly hiring for project manager roles:
1. Healthcare
2. Manufacturing
3. Finance
4. Construction and Engineering
5. IT
6. Telecommunications
7. Energy and Utilities
8. Retail and E-commerce
9. Consulting
10. Government
What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Project Manager?
Now that you’ve decided you’re interested in a career in project management, it’s time to outline what project management certifications are out there and the best courses for aspiring project managers. Below you’ll find options starting with formal degrees and eventually ending with certifications in highly specialized project management fields.
Formal Education
From an undergraduate degree program to an MBA, Ph.D., or certificate program, there are many ways to build a career in project management. If you’re wondering what degree is best for a career in project management, consider starting with a Bachelor of Arts in Project Management at the University of Arizona Global Campus. This specialized, interdisciplinary degree combines human resources and leadership with finance and accounting classes. You also have the option of completing a degree in business administration with a concentration in project management, which provides a broader focus on business fundamentals.
If you already have an undergraduate degree in a field other than project management, you’re not far off track from a project management career. Since the necessary project management qualifications are primarily skill-based, you can go after the career you want—even if you have no experience in project management. There are many online programs you can explore as an aspiring project manager to work your way towards a senior project manager role, and beyond. Our top recommendations are:
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®: Administered by PMI (Project Management Institute), this course offers foundational knowledge of project management and is one of the leading courses to complete for an entry-level project manager role. This course will help lead the way to becoming a certified project manager.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification: Administered by PMI, this course is designed to build off entry-level programs, so previous studies and prior experience are required. Upon completion, you’ll be able to enhance your credibility as a certified project manager—demonstrating your expertise in project leadership to future employers.
- Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM)® certification: Administered by PMI, this program is designed for current project managers interested in honing skills through agile methodologies. Here, you’ll focus on the fundamentals of lean and agile project management techniques using methods in Scrum, Kanban, SAFe®, and more.
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification: Administered by PMI, this course goes a few steps further, expanding on your studies in project management through the lens of an agile project management approach. Once completed, you’ll be able to thrive across all industries in a more senior project manager role.
The University of Arizona’s Continuing and Professional Education program offers a 10-week Project Management Certificate Course, in collaboration with Ziplines Education, featuring mentor-led, on-demand learning through hands-on projects. Leverage your existing skill set while earning 23 hours toward the CAPM®. Consider this a launchpad for your career in project management.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Project Manager?
Requirements to become a project manager include a blend of certain skills and personality traits along with certifications and experience. Although it’s not technically required, most project managers have a bachelor’s degree. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a project manager role that does not require a degree in the job description. Luckily, your bachelor’s degree does not have to be in project management. In fact, having a degree in business administration, architecture, IT, or any other industry is advantageous to becoming a project manager. Think about it, you’re already equipped with industry knowledge and relevant jargon needed to be successful—you’re halfway there!
Again, although not required, it is highly recommended to take on an internship or transition to an every-level role when first pursuing a project management career. These avenues provide you with the relevant experience necessary to become a project manager. If you have little or no professional experience, you’ll be able to use either of these experiences as launching points for a fulfilling project management career. Some common entry-level project manager roles you’ll find include Junior Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Assistant Project Manager, and Business Analyst.
Whatever your starting point is, if you’re serious about a long-term career in project management, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, the right technical and soft skills, as well as a baseline knowledge of what the role entails—including project management tools, methodologies, systems, and terminology—to become a project manager.
Key Skills Required for a Project Manager
Key skills required to become a project manager include a mix of varied technical and soft skills. Please keep in mind that these are not complete and exhaustive lists of skills required to become a project manager, just key skills we think are ultra-important to be successful and stay at the top of this in-demand, ever-changing field.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency in project management tools. This includes Microsoft Project, Asana, and Jira.
- Understanding different project management methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall.
Soft Skills
- In order to be a successful project manager, you’ll need to develop (and hone) the following skills:
o Leadership: As a project manager, you’ll oversee diverse teams of highly skilled individuals. You’ll need to implement your refined leadership skills to keep your team on track and motivated. When struggles or disagreements arise, you’ll be the one to mediate and resolve conflicts between colleagues while inspiring teamwork and collaboration.
o Communication: Since you will be the main overseer of projects, you’ll not only be communicating with your team, but also with stakeholders, personnel, customers, and more. Throughout the lifecycle of a project, you’ll be relaying important instructions to team members and reporting on progress to internal and external stakeholders.
o Planning: As a project manager, one of your main duties will be to plan projects from implementation to completion. In order to plan accordingly, you’ll need to consider your project’s goal, timeline breakdown, risk assessment, main deliverables, and more. Senior project managers demonstrate one of the most important skills in planning—foreseeing potential hiccups in the project and seamlessly working to mitigate them.
o Time Management: There are very few professions that do not require time management as a main skill to be successful—project management is no different. You’ll need extremely refined proficiency in time management when managing a project from end to end. Your team will be relying on you to make sure they’re keeping up with deadlines, so it will be your job to ensure the projects stay on track. Once you become well-versed in project management methodologies like agile, waterfall, and scrum, you’ll be well on your way to being your team’s time management expert.
How to Gain Experience and Build Skills for Project Management
There are a few different ways to gain experience and build skills for a project management career. You can do this by way of an internship or entry-level job; both methods work wonderfully when first starting out in a field—they come with mentorship, experience, and a way to build your professional portfolio. To land either of these, you’ll need to first define what your goals are. Do you have a specific role or industry in mind? Are you interested in working in a corporate setting or in more of a start-up setting? Do you want to work remotely, or would you prefer to go into an office and have face-to-face interaction with colleagues?
Here are some ideas on how to become a project manager if you’re just starting out. Land internships and entry-level project management positions and start building project management skills.
- Search job boards: Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter have a myriad of internships and entry-level roles listed on their site based on your location (including remote positions). You can also use these sites to research companies you’re interested in working for and reach out directly via their website.
- Networking: This is a great way to learn about the field you’re interested in and mingle with folks who are already accomplished in their careers. Attend a conference, or job fair, or reach out to your social media network for meetups and other networking opportunities. You can also join professional organizations like Project Management Institute (PMI) and enjoy perks like industry events, program discounts, webinars, and more.
- Mentorship: Through networking and online forums, you may find someone who is willing to be your mentor—guiding you through the landscapes of project management and offering advice based on their unique path and lived experience.
- On-the-job experience: If you’re not in a position to leave your current role to pursue project management, you can find ways to gain real-world experience by incorporating project management skills in your current workplace. Ask your manager to take the lead on a team project or volunteer for additional responsibilities. You can then use this to create a portfolio to share with future employers.
Choosing the Right Courses for Aspiring Project Managers
Choosing the best courses for your project management training warrants time for reflection. You’ll need to consider whether you’re looking for an online course that provides accountability with live sessions and mentorship or a course that has a more asynchronous, at-your-own-pace style. The following trainings are all virtually led, giving you the flexibility to learn and excel in your career from the comfort of your own home.
Live and hybrid online learning options:
- PMI Training 2024 Catalog from PMI (Project Management Institute)
- University of Arizona Continuing and Professional Education Project Management Certificate Course, in collaboration with Ziplines Education
- Live virtual PMP (Project Management Professional) certification classes from PMTraining
Asynchronous learning options:
- Google Project Management: Professional Certificate from Coursera
- Project Management and Project Leadership Training from LinkedIn Learning
- Project Management courses from Udemy
Mapping Your Path to Project Management Success
Now that you know the steps to becoming a successful project manager, we hope you’re better able to determine whether this path is right for you. Keeping in mind your unique career goals, professional skills, and where you currently stand within your career, you can most certainly build a sustainable, long-term career in project management.
The Project Management Certificate Course at the University of Arizona Continuing and Professional Education, in collaboration with Ziplines Education, provides personalized mentorship and equips you with the necessary skills you need to be a successful project manager. Whether you’re applying for your first professional role or transitioning out of a long-term career, remember to reflect on what your goals are, build and maintain a solid network, and always continue learning to stay at the forefront of this ever-changing field.
