If you’re looking to take your career to the next level, management is a great way to take on more responsibilities. It may seem like anyone can be a project manager, but only a certain few have what it takes to completely see a project through from start to finish. To learn what it takes to successfully manage a team, Top Applicant’s founders are sharing their insight on the project management career outlook.
Learn Your Skillset
Before you decide to take on the responsibilities that come with being a project manager, you need to have the right skills to lead. When you play to your strengths, you make your entire team better as a manager. That’s why effective project managers all possess these 3 skillsets:
Common Sense
It’s not just a book by Ben Franklin! Unfortunately, not everyone has the same grasp on things that may come simply to others, like time management or understanding scalability. Every project will come with its own unique challenges. So, make sure you have a good understanding of the simple aspects of a project, like schedules, manpower, and expectations.
Personal Skills
To set those expectations and learn the true power of your team, you have to get to know them! Even at your busiest, take time to learn about your team and the people you serve. One of the best things about project management is getting people from all angles on the same page.
You can always tell someone will have a successful project management career outlook by how they treat the people they work with. Even if you’re in a frustrating situation, staying calm and cordial is a much better path than lashing out. We recommend tamping down that temper and tailoring your language to process-oriented approaches. At the end of the day, it’s not personal, it’s a project.
Technical Skills
We’ll be honest—not all technical people make great project managers. In our experience, we’ve seen people from all backgrounds try, fail, and succeed as project managers. The difference between the ones who succeed and those who fail is how they use those skills to the team’s advantage.
Sure, you may know how to get the job done, but that doesn’t mean you have to be the one to do it all! The most successful project managers we’ve worked with know when and how to delegate work. In every project, use your technical knowledge to understand a feasible scope of work and determine who is best suited to the tasks.
Put Relationships First
Every company is different, so don’t expect every project management role to be the same. Some roles focus more on internal organization, while others are almost entirely client-facing. The most important thing to keep in mind at any company is to put your relationships first.
For Your Client
Rookies in project management will tell you that it’s all about the client. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Sure, keeping your clients happy is important, but you also need to balance your relationship fairly with your staff.
If a client proposes an impossible timeline or a project outside of our team’s scope of work, are you going to let them walk all over your team? To keep the peace and the pace, we recommend consulting your team as you define any details or additions to a project.
For the Culture
True leaders don’t need a title or a nametag to let you know they’re in control. They know who to call on, how to approach people, and they develop strong relationships across the company. If you want a positive project management career outlook, become an integral part of your company culture. Additionally, build strong ties with clients, regardless of your position. Positive culture can be felt within your company and throughout your client base!
Communication at All Costs
Top Applicant’s project management veterans will tell you that communication is the reason they’re so successful. Never be afraid to ask a question, no matter how dumb it may sound or how hard it may be. Whether it’s about a technical concept or a team member’s workload, you need to know exactly what’s going on in your project at all times.
The best way to do that is by talking to your people! If any frustration arises, it’s almost always because someone didn’t communicate properly. What makes a truly successful project manager is how clear and concise their communication skills are.
Manage Your Career Growth
If you’re ready to put in the work, project management can be a very rewarding, in-demand career path! To start exploring your options, start by building your profile on Top Applicant. Get matched with your next ideal position and improve your resume with our modern features. Sign In to start managing your career!
