How to Become a Project Manager in 2022: The Complete Career Guide

by Hiration

Project management is a rewarding career. It gives you a chance to make a real difference.

As the demand for project managers grows, Project Management Institute predicts that companies would need to fill 2.2 million new project-oriented roles each year through 2027.

But what does project management mean, exactly? What are the project manager requirements in a company? And how to become a project manager in the first place?

We go through each of these questions in detail here. So you have all the knowledge on how you can make your project manager ambition a reality.

Here is the table of contents, including topics concerning how to become a project manager in 2022 :

What Does Being a Project Manager Mean?


The project manager job is in demand in about every industry. You have many options available as a project manager with a high pay scale. You could become a senior project manager, director, vice president, or executive.

A project manager has a variety of duties in a company. From organizing plans and executing projects to preparing budgets and scheduling constraints, all come under the project manager’s control.

You are the person responsible for managing a piece of work from concept to delivery. You will be accountable for any project's success or failure.

Let’s look at what exactly a project manager job role does and how you can get started.

What Does a Project Manager Do?


The project manager is in charge of planning, coordinating, and supervising projects in a company. The professional works as a leader responsible for completing specific projects for an organization within time, within budget, and within the scope of the project.

Project Manager Role and Responsibilities

The role and responsibilities of a project manager differ based on the industry and business. However, the key project manager responsibilities are:

  • Communicating with team members via emails, phone calls, daily check-ins, and team meetings.
  • Identifying and resolving issues to ensure smooth workflow.
  • Budgeting and cost control which includes resource management, cost approval, invoice processing, and resource allocation.
  • Communication and reporting to key stakeholders.
  • Team building to keep team members focused on particular duties and happy and productive.

What’s the Secret of a Project Management Career Path?


Do you need project management professional experience?

Yes, you do!

Education and certifications will only give you theoretical knowledge, you can improve your practical skills and capabilities via professional experience.

The secret to becoming a project manager without a degree is the experience you have gained and the transferable skills you possess.

But don't worry, it's not the chicken-and-egg scenario you would think. You could always gain relevant experience starting now to become a project manager job role.

How Do I Become a Project Manager?


Becoming a project manager is more than just degrees and qualifications. Of course, there are many certifications you can wish to take but acquiring a certain degree is not necessary.

On the route to becoming a project manager job efficient, there are two primary paths:

You can pursue the "standard" approach by earning a qualification and working as a project manager.

Or else, you can also gain project management experience. Your work will take you up the project management career ladder without a specialized degree and certification.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Project Manager?

Any college degree will work if you have the potential. Even a Bachelor's degree can be helpful for a future project manager job position.

Generally, project managers need to have a bachelor’s degree in business or computer science. Some also opt for a specific master's degree in a relevant line.

Project Management Certifications

A formal qualification or degree is no longer necessary to become a project manager. It all becomes worth it if you’re serious about upgrading your project management game.

Gaining a project management certificate is a plus. It will make more job opportunities available to you and give you a higher earning power.

Interestingly, you can now get a project manager certification online. Here’s a list of certifications you can consider for your project management career:

How Do I Become a Project Manager Without Experience?


Becoming a project manager directly with no experience in hand is very tricky.

Below are a few steps to follow ‘ How do I become a project manager with no experience?'

So if you're interested in a project management career but don't yet have the experience, follow these steps:

  • Showcase foundational skills in your resume
  • Sign up with a mentor who has earned success as a project manager
  • Find training opportunities through online platforms, conferences, webinars, and project management agencies.
  • Get certified with reputed and recognized project management certifications

Project Manager Salary


A project management career is in high demand. However, a project manager’s salary changes according to different factors like the location and size of the company.

According to a recent report, a project manager's annual income is estimated to be between $51,000 to $111,000. According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a project manager job role is $88,669 in US.

The average additional cash compensation for a Project Manager job in the US is $7,146, ranging from $1,667 - $30,632. However, a project manager's salary varies depending on skills, experience, and knowledge.

Also Read: Project Manager's Salary Guide 2022

Project Manager Job Skills


As discussed above, you need a skillset with all your qualifications and experience.
Tackling daily project management challenges is stressful.

You require accountability, adaptability, analytical and strategic thinking.
All in all, you need to be a multitasker with excellent leadership and communication skills.

These can place you among the top project managers in your sector.
No specific project management skill can help you become an outstanding project manager in 2022.

However, these skills will help you become one of the most robust project management aspirants in your next job switch:

Skills
Risk Management & Industry Specialization
Knowledge of meeting specific circumstances
Risk-taking ability
Self-management skills
Leadership skills
Planning and limiting budgets
Critical thinking
Strong communication and negotiation skills
Interpersonal skills to lead a team
Organizational and multitasking skills
Analytical skills
Problem-solving skills
Knowledge of project management tools

Key Points

The project manager job is tough to handle. We had a detailed discussion covering feature questions about the project manager's job. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

  • A project management job career is successful even without experience. You need to master some common skills such as communication skills, leadership skills, team management, and time management.
  • Develop strong leadership quality to deal with the day-to-day management of specific goals
  • Be an analytical and critical thinker when dealing with projects for better results
  • Gaining certification will add value to your resume and polish your skillset

Visit Hiration's 360 Degree Career Guide for a smooth experience of drafting your resumes, cover letters, and other professional documents.

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