If you’re looking for a challenging career where you can utilize leadership and problem-solving skills — and find countless career opportunities — project management may be a path worth considering.
To find out more, the following will help define project management. It will also detail which industries need project managers. We’ll also explain how current or prospective project managers can take advantage of new and diverse career opportunities.
What Is Project Management?
A project manager, who possesses an innate set of skills, knowledge, tools, and techniques related to project planning, procurement, and execution, oversees projects by making sure various tasks are completed correctly, on time, and within budget.
They serve as a liaison between industry clients, company executives, and employees. They serve as the central source of information between all parties involved to complete big-picture projects.
Typically, project management positions are filled by people who can lead others effectively, are highly organized, and are capable of multitasking.
Industries That Employ Project Managers
Project managers, more often than not, possess certain skill sets and traits to delegate tasks and ensure overall project success.
However, that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily experts in their line of work. In fact, one advantage of this role is that you don’t need specific knowledge of an industry to become a project manager.
The skill sets, knowledge, and expertise you acquire over time as a project manager can be applied in virtually any industry. Similarly, project managers can find job opportunities in many different sectors.
Here are some industries that often require and utilize project managers, just to name a few:
- Construction
- Engineering and Manufacturing
- Marketing, Advertising, and Sales
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Information Technology
- Nonprofits
There are many different paths to becoming a project manager.
Many people in this role have earned a bachelor’s degree in management, business, or a related field and have several years of work experience in a related industry. As part of their education, project managers may also obtain a master’s degree in project management, as well as earn industry certifications from the Project Management Institute.
New and Diverse Career Opportunities in Project Management
Here are some examples of career opportunities that may be available to you as a project manager.
Engineering and Manufacturing
Companies hire engineers and task them with designing new products or streamlining a manufacturing process to make the production of a certain product faster, safer, and with increased quality and cost-efficiency.
The job of the project manager is to tend to the business details of engineering projects. This means keeping clients updated. It means controlling resources. It means enforcing the task completion schedule.
Consulting
Because a project manager’s skill set can be applied to any industry, providing consulting services to companies of any scope and size is a career possibility as well.
Any company, from insurance carriers to government agencies, may need organizational help from a consulting project manager for projects that occur only once in a while. However, they do not require the employment of a full-time project manager.
Nonprofits or Government Agencies
When natural disasters occur anywhere in the world, project managers will organize the relief efforts. They will facilitate programs that will help the community or people affected. As a result, we see project management duties come into play during natural disasters abroad or a crisis near home.
Bringing Together Business and Collaboration
By now, you should have new ideas on the different and exciting career opportunities in the area of project management. Each project, in any industry, is unique and diverse.
In conclusion, guiding projects to a successful conclusion is challenging. However, it also provides a great sense of accomplishment.
