What skills does a Project Manager need?
Depending on the specific project or product being managed, a role as a Project Manager can require various unique technical skills. Still, many soft skills will be universal to any Project Management job. To start a career in project planning, it is best to develop the following project management skills and find ways to highlight them on your resume:
- Leadership: Ability to build, unify, and motivate a team to complete a goal.
- Communication: Ability to accurately and effectively get information across to team members, stakeholders, and clients. This includes both written and verbal communication.
- Problem-solving: Ability to quickly identify and effectively resolve issues.
- Risk management: Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate or eliminate risks that could impact a project's success.
- Time management: Ability to effectively manage and prioritize tasks and deadlines to ensure the project is completed on time.
- Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changes and unexpected circumstances while still delivering required results.
- Negotiation: Ability to work with stakeholders, clients, and team members to reach mutually beneficial agreements in high-stakes situations.
What are the education requirements for a Project Manager?
There aren't any hard and fast rules when it comes to education requirements for an entry-level project management job, there are some trends in the data worth noting. It is most common for Project Managers to have at least a Bachelor's degree. According to reports, roughly 68% of all people working as Project Managers have a Bachelor's degree. Roughly 14% of Project Managers and 19% of Senior Project Managers have a Master's degree.
Regarding college majors, the most popular degree for Project Managers is Business (29%). However, many Project Managers have more specific, technical degrees in fields like Engineering, Computer Science, Software Development, or Construction.
What certifications does a Project Manager need?
In addition to your years of experience as a manager, Project Management certifications are one of the first things an employer will look at when reading your resume. Here are some of the most helpful certifications to help you stand out as a job applicant:
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
- Project Management Institute (PMI) Risk Management Professional
- Master Project Manager (MPM)
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Certified Manager Certification (CM)
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
- Program Management Professional (PgMP)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
What is a Project Manager’s average salary?
According to Salary.com, as of December 2022, the average salary for an entry-level Project Management job in the United States is $70,614. The range for Project Manager salaries typically fell between $62,810 and $79,874 for these entry-level positions.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) found that the average Project Manager's salary is much higher for employees with more experience. According to the PMI report, Project Managers with 5-10 years of experience on average make $100,000 a year, with PMP-certified managers making even more at $108,000.
