While it is possible to become a project manager via this path, it's not the easiest or quickest way, when compared to having a formal qualification in the area.
That being said, it is possible to develop hands-on project management experience while in another position.
As daily work often involves projects, employees may slowly grown into the role by taking up project management tasks on offer.
If you find yourself fulfilling the duties of a project manager in your current job and want to further your career in this field, it can be helpful to undertake the following steps:
1. Identify the gaps in your project management knowledge
There are 10 key project management knowledge areas, as identified by the internationally recognised ‘A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge’ or PMBOK:
- integration management
- scope management
- schedule management
- cost management
- quality management
- resource management
- risk management
- communications management
- procurement management
- stakeholder management.
It’s worth noting past projects, to identify the skills that have been acquired across these knowledge areas.
Think of a recent project you assisted on, whether at work, in a volunteer setting or while studying.
Maybe you were the one in charge of budget, keeping on top of costs and looking for solutions when unexpected expenses arose.
Perhaps you were on top of the internal communications, keeping the team informed and on task with emails, Teams messages, phone calls or text messages.
These can be counted as legitimate project management skills. Reflecting on scenarios like these will help identify your current experience and knowledge gaps.
From there, you can look for opportunities to upskill and fill in these gaps.
2. Get (more) project management experience
There’s plenty of ways you can work to expand your skills on the job. One of the best ways to learn is by doing.
Consider volunteering and taking on extra responsibilities where possible. Refer to the knowledge areas to ensure you’re gaining the experience needed to round-out your project management skills.
3. Take advantage of learning opportunities
It can be helpful to talk to other project managers (within your company or elsewhere), to help identify and acquire the skills needed for the company you work for or wish to work for, or the industry overall.
You can also lead your own learning by reading project management books, taking a short course and familiarising yourself with project management software.
As it is harder to be recognised as a project manager without a formal qualification, you could look at rounding out your skills with additional study.
At VU, we offer a Graduate Certificate in Project Management and Graduate Diploma in Project Management, if you want to develop new skills for your current project-management position. These qualifications provide you with valuable recognition in the industry.
We also offer a Master of Project Management, which is specifically designed for both current and potential project managers in industry.
As one of the first universities to establish a project management masters degree, we offer long-held, valuable industry connections. Our program is also endorsed by AIPM.
4. Implement what you’ve learned
Use what you have learned to your advantage (or that of your team and your employer)!
Start to build on your acquired skills by looking for opportunities to use them in your daily work.
You’ll find that opportunities to use resources more effectively, or simply to make things easier on your team members, will become apparent through training.
Ultimately, project-based work requires effective cooperation and communication between team members. Eventually, it will benefit the whole team.