Learn More About Project Management Classes in Phoenix
Working as a professional Project Manager is different from simply organizing a small group or keeping a to-do list for a team project. Many professionals across many businesses have managed a team project or two, but professional project managers have a multi-faceted, deeply invested, and much more extensive role. It is a profession that relies upon a strong knowledge of individual and interpersonal organization skills, specialized software and is often a delicate balancing act with multiple projects going at the same time.
Project managers are responsible for the ultimate outcomes of many projects, and the stakes are much higher for the results. Projects are governed by three constraint parameters: time, budget, and scope. Being able to keep tasks on track and measure progress is critical in this field. Since the room for error is practically non-existent, specialized training is required to be hired as a Project Manager.
Certified project managers are also responsible for periodic updates to stakeholders through recordkeeping and informative presentations. They must be familiar with the many options for professional management software and translate the metrics into understandable reports. Learning all of the intricacies of each program takes dedicated training.
Project Management Institute (PMI) is an organization specifically for project managers. Phoenix has a PMI chapter that offers everything from professional development to mentorship and opportunities for networking. This chapter of PMI is active in the community with service days, Toastmasters events, and a community leadership thought series. Most of their events are free, and it can be invaluable for those just starting their project management careers to get involved. Each local chapter is also where prospective project managers can take their exams.
Project managers have their own designated certifications, including the PMP (considered the highest level certification) and the CAPM (usually the first certificate obtained). Before taking these exams, professionals must demonstrate a certain amount of direct experience in the workplace and formal training.
Project Management Careers in Phoenix
Phoenix used to be known as the state for the five C’s of business: copper, cattle, climate, citrus, and cotton. Today, many industries have a home in Phoenix and the door is always open for new project managers. Having a career in project management in Phoenix entails being in charge of projects that are changing the Phoenix skyline. Project managers work in every industry sector, especially in construction, manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and real estate development. Additional opportunities include working with IT departments and internet companies to coordinate the development and implementation of new applications or site launches.
Must-have skills for any Project Manager include excellent communication, leadership, a high degree of organizational experience, negotiation tactics, team and time management skills, risk avoidance and management, and a high degree of problem-solving abilities. Certifications such as the PMP and CAPM are also necessary. These require a significant amount of training, project management experience, and a passing score on the certification exam.
Phoenix is known for nationally recognized golf courses, restaurants, and a climate that allows outdoor get-togethers year-round. Making friends and connections in the city is truly enjoyable. When a project management professional feels like taking a day trip, they can visit the Grand Canyon, go ghost town hunting, or visit some of the world’s most famous observatories: Kitt and Lowell, which offer regular tours and nighttime star talks, each only a couple of hours away.
Project managers in Phoenix can bring in high earnings once they have gained certification and can demonstrate a strong background in the field. The average annual income for project managers in Phoenix is approximately $98,000.
In-Person Project Management Classes in Phoenix
For those who would like to become project management professionals, taking project management classes in-person in Phoenix is the ideal way to jump-start or advance a career. Phoenix is fortunate to have many schools and course offerings, meaning that students won’t have to commute far for their courses. Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, has compiled a list organizing the top schools and courses they offer to make the decision easier.
New Horizons offers a one-day Change Management workshop. This workshop gives participants tools for managing the typical reactions seen with change. You can also find several Microsoft Project courses available through New Horizons. Project 2019 Part 1 teaches students how to leverage the powerful software to create new project plans, add tasks to a project, manage task relationships within a project, manage project resources, and finalize a project plan. This is an ideal course for those getting started in a career as a Project Manager who wants to present supervisors with polished project reports. Project 2019 Part 2 helps participants boost their project management skills by fine-tuning their project planning methods to be more efficient and effective. Attendees practice generating project views for management, create project reports to share a project’s status, and master juggling multiple projects. New Horizons also offers Mastering Microsoft Project 2016. This course covers identifying task types, defining resources, working with package estimates, creating an initial schedule, and working with templates and Excel.
General Assembly, located a few miles from downtown Phoenix in Scottsdale, offers an Agile and Scrum Bootcamp. Once thought to be the domain of those working with anything tech-related, business executives across many departments are expected to know how to work using Scrum. Attendees review the Agile Manifesto, look into the roles in Scrum, go through the planning process, and run sprints, including the daily Scrum. Additionally, General Assembly offers a Project Management Bootcamp for those either already working as PMs or those who want to be more effective with projects they frequently work on within their business role. Topics include comparing traditional project management and Agile, the project life cycle, and risk management. For a more general overview, there is a Project Management course from General Assembly. Working with the latest updates in project management software, the curriculum covers project management from start to finish, solving real challenges PMs often face. The class teaches how to navigate the project life cycle on the job, from planning to prioritization through to validating assumptions and monitoring metrics.
Interface Technical Training’s Managing Software Projects Using Scrum reviews how to implement the Scrum methodology. It includes training in managing project necessities such as requirements elicitation, project estimation, and planning, team leadership, working with stakeholders and customers, and team development.
At Ledet Training, students can learn how to use Microsoft Project as a project management platform. Microsoft Project 101 is a two-day introductory course where students learn how to create and manage simple projects, enter and manage tasks, and work with a project calendar. Attendees also discover how to add and manage project resources, work with the resource sheet, and create basic reports for a real-world project of their choice. In Microsoft Project 201, students practice using Gantt charts and network diagrams, create master projects and subprojects in the Microsoft software platform, create customized project reports, and work with resource pools.
At ONLC, students can take classes led by remote instructors from home or in the school’s computer labs. ONLC’s Microsoft Project Level 1 provides an overview of the program’s basic features, including how to generate reports that can be shared with supervisors. Students learn how to use the software to resolve real-world challenges. For those pursuing PMP certification, ONLC offers a PMP prep class. Students learn about the PMP application process, the three subject matter sections, and the domains, tasks, and enablers of each approach.
Certstaffix Training is another school that provides the option of attending class in a computer lab with a live remote instructor. Their introductory course, Project Management Essentials, helps professionals in every industry become more effective in project tasks and roles. Many projects have the potential to impair workflow and are often canceled due to an inability to manage a budget. This course shows students how to run business-critical projects successfully. The curriculum includes training in project communication, scheduling, time estimation, managing and monitoring risk factors, and identifying compliance pitfalls. Certstaffix also offers a one-day Project Management Fundamentals workshop. For attendees who have had some practice managing major projects in the workplace, this session reviews the structure and elements of formal project management. This is also a good selection for candidates preparing for the MMAD certification examination. Objectives in this workshop include executing the project closeout phase, getting started with projects, including initiation, preparing for risks, best practices in communication, and change control planning for time and cost.
For those working with Microsoft applications, Certstaffix Training holds a Project Level 1 course. Using Microsoft Project, students learn plans, lists, setting up and assigning resources, formatting tips, and how to share project plans with stakeholders. In Project Level 2, students learn how to allocate resources, intricate planning, and organization, how to thoroughly track progress, and how to present information to stakeholders from beginning to finish. Students also work with sharing information with other programs and consolidating projects and resources.
Virtual Project Management Classes
Sometimes Phoenix residents would rather not battle traffic and prefer to take their project management courses online from wherever they choose. With this option, the students can stay at home or the office, get live instruction, and even share their computer screen with the instructor if they’d like.
Noble Desktop offers a PMP Certification Bootcamp to help students prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. It is intended for experienced project managers who want to advance their careers with a certification. In this bootcamp, students review the five states of project management and the ten knowledge areas.
Another course option is Project Management Level 1, offered by NYIM Training, a Noble Desktop affiliate school. This class is structured to deliver practical knowledge of the methods and strategies that comprise modern project management. Students explore the five-stage model of project management: initiation, planning, timelines, creating a budget, and communicating with stakeholders. Execution, monitoring, and closing are also covered in this course.
Project Management Level 2 is beneficial for those pursuing a PMP certification. Students take a close-up look at each of the five phases of project management, addressing the nuances of each stage. Major concepts explored include task analysis, critical path method, work breakdown structure, planning and timelines, and ongoing monitoring. This class is for experienced learners who want to increase their efficacy in managing complex projects.
There are also live online project management classes from NYIM Training and NYC Career Centers’ virtual project management courses where you can learn more about project management.
Corporate & Onsite Project Management Classes
Businesses have ongoing needs for effective project management. For in-house assignments, it’s helpful if your employees have the training to plan and manage projects as efficiently as possible. Noble Desktop’s project management corporate training makes this possible. You can arrange for an expert instructor to come to your location to present the class, or a live virtual course can be performed via a video conferencing platform such as Zoom.
If it is more convenient for employees to take the class individually, vouchers can be obtained to attend an open enrollment session. There are discounts available when multiple vouchers are purchased. Contact Noble Desktop for more information about corporate project management training in Phoenix.