Project Management Prerequisites

Project Managers are responsible for the successful completion of projects. Project management as a field provides the education and practices to manage projects. With so many overlapping responsibilities, you might worry that project management will be too hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning Project Management and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills.

What is Project Management?

Project management describes the process of managing the successful completion of a project. A Project Manager guides a project through the different stages of what is known as “The Project LifeCycle,” which comprises five stages: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. A Project Manager’s most important goal is ensuring that a project is completed on time and under budget.

A Project Manager is responsible for creating a project plan to establish project goals and deadlines, delegating tasks to team members, motivating team members to meet deadlines, risk management, communicating with upper management, and resource management. Experts in Project Management estimate that around 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating. Soft skills such as communication, leadership, time management, and budgeting are required in Project Management.

Project management as a field is defined by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) created by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which outlines best practices, methodologies, and processes for professional Project Managers. Aspiring Project Managers will want to seek out training in PMBOK as well as experience in managing real-world projects.

Project management is a hot career path that is expected to add over 22 million jobs by 2027. In addition to this booming job growth, Project Managers earn lucrative, six-figure salaries. The average salary for a Project Manager is around $115,000 annually. That’s more than double the national average across all occupations.

Read more about what project management is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Project Management?

There are no limits on what can be done with project management skills. Project management is a versatile career path as Project Managers are needed in every industry and in various roles. You could continue to work in the same industry even after completing your training in Project Management.

Some Project Managers work for companies on specific projects or as part of a project team. Some Project Managers work as freelancers or consultants who assist clients on specific projects.

Project management is a very hot career path because the Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that Project Management will increase by 33%, with 22 million new Project Manager jobs created by 2027. A significant number of Senior Project Managers are expected to retire, leading to even more job openings for those with training in Project Management.

Many of the essential skills in project management are soft skills, including communication, leadership, management ability, time management, delegation, conflict resolution, and multitasking. Project management experts estimate that around 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating. Aspiring Project Managers should have impeccable communication skills and well-developed leadership skills.

Project managers often specialize in a particular industry, such as IT, healthcare, or construction. Skills already acquired in these industries could be combined with project management training for a new career within your industry.

Is Project Management Easy to Learn?

There is an art to project management. Because many of the required skills are soft skills, much of what makes up project management is not quantifiable. However, the Project Management Institute (PMI) has created a clearly-defined body of knowledge called the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).

Acquiring training in PMBOK is the fastest and easiest way to launch a career in project management. Some schools offer training in PMBOK which can help jump-start your career as a Project Manager. For example, Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online Project Management courses.

What to Know Before Learning Project Management

If you’re an aspiring Project Manager, you will need to seek out training in project management. However, there are other skills you will need to know if you plan to start a new career as a Project Manager.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office proficiency is the most frequently-requested skill for entry-level Project Managers on job postings. As a Project Manager, you must have advanced skills in the entire suite of Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel. Project Managers are expected to manage budgets and resources and will need advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

If you need to brush up on Microsoft Office or Excel before pursuing more formal Project Management, there are courses available that can help you acquire the necessary skills. Noble Desktop offers an Excel Bootcamp. Students are guided through hands-on, real-world projects to develop proficiency in Excel, including functions, visual charts, database functions, Pivot Tables, and macro creation. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to include in their Project Manager resume and portfolio.

Soft Skills

Many of the essential skills required for an aspiring Project Manager are soft skills, such as communication, leadership, team management, task delegation, resource management, conflict resolution, and time management. You’ll need to work on developing these skills if you aspire to become a professional Project Manager.

Working Project Managers estimate that 90% of their time is spent communicating. Strong communication skills are critical for aspiring Project Managers. You may consider taking a course in public speaking or reading about communication and leadership skills. You should seek ways to demonstrate these skills to potential employers as they can be more abstract and less quantifiable.

Project Management Opportunities in your Area

Where you live can affect your project management opportunities. You may want to research the average salary for a Project Manager, networking opportunities, and job growth in your area.

The Bureau for Labor Statistics reports that the ten U.S. states who pay Project Managers the most are New Mexico, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Alabama, California, Delaware, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Project Managers who live in Arizona earn over $125,000 per year. However, Project Management is a lucrative career in every state. For example, Arkansas' Project Managers make less than any other state. However, with an average salary of around $75,000, they still earn a salary of $25,000 more than the national average.

Networking opportunities are another thing to know about your area. The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers local chapters in almost every region of North America. These local chapters provide opportunities for professional development and job connections. The PMI chapter with the largest membership is in Washington, DC, which currently boasts the most professional Project Managers. However, areas without many Project Managers are still experiencing accelerated growth. For example, Wisconsin is adding more Project Manager jobs than any other state.

Learn Project Management with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding, design, and business school based in NYC. They offer courses on various topics, including project management courses and bootcamps, both live online and at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. All of their classes feature small class sizes and are taught by instructors who are experts in their industry. PMP-Certified professional Project Managers teach all their project management courses. Graduates can retake their course for up to one year for free to continue developing their knowledge and refresh their skills.

Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp provides hands-on instruction in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) theories and methodologies needed to get hired as an entry-level Project Manager. Students receive hands-on, project-based training in topics that include the five phases of project management, creating project proposals, and working with a project team. Graduates receive a verified digital certificate of completion to help them get hired as an entry-level Project Manager. This bootcamp is also recommended for those planning to pursue either a CAPM or a PMP Certification. Both certifications require formal project management education, which this bootcamp provides.

Graduates seeking professional certification should consider Noble Desktop’s CAPM Certification Bootcamp, which guides students through PMI’s entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam. This four-day bootcamp includes 35 hours of hands-on instruction, live project-based training, an exam preparation guide, a video curriculum, lessons taught by a PMP Certified Project Manager, and a digital certificate of completion.

Key Insights

• In addition to training in Project Management, aspiring Project Managers will need additional skills and knowledge.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is necessary for aspiring Project Managers. More entry-level Project Manager jobs require advanced skills in Microsoft Office than 4-year degrees.
• Successful Project Managers will need many soft skills, including communication, leadership, time management, and resource management.
• Different areas offer different salaries and different networking opportunities. Be sure to look into project management in your area before you begin training.