Why Learn Project Management?

Project management is the field of successfully managing projects from start to finish. Have you ever explored all of the things you can do with these skills?Here, you’ll learn more about the types of careers that benefit from project management and how it can enhance your professional life. Regardless of your overall goals, learning about project management is a valuable and impressive skill to add to your resume.

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.

Common Professional Uses for Project Management

Project Managers are needed in every industry, and more companies recognize the need for Project Managers. The Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that the demand for Project Managers will continue to increase, with over 22 million new Project Management jobs being created by 2027. Manufacturing and Construction, Information Services, Finance and Insurance, Management and Professional Services, Utilities, and Oil and Gas are expected to add the most project management jobs. There will also be a significant number of Senior Project Managers retiring, particularly in the Aerospace and Defense industries.

Salaries for Project Managers also vary by industry. The average salary for a Project Manager in any industry is more than twice the national average at around $115,000 a year. However, Project Managers who work in particular industries earn even more. For example, the average salary for an IT Project Manager is around $125,000. Project Managers in the Oil and Gas Industry currently make the highest average salary at over $150,000 per year.

Specializing your project management career in a particular industry may also require you to acquire additional training. For example, a Construction Project Manager might want to train in AutoCAD. Or, a Software Project Manager might need familiarity with programming languages and software development methodologies.

Project Managers Are In High Demand

Project management as a job field is increasing dramatically. There is a significant talent gap in Project management because demand is growing fast, and there are not enough trained Project Managers to fill it.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that 2.5 million Project Manager jobs are being created each year. This trend is expected to continue, with over 90 million project management jobs expected to exist by 2027.

Project management requires many soft skills: communication, leadership, conflict resolution, resource management, and time management. Aspiring Project Managers will also need education in project management. One way to get this training is by taking a course, such as the in-person and live online project management courses offered by Noble Desktop. You’ll want to make sure that whichever education path you choose is respected within the industry and comes with a certificate to demonstrate your knowledge to potential employers or clients.

Project Managers Earn High Salaries

Project management is a very lucrative career path with average salaries above 6-figures. The average salary for a Project Manager is around $115,000 per year. The average salary in the U.S. is around $50,000, which means that Project Managers earn more than double the national average across all occupations. What’s more, Forbes recently called Project Management “a great way to earn a tech salary without tech training.” You won’t need many technical skills and training to become a professional Project Manager.

Project Managers who specialize in specific industries earn even higher salaries. For example, Project Managers in the Pharmaceutical industry earn around $130,000 annually. Certification can also increase your salary. PMI reports that PMP-Certified Project Managers earn 25% more than non-certified Project Managers.

Project Management Has Many Entry Points

There is no single path to becoming a professional Project Manager, since these professionals come from many different industries and backgrounds. Some Project Managers work in another position within an industry and then transition to a Project Management position. For example, someone who works in the construction industry overseeing work crews might use this experience to transition into becoming a Construction Project Manager.

Some universities, such as Northeastern and USC, have recently added project management degree programs. Most professional Project Managers don’t have a degree in the field. Although, they may have a degree in another field, such as Business or Computer Science.

Many professional Project Managers do not have a four-year degree because it is a skill-based field, meaning that experience and skills are more highly-prized than a degree. Senior Project Managers in the industry prefer professional certifications over degrees, such as the entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). There is no faster way to jump-start a professional career in Project Management than pursuing CAPM certification.

Noble Desktop offers a CAPM Certification Bootcamp, which prepares students to pass the exam successfully. The bootcamp features live, project-based training from a PMP-certified instructor, a proven exam prep guide, and an additional video curriculum. In addition to being prepared for the exam, graduates will receive a certificate of completion to help them get hired as Project Managers.

How to Start Learning Project Management

One of the fastest ways to launch a new career as a Project Manager is through learning project management methodologies. There are several options to consider when deciding which Project Management education path is right for you.

Northeastern University’s program in Project Management describes a “customized, non-traditional” approach to Project Management education, including self-guided education, on-the-job training, mentorship, and certification. One recommended path to becoming a professional Project Manager is taking project management classes and pursuing PMI’s entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management.

Live classes, either in-person or live online, are the best method for studying project management. Because the course is live, you’ll be able to ask questions and interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. Noble Desktop is a business, design, and coding school that offers live in-person and live online Project Management courses and bootcamps. A PMP-Certified professional Project Manager teaches all of Noble Desktop’s project management courses. They also offer a free retake option, allowing graduates to retake the course for up to one year to refresh their skills or further prepare for certification.

Self-paced study is another option, especially for those who already have a career, since they allow you to learn in your spare time. However, self-paced project management courses lack the interaction and mentorship that comes from having a live instructor.

Read the full guide on how to learn project management.

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

• Project management is a very hot career path: PMI forecasts that 22 million Project Manager jobs will be added by 2027.
• Project Managers are in high demand: there is a significant talent gap within the field, meaning there is more demand for Project Managers than qualified candidates.
• Project Managers earn high salaries: a project manager's average salary is more than $115,000 annually. Training in Project management could lead to a six-figure salary.
• Project management has many entry points: you can train to become a Project Manager in any industry, building on your current job experience