Project management is an art. Project Managers work to lead teams to achieve a common goal. While methodologies may vary depending on the sector, something that remains constant across the industry is how Project Managers juggle time, people, budget, scope, and quality to reach the desired outcome. Project Managers typically use tools and implementation to break down their project into four main sections: initiation, planning, monitoring/execution, and closing. Working on projects in a specific order helps keep them successful and on track. When considering a career in Project Management, know that it’s a fluid, ever-evolving career path; the ability to be open to change, flexible, and able to pivot when necessary will benefit you in this field.
Most Project Managers will need one of two common certifications: the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. The PMP certification is an industry-recognized professional designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). Since getting this certification means you’ve met specific standards of education and hours of experience, this certification helps those who hold it land a job in almost any industry. A good starting place in terms of certification exams is the CAPM certification since it requires less project management experience but still provides chances to gain responsibility and work on managing larger projects.
Project Management Careers in Baltimore
Project Management is a core skill needed in many Baltimore industries including transportation, technology, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. Project Managers balance people, budget, and scope to ensure projects are finished successfully, on time, within the agreed-upon budget. Baltimore is Maryland’s most populous city with plenty of Project Management career opportunities.
In addition to training, Project Managers often need certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP) or the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) to be able to access the most lucrative career options. While Project Managers in different industries will earn diverse salaries, those with a certification will likely make more than those without.
A Project Manager in Baltimore typically earns around $86,000 a year, which is right on par with the country’s average. Project Managers provide leadership and guidance as well as oversee budgeting, planning, risk management, and scheduling on projects in almost every industry. Project Managers with additional training who specialize in specific industries can earn more. For example, an IT Project Manager in Baltimore earns around $115,000 a year, which is 15% higher than the national average. IT Project Managers are responsible for accomplishing an organization’s IT goals by planning, organizing, and budgeting resources. IT Project Managers lead teams to complete projects such as software and application development, hardware installations, network upgrades, cloud computing and virtualization rollouts, or business analytics and data management infrastructure.
Individuals with a background in software or software engineering can find work as a Software Project Manager in Baltimore making a yearly salary of about $99,000. Software Project Managers lead software development projects from concept to completion. Using their deep expertise in scheduling, budgeting, sequencing, and resource allocation, Software Project Managers are critical in a software project’s success.
In-Person Project Management Classes in Baltimore
One of the most effective ways to learn project management skills is by taking an in-person class. Taught by experienced local instructors, face-to-face classes are a great opportunity to get hands-on experience. In addition to the rigorous course material, in-person classes provide chances for participants to meet and collaborate with other project managers looking to expand their training. There are several training centers and schools in the Baltimore area that offer in-person classes.
New Horizons, a training center located in Washington DC, which is just 40 miles from Baltimore, offers a ||CPN748|| class. This comprehensive, three-day class is geared toward beginners. Students will first learn how to identify the basic concepts of project management and launch a project. Next, students will focus on some of the variables in the field, like how to estimate project work, create a project schedule, and plan for project costs, risks, and quality and compliance. Participants will also learn valuable interpersonal skills which are imperative to project management such as communication strategies and managing stakeholder relationships. Finally, the course teaches how to deliver the final product and close the project.
General Assembly, also located in Washington, DC, offers a beginner-level Project Management course. Taught by a seasoned expert in the field, this 40-hour intensive will help formalize your project management skill set. Students will drill down on real-world projects designed to prepare them to jump into a career in the field immediately after completing the course.
ONLC and Certstaffix Training also offer several project management classes, including PMP Preparation, Microsoft Project Level 1, and ||CPN748||. All of ONLC’s and Certstaff’s classes are taught by a remote instructor at their Washington, DC computer labs, which creates a great hybrid option. You’ll still be taking the class in-person which allows for face-to-face communication and collaboration among participants, but the instructor will be online—the best of both worlds!
Virtual Project Management Classes
Those in the Baltimore area who prefer to learn new skills from the comfort of their home or office can enroll in live online project management classes. Virtual classes provide the same benefits as their in-person counterparts: they are interactive programs designed to prepare students for a career in the field. These online classes are taught by experienced project managers and provide the chance for participants to ask questions should the need arise. There are plenty of options for virtual project management courses in the Baltimore area.
Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, offers project management courses through their affiliate school, NYIM Training. The seven-hour Project Management Level 1 class is a perfect jumping-off point for those looking to get an introduction to project management knowledge and strategies. The intensive one-day class covers the five-stage model of project management as well as project management theories, methodologies, concepts, and approaches. This class is perfect for beginners and current Project Managers looking for a refresher.
Individuals looking for a more rigorous training experience can take NYIM Training’s Project Management Bootcamp. Bootcamps are specific, skill-focused learning opportunities that aim to prepare participants to enter the workforce immediately after completing the program—without requiring years of schooling. This project management bootcamp is an effective and efficient way to break into the field.
Project Managers who are ready to tackle the PMP exam can enroll in the PMP Certification Bootcamp. Taught by a PMP-certified, experienced Project Manager, this 35-hour course prepares students for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. The intensive program covers the concepts you'll need to review for the exam: the five stages of project management, the forty-nine processes, and the ten knowledge areas. In addition to the classroom hours, this bootcamp includes a detailed exam prep guide, video curriculum, and lessons to guide you through the entire PMP application process.
NYIM Training also offers additional virtual project management classes, and you can also take a look at live online project management courses from NYC Career Centers.
Corporate & Onsite Project Management Classes
If your workforce could benefit from some extra knowledge and understanding around initiation and planning, or even execution, controlling, and closing, take a look at Noble Desktop’s onsite and corporate project management training. Noble can provide training face-to-face at your Baltimore-area company headquarters, or offer it live online through a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. You can also purchase discount vouchers for your team members to enroll in online group classes at their convenience. Please send an email for more information about corporate project management training available onsite or virtually.