There are many career options for Project Managers. However, it requires more skills and knowledge.
It is easy to get into the Scrum Master career path. It focuses heavily on soft skills.
Which journey should you choose to take?
What career is right for you?
Let’s look at the pros and cons between Scrum Master and Project Manager.
Project Manager Career Path (watch the video for more visual explanations).
A project manager’s career has one major benefit.
You gain experience in leadership and project management. You will be able to choose from many career options.
Let’s now talk about the career path of a project manager.
I will explain the key points you need to be aware of at each stage.
Let’s get started.
Project Managers: Entry-Level
Do you know the most difficult part of your career as a project manager?
It’s getting your first project management role.
It doesn’t suffice to have the education and talents to be a PM.
Why?
Because of the importance of human interactions and relationships in any project’s heart.
This is your chance to prove your leadership skills.
Someone must trust you with your people, the reputation and resources of a company for their first time.
It is easier to become a manager of projects in a company you already work for. You already have relationships with your leaders.
The Career of a PM: Entry Points
Assistant project manager
Project coordinator
Junior Project Manager
There are two main entry points to the world.
You should only work for companies that have a proven project management approach.
You can also look into smaller companies that do a variety of projects.
[Statistics show that only 11% of companies have an established PM approach]
These roles are usually held by larger companies and enterprises, such as the assistant project manager and project coordinator.
Yes, entry-level salaries in these companies can be a bit more expensive. However, project managers also require higher requirements.
Even a project manager at entry level might need to have some experience and be certified. CAPM stands for Certified Associate in Project Management.
How to get your first project management role
But I strongly believe this:
It is much easier to get into small companies, take a leadership position, and then build from there.
You’ll be able much quicker to raise your salary to match the salary of a large company. You won’t waste your time getting all the certifications or extensive experience. These are essential for you to land the job of your dreams.
Find a small company that can do projects. Find a job there. Next, express your desire to be a project manager from day one.
You will stay at the junior PM level for approximately six to 18 months.
It all depends on your ability and willingness to complete projects successfully, to understand project management, as well as your ability to lead projects on your own.
The Truth About Project Manager Career Levels
These roles are not standard and may vary from one person to another.
Each company has its own definition of what it means. Some companies have higher standards than others.
It’s a smart move to change your organization after a few years, especially when you are just starting out in your career.
You’ll be able to earn more and gain experience in a different environment. It’s crucial!
You will again prove yourself reliable at some point.
You will be able to manage projects independently without supervision.
This is the mid-level position for project managers.
Career as a Project Manager at Middle Level
Your main goal here is to gain experience and complete most of your projects successfully.
It is possible to spend three to five years in this position. It all depends on the type of projects you work on and the organization that you work for.
Once you have completed the following steps,
