Project managers are important to every organizational structure. A company can have the very best team members intact, but without a project manager in place to handle the start dates, budgets, and completion dates nothing will ever get accomplished.
Project managers are valuable because they organize tasks, time, resources, and people. All of these elements come together to repeatedly produce an end result. Project management is the nucleus of all of the working parts because every project has to have a plan of action. The concept of a project, as basic as it may seem, requires steps and actions taken to yield a successful completion. This is where the project manager takes center stage. Everyone is there to follow the lead and direction of the project manager.
Most project manager positions require a degree in project management or a related field. Check out the programs below which offer free information:
Bachelor of Science in Project Management by University of Phoenix
Bachelor – Project Management by American InterContinental University
Master of Business Administration – Project Management by Kaplan University
Job Responsibilities
The role of a project manager can be defined in one word: organization. This is the center of their world and the keys to their success. A project that’s significant enough to have a project manager assigned to it often involves many different elements. Multiple departments may carry the responsibilities of different assignments, but the project manager is responsible for making sure that all departments come together in a timely manner to complete the overall goal.
This requires the ability to schedule tasks and coordinate with various team members to accomplish the results. The completed project may require different layers to be performed by different teams. Project managers are therefore responsible for keeping the projects on track and possessing the ability to foresee the entire project as a whole at all times.
The only way that a project manager can successfully preform this tasks is through communication. It is very important for project managers to communicate frequently with all members that are involved in the project and not make any assumptions. A failure to effectively communicate direct orders at any layer of the project could result in missed deadlines and unsatisfactory performance.
Training and Education Requirements
The best way to enter to the project management field is to acquire a degree in management. This will provide a background in important areas such as human resources and management. The courses will highlight crucial skills that are needed in communicating and interacting with other people.
A master’s degree in project management will further increase knowledge in this field and also increase pay levels in this position. An internship during this time would be essential in bridging the gap between collegiate studies and the real world project management skills that are only be acquired through on-the-job experience.
Internships typically last for one semester and this will give upcoming graduates a chance to build their knowledge base in the area of project management. Training at this level will provide first-hand knowledge of the types of situations that can occur and the methods used to recover and get a project back on track when textbook management practices fail to meet the requirements that are needed.
Salary and Wages
According to several salary statistics websites such as Salary.com and Glassdoor.com, Project Managers can earn salaries that range from $74,500 to $103,000 annually. The average hourly wages are $42.57.
The salaries are based on the project management level and the area of project management. Entry level to mid-level project managers may earn $74,500 to $84,000 in accordance to their level of expertise. Senior project managers demand a higher range with salaries that fall between $85,570 to $94,719.
Salaries can also differ in accordance to the area of project management. Project managers in construction, for example, have a slightly lower starting salary ($63,762) than that of project managers in the area of information technology ($74,342). Most of the ranges top out near $100,000, but salaries can increase even more with certifications.
Certifications
A PMP, or Project Management Professional, can earn up to $120,000 at the senior level. This is all relevant to the size of the organization, but certifications in this field can provide substantial increases in terms of salary.
The certification requires a minimum of 35 hours in course or contact hours prior to applying. The exam can be taken on paper or by computer.
There also also other certifications, such as the Certified Project Manager (CPM), the Advanced Project Manager Certification (APMC) and a host of others based on certain areas of expertise.
Professional Associations
There are many organizations that project managers can become a part of. The American Management Association, the Project Management Association, and the International Project Management Association are some of the most well know project manager associations.. These are all great organizations that help promote increase efficiency. The organizations creates forums and outlets for building better project management life cycles.
It is strongly advised that a project manager join at least one project manager association in order to stay abreast of the changes in this field. The associations conduct meetings and explore ways to better organize, plan, and manage through communication. From mobile devices to conference calling and web meetings, project management associations address the some of the most important changes and improvements that can be realized in the areas of project management.
