Project Management played a vital yet largely unheralded role in some of humanity’s greatest achievements.
Without it, the Great Pyramid of Giza would still be a sandpit and the Hoover Dam would have washed away.
In the current economic climate, it can be a powerful passport to career success in several international sectors — here are five reasons it’s the right time to become a Project Manager.
1. Futureproof
In these uncertain times, finding a career which will weather economic and political storms is a tough task.
But according to recent research by APM (Association for Project Management), confidence is high amongst industry insiders and the sector appears fairly futureproof.
77 per cent of project professionals surveyed were optimistic about the outlook for job supply over the next five years and 69 per cent said their company was currently expanding.
2. Lucrative
Financial security doesn’t always equate to job satisfaction, but it’s still a major factor in choosing a career path.
And project management comes up trumps in this regard in the APM survey too — 78 per cent of 18 to 24-year olds in the industry regarded their economic prospects as either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ and the average salary of a UK project professional is £47,500.
It’s a highly paid profession across the pond too — check out this TechRepublic article to scope salaries in the US market.
3. Global
Projects from Poland to Peru need to be managed professionally and precisely, so this is a role which can take you around the world.
And APM-accredited courses (such as the one offered at Anglia Ruskin Distance Learning) are internationally-recognised, so there’s no barrier to building a career across borders.
This infographic from PMI (Project Management Institute) serves as an eye-opening snapshot of the earning power of project practitioners in diverse global economies.
4. Transferrable
Project Management skills are universal and transferrable — managing people, time, resources and budgets is as applicable to HR and IT as it is to construction.
So if you’re a skilled technician who wants to climb the career ladder from an existing role, combining these skills with complementary communication and stakeholder engagement prowess can propel you to the top.
5. Female-friendly
While issues like the gender pay gap still impact Project Management, it’s an area where women are making waves.
One such trailblazer is Elizabeth Harrin, the thought leader who provides pertinent advice for females in the industry through her Girl’s Guide to Project Management blog.
Elizabeth believes that the industry is broad enough for any woman to find a worthwhile role and her blog harnesses years of personal experience at the top of the profession to provide a female perspective on progression.
If our fact-filled blog has you fired up, our APM-accredited Project Management MSc has an intake in May as well as September and January, so the time to apply is now.
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