Project Management Career Guide

Project management is a group task set over a designated period in which a unique service, product or result is strived towards. They can vary in size, duration and complexity depending on the desired result, but usually follow a relatively similar structure: a project manager leading a team. It is a temporary task, and often requires many people who have never worked together to be a part of a group and combine their skills and abilities to reach their goal under the guidance of the project manager.  This Project Management Career Guide aims to provide you with guidance.

Careers in Project Management

There are a number of career choices for trained project managers. A project management qualification/aptitude can either compliment a managers skill set, or be their main prerequisite when applying for a job. Some businesses specifically hire freelance project managers to lead and dictate the direction of a group of staff. However, there are also full time employment positions for leader with project management capabilities.

• IT: Many project managers find work in the IT industry. They manage not only a team of staff, but help to develop new technologies and software which will be implemented in the company. Usually working in an office environment, they develop plans of action, schedules and methods to meet deadlines, manage the schedule, and ensure that the results of the project are without fault and maintained for the future.
• Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers: These managers plan, and direct programs and marketing schemes which will generate interest in a product or service.
• Construction Managers: A construction manager plans, coordinates, budgets and supervises construction projects from the developmental stage until completion of the project.
• Human Resource Managers: A human resource manager is in charge of the administrative functions of an organisation, as well as the recruitment of new staff and monitor the well-being of existent employees. A human resource manager is the link between executives and their staff members. Projects which a human resource manager would supervise includes the process of analysing and interviewing people to fill job vacancies, ensuring a suitable candidate is selected to fit the criteria set by the recruitment team.
• Training and Development Managers: Training and Development managers prepare and carry out projects and programs to enhance the skills and abilities of employees.

Project Management Career Guide: Training

CMIT Learning Ltd. currently offers the following courses in Project Management

• ILM Diploma in Leadership and Management – Project Management and Finance
• ILM Certificate in Leadership and Management – Project Management
• QQI Project Management
• Prince2® Foundation/Practitioner
• Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
• Project Management Institute – Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Project Management Institute – Risk Management Professional (RMP)
• CompTIA Project+

CMIT’s QQI’s Project Management course is a distance learning course that equips Project Managers and prospective Project Managers with comprehensive project management skills. Students will learn: (1) project processes / methodologies, (2) advanced project planning skills, (3) work breakdown and scheduling techniques, (4) resource and scope planning, (5) project leadership techniques, and (6) quality control and project control techniques. The course is designed for those working in Large Companies, SMEs or the Public Sector.

The ILM Certificate in Project Management is issued as a Certificate in Management & Leadership, which is a broader qualification and enables holders to effectively lead in a number of areas. This course encompasses two units: (1) Principles of Leadership and Management – how current theories of management and leadership can be applied to specific workplace situations, and (2) Managing Projects – which provides the learner with all-important project planning methods which include the development of a project initiation document and use of project planning tools such as checklists, project work plans, Gantt charts and critical paths. They will also learn how to assess the risks of failure, how contingency plans can be devised to ameliorate the risks, how to develop a communications plan to monitor and control activities, and maintain a sense of direction for all stakeholders. Students who complete this course and wish to develop these skills may wish to move onto the ILM Diploma in Project Management and Finance.  There are also a number of Level 8 courses in Project Management offered in Ireland.

Project Management Career Guide : Job Roles

The Project Manager performs a wide range of duties including some or all of the following:

1. Plan the project – develop a strategy, determine a time frame, set aside a budget etc.
2. Staff the project – verify the positions which need filling, recruit members from existing staff, manage staff and ensure they are adequately satisfied within their role.
3. Implement the project – execute the project according to the project plan, develop a schedule of communication and ease of access to project manager for staff and project members.
4. Control the project –  keep the project in line with the designated time scale, monitor the budgets and progress, document developments and any unexpected problems (should they occur).
5. Evaluate the project – determine whether the project was finished on time, within budget, and to the standard expected in the planning phase

A recent study by Solas noted that 2% of all jobs advertised with the Department of Social Protection Jobs Ireland were taken by managerial occupations. This 2% included positions such as operation managers across all sectors, functional managers, logistics managers etc. IrishJobs.ie’s records indicated that 7% of their advertisements were were also taken up by managerial roles. (Via Forfas Vacancy Overview)

Job Prospects

A recent study by Solas noted that 2% of all jobs advertised with the Department of Social Protection Jobs Ireland were taken by managerial occupations. This 2% included positions such as operation managers across all sectors, functional managers, logistics managers etc. IrishJobs.ie’s records indicated that 7% of their advertisements were were also taken up by managerial roles. (Via Forfas Vacancy Overview)

For a full list of CMIT’s Project Management Courses, please click here.