What does it take to become an IT Project Manager?
We have received an enquiry from a student currently in the process of choosing GCSEs who is very interested in becoming an IT Project Manager. He would like to know more about the role.
Can anyone offer any detail about the role and what it takes? Or perhaps some useful links?
Many thanks,
Laura
Marketing assistant
Answered by Robin Harrison 1, 7 February 2012 - 13:38
In no particular order of priority or merit. Projects are all about change and how it is best managed and introduced. Work on your communication skills. Build understanding of people and why they do things they way they do. Understand how teams work together. Look at why teams do not work together. Build an awareness of what is happening around you. Build contacts with your local community. Look at projects that are happening within your own environment. Look at the way your educational establishment makes change happen. Talk to the Head and Heads of Departments, ask them what they look for when promoting an individual to a position of responsibility. Build confidence in talking to a wide range of people, both in the sense of individuals and different roles and levels of authority. Use your contacts to understand what a project actually is. Ask those mentors what it is that they can provide to help you develop a potential career path. Explore the APM website as it contains a wealth of information even for non-members. Explore informaiton on the web that looks for project managers - look for Digital project Managers, for IT Infrastructure project managers. Look for Project Managers working in the Financial industries (although perhaps not at the moment). Explore colleges that offer project management MSc or MBAs and work back from there to position your courses that will best suit you and yourtalents and lay the groundwork for developing a career in what is a really exciting and fast developing profession. So what about IT I hear you say. A project manager can develop in many ways so keep your options open. The IT industry develops so fast and changes so quickly that to focus on one specific area at this stage may force you down a path of limited options. I conmmend you for looking at being a project manager and wish you well
Robin
Answered by AndyJordan, 7 February 2012 - 16:53
Excellent response from Robin - but how about affiliation to the APM as a Student Member or membership to any other professional organisation with a PM special interest group? Both the APM and the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) can not only provide information and advice on many different domains but also professional paths through ones career. Although, is it possibly too early to define the end goal of IT PM - how about construction or some other discipline of PM?
I'm finding, due to my many years in back-office financial systems, it's not easy to break into new sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, Digital Media or e-commerce. Maybe worth considering looking to shapes ones career through different domains and sectors to provide more breadth.
Answered by Edward Wallington PhD, 8 February 2012 - 22:33
I would echo Andy's point re: domain experience. Although many project managers believe that a PM can manage any project, no matter the subject matter/domain, the reality of this is that if you work in a domain for a period of time and then try to chaneg domain, you may have issues. Particularly in the current climate, employers are being very 'picky' about who they select.
As a GCSE student, one would hope that the economy might sort it self out in the coming years, but certainly worth choosing the domain carefully... and I would advise getting a broad range of experience of different domains before selecting a particular one, or working across many - keep the options open!
Answered by Edward Wallington PhD, 8 February 2012 - 22:56
Sorry, realsise I didn't actually answer the original question! A quick way to do this is to search a few job boards for the role, and see what employers are looking for in terms or skills, experience etc, as well as the role description and main tasks - this should give a flavour. Search for 'IT Project Manager' or similar in your search engine of choice.
Answered by Keniche, 3 April 2012 - 11:58
Hi,
I also comment from Edwards second answer, look for job desciptions relating to IT in the areas of projects.
Project management is a very wide profession and i will also advice you to study Msc or MBA in project management then apply it to your areas of specialty chosen.
Kind Regards,
Wami
