#4 | Switch Lanes in Record Time: Your Path to Project Management in Just 90 Days!

Author

Phedra Arthur
August 02, 2023

Want a new career but can’t wait forever? Great news: you can begin a career in project management in just 90 days. Yeah, you heard it right! Let’s jump in.

Courtesy of DALL E 2 - OpenAI

I’ve been asked this question at least 100 times over the course of my career:

“How can I get started in a career in project management?”

This issue is dedicated to all the folks who are looking to transition in their career, the interns, the college students, or anyone needing help to break into a growing industry.

As artificial intelligence automates more operations within companies, we will begin to see more significant capital investments in an attempt to stay ahead of the curve. This means up to 80% of investments could be allocated for projects.

In addition, by 2030 the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals to keep up with demands in the following sectors:

The market is healthy and we need you!

Fast Track to Success: Roadmap

Here is the fastest way to make the transition.

Week 1: Read a book on project management and get a general sense of the industry, responsibilities, and career trajectory. Make sure you like what you read. 🙂

Week 2: Take the Google Project Management Professional Certificate Program.

Week 3: Review your experience to date. Did you plan your wedding? A family trip? Led year-end inventory review at work? Renovate a kitchen? Answer the following questions honestly:

  • What was the experience of people impacted by the project? Did your family vow to never have you plan the vacation again? Be real, LOL.

  • What tools did you use for communication, planning, tracking, and updates? Did people feel like they always knew what was going on?

  • What were the outcomes, outputs, and benefits of each project?

Assemble this information into a one-pager. Approach a few local community organizations to ask for volunteer work to lead projects. Schools, churches, and non-profits are a great place to start. If you have a day job, limit this to 5 hours a week and give yourself enough time to have an impact: 3-6 months (or more if you really enjoy volunteering).

Week 4: Start preparing for the PMI CAPM Certification.

Week 5: Attend an in-person networking event for project management. Use Meetup, Eventbrite, google, etc.. for events local to you. Come with meaningful questions and talking points.

Week 6: If you have a day job, have a 1:1 with your manager and explain your interest and goals regarding project management. Ask for additional responsibilities at work that involve project management tasks. Have a list of suggestions ready as well. Make it easy for them to say yes. Ask if there’s a professional development reimbursement program for the CAPM certification.

Week 7: Start an online portfolio based on your enhanced role at work, volunteer work in the community, and other applicable personal projects that could be relevant to the project management field.

Weeks 8 - 12: Gain experience, attend in-person and virtual networking events, and start defining an industry of expertise to niche down into.

Update your professional resume based on your one-pager and relevant experience with a link to your digital portfolio. Update your LinkedIn with relevant experience. At your next networking event let people know you’re in the market. If you’re in a supportive job environment you could also express intention to transfer internally to a project management role.

And that’s it!

By leveraging your network, gaining real experience & exceeding expectations at your day job and in volunteering, you’re well on your way to becoming a project manager.

Your Power-Packed Resource Guide

Items with a ⭐️ represent a faster track option. You can cut down this guide and only perform starred options for an expedited experience.

Free Online Bootcamps

Global Industry-Recognized Certifications for Beginners

  • CAPM or PMP ⭐️

  • Scrum Master

  • ITIL

  • Prince 2 (Europe)

YouTube Channels

Books

  • Harvard Business Review: Project Management Handbook - Antonio Nieto Rodriguez ⭐️

  • Making Things Happen - Scott Berkun

  • Agile and Lean Program Management - Johanna Rothman

Podcasts

Technical Skills

  • Software Development Life Cycle ⭐️

  • Traditional vs Agile Methodologies ⭐️

  • Benefits Management

  • Dependency & Integration Management ⭐️

  • Work Break-Down Structures

  • Project Plan Creation ⭐️

  • Gantt Charts

  • Service Management & Operational Service Level Agreements

  • Product Management

  • Problems Solving Frameworks ⭐️

  • Automation

  • Tools and Dashboards ⭐️

  • Change Management

  • Process Improvement Frameworks

Soft Skills

  • Strong Communication Frameworks & Diplomacy ⭐️

  • Mental Models

  • Conflict Management ⭐️

  • Building high-performing teams ⭐️

  • Organization ⭐️

  • Prioritization

  • Systems Thinking

  • Resilience + Perseverance

  • Leadership

  • Emotional Intelligence ⭐️

  • Influence

  • Critical Thinking ⭐️

Types of Roles that could open doors into Project Management

  • Project Coordinator ⭐️

  • Business Analyst

  • Scrum Master ⭐️

  • PMO Analyst

Online Communities (you may need an account on the platform to access)

Local & Virtual Networking Events

Remember that transitioning into a new career, particularly project management, is an adventure that requires patience, resilience, and continuous learning. But don't worry - we've got you covered. With the 'Power Packed Resource Guide' we've compiled, you have a comprehensive guide, the most effective tools, and top-notch strategies right at your fingertips. These handpicked resources will not only guide your first steps but also support your growth as you navigate this exciting new terrain. Remember, the key to this pivot is just 90 days of commitment. So dive into these resources, equip yourself for the journey ahead, and prepare to take the project management world by storm.

Here's to a thrilling career change and a rewarding future in project management. Let's go!"

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