My career goals
My career goals include being certified as a professional project manager, gaining a well of experience in project management, attaining communication skills applicable in project management and the wider business environment, learning to take responsibility for my project failures and success, participate in opportunities that advance my career and play well with others (teamwork). In general my career goals align well with the various duties and roles of a project manager. As it follows Project managers are goal and milestone oriented, this means that they focus on achieving project goals within the project timeline (PM4ID, n.d.).
Most projects are usually temporary, have a start and end date (PM4ID, n.d.). Therefore, as a project manager you have to be involved in the startup activities and closeout activities of the project. Team members of a project are usually drawn from other areas hence the awareness of the fact that the project is temporary makes them concentrate more of their vital responsibilities than the project itself. Therefore, a project manager needs to understand fully and participate in the process of developing the team, establishing priorities and organizing work (PM4ID, n.d.). A project manager has to have a clear perspective on the project integration, communication, project procurement and management of scope, schedule, cost, quality, people and risk (Smith & the Mind Tools Team, n.d.).
Role of project management skills
Whether you manage projects once or twice a year or you do it on a regular basis, project management skills are crucial even in leadership and managerial positions (Smith & the Mind Tools Team, n.d.). A project manager needs to understand the client’s requirements and meet their expectations in a timely fashion (Smith & the Mind Tools Team, n.d.). The leadership of the project manager is a vital component in determining the success or failure of a project. Planning, coordination, motivation, flexibility, collaboration (teamwork), credibility, creativity, tolerance and decision making are significant in project management (Einsiedel, 1987). Project management skills include leadership skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, management skills, interpersonal skills, and technical skills (Thamhain, 1991).
Project management skills ensure that the client’s goals and outcomes are well defined. These skills ensure that these goals are met in a timely manner. They ensure the project is completed within the defined budget, according to the project’s specification and on schedule (Richman, 2012). In turn, these skills aid in achieving other organization goals like cost effectiveness, productivity, and quality. Projects vary from time to time; however, a project manager that possesses these skills offers consistency and results from one project to another. Project management skills aid project managers (PMs) in implementing effective strategies for clarifying project objectives. These skills help PMs eliminate costly mistakes and avoid serious omission errors (Richman, 2012).
The value of a Professional Certification
Many project management recruiters, executives, and experts demand that one get certified to qualify as a project manager (Schiff, 2014). A project manager has to have at least one standard project management (PM) credential mostly offered by Project Management Institute (PMI). It may be Project Management Professional (PMP); Program Management Professional Certification (PgMP): these two are found in the United States or Projects In Controlled Environments (PRINCE2): mostly found in the United Kingdom. Nowadays, a project manager is expected to have more than one of these standard PM credentials. Regardless of the credential, credentials are vital since they ensure that you are taken seriously as a project manager. Regardless of what your resume says without these credentials you cannot be taken seriously (Schiff, 2014).
Professional certification enables an individual to advance in their career. A PMP from PMI facilitate career advancement and development for portfolio managers and project managers (PMs). This credential facilitates career advancement by aiding PMs, and portfolio managers align a portfolio of programs and projects that have met their organization’s goals (Schiff, 2014). Through this credential PMs are able to demonstrate their ability to manage successfully. Professional certification serves to compliment your experience. When certification is applied appropriately it enhances an individual’s credentials. Making them experienced PMs who are up to the task (Schiff, 2014).
References
Einsiedel, A. 1987). “Profile of Effective Project Managers”. Project Management Journal 18, p 5.
Project Management for Instructional Designers, PM4ID. (n.d.). 1.3 Key Skills of the Project Manager. pm4id.org. Web. 01 July 2015. <http://pm4id.org/1/3/>
Richman, L. L. (2012). Improving your project management skills. New York: American Management Association.
Schiff, L. Jennifer. (2014). 7 Ways to Advance Your Project Management Career. CIO. Web. 01 July 2015. <http://www.cio.com/article/2376883/project-manager/7-ways-to-advance-your-project-management-career.html>.
Smith, Caroline and the Mind Tools Team. (n.d.). How Good Are Your Project Management Skills? mindtools.com. Web. 01 July 2015. <http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_60.htm>.
Thamhain, J. Hans. (1991). “Developing Project Management Skills”. Project Management Journal 22, p 3.
