what is a project manager?
As a project manager, your key task is to plan and execute projects. That means you are in charge of determining the project scope and resources necessary to execute your plan to completion. You are also responsible for managing teams and resources assigned to you. As a project manager, you take care of tangible and crucial elements like planning and budgeting. You also participate in less quantifiable aspects like providing moral support and leadership to your teams.
Project managers are agents of change who enjoy working in a complex and dynamic environment. When working as a project manager, you inspire others to achieve milestones and drive results. You also shift between the big picture and minor details – a crucial skill for project success. That means you are responsible for coming up with the game plan for executing a project, creating schedules and defining tasks of each team member that leads to the achievement of milestones.
Unlike other careers where you work in a specific industry, project managers serve in all sectors. For instance, they provide roadmaps in construction projects, help in marketing, and support the IT industry in project development.
Would working as a project manager suit your leadership skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a project manager role.
project manager jobsaverage salary of a project manager
According to National Careers, the average salary of a project manager is £22,000 annually for entry-level positions and can increase to £70,000 per year as you gain more experience. Aside from the attractive basic salary, project managers receive numerous benefits. Your health insurance is often part of the compensation package, and some companies offer housing and transport allowances. When you work overtime hours, your employer compensates with agreed-upon hourly rates and successful project completion is rewarded with bonuses.
how to increase your salary as a project manager
Your compensation package depends on various factors, and paying attention to these components can increase your pay. For instance, a bachelor's degree graduate earns less than a master's or doctoral degree project manager. If you improve your academic qualifications and add a few certifications to your resume, your compensation package will reflect the additional skills.
The industry sector you choose to practise your project management skills also influences your pay. Working as a consultant or a construction project manager boosts your wages compared to becoming a marketing or healthcare project manager. Aside from the industry, the company size also plays a role in determining your salary. In a large organisation, project managers oversee a large team and conduct complex projects. That generally translates to more pay compared to smaller businesses.
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graduate degree or project management certification
Attaining your project management certification allows you to boost your salary and demonstrate your competency to employers. It's your way of showing them that you have what it takes to manage a team or project. Some studies have shown that having a degree can boost your salary by up to 22 percent. Project managers in the UK earn more compared to those who don't have a project management certification.
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years of experience
Your experience as a project manager will impact the money you earn from the job. For example, if you have two years' experience, you will earn much less than your colleague with ten years experience.
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specialisation
Your specialisation area within a given discipline will affect the amount you earn from your role. As a project manager, you can work as a portfolio manager or a program manager.
types of project manager
Project managers serve in different industries and have different roles. Some of them include:
- construction project manager: as a project manager in the construction industry, your job is to work closely with architects and create a plan for completing projects. That includes overseeing construction projects like building structures and infrastructure to completion.
- it project manager: when you are a project manager in IT, your role is to solve problems in your IT department. Some of the issues you are likely to deal with are installing new software or updating networks. Software project managers also guide teams to develop new software.
- energy project manager: in energy, your work is to supervise projects that lead to infrastructure development or improvement of existing energy-efficient practices in a company.
working as a project manager
When you are a project manager, you apply a set of principles that guide project execution. That means you need to break down the project fundamentals into daily tasks and milestones for your teams. Read on to discover the daily activities of a project manager.
project manager job description
As a project manager, there are no real restrictions to your responsibilities; if it falls in the remit of a specific project, then it's your job to cover it. In terms of general project management tasks, this includes:
- planning: your primary role as a project manager is to plan a project by listing all the critical activities that ensure success. Planning enables you to define the scope of the projects and come up with a schedule and timeline for completing milestones. Your plan will determine a project's success or failure.
- organising project teams: your project is successful if you organise your teams to perform their tasks. As a project manager, you create detailed checklists and whiteboards for your team. Sometimes you have to negotiate their job responsibilities and ensure they are committed to the task.
- managing deliverables: as a project manager, it is your job to negotiate with stakeholders' achievable deadlines and ensure the deliverables are delivered. It is essential to ensure the deliverables meet the time constraints and are within the budget as per the business plan.
- monitoring progress: you spend most of your time as the project manager monitoring the progress of projects. You can monitor the status of projects using a management system and ensure milestones are met.
- preparing reports: as a project manager, you need to provide regular reports to clients on the projects' progress. Preparing documentation is also vital for keeping track of the execution plan and the budget.
your colleagues
As a project manager it depends on the project which colleagues you have to work with on a regular basis. But one thing is certain: you are in contact with a lot of different people all day long.
Are you a project leader in the construction industry, for example? Then you will often be in contact with the foreman and assistant foreman who are on site every day. You also have contact with technical coordinators post, the site supervisor position or the site administrator role, cad designer, architects, quantity surveyors, professional advisor, product manager roles, test manager roles, electronics technicians, glaziers and clients.
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work environment
When you are a project manager, you will spend most of your time in an office environment regardless of the industry sector of your employer. The office setting allows you to monitor projects using project management software and complete the necessary paperwork for managing budgets and schedules. If you work in the construction industry, sometimes you have to work from the site. Working from the project site allows you to manage resources effectively and supervise the project to completion.
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work schedule
As a project manager, you will work the standard full-time schedule of 37 to 40 hours a week. Sometimes, you need to work overtime and during the evening when you are attending events or appointments. If a project deadline is approaching, you will work during weekends. Some companies provide part-time positions; although they are scarce, project managers often work irregular hours depending on the project requirements. Some employers also offer short-term contracts when they need a project to be completed within a specific timeline. Working as a project manager can include a lot of travelling, especially if the project execution takes place at a different location.
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job outlook
A project manager is a multi-sector career, allowing you to jump from one role to another. For instance, after years of being a marketing project manager, you can shift to the IT and tech industry or construction without additional training. With professional qualifications, project managers progress to a senior level or a consultant in project management roles or a position as an e-commerce manager. In some companies, you start as a director of project management before becoming the vice president of operations.
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advantages of finding a project manager job through randstad
Finding your project manager job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a project manager is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
You can get into the project manager role through different academic paths, including:
- degree course: getting an undergraduate degree in business management or project management puts you on track for a career in project management. You can add a postgraduate qualification to increase your competitiveness. To join the undergraduate course, you need 2 or 3 A Levels.
- apprenticeship: it is possible to become a project manager through a higher apprenticeship programme that lasts around four years. The apprenticeship includes coursework and on-the-job training. You need 4 or 5 GCSEs and A Levels to join the programme.
- certifications: as a project manager, you can increase your job prospects with certification from the Association of Project Management or Project Management Institute.
skills and competencies
Aside from educational qualifications, you need these skills to become a great project manager:
- negotiation skills: when you are a project manager, you need to be a great negotiator to get the best deals on contracts. Negotiation skills also help you bring all stakeholders on board with your strategic plans.
- leadership skills: as a project manager, you need strong leadership skills to guide your resources towards project goals. With your skills, you can also motivate your team members and guide them throughout the project processes.
- organisational skills: when you are a project manager, you have numerous tasks to accomplish, and organisational skills will come in handy. Organisation skills help you multi-task since you can prioritise responsibilities and compartmentalise projects.
- problem-solving skills: with problem-solving skills, you can find a structured approach to deal with problems that arise during the project process. It also enables you to mitigate risk and achieve positive results.
- computer skills: you need basic computing skills to operate project management systems and organise your teams with scheduling systems. Sometimes, you also need to analyse data using spreadsheets.
- communication and interpersonal abilities: as a project manager, communications skills help relay your plans to the teams and stakeholders.
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leadership
Leadership skills come in handy when dealing with your team. As a project manager, you must motivate the team and act as a mediator when issues arise. Ensuring that every undertaking gets completed successfully.
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efficient communication
Communication and leadership skills go hand in hand. While you may have a great vision, there's a possibility it won't get realised if you can't inspire your team.
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organisation
You need strong organisational skills to ensure all the processes will continue running smoothly. Multitasking and learning how to prioritise different tasks will determine the success or failure of your undertaking.
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strategy development
You need to understand the impact each project will have on the company's functions. Look into how it will affect how the company operates, including its long-term objectives.
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negotiation
As a project manager, you need to know how to negotiate with clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders in the industry. Negotiation skills will help you to deal with any interpersonal issues that may arise among team members.
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business acumen
An excellent business acumen guarantees you are well-versed with industry trends and their impact on the business environment. It assists you in responding to business and market changes. Some of these changes may affect the outcome of the project.
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scheduling & time management
Time management is one thing you will want the most when working as a project manager. All tasks, regardless of how minor they are, will require you to schedule them correctly.
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risk management
Risks aren't always apparent in a project, but they are inevitable. Risk management enables you to pinpoint areas that are likely to go wrong. You need to use your experience to develop a proper risk mitigation strategy.
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critical thinking
Critical thinking will help you retain the right state of mind even when problems begin to pop up. Learn to develop a structured approach that can help you in making important project decisions.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a project manager
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what does a project manager do?
A project manager plans and executes a project to completion using a specific methodology. They also manage resources and budgets allocated to projects.
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do project managers get paid well?
As a project manager, your earnings depend on your academic qualification and experience. You can earn up to £80,000 at senior project management levels.
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what are the roles and responsibilities of a project manager?
The duties of a project manager vary depending on the industry sector. However, some of the common roles include determining ways to execute a project and managing costs. Sometimes, you have to employ team members and schedule tasks for each team member.
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how do I become a project manager?
You can become a project manager by acquiring a degree in business or project management. A postgraduate degree will also improve your leadership skills. Apprenticeship is another way to join the profession.
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is project manager a good career?
Becoming a project manager is a rewarding and fulfilling career. You will feel a sense of pride when you accomplish a project and the compensation package is attractive.
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how do I apply for a project manager vacancy?
Applying for a project manager job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
