A career in project management involves organizing, planning and executing projects while working within restraints like budgets and schedules. Professionals in this field act as leaders in every project, organising and ensuring the successful execution of each project. Additionally, they act as the central point of communication, facilitating collaboration among team members, stakeholders, and other key contributors. As a project manager, you can work in various industry sectors. You can work in areas such as information technology, construction, healthcare, and finance. If you are organised and interested in taking a larger role in your career, pursuing a career in project management can be a good fit for you.

A career in project management requires you to have the right skills and build relevant experiences. This is because this role requires you to carry out tasks that will be impossible without the right skills. Therefore, you must have the right education and skills to be able to have a successful career in project management.

This piece will walk you through the steps and the skills to have when starting a career in project management.

How to Become a Project Manager

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

   You can start by obtaining a bachelor’s degree. You can obtain a bachelor’s degree in project management. However, in cases where your school of choice does not offer project management, you can go for related disciplines. You can gain a bachelor’s degree in fields such as business administration, business management, engineering, information technology, or a related field.

2. Pursue Certifications

   Obtaining a certification in project management is an important step to take while pursuing your career in project management. This certification is important because it can cover up if you did not acquire a bachelor’s degree that is related to project management. Therefore, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree in project management. You can obtain certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), etc.

3. Gain Relevant Experiences

   You can gain experience through internships or entry-level roles. You can participate in projects to gain experience in handling real-world projects. This will improve your skills as well as give you an idea of how to work as a project manager on various projects.

4. Develop Technical Skills

   You should build skills in project management tools and software. Additionally, you should get familiar with relevant technical skills that are used in any industry you choose to work in as a project manager.

5. Build a Portfolio

   While you are building your skills and experiences in project management, you should document your projects. This will prove your expertise to potential employers. Additionally, it will highlight your achievements and skills in managing successful projects.

6. Pursue Advanced Education

   This is not compulsory. However, it can boost your credibility in this field. You can pursue an advanced degree such as a Master’s Degree in Project Management or Business Administration.

7. Choose an Area of Specialisation

   There are various industries that you can work in as a project manager. You can work in healthcare, marketing, energy, IT, etc. You can choose to carve a niche in any of these areas and build expertise in them. Additionally, you should learn about the technicalities of each field you decide to specialise in.

Universities in Africa that Offer Business Administration Degrees

1. Lagos Business School- Pan Atlantic University, Nigeria
2. Gordon Institute of Business Science- University of Pretoria, South Africa
3. Strathmore Business School- Strathmore University, Kenya
4. Henley Business School- South Africa
5. The American University in Cairo School of Business, Egypt
6. ESCA Ecole de Management, Morocco
7. Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, South Africa
8. University of Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa
9. Wits Business School- University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
10. Milpark Business School- Milpark Education, South Africa

Skills for a Project Manager

1. Leadership
2. Financial management
3. Decision-making
4. Team-building
5. Time management
6. Communication
7. Critical thinking
8. Negotiating
9. Quality management
10. Risk management

Certifications in Project Management

1. Project Management Professional (PMP)
2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
3. PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments)
4. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
5. PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
6. Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
7. CompTIA Project+
8. Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) by Scrum Alliance
9. Certification of Project Management (CPM) by IPMA-USA
10. Certified Project Director (CPD) by IPMA-USA

Sectors to Work in as a Project Manager

1. Information Technology (IT)
2. Construction and Engineering
3. Healthcare
4. Finance and Banking
5. Telecommunications
6. Manufacturing and Product Development
7. Consulting
8. Energy and Environmental
9. Nonprofit and Government
10. Event Management
11. Pharmaceutical and Research
12. Retail and E-Commerce
13. Aerospace and Defense
14. Education
15. Remote Work Opportunities

In Conclusion, pursuing a career in project management can open up a range of unique opportunities for the industry and related job prospects. Therefore, you can decide to explore various industry sectors while working as a project manager. You need to have a strong background in project management. Additionally, you should acquire the required set of skills and experience in the industry sector if you wish to work as a project manager.

Good luck!

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