Running Head: ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS: PROJECT MANAGER

Assessing a Career in Business: Project Manager

Patricia Hall
Salt Lake Community College

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS: PROJECT

MANAGER

Job Description
When companies have large projects that involve multiple departments it is easy for
things to fall through the cracks. Project managers are there to make sure that doesnt happen.
According to Monster.com, a leading site on jobs, a projects managers main function is to
accomplishes project objectives by planning and evaluating project activities. (Monster, 2016)
Project managers are most commonly hired in technology companies to help usher and
oversee a project from beginning to end, making sure all departments stay on track and within
budget. They often have to work with IT staff, designers, developers, HR, legal and management
to ensure all groups are informed and on the same page. Project manager duties can include:

Planning projects

Staffing projects

Implementing projects

Controlling projects

Evaluating projects (Council, 2016)

General Career Path
There are two main ways of becoming a project manager; on the job and management.

Some people work their way up to becoming a project manager by working in their field and
slowly get promoted to the position. Other people get their degree in the field they want to be a
project manager in and start by getting a low level project manager job and working their way up
to bigger projects. In a career like this your experience is almost as important as your degree.

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS: PROJECT

MANAGER

General Education Experience

The minimum educational requirement for a project manager is a bachelors degree in
business. Some companies prefer their project managers to have their degrees in the related
subject they are working in, such as a bachelors degree in Information Technologies for a
project manager at a software company. Project managers plan and implement projects so it is
easier for everyone involved if the project manager has prior knowledge of the job.
Many projects managers choose to pursue advanced degrees or additional certifications.
Experienced program managers may be eligible to for a Project Management Professional
(PMP) credential, and requirements include a high school diploma or bachelor's degree, 35 hours
of coursework in project management and 3-5 years of experience (depending on educational
background). (Study, 2016)
Average Salary and Career Outlook
The salary for project managers differ by work experience and education but the current
national median salary for project managers is $106,182. The lowest 10% of project managers
making $83,486 and the highest 10% making $131,728. (Salary, 2016)

(Salary, 2016)

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS: PROJECT

MANAGER

According to the Project Management Institute, or PMI, project management roles are
expected to increase by over 13.4 million between 2010 and 2020, numbering more than 41.5
million by 2020. Project management is a very broad job title that can work in many fields. The
fields that PMI expects the most growth from in the next ten years in technology, mining and
energy. (PMI, 2015)
My fit in this career
I feel that I have a lot of the needed skills to be a project manager. One of the biggest
assets needed to be a project manager is being organized, you need to be able to organize and
maintain large projects. I feel like my level of organization is one of my greatest strengths. I am
very good and making timelines and task list and then sticking to them. You also need to be a
good communicator. According to Top Management, a website dedicated to information on
management positions, Communication is also a crucial skill to have as a project manager.
Since project managers are responsible for providing details of a project to other team members,
being a good communicator is a key trait for a project manager. (Management, 2016)
Being a project manager involves a lot of the things I like into one career. I currently
work as the administrative assistant to a systems administrator/IT director and I love it. I
troubleshoot basic tech support questions as well as handle all IT related accounting for our
company. I like to technology side of my job but I always favored the business side more.
Previously I thought I was at a fork in the road and I had to choose; business or technology but
with this career I can have the best of both world. I can have my hands still in the tech world
while focusing mainly on the business side of things that I love. Im excited to have learned more
about this career and plan on exploring the career of project manager further.

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS: PROJECT

MANAGER

References
Council, H. (2016, March 1). Job Profile - Project Manager. Retrieved from HR Council:
http://hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/right-people-job-descriptions-project-manager.cfm
Management, T. (2016, March 1). How Do I Become a Project Manager? Retrieved from Top
Management Degrees: http://www.topmanagementdegrees.com/how-do-i-become-a-projectmanager/
Monster. (2016, March 1). Project Manager Job Description Sample. Retrieved from Monster:
http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/jobdescriptions/project-manager-job-description-sample.aspx
PMI. (2015, January 1). 2015 Global Job Report. Retrieved from Projecy Managment Institute:
https://www.pmi.org/learning/PM-Network/2015/global-job-report-salary-data.aspx
Salary. (2016, March 1). Project Manager SalaryWizard. Retrieved from Salary:
http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/Project-Manager-III-SalaryDetails.aspx?&hdcbxbonuse=on&isshowpiechart=false&isshowjobchart=false&isshowsalarydeta
ilcharts=true&isshownextsteps=true&isshowcompanyfct=true&isshowaboutyou=true
Study. (2016, March 1). Program Manager: Employment Info & Career Requirements. Retrieved from
Study:
http://study.com/articles/Program_Manager_Employment_Info_and_Requirements_for_a_Car
eer_in_Program_Mgmt.html