Can you manage it? Of course you can!

Many people start out in their careers as a project manager. Yet, in many cases, it takes time to earn the trust and responsibility that comes with the position. If you've been given the title of Project Manager (PM), congratulations! You've earned it. If you haven't been given the responsibility yet, there's a good chance you will be at some point if you want to advance in your career.

Now, you need to get clear on how you to maximize the resources available to you and hone in on the necessary skill sets to rock it in the project management world.

Project management adds value to your resume

There are lots of benefits to being a project manager. As a project manager, you will gain tons of valuable on-the-job experience and skills for future roles and positions, including, but not limited to:

  • Leadership skills

  • Delegation

  • Effective communication

  • Goal setting and results

  • Exposure to leadership teams within or external to the company

  • How to work with different personalities within the same group

  • Problem-solving abilities

  • Exposure to new project management software

Seems like a lot? The good news is that it adds amazing value to your resume through a wide variety of skills. Here are some additional new project management tips and tricks that will help you succeed.

Project management tips that will set you up for success

Know all the project details up front. Get clear on all the project details at the beginning so you can map out a plan without surprises down the road.

Get the project's priorities in line. This will help you set up clear and measurable goals, while also helping you identify what can be taken care of early on, and what you need to get a head start so you don't have a last-minute disaster.

Set clear and measurable goals. After you're clear on the project criteria, set goals and milestones that are reasonable, timely, and efficient.

Related: 10 Steps to Setting and Achieving Goals at Work

Go with the flow. Changes occur throughout a project, so do some yoga or breathing courses to help you manage the stress that can come with the changes within a project.

Take a course and get certified. Getting certified as a Project Manager might make sense if you want to hone your skills as a Project Manager. You might be more attractive to companies, as well. However, you'll want to weigh out the pros and cons of whether or not it's worth it. Do you have the time and money? At the same time, you might work with a company that will support you in getting it, so if that's the case, go for it.

Become a part of the team. You will want to lead your team as well as serve your team. By being a team player, they will see you as willing to put in the work, and you'll get a lot more out of your team as a whole.

Be proactive. Before the project begins, look for holes or areas that might be a challenge. You can bring these to the attention of those overseeing the project and attempt to come up with solutions to avoid the issues before they hit. When issues happen — and they will on almost any project — by being proactive from the beginning, problem-solving will be much easier as the project moves along.

Know your project management software like it's your best friend. The software that you'll be using to either manage or launch your project is now your best friend. Know it inside and out, and ask for training for all team members before the project even begins. You'll also want to look for software that has a strong support team in case you need it when you're in a jam or bind.

If you're trying to decide what project management software will work best, ask other Project Managers what they prefer. Or check out these Top Project Management Software Programs.

Utilize a mentor. I recommend identifying and forging a relationship with a mentor to help you with various facets of your career. A good and experienced PM mentor can help you keep your cool when things go wrong, problem solve, cultivate a team, and more.

Related: 5 Ways a Mentor Can Boost Your Career Potential

Know your customer. A good project manager will take the time to sit down with their customer more than once to get clear on their needs and how they communicate best. By doing so, the PM can put a plan in place to meet expectations for both internal and external customers.

Get to know your team. The more you take the time to get to know the players on your team with care, the more willing they'll be to go the extra mile for you when it's needed. It also helps to understand how each player communicates, operates, and what their strong skills are so that you can delegate accordingly.You want to give tasks to those you know will be competent and timely in getting them finished.

Embrace leadership. As a project manager, you will be looked to for guidance and leadership, especially when it comes to completing the project. The example you set will trickle down to the rest of the team.

Evaluate the project upon completion. You can learn a lot for your next project by taking note of what worked and what didn't work with your current project.

Not everyone loves being a Project Manager, and that's okay. Whether you love it or not, it can be a good experience to manage at least one project to see if it's a fit for you. Just follow these project management tips to help you gain the most from this experience.

Click on the following link for more career advice on how to get ahead.

Don't know if you highlighted your project management skills well on your resume? Request a free resume review to find out!

Recommended Reading:

Related Articles: