A career path which can lead to landing an IT project management job commonly begins with a different, more junior position in the IT field. Many of those in project management jobs within the IT field got their start as programmers, system administrators and the like; these positions give them the technical background which would be necessary to handle the demands of an IT project management job. Some of these project management jobs will require very detailed knowledge, so the knowledge you gain in the IT world before going for a project management position will have a large bearing on the positions available to you.
The first step into IT project management will often be in assistant project management jobs; a sort of on the job training which allows you to build some management skills. While there are, of course, cases where someone may be taken on for an IT project management job solely on the basis of having a proven track record in project management, this is usually only possible in positions which require only a basic level of knowledge - or a candidate who is an incredibly quick study.
As a project manager, the skills required of you will be to ensure that the team working under you (in IT project management jobs, this team will often be composed of developers) is completing the work required of them in a timely manner and on budget. You will usually take a look at the big picture of a project, break this task down into manageable pieces and assign it to members of the team producing the finished product according to their strengths. This is where technical knowledge comes in.
An assistant project manager or project manager in IT will at times need some highly detailed technical know-how. For example, if you are running a project which involves creating a PHP application, then having at least a working knowledge of this scripting language is essential; this will help you be able to understand the issues involved in the project, as well as the capabilities of your team. After all, you can delegate work much more effectively if you have an understanding of the work which will be involved.
Conversely, if you are not working with developers (for instance, you are leading a team working on a network security project), then you may not need any programming expertise per se (though it would be very useful in this case to know about PERL and bash scripting, etc.). In an IT project management job you will be required to maintain some level of knowledge – the type and depth of this knowledge will depend largely on the particular position you occupy as well as the type of projects engaged in by your company.
You will certainly need to stay current with developments in your industry, particularly technical developments. Part of your job as an IT project manager is to read the applicable trade journals and websites to keep well informed – IT is an ever growing, ever changing field, so there is constantly new knowledge to stay abreast of. Having a love of learning is very helpful if you are interested in an IT project management job or an assistant project management job.
If you have a solid background in IT and a degree of technical expertise in an area which is in demand, you are well on your way towards meeting the necessary qualifications of an IT project management job. You will also need to have the people skills and management finesse required to succeed in this position; remember, you have to be a leader and be able to get a team of IT professionals motivated to get the job done.
If you have these skills, then an IT project management job may be one which is right for you. There is a high level of job satisfaction reported among professionals in this field; for those with the appropriate skill set, management skills and the temperament needed to stay on top of your team, the latest developments in your particular corner of the IT world and a mindset for the technical details while still being able to step back and see the big picture, then an IT project management job can be a position which you will find very rewarding. These positions are especially well suited to those who are already in a technical position and would like to make a transition into a more senior position while staying within their chosen field; if this sounds like you, maybe it’s time you investigated the possibility of getting an IT project management job.
