Project management can be used to describe various job roles in a wide array of industries, covering everything from agriculture to information technology. Project management requires one to have a wide set of skills and be able to adapt to almost any working environment. In the realm of project management, you should be able to plan, organize, communicate, and create and work within a budget. People skills are an absolute must, as you will be working with the public for a large portion of the day.
There are three characteristics that define project manager jobs: time, money, and people. Time is of the essence during most projects; project management is driven by deadlines and measurable objectives. In order to stick to a deadline it is important to place people in the right positions to increase efficiency. Lastly, one must know how to distribute the available resources without going over. Budgets often include items such as employee salaries (and overtime) as well as essential supplies.
As mentioned previously, project managers must be able to work with people on a daily basis. It is a team-oriented environment and project manager careers require you to help their team focus on the objectives and goals in front of them. Keeping people on course is a large part of project manager jobs. Aside from the obvious obstacles, project managers must run a fine line in between being their friend and a dictator.
During project manager careers, deadlines can influence the budget and personnel requirements. While deadlines do change on occasion, it is always best to aim for the original date. Going over deadline almost always results in going over budget (due to employee salaries) and can lead to problems down the road. Always consult with someone before authorizing overtime, which can be detrimental to budgets. Sticking to a budget becomes a concern during times of economic uncertainty, where companies are trying to minimize their losses.
If you can handle the fast-paced environment, perhaps project management is right for you. If you are able to maintain a budget despite external variables, work well with the public, and can coordinate resources efficiently consider project manager employment.
