How to Become a Project Manager At Home

To become a Project Manager at home, you must develop strong skills outside of those required for the position. This includes harnessing your organizational skills to stay on top of the course work, but also not being afraid to put yourself out there and ask questions, discuss concepts in class, and request feedback on your projects. You’ll need to engage with the course material and develop a schedule around the training. You will have to learn different software, tools, methodologies, and mindsets that help you become the Project Manager you hope to be. There are different ways to become a Project Manager at home, including professional training methods like certificate courses and bootcamps and supplemental methods like free resources and tutorials.

What Project Manager Training Method is Right for Me?

Certificate Courses

The quickest and most effective learning method is typically the option that provides the most immersive and thorough education. This is typically found in a certificate course. This is one of the best training methods for hopeful Project Managers since it provides the most in-depth learning experience in a short, hands-on format. A certificate course will focus on the practical application of skills, such as using Microsoft Project for planning purposes, assessing risks, allocating resources, and communicating with team members and clients. Additionally, these courses are offered in-person or live online so there is a method that works for your needs and preferences. They are often lengthier, typically lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, but this depends on whether you choose a full-time or part-time option. Most training centers, such as Noble Desktop, will provide students with additional benefits and resources as well. This a more accessible way to learn a new skill as other degree programs can be incredibly costly. Plus, earning a certificate is beneficial for the job search. Overall, a certificate course allows you to learn in a dynamic and engaging environment that suits your needs and also helps you develop professionally.

Bootcamps

Another way to learn essential project management skills is through a bootcamp. These are similar to certificate courses in that they value professional development and offer an immersive, intensive method, but they can be less lengthy. They typically span a few weeks but can sometimes last longer if there are part-time options available. The bootcamps offered at training centers such as Noble Desktop also provide additional benefits and give students practical skills. Additionally, bootcamps are offered in-person and live online so you can choose whichever method works best for your learning style. Although some find bootcamps intimidating, many are suitable for beginners and help you learn essential skills by the end of the lessons. They are taught by professionals who will guide students through the projects and often lead to increased networking opportunities. They focus on real-world skills and essentially make the path to becoming a Project Manager much less stressful and far more feasible.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand classes for project management are a suitable option for someone with previous or relevant experience in the field. They are often the most flexible learning option since it does not require a commute or even attendance in a virtual class. On-demand classes are entirely asynchronous, meaning students teach themselves through various resources like videos, readings, modules, activities, quizzes, and projects. Although on-demand courses are an effective time saver, they may not be suitable for a total beginner. Similarly, students in an on-demand class typically don’t come away with professional-grade skills. If you currently work as a Project Manager or need basic project management skills for an upcoming project at work, then an on-demand class could be useful. However, a beginner or someone who wants to become an employable Project Manager will need more than an on-demand course. Still, a busy professional or someone who needs to upskill could benefit immensely from an on-demand project management course. 

Other Forms of Self-Guided Learning

You can also learn a lot from free resources provided both in-person and online. For instance, a career center or library would have more information on local job opportunities and have books, brochures, and professionals that you can speak with. Other forms of self-guided learning may include reading through websites and blogs or watching video tutorials on various social media platforms, like YouTube or TikTok. Project Managers who want to share their experiences often post videos or offer explanations of more difficult project management concepts and methodologies. You can also explore chatrooms and discussion boards where other like-minded individuals ask questions, offer one another feedback, and become more skilled with the help and support of one another. Although there are many ways to use free, self-guided resources, they are entirely hands-off and require you to be more determined and motivated. It also requires you as the learner to double-check that the information you are receiving is accurate and updated. If you are learning something that is no longer an industry standard, it will be a waste of time. All in all, free resources are useful as a supplement to your professional training, but can’t be sufficient enough to serve as a thorough learning method.

What is a Project Manager?

A Project Manager plays an essential part in any organization that values productivity, optimization, and efficacy. Specifically, they plan, oversee, and aspire to successfully execute projects. They are a connecting force between the different departments that may not work in close contact with one another, but each has a vital job within the project. In addition, they are team leaders who communicate and collaborate closely with clients and stakeholders to manage expectations and provide status updates. They regularly ensure that the project will be met within the preferred timeframe and that they will work within the scope of what the clients deem necessary. Ultimately, they are multitasking, creative thinkers who can rally a team and delegate tasks efficiently.

On an average work week, Project Managers may start a new project by creating detailed plans that discuss resource allocation, projected risks, suggested workload, preferred budget, and necessary timelines. The Project Manager will discuss these plans with the client and stakeholders, but also the teams that work towards the project’s completion. The Project Manager will monitor the success of each department and adjust plans as necessary. In addition, they document their progress and check in with the financial departments to ensure they aren’t going over their allotted funds. They’ll present status reports and conduct meetings, so they are often tasked with presenting information visually and orally.

Project Managers work in virtually every industry, ranging from technology and finance to marketing and healthcare. Plus, they can work in-house for firms, organizations, and companies just as much as they can work remotely. Project Managers can also work full-time or on a project-by-project basis. A career in project management is not only exciting and provides variety, but it is also rather profitable. Ultimately, if you are business-minded, communicative, and highly organized, project management may be the right path for you. 

Can I Learn to be a Project Manager from Home?

You can become a Project Manager from home by enrolling in different training programs. This may include online courses, certificate courses, bootcamps, and other means of virtual learning. In a live course, you will gain the most skills and feel more comfortable applying your skills to the workplace. The more immersive and exploratory the course is, the more likely you will acquire a professional-grade understanding of project management processes, tools, and technologies. If you are worried about enrolling in an in-person course but still want to work as a professional Project Manager, you can easily do so from home with the right training.

What are the Advantages of Learning from Home?

Learning from home offers advantages that learning in-person at a training center or school simply cannot. This is a more flexible, low-stress way to gain new skills and is ideal for someone who has a busy schedule. Additionally, remote learning allows you to personalize your learning experience and choose which courses suit your professional needs the most. Plus, remote learning is often more cost-effective not only because the courses are frequently less expensive than in-person classes, but because there is no need to spend money on a commute.

Remote learning options such as live online courses also provide enough interaction to create a hands-on environment and support your learning needs. With technology such as chatboxes and video conferencing applications, you can still communicate effectively with peers and the instructor. This allows you to receive feedback in real-time and learn from experience rather than just by listening to lectures and reading course material. The projects in a remote course are also rooted in real-world situations so you will still receive a thorough learning experience. Overall, remote courses provide a good work-life balance for anyone who wants to get the most from their learning experience but still have conveniences and comforts.

What are the Disadvantages of Learning from Home?

There are some disadvantages associated with learning from home, no matter how beneficial it may be. This is a slightly less interactive learning environment than in-person courses, but the instructor will try to make up the difference to the best of their ability. Mostly, the worry lies in experiencing technical difficulties or dealing with distractions. You could potentially miss important material or even an entire class due to this. Unfortunately, some problems are out of your hands. Plus, you may feel less motivated to log onto the computer for each course, whereas an in-person course may make you feel more compelled to attend.

What Resources Are Available to Help Me Become a Project Manager at Home?

Students can access a wide variety of learning material from home, including on-demand classes and free resources as well as live online bootcamps and certificate classes. Each method offers a unique perspective and benefits. For instance, free resources are mostly supplemental and aid in the learning process whereas on-demand classes may be best suited for a professional or someone with previous experience. In addition, bootcamps and certificate classes are incredibly hands-on and require dedication throughout. Whichever method works best for you depends entirely on your reason for learning and the goals you hope to achieve.

Free Resources

Exploring free resources is one of the most common ways to gain a base-level understanding of project management tools and methodologies. These are easy to access and very common. You can find free resources on websites, video-sharing platforms, social media, career centers, and libraries that will provide more insight into the field. With the many different methods of learning, you can use them all as a supplemental way to quickly answer questions, clarify confusing concepts, and feel more comfortable with difficult project management tasks.

However, free resources are limited in their scope, as they are not going to be as in-depth and immersive as a class or other learning method. Plus, free resources can easily include inaccurate or out-of-date information, so it’s extra important to check their publishing date and cross-reference the information with other sources that are known to be credible. All in all, the main issue with relying on free resources to learn new skills is that they are not thorough enough to serve as a professional-level education. Although you can supplement your education with free resources and use them as a helpful study tool, it’s important to remember they are just useful aids.

On-Demand Classes

For those with incredibly busy schedules, or someone with previous experience in the project management world or a relevant field, an on-demand class may be a viable option. These classes are easy to access and typically cost-effective, usually costing anywhere from ten dollars to a couple of hundred dollars. They are self-paced, so you can work when you have the time, and easy to customize your learning experience

However, on-demand classes are incredibly limited in interaction, since there is no instructor to provide answers to questions or feedback on projects. This is one of the most useful parts of attending a live online or in-person class, so this is a huge detriment to those who want a thorough learning experience. Students in on-demand classes will likely spend additional time researching outside of class or getting questions answered online. This can pose additional concerns regarding accuracy as well. Plus, it can make the learning process slightly lengthier and more complex. All in all, an on-demand class has its usefulness in specific times and places, but not for every student or situation.

Live Online Classes and Bootcamps

The most successful method of learning a new skill from home is through a live online bootcamp or class. These are the best options if you want to develop professional skills and start a new career. Bootcamps and classes (regardless of being live online) are far more in-depth and immersive than the aforementioned learning methods. The activities and projects are rooted in realistic scenarios so the skills you acquire are usually more practical and technical rather than theoretical. This can help you become a Project Manager in less time than a standard degree program and still excel in your industry and position.

Most of all, live online classes and bootcamps are effective. It’s proven that this style of learning is best for retention. However, there are many additional benefits that you may not consider at first. Specifically, you’ll save time and money on a commute by learning from the comfort of home, yet still have access to instructors and peers. You will be able to collaborate on projects, request feedback, get questions answered, and overall benefit from typical classroom interactions. In addition, the projects and information covered are typically rooted in real-world situations, meaning the curriculum offers career-building aspects. This is highly beneficial for resume enhancement, interview preparation, portfolio development, and certification readiness.

While in-person bootcamps and classes will offer a little more interaction and immersion, live online options are still worthwhile. In addition, technical difficulties and distractions can take away from the learning process and perhaps cause you to lose precious class time altogether. Learning from home may also sound preferable, but if you know you aren’t the type of student who can stay on task and be self-disciplined enough to learn from home, it would be best to explore in-person learning options as opposed to remote methods.

How to Find Project Manager Work at Home

You can not only learn how to be a Project Manager from home, but you can also find work as a remote Project Manager. There are lots of ways to find remote work with ease. First, you can explore local opportunities through networking, job fairs, and word-of-mouth. Additionally, you can explore freelance or remote jobs through contract work or on a project-by-project basis. You can look at job search websites and view social media postings from companies across all different industries. There is also the option of searching verifiable websites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn more about the job position and possibly learn more about the percentage of Project Managers who work from home and how they function weekly.

Freelance Opportunities

Freelance opportunities allow you to work as a self-employed contract employee, which comes with many advantages. For instance, you can easily set your schedule and adjust it as needed since there is a lot more flexibility and trust in this role. Additionally, freelance professionals can typically find lucrative positions. This work style is becoming increasingly popular among employers and employees alike as it allows for more flexibility and autonomy while seeing minimal change in productivity and effectiveness.

Freelancing is preferable to anyone with a busy schedule with other responsibilities and daily tasks. For example, if you have younger children at home, freelance work is a huge benefit as it allows you to earn money from home and still tend to your family. In addition, those who live in a rural area can find work as freelancers and not be limited in their career opportunities. Plus, many feel as though they work more productively as remote or freelance professionals since they can tend to their own needs more readily throughout the day. Truly, freelance opportunities are not only abundant but highly sought-after.

Finding Remote Jobs as a Project Manager

Similar to any other position, you can find remote jobs online. The most typical places to begin the search include job search applications and websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, Zip Recruiter, and Monster. Some specific websites you can search for are Freelancer or Upwork, which focus entirely on freelancing opportunities. LinkedIn is a social media platform that helps professionals network and share ideas and opportunities as well. However, you can also explore company websites for direct posting and more information about the company culture and expectations.

Remote Project Managers perform the same work as any other project management position and will oversee projects from start to finish. This will include handling the finances, timeline, and different departments needed for the project’s completion. However, they will need keen technical and communication skills since they typically communicate and collaborate with colleagues over digital platforms like Slack and Zoom or Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and Project.

How Will Remote Work as a Project Manager Differ from On-site Work?

Although a remote Project Manager will complete the same job responsibilities, they will be conducted differently. As a remote employee, you will likely need to make more phone and video conference calls than an on-site Project Manager would. Plus, since a remote Project Manager will still handle different clients and multiple projects at once, they need superior communication skills need to be exceptionally strong.

Additionally, they need to be exceedingly organized and determined to complete the work in a timely manner. Since they work separately from everyone else, a remote Project Manager needs to be acutely aware of what is expected of them. They will also need ample space to work and quiet areas to conduct meetings, chat with colleagues about delegated tasks, and present recent updates to stakeholders and other interested parties.

Learn the Skills to Become a Project Manager at Noble Desktop

Students can receive their project management education from the myriad courses at Noble Desktop. There are entry-level courses that a future Project Manager would want to take, such as an introduction to Microsoft Project. In addition, there are varying levels of project management courses where students will learn how to handle the daily tasks of this job position. Taking short courses essentially allows you to customize your education. If you know that you only need to learn project management fundamentals for an upcoming project that you’ll be taking the lead on at work, then you can stop after Level I. However, you may want to expand your knowledge and go beyond the basics. With individual short courses at Noble Desktop, you can go as in-depth as you prefer.

However, there are more advanced learning options offered at Noble Desktop such as bootcamps. They host a Project Management Bootcamp that teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced project management skills in one go instead of spread out across different classes. This is ideal if you are absolutely sure you want to pursue a project management position since you will benefit from the thorough, consistent instruction and the career-based approach to the course. There are extra resources and benefits as well, such as additional mentoring, so you will feel even more supported in your professional learning journey. Plus, some bootcamps help students prepare for future educational endeavors, such as certification exams.

For the most in-depth approach to learning a new subject, you can explore the various certificate courses offered at Noble Desktop. Although there is not yet a project management certificate course, there are courses in relevant fields and subjects that would greatly benefit an aspiring Project Manager. Depending on the type of company and industry you hope to soon work for, you may consider taking a certificate course in digital marketing, video editing, or graphic design. However, other project management experts work in fields more driven by data analytics and web development. The variety of certificate courses offered at Noble Desktop assures students that they can explore as many topics as necessary to help them succeed in their field as a Project Manager. This type of course is especially suggested for aspiring professionals since it can prepare students for future certification exams. Additionally, certificate classes offer ample benefits and additional resources; for example, students in a Noble Desktop certificate course can access additional mentoring, payment plans, and a verified certificate upon completion.