Project management is the art of managing projects to make sure they’re completed on schedule and under budget. Project management is a very hot career path, with millions of jobs being added for people with project management skills over the next decade. An important factor that goes into deciding to learn a new skill is researching complementary and related skills. Doing so will help you make more informed decisions about what you want to learn, and it will help you decide whether or not learning a specific skill is the right decision for you. You will also learn what kind of skills you may want to learn to complement your training later on. Read on to learn more about related Project Management training options such as leadership, communication, Agile frameworks, and CAPM certification.

What is Project Management?

Project management describes the process of managing the successful completion of a project. A Project Manager guides a project through the different stages of what is known as “The Project LifeCycle,” which comprises five stages: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure. A Project Manager’s most important goal is ensuring a project is completed on time and under budget.

A Project Manager is responsible for creating a project plan to establish project goals and deadlines, delegating tasks to team members, motivating team members to meet deadlines, risk management, communicating with upper management, and resource management. Experts in Project Management estimate that around 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating. Soft skills such as communication, leadership, time management, and budgeting are required in Project Management. 

Project management as a field is defined by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) created by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which outlines best practices, methodologies, and processes for professional Project Managers. Aspiring Project Managers will want to seek out training in PMBOK as well as experience in managing real-world projects. 

Project management is a hot career path that is expected to add over 22 million jobs by 2027. In addition to this booming job growth, Project Managers earn lucrative, six-figure salaries. The average salary for a Project Manager is around $115,000 annually. That’s more than double the national average across all occupations. 

Read more about what project management is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Project Management Skills?

There are no limits on what can be done with project management skills. Project management is a versatile career path, as Project Managers are needed in every industry and in various roles. You could continue to work in the same industry even after completing your training in Project Management. 

Some Project Managers work for companies on specific projects or as part of a project team. Some Project Managers work as freelancers or consultants who assist clients on specific projects.

Project management is a very hot career path because the Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that , by 2027, Project Management job availability will increase by 33%. A significant number of Senior Project Managers are expected to retire, leading to even more job openings for those with training in Project Management. 

Many of the essential skills in project management are soft skills, including communication, leadership, management ability, time management, delegation, conflict resolution, and multitasking. Project management experts estimate that around 90% of a Project Manager’s time is spent communicating. Aspiring Project Managers should have impeccable communication skills and well-developed leadership skills. 

Project managers often specialize in a particular industry, such as IT, healthcare, or construction. Skills already acquired in these industries could be combined with project management training for a new career within your industry. 

Skills Related to Project Management

Project management skills are in extremely high demand. The Project Management Institute (PMI) predicts that more than 2.5 million new project management jobs will be added by 2027. Here are some of the skills you might want to consider to complement your skills in project management. 

Soft Skills

Project Managers are required to have a lot of soft skills, including communication, leadership, time management, resource management, budgeting, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. To be a successful Project Manager, you’ll need to improve all these soft skills. 

Working Project Managers report that the bulk of their time is spent communicating. Many Project Managers report that they spend up to 90% of the work day communicating with development teams, design teams, marketing teams, upper management, and stakeholders. Both your written and verbal communication skills must be sharply developed if you plan to work in project management.

Additionally, you’ll need great skills in time and resource management. Project Managers are responsible for identifying and prioritizing the tasks that will lead to successful project completion. They also need to be able to effectively communicate the project plan to team members, upper management, and stakeholders. 

Microsoft Office

Expert proficiency in Microsoft Office is the most requested skill on entry-level project management job listings. If you’re interested in working in project management, you’ll need to develop your skills in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint. 

Microsoft Office is the world’s most popular business software suite. It is being used on over 2 billion devices worldwide. The applications that makeup Microsoft Office are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. 

Project Managers use Excel for tasks that include task management, budgeting, resource management, and project tracking. You’ll also need advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint as you’ll be expected to make professional presentations. 

SQL

Like many roles in business, Project Managers rely increasingly on data to make sound decisions. Training in SQL will help you access data and turn it into usable information. 

SQL stands for “structured query language,” and gaining training in SQL can help you in querying data from a database and then transform it to help you make solid business decisions. Project managers with data skills will be in even higher demand, especially at companies that don’t have dedicated data roles. 

CAPM Certification

If you’re serious about launching a new project manager career, you’ll want to consider becoming CAPM certified. The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an entry-level professional certification in project management. CAPM is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the leading professional organization for Project Managers.

Becoming CAPM certified is an excellent way to launch a new career as a Project Manager since your certification will demonstrate your knowledge to potential employers. Becoming professionally certified in project management can also increase your salary: PMI reports that certified Project Managers earn around 25% more than uncertified Project Managers. 

Learn Project Management Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding, design, and business school based in NYC. They offer courses on various topics, including project management courses and bootcamps, both live online and at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. All of their classes feature small class sizes and are taught by instructors who are experts in their industry. PMP-Certified professional Project Managers teach all their project management courses. Graduates can retake their course for up to one year for free to continue developing their knowledge and refresh their skills. 

Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp provides hands-on instruction in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) theories and methodologies needed to get hired as an entry-level Project Manager. Students receive hands-on, project-based training in topics that include the five phases of project management, creating project proposals, and working with a project team. Graduates receive a verified digital certificate of completion to help them get hired as entry-level Project Managers. This bootcamp is also recommended for those planning to pursue either a CAPM or a PMP Certification. Both certifications require formal project management education, which this bootcamp provides. 

Graduates seeking professional certification should consider Noble Desktop’s CAPM Certification Bootcamp, which guides students through PMI’s entry-level Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam. This four-day bootcamp includes 35 hours of hands-on instruction, live project-based training, an exam preparation guide, a video curriculum, lessons taught by a PMP Certified Project Manager, and a digital certificate of completion.

Key Takeaway

• Some skills that complement project management training include soft skills, Microsoft Office, SQL, and CAPM certification.
• Project Managers will also need to learn skills related to the kinds of projects that they plan to lead.
• You can receive comprehensive Project Management training through Noble Desktop, either in person or online.