How to Learn Project Management

Project management is a hot career path, with over 2.5 million jobs added yearly. Training in project management could lead to a position as a Project Manager. A Project Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of a project from start to finish. It is a lucrative career path, with Project Managers earning an average salary of around $115,000 annually.

The number of options for learning project management might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences.

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning project management so you can make an informed decision about how you’d like to get started.

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 that 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?

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 Project Management will increase by 33%, with 22 million new Project Manager jobs created by 2027. 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.

In-Person Project Management Training

Many people feel more comfortable with in-person training over online classes because it is more familiar. A perk of pursuing in-person project management training is developing a relationship with your instructor and a network of other aspiring Project Managers. However, in-person project management courses can be tricky to find depending on where you currently live. An in-person course might not be an option in your area, unlike live online courses, which you can take from anywhere.

Noble Desktop is a business, coding, and design school in NYC. They offer in-person project management courses at their state-of-the-art campus in Midtown Manhattan. All of these are taught by PMP-Certified instructors with guaranteed small class sizes. You will have ample opportunity to build a relationship with your instructor, a professional Project Manager, and your class of aspiring Project Managers. Noble Desktop offers a “free retake” option, allowing graduates to retake the course for up to one year.

Students who enroll in Noble Desktop’s in-person project management courses will have access to their campus, including free wifi, coffee, and access to common areas for group study or networking. In-person students also receive access to all the equipment needed and aren’t required to bring their own computer.

Live Online Project Management Training

You’ll need to find the right course near your home to take an in-person project management course. Finding the right course to launch your new career can be tricky, especially if you’re limited by location. One major advantage of online training is that you can train from anywhere, even in your own living room.

Live online courses work exactly like in-person courses: because they’re happening live, you’ll be able to interact with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You’ll have the ability to ask questions. You can even get hands-on, personal feedback on your work using screen-sharing software. Live online training provides all of the perks of in-person training with the added bonus of being able to take it from anywhere: even your own bedroom.

If you’re open to taking advantage of all that live online classes have to offer, then your training options will become much more extensive. For example, Noble Desktop offers live online project management classes taught by PMP-certified instructors who are experts in Project Management. Noble Desktop offers guaranteed small class sizes and a free retake option, allowing you to retake the course for up to one year. Their Project Management Bootcamp provides students with comprehensive training in starting a new career as a Project Manager. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion to include on their Project Manager resume or portfolio.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Suppose you’d like to dip your toes into project management but are not quite ready to commit to an entire course. In that case, Noble Desktop offers free live online seminars which provide a sneak peek of their highly-reviewed, hands-on approach to live online instruction. These seminars allow you to see if project management interests you without fully committing to the career.

Microsoft Office proficiency is the most-requested hard skill for entry-level Project Managers.

Noble Desktop offers a free online Top 10 Beginner Tricks for Microsoft Excel That You Need To Know, which is recommended for aspiring Project Managers. One of the most critical responsibilities of a Project Manager is making sure that projects are completed on budget. For aspiring Project Managers, sound financial planning skills and Microsoft Office proficiency are required.

Another option would be Udemy, which offers short, online project management courses for a fee. Some popular Project Management courses offered on Udemy include Project Management Fundamentals, Lean Project Management, and Project Management with MS Project. However, all of these courses have a fee, so you won’t be able to learn about project management for free.

Read about more free project management videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Project Management Classes

On-demand Project Management classes are great for beginners who want to learn the basics before fully committing to a career. Many free on-demand course options allow you to begin exploring your interest in project management without any financial commitment. There are also more intensive paid on-demand programs, such as Google’s 6-month Project Management Certificate Program.

On-demand courses offer greater schedule flexibility than live courses because they are entirely self-directed. You choose when you want to learn rather than attending a live course with an instructor and classmates. You’ll be learning independently but entirely at your own pace. In on-demand courses, students typically watch videos and complete assignments on their own time. You must be very self-disciplined to continue training with on-demand courses since there is no one to keep you accountable.

One drawback to on-demand courses is that you cannot interact with your instructor and ask questions. Another potential drawback is that you must be capable of teaching yourself the material. You’ll also want to ensure that any on-demand course you choose is recognized within the field of project management. If it’s not, you might have difficulty getting hired despite your time and financial investment.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

With so many different resources available to help beginners learn project management, you might be unsure about which one is best for you. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you.

One of the great things about directing your learning is that you pick which combination of tools you prefer; you don’t have to stick with what an instructor chooses. However, in a field like project management, having an expert instructor who knows the essential material can streamline your learning process.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have a lot of responsibilities like a full-time job or family commitments, you may not be able to devote time to a structured course that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be better since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online.

Even those with packed schedules can benefit from structured courses. For example, if you don’t have much free time for training, you can waste valuable time searching for resources or learning things you don’t need to know. One advantage of a more structured course is that the instructor provides direction on the most important parts of project management you’ll need to know to get hired.

Another thing that can affect which learning method is right for you is where you live. If you live in an area with fewer opportunities to take an in-person course, then you’ll need to choose online training. Classes that are taught live online work just like in-person courses. Because they’re happening live, you’ll be able to ask questions and interact with your instructor in real-time. However, you will have more options for courses since students can attend online courses from anywhere.

Why Learn Project Management?

CNBC ranks project management in the top five most in-demand non-technical skills. Project management is a hot career path expected to increase by 33% over the next five years, with over 22 million new Project Manager jobs expected to be added by 2027. There is currently a significant talent gap within project management as the number of Project Manager jobs continues to outpace the number of people with the appropriate training.

Forbes has called project management “a great way to get a tech salary without tech training.”

It’s a very lucrative career path: Project Managers earn an average salary of around $116,000 annually. That’s more than double the average salary of $52,000 across all occupations. Project Managers who specialize in an industry, such as IT or Oil and Gas, can earn even higher salaries.

Project Management is a skills-based job in which experience and certification are prioritized over more traditional education. Regardless of your education level, you can become a professional Project Manager by training in project management. You can also become a specialized Project Manager within the industry where you already work. For example, if you’re in healthcare, you can train to become a Healthcare Project Manager, which may result in an even higher salary.

Read more about why you should learn project management.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost

Project management can be stressful since it requires juggling tasks, responsibilities, team members, resources, and time. You’ll need the right temperament, organizational skills, and leadership ability to be a successful Project Manager. When it comes to getting hired, hands-on experience and project management education are required.

You’ll need to acquire some real-world experience managing projects before applying to entry-level Project Manager jobs. You can look for ways to do this at your current job by looking for opportunities to manage projects. You could also organize a charitable or community project, such as fundraising for a local charity or cleaning up a nearby riverbed.

Professional Project Managers are also expected to know about project management theories and practices. One way of demonstrating this is by seeking a professional certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Another way is to attend a bootcamp, such as Noble Desktop’s Project Management Bootcamp, to develop your Project Management skills.

Prices for project management courses vary, but it is a lucrative job field. The average salary for a Project Manager is around $115,000 per year. That’s more than double the average salary across occupations, meaning that project management training could double your salary.

Read about how difficult it is to learn project management.

Learn Project Management with Hands-on Training at 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 an entry-level Project Manager. 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.