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The sun is shining and most of us are taking a break relaxing and getting away from it all. However, some are reflecting on the years to date and their career and where it's going and what's next.  So, it's not surprising that we get asked, ‘How do I become a project manager?'

For many of us in project management today that’s an interesting question as most of us started our career doing something else and either migrated or fell into project management. This may have been due to a reorganisation, acquisition or a career change. Well, that's my story, but that’s one for another day. 

If you’re curious about how to become a project professional, you’re not alone. Project management is one of the UK’s fastest-growing career paths, offering strong salaries, interesting and varied work, and the chance to make a real impact.

Here are some practical steps to help you make that decision about a career in projects.

Understand  Project Management 

There are two key elements to project management the Art and the Science. 

The Science is known as project controls, and is focussed on managing projects by turning data into information 

The art is the software skills and is about the leadership and communicating with stakeholders 

Develop Essential Project Management Skills

• Organisation –  Planning, breaking down tasks, assigning roles & activities
• Leadership – Leading, empowering, listening, motivating teams and managing stakeholders
• Problem-solving – Managing uncertainty and risks and resolving issues
• Financial management – Tracking and controlling budgets

Learn Project Management Methods. 

• APM Body of Knowledge – the UK’s and charted professional standard
• PRINCE2® – a structured methodology
• Agile – a flexible, iterative approach

Gaining Practical Experience

• Lead small projects or activities 
• Volunteer for events or community projects
• Support experienced PMs or ask for a mentor
• Document your project involvement on your CV

Gain Professional Qualifications

• APM PFQ – perfect for beginners
• PRINCE2® Foundation – for structured delivery
• AgilePM Foundation – for flexible, fast-moving projects
• APM PMQ - ideal for those with experience who want to learn more  

Network and Build Industry Connections

• Join professional organisations such as the Association for Project Management (APM), 
• Attend industry events and connect on LinkedIn to expand your opportunities.

Commit to  Learning

• Ongoing training, certifications and new experiences
• Reflective practice, feedback and lessons learned
• Latest ideas, trends - gain at webinars, conferences and events  u

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to formalise your experience, ADM Project Consultants can guide you through this process. 

We can guide and help you to make those first steps on you project management career 

📞 Contact us now to discuss your options and start your career change today.

One of the many questions I get asked at events and presentations is, “How do I get into project management?’, or how do I become one. 

An interesting question for anyone of my colleagues in project management as most of us today sort of ‘fell into it’ or were ‘nudged into it’. Let me try and explain, sometimes things just happen and most of my generation probably ended up as Project professionals either by Mergers and Acquisitions or Organisational change. Quite simply put, our profession it’s a lot more structured today and there is a great deal more information on career paths and opportunities. 

If you’re starting out today in project management or looking to build a structured approach to the projects you are already involved in or are supporting, I would suggest looking at professional memberships and accreditations or qualifications. Our profession body is the Association for Project management and is the only chartered profession project management body in the world. I would suggest joining the APM, where you will have access to the excellent learning tools and publications and a network of world class experts. 

For a first qualification I would suggest, the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ). It’s an introductory course, nornally run over two days that helps project professionals or team members understand how projects are run, the language, stages and deliverables. This has a one hour online examination that instantly tells you the outcome at the end.

Who is the APM PFQ designed for?

The PFQ is ideal for:

• People just starting out in their professional careers
• Team members supporting project work
• Administrators, coordinators, or junior staff involved in planning or delivery
• Anyone considering a future in project management
• Anyone from another function or profession who is supporting or working as part of a project team

This is an introduction to project management and so you won’t need previous knowledge or experience. It will help build a foundation in project management with key topics that you will use throughout your time working on any types of projects or programmes in any industry.

The course introduces key topics that everyone working on a project should understand:

• Projects, how they are structures, lifecycle and how they differ from business as usual 
• Roles and responsibilities of those involved in a project
• Terminology, structures, planning techniques
• Risk, quality, configuration and change management
• Leadership, teamwork, stakeholders and communication
• Business case, benefits and change

T

he PFQ is not about memorising formulas or ‘wrote learning’, it about how projects operate, who does what and how can deliver outcomes and benefits.

The PFQ is more than just an introduction, it’ can be the start of a new career. It can lead into more advanced qualifications like the APM Project management Qulaification, APM Project Professional Qualification or even Chartership

Passing this qualification will give you a great foundation in our profession and will probably make you to ‘hungry to learn more’, it will also give you a recognised qualification that can be used for future opportunities.

Our profession has matured a great deal in the last 20 years, and I just wish these qualifications had been around before I ‘fell’ into our profession and learned to swim.