Project Management is a stimulating career path, opening your eyes to many different responsibilities and process within that industry. You are essentially the middle man between an idea and the ultimate outcome, watching the entire endeavor come to fruition. There are so many moving pieces to a single project, commonly bringing in personnel from various departments to play a role in making it successful – The project manager becomes a vital aspect of the overall plan, keeping all parties aligned and tasks streamlined in order to effectively finish the job. IT project managers specifically oversee technology-based project, but still preform the same duties as anyone else holding this position in a different business unit, such as managing budgets, schedules, and project plans. With this being such a sought-after role to achieve, here are a few tips on credentials to obtain on your road to becoming a project manager in IT.

Relevant Skills
Project managers spend their days communicating with many people of different divisions and funneling that information down to the core team. With that, communication is undoubtedly one of the most important skills to possess in this role. Lack of effective communication can offset project timelines, pushing back the overall completion. Strong organization is a close second, as project managers must be able to handle multiple things at a time in a structural manner – There are many project management-based software programs (i.e. Basecamp) that one can use to ensure all information is kept systematized and updated, hopefully removing the possibility of de-railing project progress.

Education
A bachelor’s degree in project management and information technology (or related) will best set you up for success in this field. Additionally, gaining work on-site will build your project management credibility by having experience in leading something from beginning to end. Once you can show your level of proficiency in both IT and PM, you will have a greater chance of being hired on as an IT project manager, managing both plans and staff. It is also recommended to get your master’s in order to further your expertise in this niche.

If you enjoy problem solving and thrive off of tackling the unexpected, project management is likely a great fit for you. With the world of technology ever-changing, you will always be on the front lines for experiencing something new and developing broader plans.