Project Manager Jobs
Project managers usually work 40 hours a week, bringing project ideas to life. They coordinate teams to meet core business objectives, monitor project progress, and create schedules to ensure they can meet strict deadlines. To get a job in project management, you'll need strong problem-solving skills and to know how to make smart financial decisions.
According to the BLS, the project management industry will experience aseven percent growth rateover the next few years. Project managers work in a diverse range of settings, including small businesses, schools and universities, medical facilities, manufacturing warehouses, retail departments, and restaurants. There are also traveling project manager jobs available, as well as remote project manager jobs for those who want to work from home.
Common project manager jobs include:
Salary for Project Manager Jobs
Project managers make a median salary of$84,975 a year. But this number varies based on where you live and which industry you work in.
For example, construction project managers earn an average annual salary of$98,890, with an industry growth rate of eight percent. IT project managers make$159,010a year, and the industry has a growth rate of 16%.
To find more information on salary ranges for different project manager jobs, use theMonster salary calculator.
How to Find the Project Manager Job That Fits You
Consider your strengths and weaknesses when beginning your job hunt for a project management position. Ask yourself what industry you can see yourself working in. For example, if you don't like the sight of blood, you know to look for positions outside of the medical industry.
Use Your Skills and Credentials
Think about any special skills or credentials you possess, such as a business management or IT degree, that you can use to demonstrate project management expertise or industry experience. Always consider areas where you need improvement, such as leadership skills, which are vital to effective project management.
Apply to Positions You’re Qualified For
Before submitting an application, review thejob descriptioncarefully. While reviewing it, assess whether you can truly fulfill the requirements for the position.
Can you lead groups of people to complete projects? Can you work with leadership and other stakeholders to determine their objectives for the project? How good are you at prioritizing project tasks? What project management tools are you familiar with?
Not all project manager jobs will be a good fit for you. This is why you should always take your personal preferences into account when reading job descriptions, such as a preference for flexible hours or a small versus large company.
Find Jobs That You Have Experience In
Next, you need to think about your qualifications and any previous experience you have as a project manager. You can use personal experience instead of degrees to secure some project manager positions. If most of your experience is in the construction industry, look for relevant positions by adding the word construction to your search phrase when searching for open positions.
Look for Red Flags
Read through job descriptions carefully, looking for red flags like excessive demands that are not commensurate with the offered salary. Think about whether or not you share the company's values by reading its mission statement.
Look for Growth Opportunities
Be on the lookout for opportunities to better yourself, and consider areas in which you can benefit from further training or experience. Investigate opportunities for internal advancement and training to discover whether the employer facilitates career growth. Let the hiring manager know that you will track your accomplishments, take advantage of employer-based training programs, and demonstrate leadership skills to secure internal promotions when they become available.
Think about how this job fits with your long-term goals as a project manager. Do you desire to one day become an executive project manager? If so, will the positions you’re applying for help you learn executive-level project management skills?
How to Apply to Project Manager Jobs
Getting the project manager job you want requires careful planning, including a winning resume and cover letter. Send your resume to potential companies after you've narrowed down your options by following the advice below.
Prepare for the Application Process
Print the job description, read through it carefully from beginning to end, and underline any key phrases you notice. Assess which skills it states you must have and determine whether you're missing any of those qualifications. Read the application guidelines, attentively looking for specific instructions, such as providing proof of credentials or submitting the application through a certain platform.
Create an Effective Resume
Here are a few ways to make your resume as strong as possible:
- Include project manager keywords (like leadership, research skills, budget management, motivation, conflict management, and team management) to help your resume get past applicant tracking software.
- Use a chronological, functional, or combination format for yourproject manager resumeand an application-based cover letter.
- Highlight your project manager skills, like interpersonal skills, effective delegation, being a fast problem-solver, being highly organized, and paying strict attention to detail.
- Include samples of other projects you’ve completed to showcase your project management experience.
- Double-check your resume for typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes.
- Need help creating a project manager’s resume? UseMonster's Professional Resume Writing Services. You’ll receive a resume that highlights your unique set of qualifications and experience and is written to pass recruiters' screening algorithms.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter
Create a cover letter tailored to your specific experience with project management:
- Discuss your background and any prior project management experience you have.
- Make sure to mention relevant project management skills you have, like leadership, conflict management, organization, motivation, team management, and communication.
- Explain why you're a good fit for the position.
- Justify how you will add value to the brand.
- End with a call-to-action that encourages the hiring manager to reach out to you with any questions.
- Read thisexample of a project manager cover letterto see how it’s done.
Submit Your Application
To apply for project manager jobs, simplyjoin Monster, create your profile, and publish your resume. Make sure to set your resume status to visible to ensure potential employers can see it when they search our candidate database. Simply fill in your relevant job experience in project management and click the Submit button to have your resume go live.
When you find a project manager position on Monster that you want to apply for, just click the Submit Application button to send your existing profile, including your cover letter and resume, to the hiring manager. However, before you do, make sure all of the content in your application, resume, and cover letter is free of typos by putting it through a spell and grammar checker.
How to Follow Up With an Employer
Timing your follow-up:Always follow up with potential companies after sending an application. Give the employer a week or two to review your application before following up.
After an interview,send a thank-you messagethe next day. You can send the thank-you note by email, phone, or text.
How to follow up:Using email is an easy way to conduct a follow-up. However, it's a good idea to follow up with an in-person meeting after an interview for a high-paying or management job, particularly if you had to travel far to get there. You can easily fit in a follow-up visit by stopping by the office again before heading home the next day.
Having trouble thinking of a professional, appropriate follow-up? Consider one of the two examples provided below:
- "I appreciate your consideration of my application, [name of recruiting manager]. I hope to hear from your organization soon, and in the meantime, I invite you to get in touch with any inquiries you may have concerning my background or expertise. Have a wonderful day, and thanks again."
- "In reference to my application for the project manager position that I submitted on [date], I would like to follow up with you. I'm really interested in the role and would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have. If you wish to get in touch with me, my number is [add here]. Thank you very much for your time, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."
Who to follow up with:When following up, try to get in touch with the hiring manager. You can always follow up with the interviewer if the hiring manager wasn't involved in your selection process.
You can usually find the hiring manager's email address and phone number in the project manager job application that you submitted. If you’re unable to locate the hiring manager's contact information, feel free to ask the company's human resources department.
Interviewing Tips for Project Manager Jobs
In order to impress potential employers, it's important to prepare for your interview. Use our tips to ensure you leave a good impression during your next interview.
Preparing for the Interview
Before committing to an interview, research the organization to discover whether you'd be a good match for its culture and if its reputation meets your standards. You can perform your research by viewing the company’s social media profiles and website, using Google and LinkedIn, and reading through reviews. When researching the company’s website, make sure to read through its mission statement and any values it lists on its About page.
Preparing for the interview will make you less nervous and increase your chances of getting the job. Use these preparation tips to ensure you’re ready for your next project manager interview:
- Studying the job description.
- Researching the interviewer.
- Recreating the interview setting and practicing with a friend.
- Performing salary research.
- Identifying your selling points.
- Knowing the details of the role you're applying for.
- Picking your biggest strength and creating a story to tell about it.
- Writing down the questions that you want to ask the interviewer.
- Verifying the interview time and location.
- Prepping forproject management-related questionsthat the interviewer will ask.
Interview Process
A hiring manager or someone in recruiting will likely be the first person to contact you about an interview. This will probably take place through email or over the phone, and the person will update you on your application status and when and where the interview will take place. Many hiring agents allow you to schedule an interview around your current work schedule. Make sure to ask whether it’s behavioral or competency-based, as this will help you prepare for the interview.
Interview Tips
TheSTAR methodcan help you prepare for a behavioral interview, which usually focuses on your past experience and skills. Questions asked during behavior-based interviews don't evaluate your potential to handle a situation. Instead, they reflect on your past experience handling similar situations. Also keep in mind that even though many project managers work remotely, you shouldalways look presentablefor a video or in-person interview.
Follow Up
After the interview, send a thank-you message to the interviewer no later than the next business day to reaffirm your enthusiasm for the role. Contact the company again if you haven't heard back within three days.
What to Do When You Get an Offer
When you first get a job offer, congratulate yourself and then read through it to make sure you understand what’s being offered. You can thank the hiring manager by phone, email, text, or in person, and also ask any questions you may have regarding the offer. Look out for inconsistencies between the offer and what you read in the job description and discussed during the interview.
Make sure you do your homework before startingsalary negotiationsto guarantee you're getting a fair rate for the project manager position. As you create your strategy for negotiation, keep in mind the value you provide and the state of the market.
Project Manager Career Paths
Project managers can move in a variety of directions with their careers. Some jobs call for formal education or certification, while others require nothing more than the right project management skill set. For example, if you specialize in IT, you can use your experience to secure an IT project management role.
Project Manager Industries
Always evaluate potential jobs and industries in light of how well they fit in with your values, skills, and interests. Explore a variety of industries and professions to choose one that appeals to you.
Common industries for project managers include:
- Agile project management: associate project manager, IT agile program manager, remote software apps agile project manager, principle agile technical project manager, senior agile project manager, scrum master project manager, and agile project manager I-VII.
- Clinical project management: environmental researcher, clinical research associate, clinical trial project manager, clinical quality improvement project manager, project management and planning specialist, lead clinical project manager, and clinical project manager I-VII.
- Construction management: associate construction project manager, commercial construction project manager, civil construction project manager, data center construction manager, solar pre-construction project manager, multifamily construction project manager, global real estate project manager, senior bridge project manager, and construction project manager I-VII.
- Engineering project management: engineer researcher, distribution project manager, transportation project manager, power project manager, pilot training engineering project manager, mechanical systems engineering project manager, technical project manager, civil engineer, senior engineering project manager, senior civil engineer, senior automation engineering project manager, and engineering project manager I-VII.
- IT project management: administrative assistant to project manager, associate project manager, digital project manager, technical project manager, business project manager, finance project manager, healthcare project manager, highway project manager, survey project manager, senior IT project manager, and IT project manager I-VI
- Web project management: associate web designer, website development project manager, content marketing specialist, digital project coordinator, media and web design manager, global customer capabilities web project manager, web production developer, B2B project manager, digital project manager, senior site design and development, and web project manager I-VII.
Project ManagementJob Titles
Despite the widespread use of the term "project manager," there are seven different tiers of leadership within the project management industry. Explore the different tiers of project management to help you decide how far you want to grow your career as a project manager.
With an established skill set in communication, team management, organization, conflict resolution, and time management, you can likely secure an entry-level project management position. Gaining experience in a junior-level role will prepare you for senior project management positions.
Level I: Project Coordinator
Project coordinators fill junior-level roles at medium and large companies and usually work under the supervision of a senior project manager. It's common for project coordinators to take on the responsibility of tracking project budgets and expenses.
Having advanced Excel skills will help you as a project coordinator. You'll create spreadsheets and graphs for presentations that you give during meetings. Project coordinators frequently make recommendations regarding their employers' spending and savings. Their goal is to suggest ways to cut project expenditures without negatively impacting the projects.
Level II: Project Scheduler
A project scheduler is another junior-level project management role. In this role, you'll report directly to senior project managers, with your attention focused mostly on creating and revising project timelines. Project schedulers often use scheduling software to make sure employees know and adhere to project deadlines.
Level III: Assistant Project Manager
Assistant project managers normally report to one or more senior project managers while helping them with large projects. The project manager will usually delegate several tasks to the assistant project manager, easing his or her workload without sacrificing the quality of work or missing deadlines.
Assistant project managers can use their experience to develop the same advanced skills as senior project managers as they share their workloads. This level of project management is necessary for those who want to become lead or senior project managers.
Level IV: Project Manager
In most organizations, a project manager sits somewhere in the middle of the corporate food chain. For a lot of small companies, it's common to employ only one project manager. In larger organizations, a project manager usually performs work under the guidance of one or more senior-level project managers.
Level V: Senior Project Manager
Senior project managers fill advanced management positions and usually have years or decades of experience in project management. This level of project management typically entails a large number of responsibilities and numerous amounts of delegation.
Level VI: Team Leader
Employers often delegate tasks to a team of workers and then pick one person who is in charge of making sure the project gets completed. Team leaders, although not technically project managers, still perform many of the same duties. Team leader roles are excellent entry-level positions to secure as you enter the project management career field because you can list them on your resume to highlight your project management experience.
Level VII: Director of Program Management
To secure the highest-ranking project management role within a company, you'll need to become a director of program management. In this role, you'll oversee all of your employer's projects, which requires you to have enhanced long-term planning skills. You will likely report to the CEO, with all senior project managers reporting directly to you.
Project Management Certification
Some employers take special interest in hiring project managers if they have a bachelor's degree or project manager certification, although these credentials are by no means required. Companies often hire junior-level managers for project management positions, regardless of whether or not they have a background in managing projects.
There are many types of project manager certifications. Read through the ones below to see which one best fits your career plans.
CAPM: Certified Associate in Project Management
You can earn a CAPM at any stage of your project management career. It's the perfect credential for those just starting in project management. You don't need any prior experience to earn a CAPM; however, you will need a high school diploma or GED and complete 23 hours of relevant coursework.
PfMP: Portfolio Management Professional
This certification is for senior and executive project managers who have successfully handled at least one portfolio for a company. You'll have to pass a 150-question exam, have eight years of professional business experience (experience obtained beyond 15 years ago doesn't count), and have seven years of portfolio management. You need only four years of portfolio management experience if you have a bachelor's degree or higher.
PMP: Project Management Professional
Many employers highly favor the PMP certificate, which is one of the most well-known project manager certifications in the world. To obtain one, you'll have to pass a 175-question test, prove three years of project leadership experience, and finish 35 hours of training. If you don't have a bachelor's degree or higher, you'll have to prove five years of project leadership experience. You can avoid having to partake in the 35 hours of training if you already have a CAPM certificate.
CSM: Certified Scrum Master
This certificate is especially valuable for those wanting to become agile project managers. Scrum masters use agile project management to lead teams, finish projects, and assist scrum teams in their productivity by strategically making sure they avoid any potential roadblocks or diversions that impede the completion of their projects. To become a certified scrum master, you'll need a thorough understanding of the scrum framework and to pass an exam.
PgMP: Program Management Professional
The PgMP certificate helps project managers advance from junior- to senior-level roles. Those possessing this degree can oversee multiple projects at the same time, leading several teams to achieve different business objectives. To earn this certificate, you must pass a panel review in addition to a 150-question exam. You must also have seven years of prior project management experience within the last 15 years. With a bachelor's degree or higher, you only need to prove four years of project management experience.
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