PROJECT

MANAGEMENT
The Managerial Process

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Project Management Career Paths

Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education.. All Rights Reserved.
PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook
WHERE WE ARE NOW

18–2
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CAREER
ISSUES

Temporary
Career Paths Pursuing a Career
Assignments

Professional
Training and Gaining Visibility
Certification

Success in
Mentors
Key Projects

18–3
CAREER PATHS

• There is no set career path for becoming

a project manager.
• Advancement generally occurs
incrementally.
• Project management responsibilities
expand as you move up the
organization’s hierarchy.

18–4
TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENTS

• Project management assignments

tend to be temporary.
• Permanent job tenure is rarely
granted to project managers.
• A promising career can be derailed by
one unsuccessful project.

18–5
PURSUING A CAREER

• Find out what specific project job opportunities exist

in your company.
– Talk to people in project management positions
and find out how they got to where they are and
what advice they can give you.
• Share your aspirations with your immediate superior
or someone who can champion you ambitions, make
training available, or assign you to PM work.

18–6
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND
CERTIFICATION
• Training Resources:
– On-the-job training
– In-house training programs
– Professional workshops
– University degree programs
– Professional organization membership

18–7
PMI CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
CAPM PMP
Full Name: Certified Associate in Project Management
Project Management Professional

Project Role: Contributes to project team Leads and directs project teams

Eligibility High school diploma/global High school diploma/global

Requirements: equivalent AND 1,500 hours
experience OR 23 hours pm
education
equivalent 5 years project
management experience 35
hours project management
education OR Bachelor’s
degree/global equivalent 3 years
project management experience
35 hours project management
education

Exam 3 hours; 150 multiple-choice 4 hours; 200 multiple choice

Information: questions questions

TABLE 18.1

18–8
GAINING VISIBILITY
• Get actively involved in local community
opportunities to manage projects.
• Develop contacts by volunteering for task
forces and projects that allow access to
higher-ups and other departments.

18–9
MENTORS
• Mentors are typically superiors who take a special
interest in you and your career.
• They require loyalty and superior performance.
• Take advantage of formal mentoring programs in
which experienced project managers are assigned to
promising young managers.
• Attending conferences, trade fairs, and workshops
provides good opportunities to “network” and
develop social connections that might precipitate
project assignments.

18–10
SUCCESS IN KEY PROJECTS
• Pick projects more for the quality of the people working on
them than for the scope of the projects.
• Keep a diary of your observations and review and refine
lessons learned.
• Avoid run-of-the-mill projects or assignments.
• Seek high-profile projects that have some risks and tangible
payoffs.
• Consider moving to a different company or even a different
industry that might provide more project management
opportunities.

18–11
KEY TERMS

CAPM
Mentor
PMP

18–12