How to Become a Software Project Manager- Do you want to become a software project manager? If the answer is yes, then this article will provide all of the details that you need to know to get started. In fact, I’ve even included an overview about how much does a software project manager makes, along with how much a software project manager can make.
Becoming a software project manager can be very exciting; it’s one step away from managing people, and two steps away from managing people that manage other people (if that makes sense). This article will take you through the basics of what it takes to become a project manager. It goes over what you study, what type of skills you learn, and how much money you can make all based on who you work for.
Table of Contents
A project manager’s skills
Knowledge of project management is sometimes just not enough for you to become a great PM. As discussed above, you need soft skills as well. Being a good communicator and an open leader is not enough. Tackling daily project management challenges also requires accountability, adaptability, analytical and strategic thinking, decisiveness, a stress-resistant personality, and even a bit of love for risk-taking. Being a multitasker with great written and oral communication skills can place you among the top project managers in your sector.
When it comes to hard skills, you should be aware that there is no specific project management skill. In fact, depending on the project, you’ll have to know a bit of everything. General business knowledge is highly desired. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to be an expert in technical skills such as coding. However, being able to give accurate and detailed tasks to your developers is important. Leading a project is all about making sure that your team members lack no crucial information to successfully finish a task and delivering the final project.
Another important skill is understanding resource allocation, being able to determine the proper timing of the resources needed within the project schedule. Regardless if you run a small business or a large one, choosing the best online resource management software can ease your work a lot.
You should have an adequate level of knowledge to spot an issue and suggest possible solutions. At the same time, you should know that many project managers have had previous jobs such as software developers, marketing managers, accountants, designers, and so on. This means that they hold the required solid knowledge for projects related to their previous fields of interest.
If you’re one of these people, you might be one step ahead of the others; but you must keep in mind that you’ll also need to develop your own knowledge of project management processes, frameworks, and people management. You might be used to working individually, but project management is all about teamwork. Don’t panic if you end up realizing that working in a project manager position is not the right fit for you. This profession creates many new opportunities and pathways for other future careers.
Take a look at the skills of the most successful project managers and find out if you have what it takes to become like them and what you have to improve:
- solid understanding of business cases and risk management processes
- expert knowledge to meet specific circumstances
- proven project management and self-management skills
- strong leadership skills
- ability to monitor and control budgets
- critical thinking
- good communication and negotiation skills
- capability to make decisions under pressure
- strong interpersonal skills necessary to lead a team
- ability to define situations, document data, and draw conclusions
- strong business acumen
- ability to interpret instructions regardless of their form
- strong organizational and multitasking skills
- creative mindset
- analytical skills
- accuracy and attention to detail
- excellent time management skill
- capacity to maintain schedules and meet deadlines
- problem-solving skills
- self-motivation
- accountability
- work ethic
- working knowledge of project management tools
If you’d like to see what other skills you’ll need for your next project manager job, check out our complete analysis of 200+ project management job descriptions.
Planned project management education and certification
It’s an exciting day when you decide to become a project manager. There are so many opportunities in almost every industry for a highly organized, self-motivated leader. As you move along in the project manager career path, there will be many opportunities for you to build your knowledge, get trained in specific disciplines and methodologies, and get a professional project management certification.
Step 1: Commit to becoming a project manager
Setting out to become a project manager begins with learning as much as you can from industry experts, and then starting on your career path with learning, training, and certification. With project managers in many different industries, and with many different ways to learn, it will be important for you to have an idea of the project management career path you want to pursue before you start.
Step 2: Decide which certification you will pursue
Two well-known project manager certifications, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, are both offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
The biggest difference between the two is that it’s possible to get a CAPM certification without project management experience, while the PMP certification requires at least 4,500 hours of experience. There are different prerequisites for both, and they also require an exam.
You can qualify for the CAPM certification if you have at least 1,500 hours of work experience (about 10 months in a full-time job) plus a high school diploma or associate’s degree, or if you complete 23 hours of education, which we’ll cover in the next step.
There are two ways to qualify for the PMP, both of which require 35 hours of education. The first requirement includes a four-year degree, minimum 4,500 hours of work experience (about two and a half years in a full-time job), plus required project management education.
The second includes a secondary degree, 7,500 hours of experience (about four years in a full-time job), plus the required educational training.
Someone with minimal experience might decide to pursue the CAPM certification first, then work as a project manager until they qualify for the PMP certification. Someone who already has years of informal project management under their belt might decide to go straight for the PMP. Review the prerequisites and decide which certification is best for you.
Step 3: Begin your project management education
The hours of project management education required can be obtained in a variety of ways, but they must be completed before you sit for your exam.
PMI offers training through Registered Education Providers and PMI chapters across the world that will qualify you for CAPM and PMP certification. You can also count related university and continuing education classes towards your hours, along with hours from dedicated training companies or employer-sponsored programs.
You’ll need to record all your education hours in the certification application, so keep records of when you took the class, what organization offered it, and what the subject matter was. This will help you complete your application and avoid having to retake any forgotten or unrecorded classes.
Once you’ve completed, or are very close to completing your hours, you can begin studying for the exam.
Step 4: Prepare for and take your certification exam
For both the CAPM and PMP exams, you will need to study the entire Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide (PMBOK) published by PMI.
To help you study, both exams have accompanying Exam Content Outlines that lay out the content covered in each section of the exam. You can buy materials and study on your own, or you can purchase specific prep classes, depending on how you study best and what works for you.
The CAPM exam has 150 questions and can be taken online or in a designated testing center. The PMP exam has 200 questions and must be taken in a testing center. Once you have completed the exam and a short survey, you will find out whether you passed.
You can tout your certification on your resume and LinkedIn profile, and leverage your knowledge and accomplishment as you seek a position or promotion. If you don’t pass the exam, you can attempt it two more times within the year, which may come with additional fees. Check out this helpful Certification FAQ page for more details.
Step 5: Maintain your certification
Both certifications require holders to maintain them in different ways.
You must pass the CAPM every five years to maintain your certification. The CAPM exam changes periodically, so it’s important to prepare well each time.
PMP certification requires you to complete 60 professional development units (PDUs) each year to maintain your certification. There are many ways to earn PDUs, including in-person and online courses, giving presentations related to your certification, and even volunteering your services to certain organizations.
In both paths to becoming a project manager, you’re continuously learning, avoiding stagnation, and keeping up in a dynamic field.
Conclusion
Becoming a software project manager can be a very lucrative career move. Most people do not even know what project managers do, let alone the skills required to become one. Once you find out, you will likely find that this career (and the pay) is everything you’ve ever hoped for.