Your Future Career
Jackie Martin
Director of Education and Lifelong Learning, APM
Projects come in many different shapes and sizes, and all have an impact on the world around us. At a time when the world faces so many major challenges, becoming a project professional can be a great way to tackle some of these issues.
Every project needs a project team to keep a close watch on plans, budgets, contributors, quality of outputs and anything that could cause a problem. This team is pivotal to ensuring projects succeed.
Benefits of project management
Project management is increasingly becoming a career of choice rather than chance. It plays a crucial role in a wide range of business sectors, from media, IT and healthcare to engineering, construction and financial services — making it a varied and rewarding job.
Many project managers talk about the pride they feel in delivering something that makes the world a better place.
Project management can also be financially rewarding, with £47,500 being the average salary of an experienced project manager, according to a recent survey by Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership organisation for the project profession.
Project management is a growing profession and changing fast. Project management skills including organisation, communication, resilience and leadership are transferable, meaning a good project manager will be able to add value in any environment they choose to work.
Project management is a growing
profession and changing fast.
Project management career routes
If you know someone who would be interested in a career in project management, it’s useful to know there are a number of routes to becoming a project professional, including:
- Apprenticeships: For on-the-job learning and development, so you can ‘earn while you learn.’
- The Level 4 Associate Project Manager apprenticeship usually lasts 12–15 months and includes the APM Project Management Qualification.
- The Level 6 Project Manager Integrated Degree Apprenticeship usually lasts four years.
- University: By completing a BSc or MSc in project management.
- Professional qualifications: People can develop skills and career progression by doing a professional qualification in project management, such as those offered by APM, and go on to become a Chartered Project Professional (ChPP).
Whichever route you choose, project management can be an exciting, fulfilling and productive career.
For further advice and information, APM has produced a guide for students considering a career in project management.
