Why and How to Gain Project Management Experience

To find success in any job or field, gaining experience is key to achieving that. It is impossible to step into a new role and understand everything about it and how to execute the job perfectly. Even the most successful professionals in the world know there is always something new to be learned and there is no better way to learn than through experience. It is easy to read information is a book or set of rules but experience allows you to see that information put into practice in the real world.

Why do I need Project Management experience?

• The simplest answer is that the more project management experience you have, the better you will be at your job. The better you become at your job, the easier future projects will be to tackle and the more opportunity for career advancement you will have.
• Experience gives you the opportunity to learn more about the industry in which you would like to work (or are currently working). This is more important for individuals that are just starting out in a project management career or are thinking about making a change into a new industry. Experience in the industry will give you new insight into its inner most workings.
• As a project manager, you are the team leader and that means you must be able to take charge and get things done. Leadership qualities cannot be learned in a classroom or a book; they must be developed in real world settings. The more experience you have, the more confidence you will have in yourself as a leader.
• Education is important for learning business theories but the intricacies of working in project management need to be learned on the job. Gaining good project management experience will help you translate what you learned into how it is applied in actuality.
• Project management experience is the easiest way to demonstrate your strengths but also to highlight your weaknesses. From this, you can determine which aspects you need to focus on to become a more successful project manager.
• At some point in your career, you will want to look for a new position in project management. When you are job hunting, the more project management experience you have the stronger candidate you will be.
• Not only does hands-on experience give you the opportunity to improve as a project manager, it also gives you the chance to interact with new people – both within your organization and outside it. You will be able to ask questions and learn from more senior professionals as well as be exposed to new perspectives. It will also help you broaden your network of professional contacts, which is arguably one of the most important aspects of your professional life.

How do I gain Project Management experience?

• Work towards a qualification. Nothing can replace the importance of first-hand project management experience, but by working towards and obtaining a qualification you can broaden your horizon. Once you have a qualification, you may be presented with opportunities you would not have otherwise received. Certifications can also lead to increased earnings and career advancement as they are unbiased recognition of your knowledge. The Project Management Institute offers the following certifications:
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) – this globally recognized and independently verified credential is the most important certification you can hold. Find out the best tips on how to pass the PMP exam and avoiding a PMI audit.
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) – this demonstrates your understanding of fundamental knowledge, terminology and processes of project management
  • Program Management Professional
  • Portfolio Management Professional
  • PMI Agile Certified Practitioner
  • PMI Professional in Business Analysis
  • PMI Risk Management Professional
  • PMI Scheduling Professional
• Volunteer for extra projects either at work or elsewhere. Non-profit organizations are always looking for people to volunteer their time and efforts. This can be especially key if you want to work in project management but are currently in a completely different field. By volunteering with an organization to spear head a new project, you will be building experience in that new field.
• Look for an internship. It can be extremely difficult to find a full time position in any field without project management experience and internships can provide you that experience to at least get your foot in the door. Try to find an internship (keep in mind, paid is not always possible) that has an emphasis on project management. When completing an internship, try to immerse yourself as much as possible in the position and industry. Take as much away from the internship as possible so you can utilize it in the future when looking for another position.
• Be adaptable. In order to increase your experience, you should be willing to work with anyone and anything. As a project manager, you will find yourself tasked with using a variety of methods, each of which may utilize different technologies.  You need to be comfortable with changing requirements and confident enough to jump right into a project even though you may not have worked with the specific technologies before.
• Do not pass over opportunities because they seem “too small” – nothing is too small when you are starting to build project management experience as a project manager. If you are not currently in a project management position, you may have the opportunity to spear head a project within your department, which can provide you with project management experience.
• If possible, you can discuss the possibility of shadowing a project management mentor within your organization. By shadowing someone already in the role, it will provide you an opportunity to learn from this person as well as potentially take some of his or her workload of their plate (and give you experience at the same time!)

It is easy to understand the importance of gaining project management experience as a project manager, improving in the role and advancing your career are simply not possible without it. Yet actually finding these opportunities to gain experience can prove more difficult. In addition to looking for a position as a project manager, make sure you take advantage of all the different ways you can gain experience. Showing your determination and versatility will be qualities future employers will take note of.