What Employers are looking for in Project Managers

According to the Project Management Talent Gap Report, a 2012 study by PMI and Anderson Economic Group, 1.57 million project positions will be created annually around the world until 2020.

Regardless of the industry, project management is becoming recognised as the value driver that helps organisations maximise their performance.

An organisation’s strategy is comprised of a portfolio of projects that must be implemented. Project management is the vehicle for successfully executing the plan through repeatable, consistent, and reliable delivery of results.

However, these organisations are no longer satisfied hiring “accidental” project managers. Instead, they expect and demand that the candidates they hire for these positions will bring a specific set of talents and professionalism to the table.

 Employers expect their project managers to have the following:

• A strong understanding of the constituent components of project management - practitioners need to be familiar the knowledge areas and processes that represent the formal knowledge of project management.
• A big-picture mentality- practitioners must understand the project's context and alignment with the organisation’s overall strategy. They need to bring a business focus to their project thinking. It is no longer acceptable to perceive the project manager simply as a competent or talented implementer.
• Good behavioural skills - organisations don’t want applicants who can only manage by adherence to process; they want project managers who can manage and lead people. It is through people's efforts that projects are executed. As such, the project manager must be a strong communicator, conflict manager, negotiator, and leader.

Candidates seeking to progress in the world of project management need to develop these attributes. Programmes such as the Institute of Project Management's Strategic Diploma have been designed to meet these requirements. Our courses teach these skills and give participants an internationally respected professional accreditation recognised in over 57 countries worldwide. If you want to learn more, contact us.