Why Project Management Skills are Important
If you’ve been following my LinkedIn posts and blogs, you know I’ve been talking a lot about the growing importance of project management skills. And there are some compelling signs, both here in the U.S. and globally, that reinforce just how valuable these skills are becoming.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that the world could need up to 30 million additional project professionals by 2035.
Think about that.
If you’re considering your next career move, or just beginning your career, project management deserves a look. But I believe the conversation needs to go even further.
I hear regularly from friends, colleagues, and families about how difficult today’s job market is especially for new college and high school graduates. Yet I don’t hear anyone asking the question:
Has anyone suggested that they learn project management skills?
I believe project management belongs in our colleges and high schools. Why? Because projects are all around us. We are ALL working on projects.
Project management skills are life skills. You learn how to define a goal, organize the work, manage your time, communicate with others, identify risks, solve problems, and deliver results. These are practical, tactical skills you can begin using immediately and continue using throughout your career and your life.
Imagine a new graduate walking into an interview already understanding how to:
• Organize and plan work
• Identify stakeholders and requirements
• Manage schedules and priorities
• Anticipate risks and solve problems
• Collaborate with a team
• Communicate progress
• Help move an initiative from idea to completion
That individual is prepared to contribute from Day 1.
And for graduates who want to take it another step, PMI offers the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), an entry-level certification designed for anyone looking to build a foundational knowledge of project management.
Whether project management becomes your career or just part of your professional toolkit, the skills can go wherever you go.
Projects are everywhere. Project management skills should be, too.
#ProjectManagement #CareerDevelopment #CollegeGraduates #HighSchoolGraduates #FutureOfWork #ProfessionalDevelopment #CAPM #LifeSkills
