Project management is often considered to be a highly valuable skill for engineers looking to further their careers. But do engineers make good project managers? What are some skills that you can add to improve your project management qualifications? How can you become more well-rounded as both an engineer and a project manager, to add value to your employer and also to provide more versatility? Here are a number of thoughtful tips that will help you develop and market your project management skills as an engineer.
What Makes a Good Project Manager?
It might surprise you to learn that a number of engineers have gone on to become top-notch project managers in their field. Engineering provides many opportunities to develop industry-leading skills and knowledge that can put you at a competitive advantage over other, nontechnical employees. But it is a very different skill set that makes a good project manager than what makes a good engineer. It’s important to develop a well-rounded list of qualifications to increase your visibility as a project manager.
What skills are most important for a project manager to have? Communication is likely at the top of most lists. That’s verbal and written communication, because if you are unable to communicate the needs and message of a project, it is very difficult to manage said project. Project management is all about leading a team to complete or deliver on a common goal. Motivating people, making sure talent is used to get the job done, evaluating progress, and implementing solutions to keep the overall project on track and on schedule are additional skills which project managers need to possess
Organizational skills and big-picture planning and implementation are critical skills for project managers to have, as well. While many engineers already have a number of these skills as staple qualifications already in their wheel house, there are always opportunities to improve on existing skills. Another highly demanded skill of project managers is subject-matter knowledge. Engineers are already well-versed in the technicalities of their projects, as such a step into project management is never too far out of reach so long as other, more managerial skills are not neglected.
Training and Certifications
Many project managers come into their positions later in their career than most. As such, it is generally unlikely that project management training is included in their pre-career education (whether an apprenticeship or university education). There are a number of certifications and trainings available to help develop your project management skills, including the ever-popular Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). The great thing about these certifications is that they add value to existing credentials. They teach the skills you need to succeed as a project manager, but they also build and expand on your technical background and even work history.
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