The Project Management
Careers Guide
YOUR GUIDE TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A PROJECT PROFESSIONAL
CONTENTS
1
What is the role of a Project Manager?
2
How can I become a Project Manager?
3
What kind of salary does a Project Manager earn?
4
What is the typical career path of the Project Manager?
5
How can I advance my career to more senior roles?
6
How can I have a successful career in project management?
7
How can I stand out from the crowd when looking for a new
role?
A MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT (AIPM)
If you have a quick search of the employment market today,
project, ensuring that costs are kept within budget, projects
you will soon find numerous Project Manager jobs in just
stay on track and are finished on time, and that the needs of
about every industry you can think of. Project management
stakeholders and team members are met. That is why the
is becoming a lucrative career choice for many professionals
AIPM advocates for competent Project Managers to be at the
in Australia.
helm of projects to ensure that all these requirements are
met.
What was once a role that was largely linked to the
Construction and Infrastructure industries, Project
So what exactly makes a great Project Manager and how can
Managers can now be found in the public, private and not-
you navigate a career in project management successfully?
for-profit sectors across a range of industries including IT,
In this eBook we will address these questions and more. We
Health, Finance, Entertainment, Retail and Hospitality.
will run you through everything from the skills needed to
Project Managers are essential to the effective running of a
succeed as a Project Manager today to the typical career
path of the project management professional.
Elizabeth Foley, CEO,
Australian Institute of Project Management
CHAPTER ONE
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A PROJECT MANAGER?
At its core, the role of a Project Manager is to manage a project from start to finish. While this may sound quite simple in theory,
the reality of being a Project Manager is far more complex and involves jumping through many hoops to get a project across the
line. Project Managers focus on execution, staying within budget, delegating tasks, and completing deliverables. These are all key
skills in being able to steer a project from beginning to end.
As a Project Manager you should typically have the
following traits:
»
Be a leader, who can communicate well with your
colleagues, stakeholders and any other parties involved
in the project. When a problem occurs, as the Project
Manager you will be the first person that your
stakeholders and team members turn to. They will be
looking to you to address the problem and let them
know what their role is in finding a solution. As a Project
Manager it is your responsibility to motivate the team,
keep them on track while making it a positive
experience for everyone.
»
Be knowledgeable, and have the confidence and experience to effectively plan and manage the project. To be a great Project
Manager you should have a clear understanding of the current best project management practices, methodologies and strategies
for the planning and execution of a project. You should be continually upskilling and learning throughout your career to ensure
you’re at the forefront of any changes impacting the project management profession and the industry you work in. There are
many ways you can gain this type of knowledge, such as by undertaking undergraduate or post graduate study, becoming a
member of an industry association like the AIPM, attending seminars and events, listening to online webinars and podcasts and
subscribing to relevant magazines and newspapers.
»
Be adaptable, in the case that a project does not go to plan, as you will need to be able to manage any associated risks and lead
the team and stakeholders through the tough period. While the role of project management can be extremely rewarding, it also
comes with great responsibility as there is a lot of accountability attached to the job. That is why you will need to have the ability
to adapt in the face of uncertainty – while you can plan and risk assess, there may be unforeseen problems that can arise
throughout the project. You will need to have the strategies in place to shift or change your plans, so that you can keep the
project on track, whilst remaining calm as the central person leading the project.
CHAPTER TWO
HOW CAN I BECOME A PROJECT MANAGER?
As Project Managers play such a crucial role in the success of a project, it may take some time to get to the
position of Project Manager. For many this will mean completing an undergraduate degree or certificate in
project management or project administration.
If you take the traditional path, once you have completed your studies you
will start off in a project coordinator or administrator role and move up to
the role of Project Manager, after you have spent several years learning the
ropes. This may then lead you on to more senior positions such as Project
Director or Program Manager. Getting your first role isn’t always easy, so
consider supporting your CV by taking part in mentorship and internship
programs.
However, that is not the only path to the role of project
manager, as for many they may end up managing projects
more organically after completing nonrelated studies to
project management. This has been coined the “accidental
Project Manager”. If this sounds like you and you want to
move your career in the direction of a Project Manager
officially, then certifying the skills you currently have will be
a good option.
TIP: If you have already been directly accountable for the
management of projects, then you could be eligible for
AIPM’s Certified Practising Project Manager (CPPM). Click
here to learn more >
Resources for advancing your career in project
management:
»
Visit our National Certification page to find out more
about the different certification levels available and
which one might be best suited to you.
»
Find out more about The AIPM Project Management
Mentoring Program, which will match you with an
industry leader who can provide you with advice and
strategies for getting a job as a project manager in
today’s climate.
»
Browse our Endorsed Courses, to see how you can
upskill and gain entry to the project management
space.
CHAPTER THREE
WHAT KIND OF SALARY DOES A PROJECT
MANAGER EARN?
Salaries for Project Managers differ depending on numerous factors from your experience, the industry, and
the organisation.
According to the Hays Salary Guide*:
» Information Technology Project Managers earn between $102,000 to $150,000 and those with the title of
Senior Project Manager bump up to $122,000 to $180,000.
» Project Managers working in Resources and Mining earn in the range of $112,000 to $260,000 with similar
salaries for their colleagues working in Oil and Gas of between $122,000 to $250,000.
*information taken on 19 June 2020
» For the very specific project manager role for Rail
Infrastructure, salaries range from $122,000 to $255,000.
While specific to rail in this case, it’s presumably a good
proxy for similar roles in other large-scale infrastructure
projects (roads, dams, bridges etc).
It's important to note that while these salaries are specific
to the profession of project manager there are a range of
junior and more senior roles that can see your salary differ
to what is mentioned above. Read our Project Manager
Salary blog for a more in depth look at what you might
expect to earn in the project management industry at each
stage of your career.
CHAPTER FOUR
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL CAREER PATH OF THE
PROJECT MANAGER?
The path of a Project Manager can vary depending on whether you have fallen into the role organically or
you have studied project management specifically from the very beginning. Assuming the latter, here is the
typical career path of the Project Manager:
The Project Coordinator: The entry level point for many is the Project Coordinator or Administrator. Usually
Project Coordinators report to the Project Manager to assist with administrative tasks on projects. It is their
role to ensure the Project Manager and all team members have what they need to meet deadlines and
milestones.
The Project Manager: Once you have some Project Coordinator experience under your
belt, it’s likely you will have most of the technical skills in place required to run
projects and take on the role of Project Manager. Project Managers take the lead on a
project and oversee everything from the project planning through to the completion
of the project.
The Project Director: As you take the next step up to Project Director the scope, challenge and responsibility of your
new role can grow exponentially. At these levels, it’s no longer about the day to day execution of projects or perhaps
even meeting deadlines, as top-notch project management skills will be expected here. The Project Director’s remit can
cover highly complex, business critical and/or multiple projects.
Of course, the career path of the Project Manager is not set
in stone. For instance, your first role may be as an
Estimator, you may then move to a Project Manager role
and eventually decide that you would like to work as a
Project Management Office (PMO) Manager. It’s about
finding a career that you’re passionate about that will work
for you.
CHAPTER FIVE
HOW CAN I ADVANCE MY CAREER TO
MORE SENIOR ROLES?
Once you have been managing projects for some time, you may wonder what the
next steps are for you in your project management career.
Generally, you will be looking at the roles of Senior Project Manager, Project
Director and Program Manager. Any of these titles means that you are responsible
for highly complex, business critical and/or multiple projects. These executive level
roles can command large budgets and drive organisational transformation or
strategically critical initiatives.
“
To move up to these positions
you will be required to show
not only top-notch project
management skills, but deep
industry, if not organisational
experience, as they tend to be
more strategic and less about
the execution of specific
projects.
To move up to these positions you will be required to show
not only top-notch project management skills, but deep
industry, if not organisational, experience as they tend to
be more strategic and less about the execution of specific
projects. A strong background in project management can
set you up for any number of executive roles.
If you have already been in the role of Project Manager for
some time then you could look at supporting your
experience through gaining certification, which will
recognise your skills as a project manager. Depending on
your experience you may be eligible for Certified Practising
Project Manager (CPPM) or if you’re in a senior project
manager role and manage difficult and high-risk projects
Certified Practising Senior Project Manager (CPSPM). You
can also look to undertaking post graduate studies, specific
to project management.
CHAPTER SIX
HOW CAN I HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN PROJECT
MANAGEMENT?
» Network with your peers: connect with other project management
professionals through networking events and platforms like LinkedIn.
» Keep a pulse on the latest best practices: Ensure you are up to date
with the most recent project management practices, methodologies,
and risk management techniques.
» Use the latest software and online tools: Take advantage of
improvements in technology which have digitalised many of the
manual tasks, such as data reporting so that you can use your time
effectively and on more important aspects of the project.
Communicate often: Work on your communication and
emotional intelligence as these are extremely important
skills for the project professional when engaging with
clients, stakeholders and team members.
Learn from your mistakes: Mistakes happen and if they do
ensure you pocket away the learnings. Consider what didn’t
work and use that knowledge for ensuring future projects
go smoother.
Be an expert in your industry: Build your specialisation in
your industry as this will help you take the next step and
soon you will be the expert many call on for some of the
most sought-after projects.
CHAPTER SEVEN
HOW CAN I STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD WHEN LOOKING
FOR A NEW ROLE?
Whether you’re new to the profession or looking to move on up, there are several things you should consider when starting
your job hunt:
» Look for jobs that match your experience. Be realistic when searching for a project manager role and only look at applying
for positions that match your skillset. If you’re new to the industry or have only recently finished your undergraduate studies
this may mean looking for roles such as project coordinator, administrator or planner. Alternatively if you have been
managing projects directly for some time, even if you don’t have the title of project manager, you may be ready to take on a
senior project manager role or even director role.
» Choose an industry you’re passionate about. As there are
» Back up your skills with certification and training. While
so many industries that are now home to project
on the job experience goes a long way, supporting it
manager roles, take a moment to think about which
through being recognised for your project management
industry will suit your skillset best. This will help you
knowledge and skillset will take your CV up a notch.
when it comes time to apply for more senior roles as
There are many courses available online and AIPM offers
often hiring managers look for specialists in their
five levels of certification that will recognise your current
industries for Senior Project Manager, Project Director or
skillset as a project professional.
Program Manager roles.
Get the tools, events, resources and more to advance your career, grow your network
and improve your project management and leadership skills with AIPM
✓ Access to Australia's largest online community for project managers
✓ Certification and industry recognition, including a pathway to chartered status
✓ Innovative events to keep you growing as a project professional
✓ Advocacy for you and fellow project managers
✓ Leadership courses to help you advance your career
✓ Mentoring program
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