What does it take to be an IT project manager?

By Fay Capstick

Last week we looked at our predictions for the most in demand skills of 2022. One of these was IT project manager, and in this blog we shall look in more detail and what this job entails, why project managers are important and the skills required.

Why are project managers important?

The role of the project manager within our industry, IT and Digital, is an important one. Project mangers are responsible for making sure that projects are completed correctly, on time, and within their set budgets.

What does a project manager actually do?

An IT project manager will be juggling and prioritising tasks on a daily basis to ensure that targets are met and everything is running smoothly. They plan, procure, execute and see a project though to successful completion and undertake stakeholder management. This will include managing team members, leading meetings and communicating decisions. An IT project manager will be working with project management software to achieve these goals, helping with scheduling, targets and management, such as Teamwork (https://bit.ly/34ICe6L). No two days will be the same and all your problem solving skills will be required.

What formal training is required?

A project manager will likely hold a PRINCE2 certification. These typically take 2-3 days to gain and take around 50 hours of time to complete. They can be undertaken in a classroom or online and are offered by various providers. This will get you a Foundation level qualification. You can then move onto getting Practitioner (this also takes 2-3 days to achieve) and Professional level (also 2-3 days) qualifications. The Professional level is assessed at a residential centre. You will need to re-register your qualification, by taking an exam, every 3-5 years.

PRINCE2 was initially developed by the UK government to help manage public sector projects and will therefore be used in government departments, however its use is not restricted to the UK government or the UK now.

The UK government used to manage PRINCE2 themselves, but it is now managed and developed by AXIOS (https://bit.ly/339Odd8), a partnership between Capita and the Cabinet Office.

A different qualification that you can undertake is Agile. An agile certification will give you the knowledge and authority with agile practices to be able to confidently implement them. There is also a PRINCE2 Agile qualification, aimed at those working in an Agile environment.

There are other qualifications and certifications available beyond this, so how do you decide which one is the right one for you? One way is to look through available job vacancies (see ours here: https://bit.ly/3nc1qcf) and see what qualifications and skills are being asked for in the job descriptions and then plan your training around this.

What else does it take to be an IT project manager?

The role of an IT project manager is more involved that simply having the formal skills. It requires soft skills. Outstanding people skills are needed to ensure that the work is carried out correctly and on time. You must be able to effectively convey the importance and thinking behind the decisions that you are making. As with IT transformation projects, it is important to win the hearts and minds of the users so that they understand why things are happening rather than forcing your decisions upon people.

You will need to be a multitasker with excellent written and verbal communication skills, plus an in-depth technical knowledge. Having a general knowledge of business will also be an advantage. Being an IT project manager will allow you to make the most of your creative and analytical sides.

Growing Demand

The Project Management Institute report, Job Growth and Talent Gap 2017-2027, forecasts a demand of 2.2 million new project manager orientated roles each year (https://bit.ly/3qfrpBh). Therefore it is an excellent area to up-skill into.

Final thoughts

At Parker Shaw we have over 30 years experience in our industry. So whether you are looking for advice on how to move into a job in IT project management, and looking for your next job in IT project management, or are a client looking for the best IT project manager for your needs, we can help you, so do contact us.