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OFF-THE-CHART DEMAND FOR PROJECT MANAGERS
BY BOB WEINSTEIN
There was a strong demand for project managers three years ago, but today it’s off the charts. In Houston, the demand for
experienced PMs far exceeds the supply of qualified candidates, according to Rondell Brasher, general manager of Houston
Princeton One, a technology search firm with 17 offices throughout the United States.
IT project managers, particularly, can write their own ticket, Brasher observes. There has been a major push for PMs with ERP
experience -- SAP, Oracle and Microsoft, for example – that is geared to small and midsize companies.
Companies are all about building their IT infrastructure. They need PMs to guide them so IT becomes an integral part of their business
operations. PMs who can design IT strategies that fatten the bottom line have it made.
Brasher says that he’s seeing the strongest demand for IT PMs who specialize in the financial services industry, which includes
banks and investment and insurance companies.
Why the across-the-board demand for PMs?
As projects get bigger and more sophisticated, companies need skilled professionals at the helm who can implement it speedily, on
budget and on deadline, says Brasher. “In Houston, energy, oil and aerospace companies, and more recently medical device companies,
can’t hire experienced PMs fast enough. If they hold a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification and they have
industry-specific experience, they’re even more attractive.”
Hybrid PMs with engineering experience
Construction, chemical and medical equipment companies are searching for hybrid, renaissance PMs with engineering experience.
The recruitment ads for project engineers vary according to the industry and company, but they’re all looking for candidates with
multiple skills. A job ad for a project engineer posted on job Web site CareerBuilder.com by a specialty chemical company listed these
qualifications: BS degree in mechanical engineering; five years of manufacturing experience; understanding of design and installation of
production machinery and PLC-controlled automatic equipment; working knowledge of machine design standards; and CAD skills.
A health-care or construction company will ask for similarly demanding skills. But all PMs must have excellent project organization and
communication skills and be able to function with little or no supervision.
Career that is offshore-proof
If you’re looking for a job that is unlikely to be shipped overseas, project management is it because it requires a variety of skills and
talents and, most important, hands-on management.
Yet it’s a job that is not easily defined. Broadly, PMs apply knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to a broad range of activities in
order to meet the requirements of a particular project.
According to career Web site Salary.com, PMs “define, plan, organize, staff and guide the process of creating a solution or system.
They’re responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time and on budget.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “PMs develop requirements, budgets and schedules for their firm’s information technology
projects; coordinate projects from development through implementation, working with internal and external clients, vendors, consultants
and computer specialists; and are increasingly involved in projects that upgrade the information security of an organization.”
To use some hot buzzwords of the day, a great PM is a “multifaceted and multitasking team player” capable of working under stressful
conditions. PMs must also have excellent organizational and communication skills. Put that into trendy biz-speak and it reads, “Facilitates
cross-functional communication between teams, keeping conflict to a minimum by aligning the goals of everyone involved.”
In plain English, a competent PM is a jack-of-all-trades and a confident master of all of them. Simply, they must get things done on time
and on budget, which is no simple feat.
Requirements vary with specialty
While it’s impossible to crisply define a PM’s job, there are no standard or definitive educational requirements either. Typically, they
vary according to the specialty. Many construction companies, for example, insist upon a civil engineering degree. Some high-tech firms
prefer degrees in computer science or electrical engineering. Many top-name financial services firms only hire PMs with MBA
degrees. And a growing number of firms are making the PMP certification mandatory. The certification is the most recognized and
respected certification for PMs.
How to break in
It’s ideal if you can start out knowing what industry you want to be in. Then you can choose among several paths leading to a PM
career. Investigate formal training through universities, colleges, vocational schools and private training providers such as the respected
PMI (Project Management Institute, www.pmi.org). Training provider ESI International (www.esi-intl.com) boasts 30 PM courses
taught throughout the U.S.
Large or small company?
There are advantages to both. Many large companies offer formal training programs in project management, while small to midsize
companies are likely to have either formal or informal mentorship programs.
Internship experience strongly recommended
If possible, try to land an internship, though they’re often not that easy to find. And if you’re unsure about whether you want to pursue
a PM career, a good way to get a feeling for the job is to try out entry-level positions as project schedulers or assistant PMs. The
specifications for both jobs vary from company to company.
Generally, project schedulers are assigned technical rather than managerial jobs, such as inputting information, updating files or running
software. And assistant PMs are responsible for specific tasks within a project.
Pay
With minimal experience, PM salaries start at $50K per year. PMs with engineering degrees typically can earn 25 percent to 35 percent
more than PMs who came up through the ranks, says Brasher. With five years of experience an engineer/PM can earn $85K- $95K
annually. A PMP certification can boost your salary another 15 percent – 20 percent.
And with eight to 10 years of experience under your belt, a PM in the Houston market can capture salaries ranging from $110K to
$140K, Brasher adds.
Information is plentiful
There is no shortage of career information about project management. Start checking out trade associations and professional
organizations of industries you’re most interested in. Many of the national training institutions offer online curriculums.
Many companies (Synergest is one of them; www.synergest.com) offer free study materials.
Rather than take a PMP preparation seminar or buy a sample CD-Rom test, get a copy of the “PMBOK Guide,” memorize it and take
the test. If you must have sample test questions, get the cheapest book available that has them. You shouldn’t have to spend money to prepare
for this certification.
You can search PMP sample questions and explore free government Web sites about project management best practices at:
http://www.isb.wa.gov/tools/pmframework/introduction.aspx;
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos006.htm;
http://www1.jsc.nasa.gov/bu2/resources.html; http://web.mit.edu/ist/pmm;
http://satc.gsfc.nasa.gov/support/ASM_FEB99/crm_at_nasa.html;
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/risk/risk.htm;
and http://www.bestpractices.cahwnet.gov/ProjectOfficeFunctions.aspx?fid=10&pid=0
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