YOUR CAREER IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT
What is project management?
Project management is everything that involves leading a team of people and managing resources, deadlines and software to achieve a specific goal or goals in a dedicated timeline. Within a project, there are often multiple goals and objectives that need to be achieved. Successful project management is the ability to reach all of these objectives within the desired timeframe. Working in project management is not only highly financially rewarding but also allows professionals to use critical thinking and problem-solving in a career where no two projects, problems or even days are the same.
What are you looking for?
Skills that employers are looking for
Employers will always look for project management professionals who are proactive, motivated, have a sharp eye for detail and can work well to deadlines. People skills are essential to a successful career in project management, as all project management professionals are working with multiple groups of stakeholders to collectively achieve specific project goals. The ability to work well under pressure is important with projects often very reliant on dependent tasks. Not only is the ability to effectively take charge of people and situations important, but employers also highly regard the quality of being a team player and collaborator.
HARD SKILLS
- Time management
- Budget and financial planning
- Cost estimation
- Quality management and assessment
SOFT SKILLS
- Decision making
- Planning, scheduling and organisational skills
- Negotiating
- Able to work under pressure
TRAITS
- Driven
- Decisive
- Adaptable
- Detail-oriented
JOB ROLES
Contract Administrator
This role looks after the administrative side of contracts within project management, with all relevant stakeholders. This involves assisting in the contract process from start to finish, and requires strong communication skills, as well as attention to detail and written skills.
pROJECT COORDINATOR
Project Coordinators are involved in a variety of project management functions, and assist the project manager with ensuring the entire project process is executed correctly. This role allows you to have ownership over smaller areas of a project as well as a range of administrative duties.
senior project administrator
Professionals in this role look after multiple functions within the management of a project, particularly administrative areas, project and budget planning, reporting and maintaining project documentation.
Project manager
The responsibilities of a project manager vary dependent on the size of the project and the organisation. Project managers are essentially responsible for the planning, coordination, overseeing and execution of each project, whilst managing budgets and project deadlines to ensure projects are completed on time.
Risk manager
This role occurs in a variety of industries, but commonly in project management due to the importance of understanding, assessing and minimising large-scale project risk. Risk managers assess project risks and develop policies, processes and approaches to ensure the project is successful from start to finish.
Contract Administrator
This role looks after the administrative side of contracts within project management, with all relevant stakeholders. This involves assisting in the contract process from start to finish, and requires strong communication skills, as well as attention to detail and written skills.
pROJECT COORDINATOR
Project Coordinators are involved in a variety of project management functions, and assist the project manager with ensuring the entire project process is executed correctly. This role allows you to have ownership over smaller areas of a project as well as a range of administrative duties.
pROJECT COORDINATOR
Project Coordinators are involved in a variety of project management functions, and assist the project manager with ensuring the entire project process is executed correctly. This role allows you to have ownership over smaller areas of a project as well as a range of administrative duties.
senior project administrator
Professionals in this role look after multiple functions within the management of a project, particularly administrative areas, project and budget planning, reporting and maintaining project documentation.
Project manager
The responsibilities of a project manager vary dependent on the size of the project and the organisation. Project managers are essentially responsible for the planning, coordination, overseeing and execution of each project, whilst managing budgets and project deadlines to ensure projects are completed on time.
Risk manager
This role occurs in a variety of industries, but commonly in project management due to the importance of understanding, assessing and minimising large-scale project risk. Risk managers assess project risks and develop policies, processes and approaches to ensure the project is successful from start to finish.
What does an average day look like for a project manager?
Project managers have a lot on their plate, so they need to be expert multitaskers. Looking after teams, resources, budgets, timelines and stakeholders means balancing the needs and wants of many different individuals and being the “go-to” person for questions, issues, suggestions and concerns. This is where the right project software and methodology comes in handy – to help project managers successfully manage all the intricate elements of a project. In any given day, project managers might:
- Be involved in several meetings with various stakeholders (internal and external)
- Conduct a strategy development session to make sure all tasks are progressing and keeping within the right timeline
- Visit jobsites or workplaces to assess project progress and to speak with subordinates
- Spend time logging everything in the right systems and software platforms.
Top reasons for starting projects1
- 19% = To grow revenue
- 15% = To develop new infrastructure
- 10% = To introduce new products / services
- 10% = To support organisational change
- 10% = For compliance / regulatory purposes
- 9% = To refresh infrastructure
Generalised business skills within organisations are reviewed as the most important skills currently lacking in Project Management Professionals, particularly change management and delegation abilities.
Project managers working in the Resources and Mining industry can earn annual salaries between the range of $112,00 – $250,000.
Salaries are often higher in larger cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.2
30% of large-scale projects in Australia were recorded as being ‘on-time.’
36% of large-scale projects in Australia were recorded as being ‘on-budget.’
47% of large-scale projects in Australia were recprded as having ‘met original goal and business intent.’1
1AIPM KPMG Report, 2018 2AIPM, 2020
how do i start a career in project management
The most important step to beginning a successful career in project management is getting qualified. This shows potential employers you are serious about your project management career and that you have the correct skills and knowledge required to do the role. Studying a qualification in project management online is the best option as you can pursue roles within project management at the same time or transition out of another career seamlessly. There are several key attributes which are important to develop for your career in project management. These attributes include communication, leadership, organisation, delegation, mediation, and the ability to meet deadlines. You can develop these traits with practice, online training seminars, and proactively seeking professional opportunities to utilise these qualities.
This qualification is designed for those wanting to gain fundamental project management skills to apply to any industry role. Given the broad use of project management, this qualification teaches the foundation knowledge and skills needed to kickstart a project management career, or support a healthcare or construction management career, to name a few.
You’ll develop skills in project time management techniques and risk management. Learn project scope, project cost, and project quality management, and how to apply them to real life situations.
Potential Career Outcomes
Contract Administrator $62k
Project Coordinator $63k
Senior Project Administrator $68k
If you want to be challenged in a rewarding project management career, this qualification is suited to you. Gain the skills and knowledge needed to effectively lead a team and projects to successful completion. This qualification is suited to those with experience in project management looking to move upwards in their career to management roles.
Learn to manage project scope, project time, project human resources, project risk, project integration and more. Develop skills in team management and stakeholder management.
Potential Career Outcomes
Senior Project Administrator $68k
Project Manager $99k
Risk Manager $118k
WHY STUDY WITH CAL?
Real Outcomes. Guaranteed.
Our Real Outcomes Guarantee is our commitment to you and your career goals, ensuring that your studies will give you real-world benefits.
Our team, assessments and feedback are all focused on helping you in your career, not just completing your course. As the only RTO offering this, our guarantee is part of our ongoing work to go beyond just a piece of paper.
Studying the diploma... gave me the confidence to change careers... having that formal qualification backing up my experiences in the project space already.
It's something that really made me more employable.
tell me more
Myles H. / Project Manager
CAL Careers Hub and Career Counselling
We support you beyond achieving your qualifications - we want to help you be as prepared as possible for taking the next step in your career. Our Careers Hub gives you complimentary and exclusive access to resources and personalised advice from our in-house Career Coach.
My experience with Jenni the career counsellor was exceptional...The feedback was so helpful. She was encouraging too, and made me feel more sure about how to 'sell myself' to the target employers. I am very impressed with CAL's careers hub - many resources that I will use. Thank you very much for your help.
- Samantha M.
Every member of our team is here to support you beyond achieving your qualifications. We want you to be as prepared as possible for taking the next step in your career. As a CAL student you'll gain access to our Careers Hub through our online learning hub ‘Spark'.
Learn more about the cal career hub
