Careers In Demand: An Informational guide for new graduates Project Management By Bennett Davishoff, Enterprise Solutions

Are you interested in learning a skillset that transfers to multiple industries? Does  technology excite you? If so, learning how to become a project manager can position you to  work in IT, Healthcare, Construction and Engineering. As a soon to be college graduate, when I think of working in project management, I tend to think about working in groups for a class presentation. However, since I started my position at Enterprise Solutions I’ve learned there’s so much more to project management than just working in groups. According to the software company Atlassian, project management (PM) is defined in the workplace as using skills, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, monitor, and complete projects within their timeframes.

Project management specialists are responsible for coordinating a project's budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of their projects. The skills needed for project management specialists encompass a variety of fields, and especially apply towards a variety of technical projects. Besides IT, many project management specialists work in jobs that involve manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and real estate development. In order to become a PM specialist, a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields will help you succeed: technology, business and engineering are traditional degree paths. Although it's not always required, a certification may also be beneficial.

There’s a high demand for project management now more than ever. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of project management specialists is expected to increase by 6% in about the next 20 years. While that may not sound like a lot, that’s faster than the average for all occupations. The bureau also, on average, expects approximately 78,200 project management specialists positions to become available annually over the next decade, a significant projection. Last year, project management specialists earned a median annual wage of $100,750. This comes at a time where many organizations seek ways to maintain and improve productivity, as the employment of project management specialists continue to grow. Many openings are anticipated due to the need to replace workers who retire or transfer to other occupations. As a whole, the increasing volume and intricacy of IT projects will likely drive the demand for more project management specialists.