From planning a new hospital wing to launching a social media campaign to identifying a new target market, nearly every industry has projects that need to be managed. Beyond work, projects occur everywhere from your small group raising money for an adopting family to mapping out a summer road trip with the family or fixing up your kitchen with new cabinets. Projects keep things moving forward.
Project management has become a versatile and desired skill set for both employers and employees. And with Cornerstone University’s Project Management Training program, you can be equipped to meet market demand. This innovative three-course program offers practical steps forward in boosting your professional development and adding value to your career.
Could project management be your next step forward?
Five Things to Know About Project Management Training
To help you discover if this versatile training is right for you, here we share five key things you should know.
1. Meet Industry Demand
With projects as such a prominent part of organizational operations, it’s no surprise that skills in project management are often sought out. These skills include both competencies in conducting products as well as soft skills in communication, time management and organization that can be transferred across organizations and industries.
When looking at the job market outlook, employers are looking for candidates that have experience and skill in project management. The Job Growth and Talent Gap report from Project Management Institute notes that there has been a dramatic increase in job opportunities that require some sort of project-oriented experience and skills. By 2027, they expect employers to need almost 88 million people working in roles related to project management. In each year through 2027, 2.2 million new project-oriented positions will need to be filled.
When those job opportunities for qualified individuals aren’t met, the success and influence of projects are at risk.
Industries with especially high demand for project-oriented work include the health care sector, which is expected to be growing at 17%. Other opportunities for project-oriented sectors include manufacturing and construction, information services, finance, insurance, management and utilities.
The demand for project-based positions looks like it’s here to stay. With training and experience in project management, you can make your move in being equipped to meet that demand and add value to your organization both now and in the years to come.
Is it for me? Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I interested in exploring opportunities in project-based work?
- Do I currently serve in a project-based field?
- Am I looking to improve a skill that is useful in both today’s market and the future?
2. Take the PMP Certification Exam
When it comes to professional development, there are a lot of opportunities for credentials. One of the most practical and versatile certifications is the Project Management Professional (PMP). CIO magazine even ranked the PMP as the top certification in project management as it satisfies the skill set that employers are looking for. By earning your PMP certification, you’re setting yourself apart with recognized project management knowledge.
This certification comes with several benefits:
- A universally-recognized credential that validates your knowledge and experience in project-based work.
- Applicability to a wide range of industries, career levels and positions that are project-based.
- Distinguishes you as a job candidate in seeking new opportunities or advancing in your current role.
- Potentially higher earning potential, as certified PMPs report salaries 25% higher than non-certified professionals.
With the project management training program, you’ll meet the 35 credit hour requirement to sit for the exam. You’ll also get access to test preparation resources as you grow in content knowledge applicable to your exam.
Additional requirements for the PMP certification include 3-5 years of work experience leading projects and either an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Is it for me? Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I interested in earning PMP certification?
- Do I want to earn credentials for my current industry while keeping my options open for the future?
- Do I already have a few years of experience in leading projects?
3. Go Beyond Test Prep
As with any professional development endeavor, it helps to be prepared. The three-course specialization in project management can help equip you to take your PMP certification exam with confidence.
Yet unlike reading through a test prep book on your own or going to a couple-day crash course, these three courses offer you the opportunity to take your time to learn and navigate through real-world implications of project management practices.
Navigate through this practical curriculum with fellow working professionals who are pursuing similar goals. Learn from each other and your faculty member, who also is experienced in the field he or she teaches. By collaborating in discussions and highlighting real-world issues you and your peers face each and every day, you’ll deepen your understanding of foundational project management skills and be ready to lead in more than your PMP certification.
You’ll engage in courses that teach you about each stage of a project as well as how you can lead and communicate with influence and wisdom:
- Fundamentals of Project Management—Discover the frameworks and methods of project management in areas such as scope and time management, gathering resources and becoming a certified project manager.
- Cost, Quality and Team Management—Explore resource management principles and techniques in topics such as budgeting, cost control and managing project teams.
- Communications and Risk Management—Identify and enhance principles for effective communication and assessing risk in a project setting.
Is it for me? Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I interested in preparing for my PMP exam in a way that incorporates real-world application?
- Do I see value in learning from fellow working professionals in diverse fields?
4. Take Your Career to the Next Level
With the versatility of project management, you can grow your career in a way that matches your God-given potential. Whether you’re in your desired career path right now or are still looking out for new opportunities, moving forward with project management can open up a wide range of opportunities ready for the taking.
Project managers are found across all industries, especially in areas like health care, retail, technology and construction. They cover responsibilities like managing budgets, coordinating tasks, staying on schedule and aligning other team members to help the organization thrive.
A new construction project on the highway? There’s a project manager.
IT revising a current server for higher efficiency? There’s a project manager.
Transitioning from dine-in only to offering delivery and pick-up? Yes, there’s probably a project manager for that, too.
Careers in project management also often carry with them higher earning potential. According to Indeed.com, the average base salary in the United States is $86,413.
Beyond career development, starting with these three courses can set you up to continue moving forward with your full Master of Business Administration degree program or fulfilling elective courses for a bachelor’s degree program at PGS.
Is it for me? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I see value in continually finding ways to develop my skills and add value to my work?
- Am I interested in entering or continuing my career in project management?
- Do opportunities to plan and launch new projects excite me?
5. Invest in Your Leadership
Like attending conferences, reading insightful books and having regular discussions with other leaders, engaging in professional development practices is an investment in yourself and in your future.
And those intentional steps of professional development make a difference as you lead others. Foundational to the role of project management is working with teams to communicate projects effectively, stay organized and make sure people are in the right places for everyone to thrive. Project managers are problem-solvers and lead toward solutions when problems arise.
Investing in your leadership in projects not only boosts your success as a leader but also empowers your teams and others around you to be their best, too.
It’s up to you to meet deadlines, navigate through problems and steer your teams in a direction that leads to success. How you handle conflict, address tough conversations and process overwhelming amounts of information set the pace for how your teams and co-workers may follow suit. As a project manager, your leadership matters. Taking courses in managing projects effectively can equip you to lead well.
Is it for me? Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I aspire to grow as a leader to empower my teams and team members to succeed and improve?
- Am I skilled in both interpersonal and leadership skills, or in a role where those skills are necessary?
- Do I feel that my attitude and behavior influence those around me at work, in my family and in my community?
Make Project Management Your Next Career Move
Professional development ensures that you never stop learning. This three-course specialization in project management is designed to equip you with practical knowledge, skills and experiences. You’ll move forward with confidence in completing whatever project is on your plate. And with the opportunity to take all three courses one at a time, 100% online, you’ll be able to continue working while equipping yourself for the next step in your career. Visit the Project Management Training page for more information.
