Understanding The Roles: The Contenders of Project Managers
Welcome to “The Contenders”, your guide to understanding what project soft skills can offer those moving into project management
Are you a project management student, recent graduate or project support officer looking to start your career in project management?
Or maybe you are transitioning into Project management, from an informal project management role or as a career change?
Either way, join us as we explore the skills, responsibilities, and challenges each role encompasses and where soft skills can help you succeed.
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The Career Change Project Manager
A Career Change Project Manager is someone who has transitioned into project management from a completely different profession or role and bring a wealth of transferable skills, fresh perspectives, and diverse experiences from their previous roles.
Whether they’ve come from finance, education, healthcare, or any other field, their unique backgrounds allow them to approach project management with both specialist knowledge and stakeholder insight.
Their adaptability and ability to quickly learn and apply project management principles, within an area they know well, make them valuable assets to any team. With a broad understanding of different industries, they often find innovative solutions to complex problems and are adept at leading cross-functional teams through change and transformation.
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The Project Support
A Project Support is someone who may have has transitioned from an administrative role in a different discipline or department or may have taken the role as a route into project management.
This individual typically has relevant experience and/or training in administrative or coordination positions, may have a title , such as a project coordinator or project assistant or similar .etc and provide crucial support to project teams.
Their deep understanding of project logistics, documentation, scheduling, and team dynamics serves as a solid foundation for progressing into the role of a project manager.
The project support role often brings a pragmatic approach to project management, focusing on efficiency and smooth operations.
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The Informal Project Manager
An Informal Project Manager has taken on project management responsibilities without having a formal title or position in project management.
They often emerge naturally within organizations due to their leadership skills, organizational prowess, or problem-solving abilities.
These individuals are typically recognized by their peers and superiors as key contributors to project success, coordinating tasks, managing timelines, and facilitating communication. Even though their official role might be in a different capacity, such as a team lead, department coordinator, or subject matter expert.
Those with this role often work in organisations with an informal approach to project management, and may choose to formalise their role and specialise in project management later in their career.
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The Student/ Graduate Project Manager
A Student/Graduate Project Manager is a recent graduate or current student who is stepping into the world of project management with fresh energy and academic knowledge.
This individual often brings a strong foundation in modern project management theories, tools, and methodologies, having studied them in academic settings. Though they may lack extensive industry experience, their enthusiasm, adaptability, and willingness to learn quickly make them valuable additions to any project team.
Project management students or recent graduates represent the new generation of project managers, bridging the gap between academia and industry, and often brings a fresh perspective and a strong work ethic to project management roles.
