A career in Project Management - Serena Kallian

Be it infrastructure, power,construction, IT, Telecom, oil and gas or core engineering sectors a project manager is the need of the day. By definition project management involves planning, organising, procuring and efficiently managing resources to achieve a set of objectives or planned goal within a specified time.  Depending on the sector the requirements of a project manager differ. The world has become a smaller place and so projects involve a lot of collaboration between different countries. With all this the nature of project management has changed a great deal over the last few years. The East is now considered a great pool of opportunity for western multinationals and so in the near future the demand for such personnel will only increase with more number of projects moving into countries like India, China, Malaysia. According to media reports and a research conducted by the Project Management Institute (PMI) India needs at least five lakh qualified project managers in future to finish 591 projects being carried out in the country. Each of these projects are said to be worth over 100 crores. These projects are spread across sectors. Of all the sectors infrastructure has become an important destination for project managers here in India.

Infrastructure in India has sparked a revival with PE funds being made available to various sectors so it is vital to consider untapped opportunities which would flow out of this sector. At a time when other sectors were unable to perform because of the economic downturn the infrastructure sector seemed to show positive signs of development. Presently, the infrastructure sector in India accounts for 26.7% of India's industrial output and is therefore an effective tool to balance the economy. Some of the Indian infrastructure companies that employ project managers include HCC infrastructure Ltd, Patel engineering, Reliance infrastructure, Punj Lloyd, Subhash projects, Sadbhav engineering, IRB infrastructure developers, GMR infrastructure etc. There are specialised management programmes for aspirants to the infrastructure sector offered by institutes like the Adani Institute of Infrastructure management, School of Management for Infrastructure and Development Strategies – India (MINDS) school in Bangalore etc.

Moving on to project management in general, new  entrants who come with little or no experience start out as junior engineers and management trainees to project managers, as one gains experience in the industry the growth is gradual. According to industry pundits having work experience within projects is of utmost importance for a successful career in project management. Apart from the work experience most individuals are required to clear certain certifications in order to qualify as project managers. Some of well known standardized certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®, Program Management Professional (PgMP)®, PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®, PMI Risk Management Professional, (PMI-RMP)®. The PMP® certification is the most recognised certification in the industry. It is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) which also offers other industry specific certifications and courses in project management. Globally recognized and demanded, the PMP® demonstrates that you have the experience, education and competency to successfully lead and direct projects. It is known that with these credentials your employer marketability increases and you are also entitled to a hike in your existing salary. In order to apply for this certification you need to have a four year bachelor's degree and three years of work experience in project management or a secondary diploma with five years of work experience. These certifications are also subject to frequent upgrades. These requirements are sector and company specific and sometimes are not mandatory. An MBA acts as an added advantage if you are interested in a career as a project manager.

On the international scene there are certifications offered by the swiss based organisation called the International Project Management Associations (IPMA). They offer multiple level certification for existing and aspiring project managers. The International Project Management Commission (IPMC) is also a  board of standards which offers certifications like the MPM ® Master Project Manager ® or the CIPM ® Certified International Project Manager ®. These certifications help your marketability as a project manager internationally.