Curious about project management as a career option? What does this job entail? Is it for you? The authors have been in project management for about two decades and they answer some questions you might have before deciding if this is the right career for you.

• What does a project manager really do? In the broadest sense, project managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the completion of a project, while ensuring that it delivers the expected results on time, on budget, and within scope.
• What basic skills do I need to have to apply for a project manager position? To be eligible for a project manager position, you need to have hard skills, soft skills, technical know-how, and an understanding of the business landscape you’ll be operating in.
• What kind of opportunities are available in project management? Project manager roles take different job titles: project manager, delivery manager, scrum manager, agile coach, product manager. The titles can vary depending on the country or region you’re in, but what’s important is for you to understand the requirements, responsibilities, and the impact of your role so you can make informed decisions.
• Do I have to specialize in one area or can I manage different kinds of projects? As a fresh graduate or early career professional, we recommend choosing a project in your area of expertise to maximize your success rate and increase your self-confidence. When you gain more experience as a project manager, you could stick to the same kind of projects, remain in the same industry but in a different technical field, or move from one domain to another.