Your Introduction to Careers in Project Management
In this article, which has been written by colleagues from MIGSO-PCUBED, a project management consultancy, you can learn more about the skills of becoming a project manager and where it can take you in your career as well as hear from current apprentices starting their career in project management.
MIGSO-PCUBED is a unique consulting company combining its unmatched scale, global reach, and end-to-end PM / PMO value-adding range of services. MIGSO-PCUBED supports R&D, IT and Transformation projects for our industrial, public sector and financial services customers who rely on us.
Firstly, what is a project?
Projects are used very frequently in all sectors of the economy and a way to undertake and achieve planned objectives. The three main blocks of a project are:
Time
Understanding how long a project will take, are there external/ internal deadlines to adhere to? How will a Project Manager ensure everyone is adhering to these timelines?
Cost
What is the budget for the project? (this can also include staff time!)
Quality
How will you know if the project has delivered what it was intended to at the standard expected?
What is Project Management?
Project management is a set of skills and methods used to achieve a specific project or set of objectives. This can span over many different sectors and specialisms meaning a project manager can move around many different organisations, transferring these skills and methods of working over many different opportunities.
What skills do you need to be a Project Manager?
In order to be a successful Project Manager, developing skills and a set of tools is essential to demonstrate capability and transferability to manage a project in any environment.
The top soft skills you need to be a project manager are:
- Collaboration
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Time management
- Leadership
- Organisation
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
- Conflict resolution
The top technical skills to be a project manager are:
- Project planning
- Project scoping
- Writing a project brief
- Hosting project kick off meetings
- Project mapping
- Managing tasks
How do I get into Project Management?
There are many routes into Project Management, and the skills above you will have started to develop in school when working in groups to complete a task. There are dedicated certifications you can take which is recognised by employers which include:
Project Management Professional (PMP)
PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments)
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
More recently, you can also do an Apprenticeship in Project Management.
Hear from 3 apprentices currently working with MIGSO-PCUBED, a Project Management Consultancy, and their journeys since being on an apprenticeship:
Apprentice 1 (She/Her) Project Analyst Apprentice
When did you join MP’s apprenticeship scheme?
September 2023
What industry/client/role have you worked in?
Currently I am working within a company as a project Analyst Apprentice since October 2023. This is the first engagement I have been working on.
What is your favourite highlight of the apprenticeship programme?
Being able to take knowledge from the University learning and apply it to client work. I also love having the amazing support network of other MP apprentices and colleagues.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’ve completed the UK’s highest skydive at 15,000 feet.
If you could tell someone one thing about the MP apprenticeship scheme, what would it be?
The experience, learning, support network and progression opportunities are outstanding. It definitely makes your hard work worthwhile!
Apprentice 2 (She/Her), Project Analyst Apprentice
When did you join MP’s apprenticeship scheme?
March 2023
What industry/client/role have you worked in?
I have been working within the Public Sector in an office.
What is your favourite highlight of the apprenticeship programme?
A highlight of the programme is working with clients to gain knowledge and learn new skills.
What is a fun fact about you?
I have a dog called Buddy
If you could tell someone one thing about the MP apprenticeship scheme, what would it be?
I would tell them that you gain hands-on experience of all aspects of project management as well as achieving a degree.
Apprentice 3 (She/Her) Project Analyst Apprentice
When did you join MP’s apprenticeship scheme?
January 2022
What industry/client/role have you worked in?
When I first joined MP I worked in the Energy, Utilities & Infrastructure sector with Clients such as Sellafield and Createc. Currently I am working as a project coordinator and have been in this role for almost a year.
What is your favourite highlight of the apprenticeship programme?
Being able to work with different clients and colleagues in different environments and getting to learn from their experiences and knowledge.
What is a fun fact about you?
I have 2 pets, a dog and a tortoise
If you could tell someone one thing about the MP apprenticeship scheme, what would it be?
The MP apprenticeship scheme works by apprentices attending University 1 day per week and working on client engagements 4 days per week, this allows us to learn the theoretical concepts of Project management at the University and apply them into client roles where relevant.
Find out more
To find out more about about MIGSO-PCUBED or to get in touch directly, visit their website
Interested in a apprenticeship with MIGSO-PCUBED? Apply here
