What is project management, and is it for me?

Whether you’ve studied at university to become an engineer, an IT developer or a computer scientist, you’ve primarily learned about the theory of your subject and how you can use this knowledge in practice. You probably didn’t learn much about management and how different specialists can meet a joint deadline. Nevertheless, many IDA members end up working as project managers sooner or later. This is despite the fact that only half of them have made an active choice about going in this direction. Actually, one in three IDA members was encouraged or “singled out” by their manager, while 15% were instructed to take on the role as project manager. These are the results of a 2021 survey of 1,800 IDA members. One of the pitfalls for new graduates is that they simply haven’t had enough time to build up the specialist knowledge and expertise required to be a good project manager.

“Some people become project managers too early, and this can be a problem because they’ll have to re-find a lot of knowledge if they want to work within their specialist field and experience again,” says Jakob Gradel, a career consultant and an expert in project management at IDA.

It’s therefore important to think carefully before accepting a job as a project manager. Because, according to Jakob Gradel, it can be difficult to return to your specialist field. Technology is developing rapidly, and some working methods or specialist areas may have moved in a new direction. But it is possible with the current labour market. However, the counsellor makes an appeal to employers; because what tools are the employees given when they become project managers? Do they get the necessary competence development?

“If you want to be a project manager, talk to your manager about whether you can get any support. What are your options in terms of competence development? You need the necessary tools to carry out a different type of job with more responsibility,” says Jakob Gradel.

What is project management?

Project management covers both directing and managing a project towards a set goal.
The project manager role involves having the responsibility, role and task of planning, organising and directing allocated resources towards a result.

Video: What is project management?

Manager or specialist?

Perhaps you could argue that a project manager is a slightly strange hybrid of a manager and a specialist, although the specialist background takes a backseat. It’s therefore important to think about your social skills. You don’t have personnel responsibilities, but you manage projects, and that requires a great deal of relational skills.

“You may not be a group leader, but you’re the project manager and on the same hierarchical level as your colleagues, but you’re acting as an informal leader,” says Sanne Mattebjerg, a career consultant at IDA.

She recommends that members of IDA use the competences they learned from their studies for the first couple of years after they graduate and practice these before embarking on project management.

Video: What are the most important competences to have as a project manager?

Amazing opportunities

It may seem as though project management has red flags everywhere. Obviously, that’s not the case. If you have good people skills and a good overview, and not least enjoy project management, there are, of course, many advantages of working as a project manager.

“You see things become a reality, and you don’t just deliver a small part in an enormous machine. Project management is an entirely new set of competences, where you’re part of the process of establishing a new product, for example, from start to finish,” says Jakob Gradel.

Video: Project management as a career move

Is project management for me?

• Find out what it means to be a project manager.
• Find out what’s attractive about working as a project manager.
• Ask yourself if you can see yourself in that role.
• If you felt pressured by a manager to take the lead in a project, listen to what your gut feeling is telling you: are you curious or slightly scared? Seek competence development in the area, and make sure you can return to your specialist work afterwards.
• Project management often has a certain status, and it can be flattering when your manager asks whether this is something you’d like to do. Talk to colleagues, IDA and friends about the potential change in your career.