I’ve recently completed full time higher education studying project management. I’m struggling to find my first position (I don’t have any works experience) so I can start putting into practice what I’ve learnt. Can you give any advice as to what I should do?
You have a number of different avenues to explore to help you find your first position however just like project management there are some planning steps to be taken before execution can commence!
The first stage involves some personal stocktaking. Too many graduates are over zealous when it comes to finding their first job, failing to take the time to first understand what they have to offer a new employer.
There are a number of questions you need to be asking of yourself; why do you want to be a Project Manager?; have you got the “right stuff”?; which industry or business function do you want to work in?; what role would suit you?; what do you bring to the table as a potential project manager? Answering these questions will help you realise with clarity what you have to offer a potential employer and also help you formulate your job searching tools like the CV, cover note and online profiles.
The age old issue of “experience required, but no job without experience” applies to experienced practitioners just as it does to recent students and graduates. Experienced practitioners have also experienced knock backs in the job market because their industry background or types of projects managed, don’t match what a specific employer is looking for. When entering the market straight from education you need to be realistic. The degree you have just gained will be seen by many employers as “just a tick in the box”. In others words it shows that you have the aptitude to learn and further oneself. Don’t be disheartened by this; not all sectors are ready for “educated” project managers (project managers with degrees in project management). One of the first avenues to explore is seeking out which organisations are ready for the PM degree educated and making your advance with a well crafted CV and letter of introduction which clearly shows what you can bring to the table.
The second avenue to explore is the type of project management role you can perform today. Your long term career aspirations include becoming a project manager yet you should also focus on the short term goals. There are a number of roles within project management – supporting roles – which are a perfect way of gaining practical project experience. These roles, whilst not having day one management responsibilities, can be seen as a stepping stone to your greater aspirations further down the line in your career. You can then plan your advance for these roles with a CV that demonstrates the project management understanding you have combined with the more practical elements of your degree course.
The third avenue is that of an intern or voluntary opportunity. Your funds might be tight following a period of study and the thought of an unpaid role may not be appealing. Intern and voluntary posts in project management may not be full time hours leaving you time to find other work to pay the bills.
The fourth avenue is finding any opportunity which brings you closer to a project management environment. If you ask around any project management practitioner today, most will tell you that they fell into project management; they were in the right place at the right time. The bottom line for you is that you need to gain some work experience, a track record of showing what you are capable of doing. Look for opportunities with organisations that are known for their projects and project management departments. Which entry level roles and positions exist – not necessarily project related – and which you believe you can perform?
The trick is to get your foot in the door (short term goal) and start working hard to prove you have what it takes to realise your longer term goals.
You can find further advice for graduates in our graduate project management advice page
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Interesting dilemma! My personal view is that graduate or not, it is an unreasonable expectation to go straight into a leadership job with little experience of the work environment. 10% of project management is the theory or academic stuff, and 90% is how you deal with people and the wider business context. It’s very hard to learn that in a classroom or lecture theatre.
This may seem very negative towards undergraduate PM courses, but I honestly think that young people are better off getting a first career and then directing it towards project management wherever the opportunities present themselves and whenever they have sufficient life experience to make a good go of it.