So, you’ve finally received your business degree, and your goal is to become a project manager. What steps do you need to take in order to achieve that goal? First, you need to realize the difference between managing projects and being a project manager. If you manage projects as part of your job, you are not a project manager. This role is when you do nothing but manage projects. If this is the career path you want to take, here are some tips to help get you there.- Get Certified – The first thing you need to do is to get your certification. There are numerous organizations that offer project management certification, with the most common being Project Management Professional (PMP). Another common certification is Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).
PMP certification is for those who already have a good deal of project management experience, generally those who are already working as project managers. Because you are just getting started in this field, your better option is to get the CAPM certification. You can go online and find plenty of good courses that will help you to train for and pass the certification. 
- Use the Software – You need to get to know about all of the tools that you will be using as a project manager, which means you need to become familiar with project management software. This is used for such things as budgeting, scheduling, collaborating, etc. Most software is relatively user friendly, and there is lots of support if you have any questions.
You don’t have to be working in the field already in order to start using the software. You can create your own practice projects, and get the online training you need to use project management software. Microsoft offers a number of courses that will help you to become an expert at using project management software. One of the most popular project management tools is Paymo.
- Get Experience – Before you can actually become a project manager, you need to be able to show that you have experience in managing projects well. Join a club or organization where you will have the opportunity to manage projects, and then you can use this experience on your resume to help you start advancing toward your goals. You may not be getting paid any money for doing this, but what you gain will be worth more than any pay check.
It is going to take some time before you can actually move into a full project management position. Look for a position that will give you the experience you need. It can take three to five years to gain enough experience to be able to start seeking project manager positions, but if it is something that you really want, you will be willing to stick it out and work hard to get there.
- Join PMI – There are two excellent reasons to join PMI. You will have immediate access to the latest version of the Project Management Body of Knowledge, and being a member gives you discounts on other things, including your exam fees. These two things alone make it more than worth joining.
You are not going to jump right into that dream job right out of college. If you really want it, you will have to pay your dues and work for it. Becoming a project manager is going to take time and effort, but there is plenty of help available to you, including many online resources, that will help you to get the training, experience, and certification that you need.
