Why train in Project Management

Project management is a popular career choice (both as a first career and for those seeking a career change), partly because project management is a fundamental part of business for many industries worldwide, including:

•  IT
•  Engineering
•  Construction
•  Marketing/Communications 
•  Product Development 

Explore our top Project Management Courses

Whether you work for a small start-up or a large multinational organisation, it is beneficial to have a team of project management professionals to help ensure projects are completed on time and within budget while achieving optimal results for the business.  

In this article, we explore why you should consider training in project management and discuss the benefits of gaining a project management qualification. We also review the different project management courses available and show you how to start your journey in project management.  

Discover how to become a Project Manager, in our career Advice guide.  

Project Management defined

 The Association for Project Management (APM) defines Project Management as “the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. A key factor that distinguishes project management from just 'management' is that it has this final deliverable and a finite timespan.” (Source: APM Body of Knowledge 7^th edition). 

Benefits of gaining a Project Management qualification 

Earning an industry-recognised project management qualification offers candidates a wide variety of benefits, including:  

Gain the tools to implement successful project management

Studying for a project management qualification is an ideal way to learn and understand useful project management methodologies, that will enable you to successfully implement projects of varying sizes. This is essential for those looking to embark on a career in project management.   

Internal career progression & promotions

Even if you are not currently involved in project management as part of your daily job, undertaking project management training and earning your project management qualifications will help advance your career. When you become certified in project management, you can support your learning and expertise and work towards a promotion, taking on senior responsibilities. 

Changing careers & standing out from your competitors

While career progression within your current organisation is a strong possibility, you will also benefit from gaining project management qualifications to embark on a new career elsewhere. When it comes to standing out from other applicants, a project management qualification will give you the edge. For those changing industries, project management makes a great career choice due to higher-than-average salaries and excellent career progression. If you’re unsure if a career in project management is right for you, studying different project management qualifications is a great way to assess your interest and skill levels in this industry before committing to a career change.   

Increased confidence

There is nothing like gaining knowledge in a new area to boost your confidence in the workplace. Earning project management qualifications is a great way to gain confidence and a sense of purpose at work.  

Learn new skills

Whether you’re considering a career change or you’re happy where you are, you can still benefit from learning new skills and gaining the knowledge that comes from project management training to add to your existing skill set. Training is an excellent way to boost your offering and learn new ways to oversee complex projects. 

Validate existing knowledge

If you are already responsible for managing projects in your role but don’t have formal qualifications to support your project management expertise, project management certifications will help to boost your career prospects.  

Manage teams effectively

A good understanding of project management methodologies, principles, and techniques will enable you to manage teams more effectively, helping them achieve positive results on time and within budget.  

Attract new clients

Finally, gaining a good understanding of different project management methodologies is a great way to increase your versatility and open yourself up to opportunities with new clients. 

Find out more about training for a qualification in project management. 

Project Management Courses                               

As you can see above, there are many benefits to considering project management training. There is a wide range of project management methodologies to choose from, so which ones are right for you? 

The most common project management qualifications are:   

PRINCE2®

PRINCE2 is perhaps the most well-known project management methodology worldwide. PRINCE2 is the most used method for project management, with an estimated 1,000,000+ PRINCE2 exams taken every year! You will learn the seven Principles, Themes and Processes of PRINCE2. The Principles represent the 'why', the Themes represent the 'what' and the Processes represent the 'how' of project management. Together they provide a navigable path to project management success. 

Explore our PRINCE2 training courses. 

ITIL®

The fundamental ITIL concepts and terminology include the seven guiding principles of ITIL 4 and four dimensions of service management. This qualification will help you work towards becoming an IT Project Manager, Service Delivery Manager, or Senior Project Manager. 

Explore our ITIL training courses. 

Lean Six Sigma

This project management method combines two process improvement methodologies, Lean and Six Sigma and is concerned with eliminating ‘waste’ while preserving quality and value. Lean Six Sigma is often used in finance and healthcare among other industries.  

Explore our Lean Six Sigma training courses. 

What next?

Now you have an overview of the main project management methodologies, it's time to choose what course would suit you best.  

Do your research to make sure that you choose the best project management methodology for your career goals. You can always choose to complete additional project management qualifications in the future.  

Remember, we offer 0% finance options, so you can start learning without worrying about the cost of retraining in project management.  

View our full range of project management training courses, to see which ones are right for your career progression and to get started. Alternatively, call us on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700 to speak with one of our project management Career Consultants, to explore your best options.