How to Become a Project Manager: 6 Steps

Key takeaways

• Being a project manager typically requires five to seven years of experience, though this can differ by company [1].

• Entry-level project management roles, such as project coordinator, require less experience and can be a great way to build experience.

• To be a successful project manager, you must become familiar with the different project management methodologies and popular project management tools.

Learn more about how to become a project manager. Afterward, consider building key knowledge and skills in this area with the Google Project Management Certification.

How to become a project manager

There are different ways to advance or pivot into a project manager role. You can seek entry-level project management positions, gain experience, and grow your career. Or you can develop your experience in a related role, such as a business analyst or software developer, and pivot into project management.

Follow some or all of the steps below to become a project manager.

1. Consider a degree.

Pursuing a bachelor's degree can be a valuable investment in your career. While it's not always required to get started in project management, a degree can be a useful way to build a solid foundation of applicable knowledge and skills. Moreover, many employers prefer or require candidates to have a bachelor's degree, especially for more senior positions.

If you want to be a project manager, consider relevant majors such as business administration, management, computer science, engineering, or specific industry-related disciplines. These programs often cover essential topics such as leadership, communication, financial management, and organizational behavior, which are crucial in project management. Learn more about how to become a project manager without a degree.

Learn more: What Degree Do You Need to Be a Project Manager?

Hear from a project manager at Google about how she went from being a business analyst to her current role.

2. Consider a project management credential.

Whether you have a degree or not, earning a certification or certificate can be a great way to achieve formal training and earn a credential you can feature on your resume. These types of programs are typically shorter and more affordable than a degree, while showing employers the e

xtra effort you've made to develop skills in project management. Here are a few to consider:

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

• Google Project Management: Professional Certificate

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

• Certified Scrum Master

• Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)

• ICAgile Certified Professional (ICP)

• PMI Certifications

3. Build relevant experience.

Seek project-based responsibilities in your current role or volunteer to assist on projects within your organization. Additionally, taking on leadership roles in community projects, pursuing internships in project-oriented environments, or obtaining entry-level positions such as project coordinator or assistant can provide valuable hands-on experience in project management principles and practices.

Many project managers start in non-managerial positions on a team. For example, IT project managers may work as an IT associate or a business analyst supporting the IT team for several years. Their roles may gradually expand as they gain industry expertise, take on managerial tasks, develop organizational skills, and learn to work with team members. 

4. Develop project management skills.

There are a range of important project management skills you'll need to be successful in this career. Look for opportunities in your current work or through internships and volunteer opportunities.

Whether you work in a hospital or retail store, tech company, or restaurant, chances are you'll need to plan, execute, and improve upon several items need to be planned, executed, or improved upon. See if you can join in these efforts. If it makes sense, approach your manager with ideas of how you can contribute and let them know you’re interested in developing project management experience.

Here are some skills commonly requested in project manager job descriptions:

• Risk management

• Budgeting

• Agile project management

• Waterfall project management

• Scrum

• Organization

• Communication

• Leadership

5. Enhance your project management resume.

As you gain experience and skills in this field, take the time to enhance your resume by adding what you've done and any measurable results you've achieved. Review project manager job listings to find out what companies are looking for and tailor your resume to the roles you'd like to pursue.

Highlight the qualifications that match the job requirements and feature them prominently on your resume. Use action verbs to describe tasks you performed in previous roles, and when possible, emphasize any quantifiable outcomes.

6. Look for entry-level project management positions.

Gradually working your way up the ladder from within a team isn’t the only way to become a project manager. Many project managers start in entry-level organizational positions to build key skills. Keep an eye out for these titles in your search:

• Project coordinator

• Operations coordinator

• Associate project manager

• Junior project manager

• Operations associate

• Administrative associate

Build your project management skills on Coursera

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)