What to avoid when sourcing a Project Management job

Whether you are starting out as a Project Manager or just looking for a new job within Project Management, there are always things you need to make sure you do when looking and things you should avoid.

Here is a short list of do’s and don’ts when looking for a new Project Management job. Whether this is your first Project Management job or you are an experienced Project Manager looking for a new role, these will be helpful:

Make sure you do…

• Make sure you have an impressive CV. It may sound obvious, but it’s the first deciding factor for employers so making sure your CV is as good as it can possibly be is hugely important. You can read some further tips here on writing a Project Manager CV. Also make sure your covering letter is tailored to the role/ roles you are applying for.
• Make sure you are qualified- Ensure you have at least one kind of Project Management qualification/ degree. Prince2 is the most popular qualification in Project Management.
• Ensure you have a substantial amount of experience in the industry, work experience or volunteering if you are just starting out in Project Management.
• Networking is always beneficial. Letting contacts, potential clients, ex-colleagues and others in the industry know that you are looking for a new Project Management role puts you on the radar and word of mouth recommendations can also be beneficial. Networking can be done offline at events or online through LinkedIn or Twitter.
• Ensure you fully understand the job specs and understand what is being asked for you. This will be at your advantage when writing your covering letter and then if you’re called back for an interview.
• Check it is a Project Management role and not a Business Analyst role you are applying for, these roles can often be confused. If this is your first Project Management role, just remember that Project Managers have the responsibility for the initiation, planning, execution and closure of a project and Business Analysts are in control of the end product and making sure it has met the requirements and demands of the stakeholders.
• Register your CV on specialist job sites such as Project Manager Jobs who have a wide variety of Project Management roles at different levels and different locations.

Make sure you don’t…

• Don’t be disheartened if you aren’t successful in your first application. Project Management roles are popular and competition can be fierce so don’t give up.
• Don’t have a poorly prepared, generic and non-tailored CV. Make sure it is focused on the job role you’re going for, highlights all your skills clearly and previous relevant jobs.
• Don’t always stay within your comfort zone- be prepared to seek out new opportunities that will provide higher goals. Dismissing opportunities that are out of your comfort zone could be a great opportunity missed.
• Avoid relying on people finding and chasing you. Like we mentioned before, the Project Management market is competitive. Not only do you have to sell yourself with your CV, you need to be pro-active by using different ways to ensure you’ve got the best chance of spotting the opportunities at the right time. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect job just after it’s been filled.