Project manager
You'll organise people and resources to make sure a project is delivered successfully.
About the job
A day in the life – Project manager
What it's like
Are you organised, confident leading others and passionate about doing things right? Then a career as a project manager could be the perfect fit.
In this role, you'll plan and organise people and resources so a project achieves its aims. You'll make sure everyone works well together so you can finish the project on time and on budget. Project managers are skilled at spotting potential problems and working out how to solve them.
As a project manager, you could work in almost any industry. You may oversee a large building development or even a mission to space!
Let's imagine you're working as a project manager within the computing industry, overseeing the introduction of a new computer system. You'll need to understand secure coding practices, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. You’ll take steps to protect against malware by developing a cyber security plan and responding to security incidents.
Whatever the project, you’ll need to have relevant technical knowledge.
Your tasks might include:
finding out what the client or company wants to achieve
agreeing timescales, costs and resources you'll need to deliver the project
creating a detailed plan and scheduling each stage of the project
selecting and leading a project team
reporting regularly on progress to senior managers and the client
managing risks to avoid delays
In this role, you'll use the latest project management methods. This'll help you break down the project into stages and manage its progress. You'll also use specialised software to help with scheduling, costing, and risk analysis.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Association for Project Management – professional body for people working in this area
Project Management Institute – a membership association for people in project, program and portfolio management
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Transport -
Financial and professional services -
Digital technologies
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- motivating others
- coaching
- time management
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- compromising
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Accounting
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Business Management
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Economics
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Statistics
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Business Skills
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are a few ways you can become a project manager.
University
A degree may be helpful for getting into this job.
You could study subjects such as:
Project Management
Business Management
Strategic Project Management
Construction Project Management
Information Technology with Project Management
A degree that's relevant to the industry you want to get into is also useful. For example, an engineering-based degree can help you land a project management role within an engineering company.
Use the My World of Work course search to find relevant degrees.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You'll get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Project Management Technical.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Construction Management
Business
Contracting Management
Management and Leadership
Technologies in Business
Work
You may be able to apply directly for jobs if you have a good knowledge and experience of the industry it's in.
For example, if you've worked in construction, you'll be in a strong position to apply for a construction project management role.
Use the My World of Work job search to find vacancies.
It's handy to have skills and experience in project management-related software, such as Jira and Trello.
Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a project manager. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Project manager'
