Graduation Season
Here in the United States, its college and university graduation season! In Philadelphia, I can already see young adults dressed in their “academic regalia”, beaming with big smiles and full of pride and excitement as family and friends congratulate and celebrate with them.
All across the country, as young adults prepare to walk across graduation stages to collect their degrees, some graduates have already received a job offer or have several job interviews scheduled.
Then, there are graduates who have not received a job interview invitation or received any job offers. Perhaps this is you! I did not have a job offer or any interviews lined up before or immediately after earning my undergraduate degree and master’s degree.
Being in that position feels like an awkward duality. On one hand, it's a of feeling accomplishment for earning your degree and on the other hand, it's feeling like an underachiever because you have no job offers or interviews to validate your academic achievement.
Emerging Project Managers and Job Searching
For emerging project managers, who have successfully earned their bachelor’s or master’s degree in project management and lack professional experience in the field, this could feel daunting.
You look at your resume and there is more white space than words to convey your brilliance and abilities in managing projects. As you review job postings and read through the job function, role, responsibilities and requirements, you think to yourself, "I am under qualified, inexperienced and no one is going to hire me". Is this you?
4 Tips to Improve Your Project Management Job Search
My biggest word of caution is, don't limit yourself and your job search to the job title of Project Manager. Here is an opportunity to harness your analytical skills and creativity. These 4 tips can change your job search strategy.
Think and document your past experiences such as your part- time job or volunteer experiences. List the types of skills, projects and initiatives you worked on or played a supportive role in.
Think and document what excited and energized you in those experiences, as well as, what didn’t excite you and drained your energy.
Research the companies in the industry you are interested in building your project management career in and learn what are the roles being hired for.
Pay attention to the job titles, the job function, role, responsibilities and requirements and determine if the job posting, your transferable skills and abilities are aligned, where you can apply your project management knowledge and aspirations.
Entry Level Project Management Roles for Recent University Graduates
Here are seven case studies of recent university graduates and how they identified their transferable skills, past volunteer and paid experiences and leveraged those experiences to apply for junior entry level project manager roles.
The case studies are broken into three main parts:
Background of the student
Transferable Skills
Entry level project manager roles
Healthcare Industry:
Name: Sarah
Background: Sarah recently graduated from college with a degree in Healthcare Management. During her time as a student, she volunteered at a local hospital, where she assisted with patient intake, organized medical records, and facilitated communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Transferable Skills: Communication, Organization, Attention to Detail
Roles:
Project Coordinator: Assists with planning, coordination, and execution of healthcare projects.
Healthcare Project Assistant: Supports project managers in executing healthcare-related projects and initiatives.
Patient Care Coordinator: Manages patient interactions, schedules appointments, and ensures smooth operations within healthcare facilities.
Technology Industry:
Name: Michaela
Background: Michaela graduated with a degree in Computer Science and has experience working as a computer lab assistant on campus. She also volunteered as a tech support assistant for a nonprofit organization, where she helped troubleshoot IT issues for staff members.
Transferable Skills: Problem-solving, Technical Aptitude, Teamwork
Roles:
IT Project Coordinator: Supports IT project managers in planning, scheduling, and coordinating technology projects.
Technology Project Assistant: Assists with implementing and maintaining technology solutions for businesses.
Software Implementation Specialist: Facilitates the installation and deployment of software systems for clients and end-users.
Higher Education Industry:
Name: Emit
Background: Emit completed his degree in Education and gained valuable experience working as an office assistant in the university registrar's office. He also served as the president of a student organization, where he organized events, managed budgets, and led team meetings.
Transferable Skills: Leadership, Event Planning, Budget Management
Roles:
Education Project Coordinator: Coordinates projects and initiatives within educational institutions, such as curriculum development or student programs.
Student Affairs Project Assistant: Supports project managers in planning and executing student-focused initiatives and events.
Academic Program Coordinator: Manages administrative tasks related to academic programs, including scheduling, enrollment, and student support services.
Construction Industry:
Name: David
Background: David studied Civil Engineering in college and worked part-time as a construction laborer during summer breaks. He also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, where he participated in building projects and assisted with site logistics.
Transferable Skills: Problem-solving, Construction Knowledge, Time Management
Roles:
Construction Project Assistant: Provides administrative support to construction project managers, including document management and progress tracking.
Site Coordinator: Oversees day-to-day operations on construction sites, ensuring safety compliance and efficient workflow.
Project Engineer: Assists with engineering tasks, project planning, and coordination in construction projects.
Telecommunications Industry:
Name: Jessica
Background: Jessica majored in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and gained experience working as a retail clerk in a mobile phone store. She also volunteered as a social media coordinator for a student-run organization, where she managed online content and engaged with followers.
Transferable Skills: Customer Service, Marketing, Social Media Management
Roles:
Telecommunications Project Coordinator: Coordinates telecommunications projects, including network installations, upgrades, and service launches.
Marketing Project Assistant: Assists marketing project managers in planning, executing, and evaluating marketing campaigns and initiatives.
Customer Experience Specialist: Focuses on improving customer interactions and satisfaction through various telecommunications services and platforms.
Finance and Banking Industry:
Name: Alex
Background: Alex graduated with a degree in Finance and worked as a cashier at a bank branch during college. He also volunteered as a financial literacy tutor for high school students, where he taught basic budgeting and savings strategies.
Transferable Skills: Financial Acumen, Customer Relationship Management, Teaching
Roles:
Finance Project Coordinator: Supports finance project managers in planning and executing financial initiatives, such as system upgrades or process improvements.
Banking Project Assistant: Assists with project tasks related to banking operations, customer service, and product development.
Financial Analyst: Analyzes financial data, prepares reports, and provides insights to support decision-making in banking and financial institutions.
Transportation Industry:
Name: Ryan
Background: Ryan completed his degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and gained experience working as a delivery driver for a courier service. He also volunteered as a logistics coordinator for a campus event, where he coordinated transportation and logistics for attendees.
Transferable Skills: Logistics Management, Time Management, Problem-solving
Roles:
Transportation Project Assistant: Supports transportation project managers in planning, scheduling, and executing transportation projects and initiatives.
Logistics Coordinator: Manages logistics operations, including inventory management, transportation planning, and supply chain coordination.
Supply Chain Analyst: Analyzes supply chain data, identifies inefficiencies, and recommends improvements to enhance transportation and logistics processes.
Congratulations on your academic achievement! Your next steps are to dream boldly about your career in project management and as a true project manager, take action in improving the outcomes of your job search. To help you, I have developed “Pivoting to Project Management”, which is a comprehensive guide for emerging project managers with limited project management experience. Download a copy of the guide.
Comments