Project Manager: who is, why do employers need him and how to become one?

Hey! Well, this is again the guys from Hays, and again a post with the experience and expertise of recruiters. But no, we are not going to write another material about remote work or how an IT specialist can get a job. Today we will deal with Project Managers. We are increasingly faced with hiring them and are working out a bunch of questions, including those on the specifics of projects in the field of software development: who are employers looking for, what are their requirements? Let’s talk about this.

In general, the Project Manager role is typical for a team working on a project. The manager is responsible for the implementation of a project or idea within a certain time frame by his team using certain resources and in the quality required by the customer. The dictionary definition has been learned, now in essence.

I’m more inclined to think that the Project Manager is, in fact, a leader who loves to solve problems and work with people. Together with a team of engineers, they solve complex problems and coordinate the team to move towards the goal.“, – emphasizes Igor Mishurov, Technical Project Manager at Virtual Health.

In Russia, a project manager is perceived in a peculiar way. Somewhere (often in startups) PM is forced to take on one more role (or even several), and somewhere the duties of a project manager are hung on an employee performing a different function. Leaders often do not appreciate PMs, do not understand the volume and importance of their work. And they often save – they create hybrid roles (project manager / product manager; project manager / tech lead; project manager / system analyst).

So what is PM and why is it needed?

Most often, project managers are looking for projects for the development of a prototype, MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and modules (functional blocks) of a software product, individual features and components. There are times when a company is looking for a project manager who will be responsible for several projects implemented within one product solution.

The main task of PM is to do the job so that the client likes everything and does not have any complaints. To do this, the PM manages one or more teams that are involved in the software development cycle. The PM is given strict deadlines and a specific budget (and any other resources). And then – himself.

For me, the most important thing in the work of a project manager remains what attracted me many years ago: I like to solve complex problems on a project scale, plan a project for years to come and turn a set of problems and pain points into a detailed and detailed plan. It seems that I just like to bring to life what at first seems impossible and incomprehensible.“, – says Igor Mishurov.

To summarize, the Project Manager:

· Communicates with the customer;

· Collects requirements;

· Processes requirements – splits them into smaller ones;

· Sets tasks for his team, monitors time and resources;

· Coordinates and monitors the progress of work;

· Manages the project budget;

· Maintains design and technical documentation.

At the same time, project planning and implementation are based on waterfall or agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean, XP).

Blow the dust off your diploma: what kind of education does a PM need?

If your diploma has been on the table for a year instead of a mouse pad, it’s time to fix it. When looking for a project manager, companies most often indicate a higher education in project management among the requirements. Sometimes shorter-term training is suitable – from a week to a year – from various educational sites.

A big advantage (and for some companies a mandatory requirement) is the official qualification in project management. In Russia, this is most often PMI. The certificate confirms the specialist’s knowledge of methodologies, special software, planning, change control, implementation and completion of the project.

Another almost prerequisite is regular professional development. To stay on top of and know about cutting-edge technologies, methodologies, and rapidly changing business processes, it is important to constantly learn. It will be especially great if the candidate has passed the additional. courses and is certified in Agile methodology and its frameworks.

I would single out several qualities of a successful Project Manager: accuracy, the ability to quickly grasp the task, the ability to separate what drives the project towards the goal and what does not. Often, former developers who have learned how to build a project from the inside and are ready for leadership in the team find themselves in the role of a project manager. <...> If you are more comfortable with a computer, this does not mean that you cannot become an excellent Project Manager, but communication and the ability to build relationships is the main aspect of work“, – says Igor Mishurov.

Many companies want PMs with experience in IT and – quite well – in development. These can be both developers who additionally performed the Scrum Master function within the team or oversaw the development of individual elements, as well as the Team Lead of the development team – they have the best idea of ​​how the load is distributed in the team and will be able to correctly prioritize.

Even in the role of PM, testers or Team Lead test teams and analysts (system, product, business analysts) are effective. Project coordinators or project management assistants can also be promoted to the role of a project manager.

The main requirement for ideal project manager in a spherical vacuum can be defined as follows: in order to achieve a high-quality result, he must understand the specifics of software development, tools, testing methods, system analysis tools, and sometimes the features of the product architecture, if the team does not have a Tech Lead ready to help.

What will be asked at the interview?

At the interview, they will probably ask case questions on people management, interaction with the customer and management of development processes. A potential employer expects the candidate to describe in detail the difficult situations from his practice and how he was able to solve the tasks before him. By the way, you can send us your resume by this link

The employer will also check the basics of knowledge about artifacts, ideology and the structure of project management according to a specific methodology.

They will also ask questions about project planning: how the budget is calculated, terms, resources, what needs to be considered. It is important for a company to understand that a candidate knows how to calculate risks and work out planning scenarios in advance.

I recommend that all budding project managers remember to focus on risk. Every week in a relaxed atmosphere (after hours, when your head is unloaded from routine), you need to ask yourself: what can hinder or hinder my project from being completed?“- advises Igor Mishurov.

What career prospects are there for PM?

Within the company, PM can, over time, expand its functionality and increase the area of ​​responsibility – starting to manage several teams and projects at the same time. And even grow to Project Director.

PMs also often move into product management, either as a Scrum Master or Agile Coach. And if the Project Manager is more involved in the technical part of the project implementation process, then he can become a development manager or, for example, a Delivery Manager.

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