How to become a project manager

A project manager oversees the entire process of a project, from planning it to evaluating its outcomes. Companies need these professionals to ensure projects are completed on schedule and to the satisfaction of important stakeholders.

Having strong project management skills opens up a variety of career opportunities as you can work in various sectors. These skills are often transferable to many working environments, allowing you to switch industries during your career.

The demand for professionals in this field is also growing on an international scale. According to The Project Management Institute (PMI)’s 2021 Talent Gap report, the global economy requires 25 million new project management professionals by 2030.

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree is usually the place to start for aspiring project managers. This can help you gain foundational knowledge and skills relevant to your career goals. A master’s degree in project management can add more value to your professional credibility. 

This article explains how you can begin your career in this field and work towards becoming a project manager.

What is a project manager?

Project managers develop and supervise the execution of business projects of various sizes and objectives. They ensure that projects are completed on time and remain within the allocated budget.

Project management professionals typically work with internal and external stakeholders. They often coordinate with other departments and teams involved with the project to ensure that goals are achieved on time. Project managers also communicate with clients and key stakeholders to report on the progress of the project.

You can work as a project manager in companies of various sizes in diverse industries such as construction, marketing and IT. The versatile nature of this role also allows you to work full-time, freelance or as a consultant.

What does a project manager do?

Project manager roles and responsibilities vary according to the company, industry and type of projects these professionals manage. Their duties may involve:

• determining the scope, goals and structure of a project
• planning project tasks and delegating them to team members
• managing and preparing budgets
• performing risk management assessments and developing mitigation strategies
• setting deadlines and monitoring the progress of the project
• optimising project resources effectively
• collaborating with other departments and teams to achieve shared goals
• evaluating performance metrics throughout and after the completion of a project
• providing project reports to senior management and various stakeholders

4 steps to becoming a project manager in Malaysia

A project manager’s career path may look different for each individual. It’s highly recommended that you have a combination of relevant educational background and work experience to take on this role. Here are some steps you can take to pursue this career:

1. Get an undergraduate degree

   Upon completing your Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) studies or equivalent, pursue tertiary education by enrolling in a diploma or pre-university programme. Depending on your course, it may take you one to two and a half years of study.

   After finishing the programme, proceed to a bachelor’s degree in project management, business administration or a related field. The common study duration of a bachelor’s course is three to four years. You can gain industry-relevant knowledge and skills when you take subjects like Project Risk Management, Cost Analysis and Estimating, and Project Scheduling and Control.

   You can also pursue a bachelor’s degree related to the industry you want to enter and work your way up to a project manager role. The academic requirements of a profession may vary depending on the industry. For example, a technology company may require a candidate to have an educational background in IT to become an IT project manager.

   A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum academic requirement for project managers. Project managers who want to move up in their roles and lead projects within their industry or those looking to embark on a career in project management can also consider obtaining an undergraduate degree in this field.

2. Gain work experience

   Look for entry-level project management roles to start your career, such as project coordinator, associate project manager or operations coordinator. These roles primarily provide assistance to project managers in planning and executing projects. You can gain valuable insights and hands-on experience in this field as you support the team by scheduling meetings, researching information and performing various administrative tasks.

   As you progress into a mid-level position, your job scope will cover more areas. You’ll have more autonomy and responsibilities in different aspects of project management. Develop your skills in leading team members and projects by learning how to delegate tasks efficiently, prepare budgets and streamline procedures to achieve project goals.

   The experiences you’ve been gathering from the beginning of your career will propel you to greater heights as you work up to a project manager role. Employers usually look for candidates with a solid academic background and proven expertise in leading successful projects.

3. Acquire project management certifications

   You can get more job opportunities and set yourself apart from other candidates by earning relevant certifications. PMI offers certifications for project manager professionals of various levels.

   The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification proves that you have the fundamental skills and knowledge to begin a career in project management. The Project Management Professional (PMP) acknowledges a project manager’s leadership experience and expertise. The PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) recognises your skills in identifying problems, reducing threats and saving resources for your project. When you perform risk assessments effectively, you can avoid potential issues that may add unnecessary expenses.

4. Obtain a postgraduate degree

   Consider pursuing postgraduate studies to build your management skills, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). The typical duration of a master’s programme is one to three years. An MBA can help you hone leadership and managerial skills to become a well-rounded manager. It also covers various business areas, such as finance, marketing and human resource management.

   You may also study a Master of Project Management. This postgraduate course accepts students coming from diverse disciplines, such as engineering, law and accounting, who want to become project managers in their respective fields. You can develop core industry skills and learn the best practices in spearheading business projects and ventures.

   A master’s degree demonstrates your expertise, which can boost your credibility as well as improve your career prospects and earning potential. You may also stand out compared to other project manager candidates.

Project manager salary in Malaysia

According to Jobstreet, the average monthly salary for project managers in Malaysia ranges from RM7,650 to RM10,150. Check out the average salary for this role by state and territory below.

What skills do project managers need?

Here are some of the top project manager skills you should acquire to perform well in your role:

Soft skills

Decision-making: As a project manager, you will make important decisions that impact projects. This skill involves assessing a situation, evaluating the pros and cons of available options and opting for the best course of action that will lead to favourable outcomes.

Adaptability: You may face various hurdles in different stages of a project’s life cycle. Having this skill allows you to adapt to sudden changes and overcome issues calmly. It also requires the wisdom to act accordingly to avoid jeopardising the project.

Leadership: Managing a project involves motivating your team members to reach their goals. This leads to a better overall performance, which can contribute to the success of a project.

Time management: It’s crucial for project managers to keep everything on schedule to avoid delays. Effective time management allows you and other people involved in projects to meet the given deadlines.

Communication: This role requires you to work with your team members. You may also need to prepare communication plans for stakeholders, contractors and clients. Being an excellent communicator allows you to articulate important information clearly and build positive connections with everyone involved in a project.

Attention to detail: Project managers must be precise as they may manage different aspects of a project or multiple projects simultaneously. You need to be detail-oriented to make sure all project tasks are planned and executed accurately. This skill also allows you to identify and fix issues straight away.

Hard skills

Project planning: This skill is essential as it builds the foundation of a project. It involves developing a schedule, setting a project scope, calculating costs and forecasting potential outcomes. You also deal with resource management and risk management in this stage.

Project tracking: You need to monitor the progress and performance of projects closely to ensure it stays on schedule. Having the right tools to measure the project’s development is crucial for observing the data clearly and spotting any potential problems.

Project reporting: Project managers collect and record data in an easily understandable format that shows how project goals are being achieved. The report can be used to show stakeholders how a project is progressing.

Software proficiency: You need to be competent in using various project management software. Some popular software include Jira, Asana and ClickUp. Different software may have varying tools and features, so you must decide which is best for managing projects and your team’s workflow.

Data literacy: This skill is vital for making well-informed decisions about projects. Understanding data allows you to reduce risks, utilise resources effectively and monitor a project’s KPIs.

Budget management: This is an important skill for every project manager as you need to forecast costs and distribute funds efficiently. You must ensure that projects stay within the allocated budget.

Risk management: Effective risk management helps you detect potential problems, such as technology risks, operational risks and cost risks. Identifying these issues early allows you to create mitigation strategies before they cause harm to a project. When you plan for unexpected events, you’ll be ready to respond to them accordingly if they happen.

Project manager jobs in Malaysia

Project managers work across diverse industries with varying duties. Discover how their responsibilities may differ in the table below.

Lead your team and projects to success

A project management career offers various benefits and opportunities for professional growth. You can make significant contributions to achieve your organisation’s business goals. Kickstart your journey by studying a project management course. You can discover various programmes offered by leading Malaysian universities here.