How to become a project manager

If you're eager to find out more about careers in project management but haven't studied the subject, discover the skills and qualifications you'll need to become a successful project manager

What is project management?

The Chartered Association for Project Management (APM) defines project management as 'the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives.'

Effective project management plays a vital role in business. It ensures work is completed on time, to a high standard, and within the agreed budget.

Requiring a combination of technical, business, and people management skills, project managers oversee a range of tasks. The end goal is to produce something that benefits an organisation, such as new software or apps or managing the construction of a building.

Project manager careers

Project management jobs are available across all sectors, including:

Starting salaries for project managers in the UK range from £20,000 to £35,000, with higher wages often found in the construction and IT industries.

If you're a graduate, you'll likely begin your career as a junior or assistant project manager and work your way up the ladder.

Key responsibilities of a project manager

According to the APM, project managers are tasked with:

planning the work, including when it will take place and the people involved
keeping to the project timeframe
addressing any changes to the plan
considering and managing the risks
motivating the people working on the project
ensuring the work is carried out at a high level
remaining within the set budget
delivering on the expected goals and benefits of the project.

Essential project management skills

To be an effective project manager, you'll require:

Time management - you'll figure out how other people spend their time, but it's essential to be skilled in managing your workload. It's your job to prioritise and delegate tasks successfully. You need to be skilled at identifying the most critical aspects and saying no to requests that get in the way of completing priority tasks.
Organisation - how can a project manager organise the work of others if they're unorganised? The job demands a high level of responsibility, from setting goals, managing meetings and creating estimates and timelines to scheduling and tracking the progress of a project.
Communication - most of your time will be spent liaising with others. You must clearly articulate visions, ideas, goals and project issues to various people, from team members to stakeholders. Your written communication skills need to be honed for report writing, while your verbal skills need to be up to scratch for meetings and presentations. Good listening ability is also essential.
Negotiation - project managers need to be excellent negotiators to find common ground to accomplish project goals. You'll work with teams, often with competing interests to negotiate resources, budgets and schedules. Knowing how to negotiate a win-win outcome for all parties is the sign of a good project manager.
Risk management - identifying and managing risk shows that you're in control of your project. You need to stay ahead of the game and predict and create solutions to problems before they arise to deliver projects successfully.
Leadership - leading your team and managing their activities is vital. You need to be able to inspire team members, set the project vision, and motivate your colleagues.

Read about the 7 skills for a successful management career.

Project management work experience

To build up your project management knowledge and skills, consider finding relevant work experience. Any experience leading and organising the activities of a team will be valuable.

Look for internships as a junior or assistant project manager in sectors of interest. For example, you could apply to work with a major employer such as Microsoft in the IT industry. Alternatively, you could gain experience in construction with Mott MacDonald.

Other options include arranging to work shadow an experienced professional or volunteering in leadership roles.

You should also consider becoming a student member of professional bodies such as the APM and the Project Management Institute (PMI) to access networking opportunities and events.

Joining clubs and societies at university can help you gain experience in organising events, running projects and campaigns, and leading teams. Discover the importance of extra-curricular activities.

Project management qualifications

Bachelors degrees in project management

You can get into general project management with any degree subject, although business or project management courses are particularly useful.

However, an undergraduate degree in a related subject would be beneficial for more specific project management roles, such as those in:

construction
engineering
IT.

Institutions that offer programmes with a focus on project management include:

Accredited by the APM, Leeds Beckett's three-year BSc Project Management is designed for those looking to work in various sectors. The course also includes an optional fourth-year work placement.

You'll need GCSE English language and mathematics at grade 4 or above (functional skills qualifications are also accepted), plus 112 UCAS Tariff points for entry. These can be gained from:

To check what A-level results you'd require, view the table at how to apply for university.

MSc Project Management

You don't need a postgraduate qualification, but if your first degree is unrelated, a Masters could increase your chances of success. This is especially true of Masters programmes accredited by the APM.

The APM-accredited MSc Project Management is offered by various institutions, including:

The MSc Project Management in Construction from the University of Salford is run in partnership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the APM.

For course entry, you'll need at least a 2:2, and the fees are set at £9,800 per year (2025/26).

Consider the full range of construction management courses to enter the construction industry.

Search all postgraduate courses in project management.

Professional project management courses

While a degree in project management will qualify you for the job, the additional knowledge gained through professional qualifications, conversion courses and online learning will help you progress.

Completing these qualifications before finding employment isn't necessary, as most employers provide recruits with on-the-job training.

Courses are available in various project management methodologies, such as:

PRINCE2 - a structured framework commonly used for end-to-end project management. PRINCE2 certification is available at the foundation, practitioner and agile levels. Foundation courses are suitable for those with a basic knowledge of project management processes. You'll then progress to the practitioner level aimed at working professionals.
Agile Project Management (AgilePM) - is suited to fast-moving environments such as IT. This methodology uses short development cycles called sprints to focus on continuous improvement in product development. Training is available at the foundation and practitioner level. For more information on Agile courses, see IT courses.

Industry certification can also be gained through the APM and the PMI.

The APM offers the following certifications:

APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ) - an introductory course in project management terminology. No prior project management knowledge or experience is required.
APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) - a knowledge-based qualification that allows candidates to demonstrate an understanding of all elements of project management. You'll need some previous experience and will ideally have completed the PFQ.
APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ) - covers the core and specific competencies that project professionals require. It's aimed at those working in all types of project management and looking to become members of the APM.

The APM also offers shorter online courses, including the:

Major Project Leadership Specialist Certificate - for professionals who've worked in a leadership role on a major project.
Project Risk Management Single Subject Certificate - designed to build on the knowledge gained in the PMQ or similar management qualifications.

Find out more about APM Qualifications and training.

A selection of certificates for experienced project managers is also available from the PMI. In most cases, you'll need a degree and at least three years of project management experience to enter these programmes. Courses include:

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Program Management Professional (PgMP)
Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP).

Explore general management courses.

Project management apprenticeships

If you're put off by the prospect of paying course fees to achieve your qualification, the popular apprenticeship route is something to consider. You can earn as you learn and build industry contacts from day one through a business apprenticeship focused on project management.

These programmes are typically aimed at higher apprenticeship level (Levels 4 and 5 - equivalent to a foundation degree), although Level 6 project management degree apprenticeships are available.

Apprentices can train in roles such as:

assistant project manager
project co-ordinator
project executive
project manager
project support officer.

These apprenticeships range from two to five years, depending on the company you work for and your study level.

You can complete project management apprenticeships with a range of employers, including:

Search for project management apprenticeships.

Applying for project manager jobs

You can apply for jobs online by searching for vacancies through company websites, while industry bodies also provide details on where to find work.

If you get invited for a job interview, ensure you're well prepared by researching the company you've applied to and reading the job description and person specification. Know your CV inside out and brush up on any industry news.

Search for project manager jobs.

Interview questions for project managers

Prepare your responses to common management interview questions to stay ahead.

You should also think about what solid examples you'll use to demonstrate your suitability for the role when asked these specific project management interview questions:

What project management methodologies are you most familiar with?
What are the most important qualities of a project manager, and why?
How do you plan a schedule for a project?
How do you allocate resources?
How do you ensure your team stays on track to meet project deadlines?
How do you motivate a team?
Two key stakeholders have opposing views - how do you manage this?
How do you approach risk management on a new project?
What did you find most challenging about your last project?
Have you worked on a project that failed? What happened?
What is the most complicated project you have managed? How did you handle it?
What was your most successful project?

Before the interview draws to a close, it's a good idea to ask the interviewer some questions of your own. For inspiration, see 7 good questions to ask at an interview.

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