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How to become a project manager

AuthorDaniel Higginbotham, senior editor
Posted on

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 Association for Project Management (APM) defines project management as 'the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.' (APM Body of Knowledge 8th edition)

To understand the terminology used in this profession, see APM's glossary of project management terms.

Effective project management plays a vital role in business. It ensures work is completed:

  • on time
  • to a high standard
  • within the agreed budget.

Project manager careers

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

Choosing project management as your career is the first step to a fulfilling professional future. In today's dynamic and complex business landscape, project management has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most crucial professions.

Jackie Martin, director of education and lifelong learning at APM, explains, 'Whether it's orchestrating major infrastructure projects, managing a music festival or spearheading climate action initiatives, project managers are at the heart of delivering successful outcomes across virtually every sector.

'Explore the various paths within project management, and you're likely to discover one that resonates with your unique strengths and ambitions.'

Project management jobs are available across all sectors, including:

High earning potential

APM's Salary and Market Trends Survey 2025 shows that the average salary for a project manager is £52,500, up £5,000 from £47,500 in 2023.

The survey also reveals that 25 to 34-year-olds feel the most confident about their prospects, with over three-quarters (76%) of this group expecting their earnings to increase in the next year.

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. Higher wages for project managers are often found in the construction and IT industries.

Key responsibilities of a project manager

According to 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.

Get the lowdown on the role of a project manager.

Essential project management skills

'Project management is a growing profession and changing fast. It has never been so important for project professionals to demonstrate their skills and for organisations to assess their capability,' says Jackie.

There is a whole range of skills you need to be a successful project manager, and they're not necessarily all technical. They may be skills you already use in your day-to-day life, as well as job-specific abilities developed through education and training.

Jackie adds, 'Project management skills are transferable across industries. The tools and techniques of project management are universal, and a good project manager should be able to add value in any environment.'

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 at managing your own 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, including setting goals and managing meetings, creating estimates and timelines, and scheduling and tracking project progress.
  • Communication - most of your time will be spent liaising with others. You must clearly articulate visions, ideas, goals, and project issues to stakeholders ranging from team members to senior leadership. 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 and achieve 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 by predicting and proactively creating solutions to problems before they arise to deliver projects successfully.
  • Leadership - leading your team and managing their activities is vital. You need to inspire team members, set the project vision, and motivate your colleagues.

You can also explore 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 team activities 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 APM and the Project Management Institute (PMI) UK to access networking opportunities and events.

Joining clubs and societies at university can help you gain experience in:

  • organising events
  • running projects and campaigns
  • leading teams.

Discover the importance of extra-curricular activities.

Project management qualifications

'Project management qualifications are vital for formalising expertise, enhancing career prospects, and validating skills in a competitive job market,' says Jackie.

While completing these qualifications before finding employment isn't usually necessary, as most employers provide on-the-job training, a degree or Masters in a related subject can give you an advantage over the competition.

No matter what stage you're at, Jackie explains how 'APM's project management qualifications are designed to support you throughout every stage of your project management career'.

Bachelors degrees in project management

If you've just left school or college, it's good to know that you can get into general project management by studying any degree subject. However, an undergraduate degree in business or project management would be beneficial for more specific roles in:

  • construction
  • engineering
  • IT.

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

Accredited by 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 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 APM.

For course entry, you'll need at least a 2:2, and the fees are set at £9,800 per year (2026/27) for UK students.

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 one of the following will also help you progress:

Professional 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) - a certification best suited to those working in 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 certifications can also be obtained through APM and PMI.

APM offers the following certifications:

'We recognise the importance of keeping qualifications up to date and relevant, so they reflect the knowledge that you have, the work that you do and the skills that you have developed,' says Jackie.

APM provides a progressive career development structure to advance your knowledge and grow your skills through a mix of project management:

  • tools
  • techniques
  • processes.

APM qualifications offer a clear route to achieving the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status, which recognises the competence and success of project professionals.

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're invited to 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 project schedule?
  • 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.

Find out more

Written by Daniel Higginbotham, senior editor

Prospects · April 2026