An IT project manager is responsible for overseeing information technology projects in an organization, from start to finish. They are responsible for planning the project and delegating tasks, ensuring the project is finished on time, determining whether work is completed, recruiting new workers, and communicating with product end-users.
If you work in the tech field and want to grow your career as an IT project manager, this page will help you create a good resume for your next job application.
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Job Duties of an IT Project Manager
IT project managers are responsible for the details of an information technology project, including planning, executing, and completing tasks. The projects they may work in include hardware installs, cloud computing and virtualization updates, data management and business analytics development, upgrading networks, and application design build-outs.
Here is the detailed list of job duties of an IT project manager:
Develop project proposals and conduct meetings with clients to ensure the project is selected.
Develop project plans, set targets, and prepare budgets .
Ensure teams complete projects on time.
Identify project resources, build a team (including recruiting and hiring new teammates), and assigning tasks to team members.
Coordinate team members and make sure everyone is on the same page, working hard, and producing. This includes emotionally and verbally connecting with workers to know they understand their work and work thoughtfully and mindfully toward the goal.
Communicate with all stakeholders (project personnel, vendors, end-users) to keep them up to date about the overall progress.
Develop, guide, and perform strategic analysis for every project.
Monitor project progress.
Create contingency plans in case of any changes.
Ensure all projects are following the organizational policies, objectives, standards, policies, and procedures.
Create project reports and keep management updated.
Evaluating and setting security levels during project implementation.
Develop a remote work process for feedback and communication for both your team and end-users. May include using Zoom or other secure remote technology.
IT Project Manager Median Salaries
The average annual salary of an IT project manager is $88,905. Entry-level IT managers can earn a median salary of $61,667, while professionals with more than 20 years of experience can earn $111,678 annually.
Top Skills for IT Project Managers
An IT project manager must have strong technical and administrative skills to be successful in this field. Here are the top skills that IT project managers should possess to be successful at the position:
- Strong software knowledge: Although an IT project manager is not directly involved with software development, you should have a strong understanding of primary programming languages like Java, Javascript, Python, and C++. This would help you communicate well with software developers, resolve minor coding issues quickly, and improve your project planning. Moreover, you should also know about project management software, such as JIRA, Trello, Basecamp, MeisterTask, and Nifty, to efficiently delegate responsibility amongst your team.
- Strong understanding of budget administration: As an IT project manager, you have to create a budget for a particular project and ensure your expenditures don’t go over. You need to consider material, labor, and operating costs in your budget request. This should be calculated as per the stakeholders’ goals, expectations, and specifications and adjusted depending on plans or priorities.
- Resource planning: Resource management is crucial to complete a project on time and within budget. IT project managers have to be aware of the resources available and use them for maximum productivity. It is your responsibility to allocate the right people, tools, and equipment to ensure a project can be completed efficiently.
- Relationship-building skills: As an IT project manager, you lead a team of professionals. However, apart from being a leader, you know your team and play to their strengths when assigning tasks. Relationship building goes a long way in building trust with team members in the long run.
- Organizational excellence: From planning a project in detail to managing your time between several projects, you need to have excellent organizational skills to be a good IT project manager. You not only need to manage your work but also provide support to your team.
- Good at multitasking: Being involved in several aspects of a project makes it imperative that you take care of multiple issues at the same time while ensuring that the progress of the project does not suffer. For this, you need to prioritize your tasks and cut down on interruptions while working. Moreover, you also have to adapt to changes quickly, so the team completes projects on time.
Educational Requirements for IT Project Managers
Degree
To become an IT project manager, you should pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology (IT) from accredited institutions like the University of South Carolina and The University of Texas. A master’s degree in software development like that offered by Maryville University would also give your career a boost.
Likewise, earning a master’s degree in project management, as offered by Boston University, or even a master’s degree in business administration can also boost your career prospects.Certifications
As the IT industry is constantly evolving, IT project managers should have specific certifications to stay relevant. Possessing the proper certifications can showcase that you have the knowledge, understanding, and experience in your chosen field.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the most renowned institutes for project management certifications. The Project Management Professional (PMP) is a certification program that would give you the chance to learn the ropes of project management, from creating a high-performance team to keeping a project on track.
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is another valuable certification offered by PMI. During the course, you learn the fundamentals of project management, including scope, risk, stakeholder management, scheduling, quality assurance, project management methodologies, and resource management.
Other similar certifications are the Program Management Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), and PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA).
Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) by ISACA is another certification program that is valuable to attain the role of IT project manager.
Several technology companies whose products you work with, such as Java, Basecamp, Jira, and more, also offer certifications for those products, which can help ensure you are up to date with the latest tech.
And many online education companies such as Coursera also offer certification programs that are becoming more and more accepted in the IT industry as educational precursors for any IT project management job.
IT Project Manager Resume-Writing Tips
The first and most important thing to do while applying for an IT project manager job is to write your resume. Here are three top resume writing tips that will help you to build the perfect resume:
- Use the right keywords: Every resume goes through the organization’s ATS (applicant tracking system) before reaching the recruiter. Hence, you must include the right keywords so that the system picks your resume as a potential candidate.
One of the best ways to ensure that your resume has all the right keywords is to look for them in the job description provided by the company. If the organization has asked for a specific skill or experience and you have it, include it in your resume. Some of the common keywords on an IT project manager’s resume include scope management, stakeholder management, risk management, client communication, data analysis, and deployment management. - Showcase technical skills: Managerial-level work requires leadership and strong technical skills. Your resume should include IT architecture and standards, agile scheduling skills, IT quality management metrics, and Scrum or Waterfall methodologies.
- Format your resume: Here are some general rules to follow while formatting your resume:
- Stick to a one-page resume.
- Customize your resume depending on the organization you are applying for.
- Make your resume scannable by assigning clear and definite headings to each section.
- Write a concise and crisp resume summary of your entire career.
- Proofread your resume to ensure there are no mistakes.
FAQ
Are IT managers and IT project managers the same?
No. In most cases, IT managers and IT project managers have different roles. IT project managers are responsible for an IT project, while an IT manager is responsible for overseeing the entire IT department. Usually, IT project managers report to IT managers.
Where do IT project managers work?
Apart from Information Technology companies, IT project managers also work in financial services companies, healthcare, retail/distribution, manufacturing, and educational institutions.
What are the working conditions of an IT project manager?
IT project managers typically have a 9-to-5 job. However, you may have to work a lot over time to complete projects. IT project manager jobs also involve traveling to visit client sites.