A technical project manager is a professional who leads all IT and IT-related projects of an organization. They have strong technical knowledge and, at the same time, good leadership skills to ensure the team finishes projects on time.
On this page, we will help you create an excellent technical project manager resume. Let’s start with the three specialized project manager resume formats:
See What People are Saying About Us
Job Duties of a Technical Project Manager
A technical project manager is the head of a project’s technical team and is responsible for all aspects from beginning to end. If you become a technical project manager, here are the duties that you have to fulfill:
Researching, planning, and developing technical standards and requirements.
Hiring and training technical personnel.
Initiating and implementing technical training processes and strategies for team members.
Allocating daily tasks and ensuring the technical team is on track to complete established milestones.
Communicating with all stakeholders, including executive management.
Assigning roles and responsibilities to technical staff members.
Conducting technical team meetings to update team and management.
Ordering hardware and software technology.
Determining deliverables and ensuring the project is completed on time.
Managing technical project budget.
Technical Project Manager Median Salaries
The average technical project manager salary is $93,764 annually. The entry-level wage for technical project managers is around $67,640, while professionals with more than 20 years of experience can earn approximately $108,175.
Top Skills for Technical Project Managers
A technical project manager needs both hard and soft skills to fulfill their duties.
Here are some of the top skills that employers expect from technical project managers:
- Expert in agile methodology: Methodologies help technical project managers structure their projects to complete them efficiently. One of the most commonly used methodologies by businesses is agile. This methodology allows the technical project managers to manage projects through cooperation and proper workload assignments. There are many types of agile methods, with scrum being the most popular. However, companies are also implementing other frameworks such as Adaptive Project, Kanban, and Extreme Programming.
- Functional technical knowledge: Technical project managers develop technology such as creating a new app, software engineering, and network security. It is essential to be up to date on the latest industry jargon, including technical terms and software processes. Technical project managers should have in-depth knowledge of a software development life cycle (SDLC), a framework used in software development to produce premium quality programs. Proficiency in Java/J2EE, systems troubleshooting, and Linux are also appreciated.
- Adept in budget administration: Budgeting is the first step to any project and one of the critical responsibilities of a technical project manager. You need to understand the client’s expectations, know their budget, and create a practical plan to benefit your employer. Knowing cost-saving strategies without compromising the quality of the final product will be imperative. You also need a contingency plan in budget cuts and must ensure the project is finished within the allotted amount.
- Strong resource-planning skills: Resource planning involves assigning available resources, such as people, tools, and equipment. You need to allocate resources as per the scope of the project. However, resource planning is not rigid, and a project manager must be ready to alter it as changes in the project scope, availability of the team members, and other factors come into play.
- Excellent vendor relationship management: Technical project managers must establish profitable and lasting relationships with the right vendors. Good project managers must learn to negotiate with their vendors to arrive at mutually beneficial terms.
- Practical communication skills: Good communication is a critical soft skill that technical project managers should possess. They consistently communicate with team members, vendors, senior management, and non-technical staff. As a technical project manager, you also need to be an excellent listener to tackle issues that can come up.
Educational Requirements for Technical Project Manager
Degree
It is mandatory to study for a bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Technology to work as a technical project manager. However, many professionals opt to study Management Information Systems (MIS) as it offers teachings in technical and leadership skills. Computer science degrees like those available at North Carolina State University provide a wide range of subjects that can help individuals increase their skills in many IT fields. Meanwhile, for those interested in focusing on organizational development, the University of Minnesota and other colleges like it offer a degree in MIS, giving you the skills to manage digital organizations.
Even though a master’s degree is not needed, some project managers prefer to have more preparation than a bachelor’s degree. One option potential technical project managers can consider is the MS in Project Management offered by New York University, which can be completed online and prepares you for the certifications you will need.Certifications
Certifications are crucial to take up the role of a technical project manager. They not only provide you with the required skills, but they give you a competitive edge over other candidates. As a joint field, technical project managers will require knowledge in managerial skills and technical skills.
These are only some of the certifications which you may earn on your path to working as a technical project manager:Institutions
- Project Management Institute (PMI): The Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification is popular and well-known as it gives candidates the chance to learn project management approaches like predictive, agile, and hybrid, and also other skills that help them become competent project managers. PMI also offers Associate in Project Management (CAPM) courses, which allow candidates to learn the ropes of effective project management and Project Management Professional (PgMP) designed for complex projects.
- Project Management Institute (PMI): The Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification is popular and well-known as it gives candidates the chance to learn project management approaches like predictive, agile, and hybrid, and also other skills that help them become competent project managers. PMI also offers Associate in Project Management (CAPM) courses, which allow candidates to learn the ropes of effective project management and Project Management Professional (PgMP) designed for complex projects.
Associations
- CompTIA Project+: Offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), this certificate course is perfect for entry-level technical project managers who handle minor projects. The course teaches foundational project management skills.
- IEEE Computer Society: This organization offers certification in software development that helps those interested in acquiring more technical skills and leading a development project understand their peers and the responsibilities they must carry out throughout the project, thus making it easier to divide the work among the team members.
Technology companies
- Microsoft: An MS (Microsoft Certification) provides you with the technical skills needed to manage database administration, web development, and systems analysis projects. A simple understanding of these processes can help you figure out which work requires more time and help you better organize your team.
- Google: The Professional Cloud Architect certification allows individuals to manage Google’s tools, which can be vital at communicating with your team or company.
- Oracle: This online certification offers those interested in developing an examination that attests to their Oracle programs’ skills.
Technical Project Manager Resume-Writing Tips
- Quantify your achievements: Your work experience and achievements comprise a significant part of your resume. However, to ensure that your resume stands out, it is essential to quantify them. For instance, instead of writing, “Met established deadlines after eliminating roadblocks and better scheduling practices,” it is better to write, “Met 100% of the 43 established deadlines per quarter, after eliminating roadblocks and better scheduling practices.”
- Customize your resume with the right keywords: Having the right keywords is extremely important if you want your resume to be selected by the organization’s ATS (applicant tracking system), software used to screen applicants. To ensure you have all the necessary keywords, check the company’s technical project manager job description for keywords and make sure you add them to your resume.
- Give importance to your certifications: Certifications show employers that you are serious about your career and are eager to learn. Hence, you need to add certification courses to your resume and basic educational qualifications.
FAQ
What is the career trajectory of the role of a technical project manager?
Those looking to work as technical project managers can expect a 4.3% rise in employment opportunities in the U.S. by 2029.
What are some essential tools for a technical project manager?
You should build a firsthand experience using numerous tools, including Microsoft Project, Trello, Jira, Evernote, and SmartDraw.