How to become a project manager in Ireland?

Becoming a project manager in Ireland is both challenging and rewarding in equal measure. It involves dedication, organisation and a diverse range of skills. There are several paths to becoming a project manager, so in this article we will examine some of the necessary steps along those paths.

In this article, we will answer the following questions:

• What skills do you need to be a project manager?

• What are the steps to becoming a project manager?

• What kind of project manager roles are available?

• What kind of salary can a project manager expect?

What skills do you need to be a project manager?

To be a project manager, one needs a complex and diverse set of skills. As a senior level position that involves a variety of functions, this role requires the following key competences:

• Leadership Skills: In order for a project to succeed, it requires total buy-in from all stakeholders. Therefore, a project manager needs to be a strong leader,

• Communication Skills: Getting the message across to all parties involved is key, so that everything from the desired outcomes to the approach and finally the project’s deadline are understood and agreed upon. 

• Time Management: Every project has a deadline, so the project manager requires excellent time management – not just of their own time, but of those working underneath them. 

• Guiding and mentorship: The best project managers are aware of how their reports are working, following a constant flow of communication, so if there are any ways in which a project manager can aid their colleagues this can be achieved in order to meet that deadline.

• Problem Solving: From the beginning of each project to its delivery, there will be a number of problems that need to be solved. The project manager will see these problems and find innovative and effective ways of solving them.

• Negotiation Skills: While everyone involved in a project will want the same end result, the way in which they go about it might be different. It’s up to the project manager to be the lead negotiator, drilling down into the wants and needs and seeing where the team can meet in the middle. 

• Expectation management: They must also be excellent in the art of expectation management, ensuring that the team under-promises and over-delivers, rather than the opposite.

• Technical Skills: Finally, every project manager will be required to use a form of management software, so they must be comfortable using this and explaining how it works to their team and to any new hires.

What are the steps to becoming a project manager?

There are many approaches to project management and there is no shortage of courses available. These tend to be in the realm of professional diplomas, as the thinking around project management is constantly being refined and updated.

As with any senior role with such complexities, project management requires constant learning and upskilling, and a thorough knowledge of the state of the industry is essential for anyone who wishes to succeed in this field.

A professional diploma will provide you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in all areas of project management, from processes and scope to human resources and communication.

It will also keep you abreast of the latest thinking in this fast-moving field, meaning you can bring up-to-date approaches to your place of work.

What kind of project manager roles are available?

Project managers are required in many different fields. From IT and construction to the health service and catering, a good project manager will be able to succeed no matter what kind of projects they are tasked with. 

With the state of play in constant flux following Brexit and the onset of COVID-19, the world is in need of quick thinkers who can communicate effectively and deliver projects in every industry.

What kind of salary can a project manager expect?

According to job sites like Glassdoor, jobs.ie and indeed.com, the expected salary for top project managers in Ireland is between €60,000 and €70,000.

With the right tools and experience getting the job should be the easiest part of your journey. Take the first step today by signing up for the Professional Academy Diploma in Project Management at UCD Professional Academy.