Aunty Entity: Making The Switch To Project Management

Dear Aunty Entity,
Someone once asked you how to make the switch into project management – well how do you do this if you are doing something different and any tips for making the switch?
Signed, Dormant Headspace

Dear Dormant,
Making a career switch is always going to raise questions from prospective employers. They want to know why you want to switch and importantly, what relevant skills you bring to the table to enable you to do the job you aspire to do.

First up, be clear about why you want to change, where you see this taking you and what you bring to the table for a future employer. Also be realistic in your expectations, making a career change generally means that you will have to start from a lower level from where you may have been previously.

In your CV, highlight any duties requiring coordination or management skills – for example: Do you brief other team members? Are you responsible for documenting changes to the project? Do you provide any input into proposals/specs/cost documents? Do you manage staff?

Bring attention to any technical skills you may have. This knowledge is extremely helpful when managing technical staff and reduces your training needs. A development background is usually a requirement for technical project management.

However, don’t overdo it: stating that you have excellent team building, and time management skills when it transpires that you got the beers in once after much harassment and you are nowhere to be seen in the office before 10.30 am on any given weekday, may catch you out sooner than you think.