From software development to construction, very little could be accomplished with the expertise of a project manager. The wrong project manager can hurt more than they help, though. Hiring a good project manager involves more than throwing an ad in the local paper and picking the applicant with the most experience. Learn what to look for when you’re planning to hire a project manager.
What is a Project Manager & What Do They Do?
Before you can hire a good one, you need to have an idea of what they should do. A project manager is the individual who is in charge of implementing a project from beginning to end. A project manager’s responsibilities may include any combination of the following:
- Determining and implementing the needs of the client
- Creating a specific project plan based on the project requirements
- Building the project requirements
- Ensuring that time, cost and quality requirements are all met based on client requirements
- Adapting to procedures set by the company
Although, technically speaking, anyone who is in charge of completing a project is a “project manager,” a professional project manager’s role is more complex. To truly be a project manager, they must have not only the experience to ensure the completion of a project but also the authority to make the necessary decisions and take personal responsibility for each step of the project.
What Types of Project Managers Are There?
It’s difficult to define exactly what is or is not a project manager because they can be found across many industries working under several different titles. Here are a few of the many jobs that could be considered a part of the category of project managers.
- Software project manager
- Engineering project manager
- Computer and information systems manager
- Construction project manager
- Insurance claim project manager
- Architectural project manager
- Natural sciences manager
- Web based project manager
What to Look for In Potential Project Managers
Before you hire a project manager, know what you want and don’t want in your candidate. Just having education and work experience may not always be enough. If you have a specific project plan in mind, the candidate should have experience in this specific area.
In general, you should always look for someone who has good communication skills because he or she will be working with many others throughout the creation, development and implementation of the entire project. Keep in mind that no one is going to be perfect in every area, but you should search for the best person you can find for the job.
