Where a project manager can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a project manager already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Project managers oversee the project on a daily basis and are responsible for delivering high-quality results within the identified objectives and constraints, ensuring the effective use of the allocated resources. They are responsible for risk and issue management, project communication and stakeholder management. Project managers perform the activities of planning, organising, securing, monitoring and managing the resources and work necessary to deliver specific project goals and objectives in an effective and efficient way.
Also known as special project manager, project expediter, project leader, projects manager, project coordinator, project director, senior project manager.
Managers 68 skills on file 12 career moves 2 above 60% overlap Closest: programme manager, 69%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
- ICT project manager 51% covered · difficulty 60.8
- operations manager 49% covered · difficulty 62.6
- security manager 39% covered · difficulty 67.1
- auction house manager 36% covered · difficulty 64.3
- resource manager 35% covered · difficulty 68.1
- facilities manager 33% covered · difficulty 73.9
- gambling manager 32% covered · difficulty 73.1
- sewerage systems manager 31% covered · difficulty 70.7
- water treatment plant manager 31% covered · difficulty 70.9
- quality services manager 31% covered · difficulty 67.1
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A project manager needs 36 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- customise project methodologies management skills
- perform PESTEL analysis information skills
- project management methodology (PM²) business, administration and law
- draft project documentation communication, collaboration and creativity
- organise project meetings management skills
- manage project changes management skills
- manage project information information skills
- manage project metrics information skills
- create project specifications management skills
- identify legal requirements information skills
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a project manager does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
Look up another occupation
Project manager is filed under Managers, ISCO major group 1. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a project manager’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.