If you have your eyes set on a career in project management, but don’t know what steps you need to take to reach your goal, then this is for you. These eight steps will help you plot the course you need to break into this career and become a successful project manager.

Step One: Research

You will need this skill in your career going forward, but first off you want to learn as much as you can about project management. This will assist you in properly preparing for this career and ensure that it is definitely something you want to do.

Step Two: Identify an industry

There is a range of project management opportunities across various industries. From marketing to digital and everything in between, you need to first decide where your passion lies. This is of the utmost importance to ensure that you follow the right career path.

Step Three: Study

Fast track your start by taking on a Project Management course. The one offered by IQ Academy can be done over 24 months, although most students can finish in almost half that time. With this qualification, you can immediately look for work within project management.

Step Four: Hone your skills

Before heading into management, it is essential that you dive into your chosen industry to gain vital experience and knowledge. Before leading, you need to understand the ins and outs of the entire process, and with some good experience under your belt, you will be able to pursue higher positions.

Step Five: Work on communication

This is one of the most vital attributes of becoming a successful project manager. When overseeing a project, you will be required to manage various teams, and communication between all parties needs to be on point. This can only be achieved if you communicate properly from the top down.

Step Six: Management tools

In this day and age, there are management tools that make project management so much more efficient. Spend time researching tools that are used within the industry so that you can find the right tools to help your team.

Step Seven: Keep the focus on all parties

When managing a project, it is easy to be sucked into the process without keeping track of those around it. Ensure that you are regularly in touch with clients, stakeholders, and your team to ensure that everyone is always on the same page.

Step Eight: Deliver

A successful project manager is one that delivers what they promise. By managing budgets, sticking to schedules, and delivering quality results, you can ensure that you will remain at the top of your game.