Ah, skill sets! One of the top business buzz-phrases of the decade.
You may have heard it said that promotions of yesteryear were rewards for a job well-done, but promotions today are based on the skill sets you bring to the new job.
This continual need to add to and sharpen the tools in your belt is both a burden and a blessing. With this "be agile or die" mindset, jobs that used to be routine are morphing into dances where the steps and partners are ever-changing, and this spells opportunity.
One of the top things you can do shore up your marketability for internal and external positions is add project management training to your skill set.
Why?
Project management training offers a uniquely broad scope of growth opportunities. It is not just about technical skills, planning or leadership. A trained and seasoned project manager must utilize all three capabilities to be effective, and each one of them has crossover benefits in other business functions.
Let's dig into these three growth opportunities gained through a project management training program:
The marketplace speaks
Recently, the Project Management Institute asked member companies about their plans to add or reduce staffing, according to San Diego State University, and found that a quarter of those who planned overall reductions still intended to add project managers. Plus, project managers who are certified make almost $14,000 more per year than their peers who have not earned certificates.
A study by the Anderson Economic Group expanded on the research from PMI, the source noted, projecting that 1.2 million project management jobs will be available in 2016, and 15.7 million positions between 2010 and 2020.
On your schedule
If you are contemplating a project management training program, you may be someone who has been tapped for future leadership or would like to be. In either case, you have a full load of current responsibilities, and taking time away for training may be an issue. Flexible project management training at your own pace is a very practical solution.
While group classes offer some advantages, including various opportunities for synergistic learning and small group follow-up, taking the courses on your own time offers other perks. This enables you to absorb and practice principles and methods at a pace that works for you. If the new management mantra is "agility," your schedule could certainly benefit from some more flexibility.