You’re interested in becoming an IT project manager? You’re in the right place. IT project management is a fascinating and highly rewarding career choice.

This book is especially for you. We lift the lid on the role of the project manager and tell you what it’s really like. You’ll discover the background and context that will help you decide if the role of an IT project manager at any organisational level is a good fit for your career aspirations. And this book will tell you what it takes to be successful in these roles.

Project management can be the beginning of your career journey if you decide that this is the job for you. Later on in the book we look at the different options open to you for growing a successful (and well-paid) career, through the different certifications you can study for and how you can move on from project management if you decide to take your career even further.

HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANISED

Each chapter includes information about a different aspect of IT project management as it relates to the role.

Chapter 1 covers the basics of project management and IT project management in particular.

Chapter 2 looks at the role itself, covering the competencies, skills and behaviours of successful project managers, the responsibilities of the job, and the context of the environment IT project managers work in.

In Chapter 3 you’ll learn about the different team structures and interfaces to key people and teams within the project.

Chapter 4 talks about how work gets done. You’ll find out about the tools, methods and techniques that project managers use every day.

Chapter 5 covers career progression – everything from finding your first job to leaving project management after (hopefully) many successful years and moving on to bigger challenges.

Chapter 6 is a day in the life story from a real IT project manager so you can see what a typical 12 hours on the job is like.

Throughout the book you’ll see real-life stories from people who are in the role of an IT project manager. From the radiographer and electrical engineer who found career paths into IT, to experienced technical experts, you’ll read case studies about how other people secured jobs, chose their qualifications and developed outstanding careers in this exciting discipline. You will see this anecdote icon in the margin to focus your attention on these real-life stories:

ANECDOTE

An anecdote or case study; real-life experience from leaders who have faced these situations and taken purposeful action

Each section ends with a summary of the key points, further resources and an invitation to share the subject with your social network. Use the hashtag #itpm and be sure to tag @girlsguidetopm so my team and I can share too.