Getting Started as a Project Coordinator
Johnathan Richards
Whether you've just been hired, or you're considering this career, here are the first, most important things you can do today to get started:
1. Start Learning the Language
Project management is a complex field with a lot of variety. Different companies may use completely different tools or approaches when considering how to carry out a project. You should begin learning key terms used in the project management world such as: project lifecycle, scope, milestones, KPIs, deliverables. Getting the basics down is essential before reading into methodology and tools.
A great place to start learning these terms is the Lexicon of Project Management Terms published by the Project Management Institute. The PMI will be a key resource throughout your journey as a project coordinator and as a project manager.
2. Build Your Coordination Skills
If you become a project coordinator, you'll need to be able to get organized and handle a broad set of responsibilities. As the point person, you'll be responsible for all scheduling and task management for a segment of a project. Juggling multiple tasks, communicating with clients, team members, supervisors, and other stakeholders is challenging and requires practice.
Begin by looking at how you manage your work and life today. How do you manage your schedule, your tasks, and how do you communicate? If you work in an office, odds are you have some great examples of people doing this work already. Pay attention to how your boss or colleague responds to emails or delegates tasks. Even after work, think about how you plan events with friends, family, or how you handle running your household. Life is full of opportunities to find practical ways to build this skillset and make your existing work more efficient.
3. Familiarize Yourself with Project Management Tools
In today's world, software is essential for managing everything. Most of us have a calendar attached to our email, our phones send us notifications about upcoming events and that's where we keep our to-do list. A corporation is no different, and when it comes to managing a project, you have to learn what technology professionals use to manage their workloads.
While we'll review in-depth some of these platforms, there are a couple of tools you can create accounts on and begin learning how they look and function today. Popular platforms that offer free sign-ups for individuals include:
Experiment with these platforms. Try using these to manage your to-do list or your schedule, and write down what you notice about these tools. This will give you hands-on experience organizing projects.
4. Seek Out Your First Experience
For many of us, the best way to learn is by doing. In some cases, you can begin building your career right where you are. Express interest to your supervisor in project coordination. If you know someone who already works in project management, share that you are excited about the possibility of growing your career and you would like to shadow them. If there isn't a chance to do that, find informal ways to begin your career growth. Offer to take on new tasks or give suggestions based on what you learn. Even if it's just helping set up meetings, many managers look for initiative and how you can add value to the company. Being helpful might just help you.
Conclusion
You have to start small. The field of project management can be challenging to understand at first, but by starting small and gaining the right knowledge, you can develop the skills for the job. Focus on getting organized, experimenting with new tools, and finding ways to include project coordination in your life. These steps will lay the foundation for your success in a project management career.
