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If you are already in project management, you’ll know how easy it is to get sucked into the tasks and stresses of day to day project activities and to leave self-development and improvement by the wayside because you are so busy. However, if you neglect your own personal development too much you may find that years have gone by, things have changed and all of a sudden you’re out of date. Here are a few things that every good project manager should find the time to do, even if it means working a couple of hours on the weekends. 1. Invest your time in building a pro CV When did you last update you CV? No doubt you’ve added a job or two to it since you started working, and maybe you opened up the file to change your address last time you moved, but when did you really last give it a thorough overhaul? Having an up to date CV is crucial in the project management industry, because without it those golden opportunities might just pass you by. Of course if you aren’t great at writing yourself or feel you are out of date with the current trends in CV presentation, there is no shame in asking a professional company to give it a refresh on your behalf. This type of service can cost from £50 up to £200 or more, but will leave you with a unique, eye-catching CV and a covering letter that is sure to open doors for your future! 2. Invest in training Unless you happen to work for one of the rare companies that is investing heavily in staff development, you probably haven’t been in a training session for quite some time. Keeping your skills up to date and learning new things is what will set you apart from other project managers in the long run, so take the time to ensure you are getting yourself qualified and continuously developing your skill set. If your company won’t pay for training, then remember – this is an investment in your future. Find the cash to pay for the courses that interest you yourself, and if necessary take evenings, weekends or even book holiday days to ensure you can attend. 3. Invest in project management certification Many people start out in project management with no qualifications at all. Often they have simply worked their way up from a team member, or have been taken on by a company willing to give them a shot. However, don’t think that because you got this job without any certification that the next one will come as easy. Project managers who are properly certified with APMP, PMP, PRINCE2 or another standard qualification get paid in the region of £8,000 more than their unqualified counterparts, so get yourself signed up on a project management course to obtain a professional certificate of PM competence and start working towards professional status as soon as you can. It may take a few years and several hundred pounds before you compete the course, but once you have those essential letters after your name you can be sure employers will sit up and take notice of you.
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