Three Ways To Carve Out Your Project Management Career Path

Three Ways To Carve Out Your Project Management Career Path

From the Site C Clean Energy project, a dam and hydroelectric generation station on the Peace River in British Columbia, to On-Corridor Works, the largest capital infrastructure development on Ontario’s GO Expansion program, multibillion-dollar infrastructure ventures are underway nationwide. These and other multifaceted initiatives across all Canadian sectors offer numerous project management career path routes.

In fact, according to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading professional organization for project, program, and portfolio management, by 2027, most work will be project-based. In Canada, employers are expected to hire nearly 90,000 new project managers (PMs) across various sectors, including manufacturing, production, infrastructure, construction, banking, IT, digital transformation, healthcare, oil and gas, renewable energy, management, and professional services.

As organizations become increasingly complex and competition ramps up, PMs need more than the ability to keep plans on time and within budget. That means these professionals must find ways to stand out. Here are three suggestions to get noticed.

1. Complete a Project Management Master’s Degree in Canada

Northeastern University in Toronto is one of several institutions that offer a Project Management (PM) master’s degree in Canada. However, Northeastern’s graduate-level program offers several unique benefits to enhance career opportunities.

It is one of only two post-secondary institutions in Canada accredited by PMI’s Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC). This independent academic accrediting body only accredits programs that meet global standards of excellence, are relevant and student-focused, and prepare graduates for the workforce. For more about the school’s affiliation with PMI, check out No. 3, PMP® Education.

Northeastern University in Toronto’s PM program joins a long tradition of the school’s practical approach, which blends theoretical concepts with experiential learning. Students can engage in a co-op placement, participate in experiential learning, and gain knowledge from real-world case studies. Through this approach, courses cover topics such as cost estimation, risk identification, schedule planning and monitoring, budget management, negotiation and conflict resolution, leadership, and project evaluation.

Students can tailor the curriculum to their professional experience or future career area of interest. Read on to find out how.

2. Gain In-Depth Knowledge to Define Your Project Management Career Path

Did you know that in 2024, the average salary for a PM in Canada is $80,149, while experienced workers earn up to $114,000? Because sectors value specific knowledge, a PM professional who gains knowledge of a particular area stands to make even more. For example, the average construction PM salary in Canada is $102,012.

After completing core courses, Northeastern University in Toronto students can pursue a concentration that allows them to gain more in-depth knowledge.

The school offers concentrations in: 

• Agile
• Analytics
• Construction management
• Leadership
• Leading and managing technical projects
• Organizational communication
• Project business analysis
• Custom concentration

Graduates, depending on their chosen concentration, will gain expertise in managing projects tailored to current market demands and industry trends. These include high-risk projects in adaptive environments, data-driven and analytics-based projects, large-scale construction, technical and complex projects, organizational transformations, and process or product development. They can also customize their skills to match their interests and technical background, preparing them for success in a variety of industries.

3. Get a PMP® Education

In addition to completing a master’s degree with a specialization, students benefit from Northeastern’s affiliation with PMI.

The University is the first post-secondary institution in the world to be part of the PMI Global Executive Council.  This body brings together leaders at the forefront of PM innovation. Northeastern sits alongside giants such as Amazon, Google, and NASA. Not only does participation allow the school to bridge the gap between academia and industry, but offers unique insight into industry challenges and creates an extra layer of exposure for students.

Graduates can submit their completed coursework towards their Project Management Professional, or PMP®, education requirements and qualify for a reduction in the amount of work experience required by the PMP® application.

PMP® is the most widely recognized certification for this industry globally. According to a 2023 PMI Survey, “respondents holding the certification reported higher median salaries than practitioners without a PMP®  certification — 33 per cent higher on average across the 21 countries surveyed.”

PMP®, however, is not the only PMI designation available. Others include Agile Certified Professional and PMI Construction Professional. Graduates receive a substantial reduction in the amount of work experience required when they apply for any PMI certification.

In Toronto, companies that hire PMP®-certified professionals include the Big 5 Banks (CIBC, RBC, TD, Scotiabank, and BMO), Deloitte, IBM Canada, Telus, and Seimens Canada.

By: Izabela Shubair

 

Sources:

https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/job-growth-report.pdf

https://storeys.com/largest-public-infrastructure-projects-canada-2024/

https://www.pmi.org/global-accreditation-center/about-gac#:~:text=The%20Global%20Accreditation%20Center%20for,graduate%2C%20and%20doctoral%20degree%20levels.

https://toronto.northeastern.edu/academic_program/project-management/

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Project_Manager%2C_(Unspecified_Type_%2F_General)/Salary

https://ca.talent.com/salary?job=construction+project+manager

https://www.pmi.org/business-solutions/the-global-executive-council

https://www.pmi.org/about/press-media/2023/pmi-survey-confirms-increased-salary-potential-for-project-professionals-who-earn-the-pmp

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