Becoming a Project Management Professional requires multiple years of real-world project management experience. Two great ways to introduce yourself to the career field of project management are to either earn your Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®) Certification and acquire an entry-level position or acquire a Project Management internship. While earning your CAPM may be the quickest way into a paid full-time role, project management internships are still a great way to gain hands-on experience and professional connections that can set you up for future career success. In this blog article, we’ll guide you on everything you need to know about project management internships and how to secure one for yourself.
What to Expect from a Project Management Internship
In a project management internship role, you can expect to work directly with the project manager or another leader in a project management capacity. You will work on projects alongside this leader to assist in tasks such as data collection, analysis, preparing reports, etc. Your exact role and responsibilities as a PM intern will vary depending on the company that hires you and their needs. However, some PM intern roles we looked at included responsibilities such as:
Support the PM with administrative roles like agenda, scheduling meetings, etc.
Help with testing of software functionality
Support creating training material and video narration
Help with communication sent to project sponsors and stakeholders
Create presentations
Proofread project documents and suggest how to improve
Help with data cleaning and running quality reports
Create/implement a project KPI Dashboard
Project management internships are generally part-time or sometimes offered only during the summer and can be paid or unpaid depending on the company and the role itself. Some companies use these roles to offer experience to college students while pursuing their degrees and allow them to be hired full-time once they graduate.
Why Pursue a Project Management Internship
There are several benefits to beginning a project management internship. Being a project management intern provides a structured learning environment where you can apply your knowledge to real-world business initiatives. You’ll gain vital experience, technical skills, and important soft skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork necessary to propel your career forward. Earning real-world experience in leading projects is critical to earning world-renowned certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP®), which could open further career opportunities and increase your salary. In addition to real-world experience, you’ll have the potential to develop professional networking connections that can help you later in your career.
Where to look for Project Management Internships
If you are a college student, be sure to check with your campus, as many universities offer internships to their students. You can also check well-known job boards for postings such as:
Indeed
ZipRecruiter
LinkedIn
You can also search for “project management internships” within Google. Their “Jobs” tab will provide an aggregated view of job boards and company website listings.
Tips to Land a Project Management Internship
Once you’ve used the job board tools mentioned above to find some internship opportunities you are interested in pursuing, look at the qualifications required by each employer. You’ll want to tailor your resume and cover letter slightly to include keywords listed on the job posting and highlight how you would be a great fit for those qualifications. Make sure you add any skills you have to your resume that may benefit the role, including soft skills. It’s also beneficial to include any courses you may be taking related to project management to showcase you are highly interested and dedicated to the career.
After you’ve applied to multiple roles, it’s time to start preparing for interviews. Review practice questions online. Interviewers want more from you than they can read on your resume. You’ll want to be able to show and provide examples of how you’ve been able to use your technical and soft skills in past experiences.
Top Project Management Internship Opportunities
The field of project management can be seen throughout many industries, offering many opportunities and being one of the great reasons to choose a career in project management. Some of the most widely known industries for project management where you could find internship opportunities are:
Construction and Engineering
Manufacturing
Finance
Healthcare
Technology
Advertising and Marketing
Law
Energy
Defence
Insurance
Key Skills to Focus on During a Project Management Internship
There are various hard skills and technical skills you’ll want to develop, such as project planning and scoping, using Gantt charts and Kanban boards, managing workload, and so much more. All these hard skills and technical skills can be taught. However, you’ll want to focus on soft skills during your initial experiences. Soft skills are more about who you are as a person, and some people are great in some soft skills but lacking in others. If you’re lacking, it doesn’t mean you can’t get there, but it does take practice and the ability to take constructive criticism from peers and implement it to improve yourself. Having these important soft skills will take you far into your project management career:
Collaboration
Teamwork
Communication
Leadership
Organization
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Conflict Resolution
Pursuing a project management internship is a smart and rewarding step toward building a successful career in project management. These internships provide valuable real-world experience, networking opportunities, and essential skill development, laying a strong foundation for future certification achievements, like the PMP®. By honing your soft skills and nurturing essential technical skills, you’ll be better prepared for the diverse and valuable opportunities that a career in project management offers. Start your journey today by researching available internships, preparing a standout application, and embracing each learning experience. For a head start in the field, be sure to check out the Certified Associate in Project Management Certification (no experience required). With dedication and persistence, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your career goals in project management.
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