Why project management is always good on your CV

Project management is considered a valuable skill and is often seen as a positive addition to a CV (curriculum vitae) for several reasons:

1. **Versatility**: Project management skills are applicable across various industries and job roles. Whether you’re in technology, healthcare, finance, or any other sector, the ability to effectively manage projects is highly sought after.

2. **Leadership**: Project management involves leading teams, setting goals, and coordinating efforts to achieve specific outcomes. Employers value candidates who can demonstrate leadership qualities, and project management experience is a strong indicator of this ability.

3. **Time and Resource Management**: A good project manager excels at managing time, budget, and resources efficiently. This skill is crucial in meeting deadlines and delivering results, which is an asset in any professional environment.

4. **Problem Solving**: Project managers often encounter challenges and obstacles during a project’s lifecycle. Their problem-solving skills enable them to identify issues, develop solutions, and keep the project on track.

5. **Organization and Planning**: Employers appreciate candidates who are organized and capable of developing well-structured plans to achieve objectives. Project managers excel in planning and organizing complex tasks.

6. **Communication**: Strong project management demands effective communication with team members, stakeholders, and clients. Communication skills are highly valued in any role, and project management experience showcases this ability.

7. **Adaptability**: Project managers need to adapt to changing circumstances and unforeseen situations. Demonstrating adaptability and flexibility in handling projects shows potential employers that you can handle dynamic work environments.

8. **Results-Oriented**: Project management is ultimately about delivering results. Having successful projects under your belt demonstrates your ability to drive projects to completion and achieve outcomes.

9. **Collaboration**: Successful project management involves working collaboratively with various stakeholders and team members. Employers appreciate candidates who can foster teamwork and cooperation.

10. **Initiative**: Taking on a project management role shows initiative and a willingness to take responsibility for the successful execution of tasks and projects.

While project management skills can be valuable on your CV, it’s essential to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for. Emphasize the relevant aspects of your project management experience that align with the requirements of the position you’re seeking. Additionally, providing tangible examples of successful projects and their impact can further strengthen your CV.

Defining Your Training Needs

Defining Your Training Needs

It may seem obvious, but so many training managers fail to properly assess the training needs in their organisations. Too often we give way, too quickly, to the managers and directors who demand “this group of people need that type of training”.

What training is needed?

Rather than bowing to others wishes, and seeking training that may not be successful at addressing skills gaps, it is vital that training managers begin by with honest and detailed discussions about what is needed.

To begin, first determine who needs training. The key is to be very specific in order to minimise costs; vague answers such as “a few of the sales people” are unhelpful. If you want to spend wisely, learn the specific number of people who need training.

What type of training?

In tandem with who needs training must be explorations of what type of training is needed. For example, is it to enable a team to use a new piece of software more effectively, or to manage their time more successfully? Also, your role as a training manager is to identify what training is needed, not only what is wanted. The best way to determine this is to link the training need back to an identified business need or a known skills gap.

Using the previous example: if 65% of staff cannot use a new piece of software without repeatedly asking for assistance, thereby impacting efficiency, then training in this area could be highly beneficial.

On the other hand, if a sales manager requests training for his team in time management simply because he went to an interesting conference about this issue, then this would require further investigation to determine if a need exists.

Setting Goals

Once all training needs have been identified, it’s then up to you as the training manager to determine which of these needs are to be met and how. This enables you to focus on the most important training issues and help you set specific goals for your training, which the outcomes can later be evaluated.