We have put this page together to help you, if you either:
On this page, we have colated all of our information, tools, and resources, to help you from your first investigations, to a long and successful project management career.
And, to keep it simple, we have divided it into Six Steps...
STEP 1: START YOUR JOURNEY
Is Project Management Right for You?
Let's start with the absolute basics.
Let's understand What is Project Management?
We also have three introductory articles for you. Each will help you decide whether Project Management is the right career for you:
- The Value of Project Management Skills… Transferability
- 13 Reasons to Take up a Project Management Career
- What Makes a Good Project Manager? (7 Top Assets)
2
This is a short article that sets out why you should consider a Project Management career. And, while it's a great career with the likeliood of secure and high-status employment, there are plenty of other reasons too, like:
- Building a business (yup - that's me), and
- Getting things done (like this guide)
A LITTLE TASTER...
To help you decide if Project Management Training is right for you, here's a Beginner's Guide to Project Management.
This is a short video (around 18 minutes). It will give you a flavor for what project management is and how it works.
If you like it, there is a lot more to follow, and this roadmap will help you navigate the next steps.
If you don't like it, then at least you'll have learned the basics of project management... at no cost!
STEP 2: CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS
Should You Take Project Management Training.
This is a simple question to ask.
But it's not always that easy to answer. After all, many people manage projects in their work without ever taking a course - or even getting any formal learning.
The real question is:
'Is Project Management Training right for you?'
Things to consider include:
The scale, complexity, and profile of the projects you need to deliver
Whether you see Project Management as your career - or a key part of it
To help you think through your options, here are three articles:
STEP 3: COMMITTED TO LEARNING
Now you've made your decision, you're firmly on your learning journey.
Stage 1: Preparation
The first stage is preparing to learn by soaking up some simple introductory content.
I'd start with three things.
And the good news is...
They are all FREE!
- Our Project Management Fundamentals course in the Free Academy of Project Management.
- Our free ebook, Be on the Inside: Decode the Jargon of Project Management
- Sign up to our weekly newsletter with tips, ideas, and occasional offers.
If you like these resources, but are not yet ready for a significant investment in full learning resources, we have some low cost learning materials to get you started.
These offer you a lot of great content at a low price.
Once, I was looking forward to managing my first project...
So, I know well the feeling of not knowing what the jargon means, which tools to use, and where to start.
The Project Manager's Starter Kit features:
- Project Management Fundamentals
- Introduction to Project Management
- 'Decode the Jargon of Project Management'
- Video Dictionary of Project Management - a growing set of over 70 of our 5-minute 'What is...' videos
- 12 of our most valuable Project Management Templates
- 9 helpful samples from our Project Management Checklists kit
- Discount vouchers for our full productivity kits
With this system, you will be able to:
- Navigate the stages of a successful project
- Define your project to build the foundation to success
- Pull together robust plans
- Do everything you need to during the crucial delivery stage
Included in your ten week email course are:
- Checklists for essential project activities
- Top tips from an experience project manager
- Downloadable tools to help you
- 10 exercises to help you through your first project
- Discounts on premium courses worth up to $100
BEST VALUE
Do you like the sound of the Project Manager's Starter Kit?
And also of the Project Manager's Secret Success Formula?
Having trouble choosing?
Well, you don't have to!
Get them both together, as the Project Manager's Beginner's Bundle...
- at around 30% discount
- and with two bonus PDF ebooks added in
Stage 2: Structured Learning
The second stage is structured learning.
Our Core Project Management Courses are built in a modular way. They are based on Mike Clayton's live training, which he has honed over more than 20 years, with thousands of participants.
Each is larger and more comprehensive than the last, yet contains the same models and ideas, for learners who want to upgrade easily. And our easy upgrade promise means you'll never pay more by upgrading. The cost of the course you upgrade two will be discounted by what you've already paid.
Check out our Core Course comparison page.
Or review our individual courses, below...
Do you need in-depth learning, in the context of a real, live project?
Our Project Manager's Professional Coaching Program combines:
- The full Project Manager's Immersion Program (above)
- Monthly coaching calls
- Interim coaching emails
- Project Management Productivity Bundle
- our full sets of Templates and Checklists
Stage 3: Informal Learning
What? You want more? Then you shall have it!
Supplement your formal, structured learning with informal learning.
We have plenty of FREE resources on our site, and other informal learning assets for you to enjoy and learn from.
Here's a taster...
- The Free Academy of Project Management
- Our Weekly feature articles
- Project Management Bookshop
- Kindle-exclusive Project Management eBook series
- Project Management Personality quiz
And join in with a network of like-minded Project Management professionals through our social media channels.
OnlinePMCourses
YouTube Channel
OnlinePMCourses
Facebook Page
OnlinePMCourses
Pinterest Boards
TheProjectManagers
Facebook Group
Dr Mike Clayton
LinkedIn account
@OnlinePMCourses
Twitter account
STEP 4: WHAT NEXT? AGILE PM
As Project Managers, we can no longer afford to ignore Agile.
So, we've pulled together a whole page, like this one, titled:
'I Want to Study Agile Project Management'
The page introduces you to what Agile PM is. It takes you through the steps of:
- Start Your Journey
- Consider Your Options - what sort of Agile and whether to go down a certification route.
- Committed to Learning
- Final Preparations, if you choose a certification route, and then, of course...
- Take Your Exam
STEP 5: WHAT NEXT? PM QUALIFICATIONS
For many roles, a recognized qualification will give a big boost to your CV or resumé
The first question you should ask: 'Should I get a Project Management Qualification?'
If you do decide to study for a qualification, we recommend our article: 'How to Get the Best from Your Project Management Learning'.
And you may want to take a look at all the certification / qualification courses we can offer, through our partners, the Professional Training Center of Excellence (PTCoE).
Then, you will need to decide what sort of qualification.
The article will also start you on that thinking journey, but you may also want to take a look at our three guides to the principle qualification routes:
- PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP)
- The PRINCE2 qualifications
- The array of Agile qualifications
Each of the guides is set out like this one, taking you from the start of your journey, through to examination. They will give you a good idea of what to expect, and the resources we can offer to help you.
STEP 6: WHAT NEXT? DEEPEN & BROADEN
We'll help you get advanced skills to grow, to become the best Project Manager you can.
Keep Learning.
For a professional, learning never stops. So, we are committed to creating and sourcing a wide range of resources to help you learn and develop, in your:
- Technical Project Management
- Management and Leadership Skills
- Personal Professional Effectiveness
We are always interested to know what topics you'd like us to offer, so please do get in touch and let us know.
A growing catalogue of courses to help you develop the essential skills to become a mature project manager, beyond a basic technical understanding.
Our Project Management Skills Programs will enhance and deepen your Project Management capabilities, in...
- Advanced Project Management
- Management and Leadership
- Personal Effectiveness