How to Transition From Being a Programmer to a Project Manager
The digital project management field is growing, and companies require fantastic project managers. Programmers know how to use digital tools, work in tight-knit teams and manage competing deadlines and clients. These skills transfer to what project managers do. If you find a programming career less interesting than you anticipated, then you might want a different type of challenge. You can mold your programming career into one as a project manager.
Here’s how to transition from being a programmer to a project manager.
Importance of project management
The project manager works as a protector of a project from beginning to end, managing every aspect from brainstorming to the final result.
Some significant responsibilities may involve reporting and analytics, fast problem-solving, overseeing agile workflow, choosing and developing project management software for teams or new hires, website coding, continuous integration, integrating feedback, and so on. It does not matter what type of project you are working on; you have to manage the project through your skills.
Required skills for programmers to become a project manager
Coding
Your capability for reading and writing code can be useful as a project manager. Most technology company project managers work on projects where your understanding of code and procedures will be helpful. If you are capable of imagining and designing, then you can understand the types of production cycles, which will be beneficial in project management.
Product-test-optimize feedback loop
Whether you are the project manager on the development of a new application or for a consumer packaged product, you can follow the basic concept to achieve the proper results. The basic conceptual steps are:
- Produce
- Test
- Optimize
- Repeat
This particular cycle is known by programmers for software development, so when you become a project manager, you can try to highlight instances of where you excelled in this method, like lead time optimization or expertise for debugging.
Alerting systems and experience with dashboards
Programmers often use dashboards and debugging software, but not all companies have implemented these tools. Even knowledge of basic workflow tools such as Trello, Asana and Slack can help you to become a great project manager.
Data analytics
In both programming and project management, analytics processes can be the primary key to gauging success. Clients need to see outcomes, and learning the fundamental nature of analytics and the various techniques for harvesting data can be meaningful.
Understanding user needs or the user experience
For both programmers and project managers, it is essential to have the vision and resources to understand what various users demand and under which conditions.
Project management methodologies
Various organizational methodologies of project management can be derived from software development. It means you have to be familiar with multiple steps in the method. It is essential to have knowledge of and experience with workflow frameworks such as scrum, iterative development, Kanban, XP and feature-driven development.
How to become a project manager
Programmers can be great project managers. However, you need to convince an employer and prove your potential. Here is the way to do it:
1. Get a certificate
You have appropriate knowledge and skills for this particular field, but it’s a good idea to get a certificate so that employers can hire you without any issues.
2. Market yourself as a project manager.
It is essential that you don’t underestimate yourself because you’ve been a programmer up to now.
While you haven’t been a project manager yet, it does not mean that your resume and personal branding cannot include project management. Highlight the paths you take to develop ideas, push them through until you reach success, and show leadership.
3. Sharpen your “soft” skills.
Much of programming and IT work is viewed as a hard skill, for instance, knowing C#, C++, Java, and HTML5. However, don’t disregard your “soft” skills like communication, authority, and inventiveness. Neglecting to put resources into your soft skill improvement is one of the most widely recognized mistakes programmers make. Having the ideal mix of both is what will make you an incredible project manager. Truth be told, it will make you a stand-out programmer, as well, if you conclude that you are content where you are for the time being.
4. Learn constantly.
Read journals and peruse project management books. Gain proficiency with other work process philosophies and approaches that could help with future projects and roles. Have a side project where you can test out and sharpen skills you don’t get the chance to address at your 9-to-5 employment. Stay aware of new developments, industry news and updates.
This article was written by Vijay Singh Khatri for HackerNoon and was edited and published with permission.