10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project Management

10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project Management 10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project Management 10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project ManagementOne of the advantages of an engineering degree is that its flexible. Theres a lot more you can do with your degree and experience than the hands-on problem solving that youre probably used to.And you dont even need to give up the STEM aspects of the job.Higher-level, more hands-off positions such as project management provide engineers with the opportunity to continue working directly on engineering projects while gaining new skills and, most importantly, offering you the chance to move up in your field.What Is Project Management?A project manager is responsible for the planning, oversight, and completion of a project, overseeing workers, the schedule, and the overall budget. They work on engineering projects, as well as software, IT, construction, and a wide variety of other large-scale projects.Th is is a vital role for any project. Without proper planning and execution, a given project could get held up by any unexpected problem, which could cause a serious hit to the projects overall efficiency or even lead to project failure.For You Artificial Intelligence Transforms Manufacturing Even though the job involves planning and oversight, a lot of problem solving is still involved in project management. A project manager is also responsible for process development, which means youll be solving the biggest problem of all How to ensure each project is completed in the most streamlined, efficient way possible. Its also the responsibility of the project manager to conduct risk assessments and develop contingency plans to make sure there is a solution to every potential problem, so that the projects dont experience any unnecessary delays or expenses.What are the skills required for project management?Project management is no easy task. In addition to great analytical skills, proje ct managers must have strong people skills. After all, itll be your job to manage and interact with a wide variety of people every day, such as the clients, bosses, engineers, and crews youll be overseeing.Terry Suffredini, PE, an engineering-focused career coach, says these are some of the most important skills to develop if you want to be a project managerEffective listeningUnderstanding and working collaboratively with different personality stylesMotivating your team membersDiplomacy and conflict resolution between competing interestsFlexibilityAvailabilityto your clients and your team members, even after modell work hoursManagement of time and resourcesUnderstanding how to budget and control costsSchedule maintenanceBeing both a strong leader of your team and crew and a strong follower of your own managers and clientsAdding these to your analytical skill will help you with more than just a project management position. These skills are transferrable across multiple disciplines, m eaning they can help you in your engineering role, make you a desirable candidate for career advancement, and help you entirely pivot your career.Engineers who have good people skills to go along with their understanding and knowledge of the technical side will always be in demand, says Suffredini.Why Get into Project Management?First, the obvious advantage Positions involving management and oversight typically come with a higher salary range. While the median salary for mechanical engineers in the United States is $124,000 according to a recent ASME survey, the median income for project managers can often be well above this amount.As a project manager, there also tend to be more career opportunities with a wider variety, which means less chance of getting bored as you progress through your career.But higher compensation often comes at a price. You might have to work longer hours, be on call at all hours, and generally bear the weight of much greater responsibility.When you make a m istake, it can impact a lot of peoples lives and careers because it impacts the business. Theres just a lot thats involved, Suffredini says.A Changing FieldThe project management career path has changed quite a bit over the past 10 years, becoming much more client-centric and focused on the big picture.It has become increasingly important to focus on giving the client a good experience. Competition is fierce and clients are looking for value for their dollars.Terry Suffredini, engineering career strategistIt has become increasingly important to focus on giving the client a good experience, Suffredini says, explaining that this has become especially true in the wake of the downturn in the oil and gas industry. Competition is fierce and clients are looking for value for their dollars.As such, its become all the more important for engineering firms to stay on schedule and on budget, while bearing the clients preferences in mind. Project managers need to be responsive and view the proje ct from the clients perspective in order to help meet the clients needs and goals as efficiently as possible.A person with excellent technical skills does not always make the best manager, and thats OK technical experts will always be needed. An engineering project cant be completed without the engineer, after all.But if youre ready for new responsibilities, want to hone your people skills, and are looking for an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, then project management might be the right step to take you in that direction.Tim Sprinkle is an independent author.Read more from ASME.orgEnergy Storage Smooths the Duck CurveHandheld Dronut Brings Drones IndoorsUltrasound Patch Monitors Critical Components For Further Discussion