An Information Technology Project Manager (ITPM) plans, coordinates, and monitors projects to deliver new information or technology (e.g., applications, software, or hardware).

Different images of what people think an IT project manager does

How Do ITPMs Contribute?

  • Help organizations decide whether an IT project is needed

  • Manage the project team to ensure goals are met on time and within budget

  • Communicate with project stakeholders

In short, ITPMs contribute by herding the cats!

Cowboys herding cats

A Day In The Life

A typical day might see you:

  • Meet with project team members to keep them on track with deadlines and offer help

  • Write and distribute meeting minutes

  • Update the project plan with new activities or changes

  • Monitor project budget and costs

  • Work with developers to manage change

  • Manage project risks

  • Prepare a project status report for executives

What Skills Are Important?

Group of people meeting

The top skills to be successful as an ITPM are:

  • Leading and motivating the project team through good times and bad

  • Actively listening and presenting information on behalf of the team

  • Negotiating and influencing stakeholders to keep the project on track

  • Being organized to know where things stand at any given moment

You'll Love It If You Like...

  • Leading and motivating others

  • Being organized and having a plan

  • Having a clear start and end date for your work

  • Finding creative solutions to complex challenges

  • Working with data and technology

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Choose A Different Career If You...

Frustrated man at computer Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

  • Prefer working on things independently of others

  • Don't like attending a lot of meetings

  • Want to "go with the flow" instead of planning things out

  • Get annoyed when people want to change things

  • Can't work overtime when project deadlines get closer

Pick The Future ITPM

Flaticon Icon Peter

  • Likes developing apps

  • Very creative

  • Prefers to work on his own

Flaticon Icon Samantha

  • Very organized

  • Outgoing, likes meeting with people

  • Likes to plan before starting new things

Flaticon Icon Rachel

  • Likes working with others

  • Has an Engineering degree

  • Prefers developing over documentation

Flaticon Icon George

  • Great communicator

  • Visionary

  • Wants to start building before planning

Quiz

Who is the best fit for the role of an IT PM?

But Does It Pay The Bills?

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Canada

Average salary is C$82,000/year

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US

Average salary is US$88,980/year

Take Action

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If a career as an ITPM sounds like a good fit for you:

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