Nov 20, 2017

Project Management Careers in Australia

Blog by K Howard - San Francisco, USA

Project management is a great career; it is interesting and provides long-term sustainable growth in salary. In Australia, the average salary for a Project Manager is rising year-on-year, as is the demand for qualified project managers.

But what do you have to do to get there? Project managers are responsible for managing aspects such as scope, time, cost, and risk of a project. If you have those skills, consider what sort of project management career would suit your capabilities and interests. Generally, project managers have an area of expertise, or some specialisation in an industry. This can range across all industries, but there are some especially common types of project managers.

For example, Construction Project Managers oversee construction and building sites, they are responsible for safety, completion time, quality of construction. Engineering Project Managers do similar work but usually with a mechanical item or procedure, and they are often responsible for material production and testing. Finally, Software Project Managers work in creation of a variety of technology related projects - this is now one of the broadest and in demand roles. They oversee a group of people developing a program, and often have extensive knowledge of IT and programming. These are exciting professions, but back to the question, what do you need if your goal is to work in this field in Australia? As a rule, one of the best things to invest in is yourself. There are clear correlations between academic qualifications, vendor certifications, hiring rates, and average salaries. So, invest in your knowledge, abilities, and some academic qualifications for your resume.

If you’re coming from overseas, this is especially relevant. Whether you have several years of experience overseas or you just graduated from secondary school, there are two main difficulties that international immigrants face in finding work in Australia. And often they aren’t well founded but it is important to understand that there are common perceptions that local employers may have in considering someone from another country.

Having a PRINCE2 Practitioner certification gives employers the confidence you know how to complete what is required. Having a qualification shows you have the theory behind the practice and can think critically and have been taught leadership skills.

Communication: If you aren’t fully proficient in English, you must work on that. However even if someone is a fluent or native English speaker, employers may be apprehensive that someone from another country isn’t able to communicate or function as well in Australia’s unique professional environment. This isn’t about an accent or pronunciation, this is because people from different cultures have differences in how they share information and interact professionally. You could consider a pathway English language course designed specifically for business practice.

Relevance: moving between countries, especially very distinct countries, makes your experience or education less relevant here. Not because you don’t have the skills or your prior education was low quality, but because your knowledge is based on different systems. Economics, law, professional culture, and more differ between countries. When choosing between two candidates, the employer will often choose the candidate with the most relevant experience- using local, current methods and rules.

Not to fear,  both can easily be mitigated by an academic qualification earned in Australia. By earning an academic qualification of any sort in Australia, you prove that you have well-refined communication skills, and interact well in this environment. And if you earn an academic qualification at a respected, accredited Australian institution, then it will be clear that you have relevant, current knowledge to accompany your skills.

The first place to start would be a Diploma. It is a relatively quick, affordable way of showing that you work well in this environment. Even if you have a more advanced degree in another country, earning a diploma here will help your job prospects. And if you haven’t earned a university degree, the diploma is a good way to get there - you can start your project management education at a pathway program that is more flexible, considers eligibility, and often more affordable than starting at a university.

If you want to know more, check out the Diploma of Project Management at New Horizons Australia Institute of Technology. Look through the course outline and study methods. It is specifically designed to reach the outcomes mentioned above in Australia and abroad. And most importantly, it’s a flexible but clear path to your career in Project Management.

To learn more about the Diploma of Project Management, contact us today to speak with one of our Learning Solutions Advisors or visit our website.