How to Become a Telecom Project Manager

Telecom project managers oversee the interaction between designers, engineers and technicians when new network projects are under construction. To become a successful telecom project manager, you will need a thorough understanding of telecommunications technology, personnel management and project management.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering (recommended)
• Master's degree in management or engineering (recommended)

1. Apply to a 4-year college. Many employers require a bachelor's degree for telecom project manager positions.

2. Elect to major in electrical or computer engineering. While you will need excellent management skills to become a telecom project manager, a general business degree may not be sufficient as you will also need to understand the nature of the telecommunications networks you will be overseeing.

3. Get a master's degree in engineering or management to make yourself even more appealing to prospective telecom employers.

4. Accept work as a manager in virtually any field when you start your career. The skills required to manage a team of people translate easily from other fields.

5. Exchange required education for work experience. Some telecom employers are willing to hire project managers without bachelor's or master's degrees, as long as they have at least 5 years of experience in a management or supervisory role.

6. Request frequent appraisals of your management style from your supervisor to help you weed out ineffective methods of communication with your team. While receiving your appraisal, ask for advice on how to motivate your personnel more effectively.

7. Consider participating in a Telecommunications Project Management Association certification program (see Resources below). These programs offer a combination of in-class and online training geared towards passing a certification exam. This certification may help demonstrate to prospective employers that you are a strong project management candidate.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to discuss flaws in an employee's work, try first complimenting him on some aspect of his job. Employees are much more willing to take constructive criticism if they believe that they are valued.
• Seriously consider working a part-time job while you are in school. Even as an entry-level employee, you can begin to get an idea of management styles that motivate you. You can use these observations later in your career.

Resources

• Telecommunications Project Management Association

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