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Job outlook for project management interns in the United States
Project management internship job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected project management internship job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 189,200 new jobs for project management interns are projected over the next decade.
Project management internship salaries have increased 8% for project management interns in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,247 project management interns currently employed in the United States.
There are 114,595 active project management internship job openings in the US.
The average project management internship salary is $33,909.
Are project management internship jobs in demand?
Project management internship job and salary trends over time
Project management internship jobs over time
Project management internship job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,247 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 24,670 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 25,695 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 25,472 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 25,119 | 0.01% |
Average project management internship salary over time
Project management internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $33,909 | $16.30 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $32,847 | $15.79 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $32,377 | $15.57 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $31,942 | $15.36 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $31,524 | $15.16 | +3.2% |
Project management internship jobs by state
Most common states for project management interns
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 295 | 47% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 318 | 42% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 450 | 34% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 295 | 34% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 313 | 33% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,750 | 31% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 578 | 30% |
| 8 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 899 | 29% |
| 9 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 390 | 29% |
| 10 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 776 | 27% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 191 | 26% |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 179 | 26% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,468 | 25% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 497 | 24% |
| 15 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,519 | 23% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 712 | 23% |
| 17 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 681 | 23% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 401 | 23% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,858 | 22% |
| 20 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,343 | 22% |
Most common cities for project management interns
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brea | 2 | 5% | $37,199 |
| 2 | Carlsbad | 3 | 3% | $36,792 |
| 3 | Flint | 3 | 3% | $33,493 |
| 4 | Santa Monica | 3 | 3% | $37,414 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 9 | 2% | $28,792 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids | 3 | 2% | $33,463 |
| 7 | Little Rock | 3 | 2% | $23,881 |
| 8 | Denver | 7 | 1% | $36,656 |
| 9 | Orlando | 4 | 1% | $29,534 |
| 10 | Birmingham | 3 | 1% | $28,470 |
| 11 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $29,702 |
| 12 | Minneapolis | 3 | 1% | $38,990 |
| 13 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $25,442 |
| 14 | Chicago | 7 | 0% | $36,730 |
| 15 | Phoenix | 4 | 0% | $29,441 |
| 16 | Austin | 3 | 0% | $35,528 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $33,461 |
| 18 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $37,746 |
Project Management Internship job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of project management internship experts
Duke University
University of Indianapolis
Westminster College
The Ohio State University
Mount Mercy University
California State University - San Bernardino
Brazosport College
Northern Essex Community College
Northern Kentucky University
University of Notre Dame
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Wisconsin School of Business
Loyola University Maryland
Dordt University
Middlebury College
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Bethel University
Michael Munger
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director, PPE ProgramDuke University
Department of Political Science
What skills stand out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Michael Munger: Anyone serious about getting a job, almost any kind of job, should have had at least one class in computer science, and be reasonably literate in either PYTHON or HTML programming. Whatever the job, adding those skills make a person much more flexible, and much more useful. Another skill is video production and editing.
Notice that all these are on TOP of substance area skills. You can't just know stuff, you have to be able to share it and influence others.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Project Management Interns to find work opportunities?
Michael Munger: The best "place" to work is one with a very fast and reliable internet connection. This means that many rural areas, on top of their previous economic difficulties, are now even further behind because of lack of broadband.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Larry Belcher: The biggest post-pandemic trend we see involves the re-definition of a workspace. Many firms went to remote work via video conferencing and other technology and decided that they really did not need expensive office space, particularly in large cities and so they have employees working fully or partially remote on a permanent basis. In addition, for "at work" office space many firms have moved away from "offices" or even cubbies to common "plug-in" stations where workers find a spot and have access to power and internet so they can work. Add in conference/meeting space and you can still have face to face meetings if necessary but a much smaller, less expensive office footprint. It remains to be seen how this will work out long-term in terms of worker productivity. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of "Zoom fatigue" and a desire for more human interaction among some workers so this is a trend worth watching. Another trend has been the speed of change. COVID showed us in many ways that our environments can be altered substantially almost overnight. Supply chain management is a great example. From a worker perspective, not being intimidated by this type of possibility will be a key going forward.
What technical skills for a Project Management Internship stand out to employers?
Dr. Larry Belcher: In terms of technical skills, in technical disciplines intimate knowledge of Excel is a must. In addition, with more movement to remote work, proficiency with video meeting and presentation software has become more of a necessity I would say that an ability to learn new technology rather quickly will help students advance faster. Technology changes rapidly, and as we have seen with the COVID pivot to remote work, one may need to master new software or hardware quickly. Also, with the proliferation of data and data analysis familiarity with data visualization and analysis tools like Tableau is becoming more valuable. This goes along with the usual necessary skills, such as written/verbal communication, presentation skills, and adaptability/flexibility. COVID has also shown us all that change can occur quickly and our ability to roll with it and adapt our work to the environment is a key skill. The ability to deal with ambiguity is also becoming more needed, as the environment a worker faces may not have all of its parameters nailed down. The ability to navigate those circumstances will help any employee advance more quickly. This also bleeds over into the ability to solve problems quickly. When things move fast, you need to both be adaptable and be able to think through problems quickly. Another thing we have seen is that employers don't want to have to train new hires on things they expect they should have learned in college. So practice and proficiency in software, speaking, writing and presentations are keys so that a new hire can adapt quickly and get into the workflow faster without "hand-holding."
What will help Project Management Interns increase their earning potential?
Michael Mamo Ph.D.: Not sure how this relates to the previous themes but I do not believe the quest to increase one's earning potential is a noble goal. As humans we value (or should value) the benefits of enlightenment that come from education and life-long learning. Of course, enlightenment could translate to monetary gains. Enlightenment also comes with a greater sense of fulfilment in life and provides the person with traits of empathy, integrity, and other virtues such as justice and perseverance. Beyond improving ones earningn potential, education is a life-affirming process and that is what I would advise people in my field to aspire for.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Adam Cahill: Thankfully what we are seeing in regard to trends in the job market are good ones. Interactions taking place between employers and candidates, jobs being posted, and employers actively recruiting students and alumni in the plant science industries has kept steady throughout the pandemic. The biggest difference is that these things are now taking place virtually instead of on campus.
We have also seen a change with more remote work being mentioned in job descriptions and deeper intentionality placed on how employers are managing their employees to make sure they feel safe and are kept safe. More clear and transparent communication is really taking a front seat throughout the hiring process; mostly because a lot of procedures and processes are new given the pandemic, so everyone is being re-educated on how things are done.
Based on the employer requests for new hires and job postings we are receiving at the university, we are not seeing much, if any, reduction in work force in the plant science industry. Homes and businesses are still being landscaped, food still needs to be grown, and plant diseases are still being researched and combated just to name a few of the many driving forces in the positive job outlook for plant science industries.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Joe Sheller: Pandemic is too new for me to gauge--it's been going on for a year but we have a small graduating class each year. I was worried about last year's class, but they seem to have found placements.
I sort of expect a kind of delayed impact. Lots of my journalism graduates go into marketing, PR, corporate writing or web writing--they are not strictly "service" jobs that were worst hit by pandemic, but do depend on companies that provide those services (not much work in restaurant marketing when all the restaurants are closed, for example). A chunk of the small pool of graduates I had were actually hired by the university where I teach because we had "churn" in our marketing-communication office, both a change of leadership and existing employees moving on off campus for other places--which is not an indication of a weak job market.
Remote job interviews via video conferencing are way more common.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Project Management Interns?
Joe Sheller: Two things: Student media experience (work beyond the classroom) and comfort with technology--ability to think in any medium.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Project Management Interns?
Daniel MacDonald Ph.D.: There will be an enduring impact of the pandemic on graduates because of the shift of preferences to remote work in some occupations. This could be a plus. While many jobs are not suitable for remote work, the jobs that graduates are looking for are more likely to be suitable for remote work than jobs that don't require a college degree. As a result of the preference for remote work, graduates might find that they have some options for where they live, and they might choose to live in lower-cost areas, even if it means not earning as much money.
On the other hand, graduates spent the last year or so in remote learning environments, and with the other social and economic changes brought about by the pandemic, this could mean they didn't pick up the same amount of skills they would have with in-person classes. Graduates need to make sure they are still learning the tools and skills that are so important in those senior-level courses - these will make them weather the job market more effectively.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Project Management Interns?
Kenneth Resecker: In the Process Technology program, it would be difficult to point to one particular course that would have the biggest impact. The program is designed in such a way that each course builds on the previous course, so the bigger impact would be the quality of instruction received on the previous course as student progresses through. The first courses taken have a lot of information that students need to memorize. The next course requires them to identify equipment and explain how it works. The next gives them multiple pieces of equipment working together, and they have to analyze the system and explain how the system is affected by other parts of the system, and so on. By the end of the program they are actually starting up a small plant and bringing it within normal operating parameters. So, that being said, receiving a quality education throughout the entire program is what will ultimately have the biggest impact on your job prospects. Also, given the hands-on and physical labor aspects of our industry, the individual skill set and aptitude of the student will play a large role in both their success in the program and their ability to find a spot in the industry.
Kathleen O'Keefe
Education and Career AdvisorNorthern Essex Community College
Adult Education.
What's a day at work look like for a Project Management Internship?
Kathleen O'Keefe: Initially many new graduates will probably be interviewing and getting hired in the virtual world. It will be important for them to be comfortable with all video conferencing platforms, including digital platforms, in order to best present themselves, their skills, and their experiences. A day at work may very well be remote/virtual but, I would imagine, as the vaccine is more readily available, many will be working in a more hybrid situation where they may be in the office periodically, but will also have the opportunity to work from home. New graduates need to be comfortable in both environments and to be adaptable and flexible - no matter what degree they have at graduation.
Yaw Frimpong-Mansoh Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy and Acting ChairNorthern Kentucky University
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Philosophy
What general advice would you give to a Project Management Internship?
Yaw Frimpong-Mansoh Ph.D.: The current education systems need to aim at equipping students with transdisciplinary transferable competencies (e.g. innovative and creative thinking skills) that prepare them to suitably adapt to, and function effectively and efficiently, in the fast-paced changing world in which we live now. Many people hardly stay on the same job for long time, either through transfer to new fields or further training (and sometimes retraining). Also, students do not necessarily work in the fields that they originally studied or majored in. The trend now is that students use the qualities they learned and apply them anywhere to become highly successful. Having a college degree is less about the degree itself and more about proving to an employer that you not only have the skills necessary to complete the tasks but you also have the ability to adapt and function effectively and efficiently in a constantly changing world. A survey of employers conducted recently by the Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (2013) reveals that "Employers are highly focused on innovation as critical to the success of their companies and they report that the challenges their employees face today are more complex and require a broader skill set than in the past." Notably, the survey indicates that employers prioritize a job candidate's demonstrated capacity for "critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings" when making hiring decisions. These are some of the highly desirable distinctive core career competencies and benefits that liberal arts students from the disciplines in the humanities, such philosophy, sociology, anthropology, history, English, World Languages and Literature, vitally contribute to the current corporate world. Whereas the knowledge learned in some of the specialized professional fields may be superseded by future discoveries or made obsolete by changes of circumstances, the general transferable skills (e.g. the ability of critical thinking) acquired from the humanities do not become devalued over time. On the contrary, the transdisciplinary skills are invaluable when new situations occur. For example, the study of humanity is what will take technology into the future because it helps to see the social problems that technology is needed to help us to resolve, as well as the ways technology can hinder society's growth. Students and employees who are equipped with innovative and creative minds and skills are those who guide technology to limit these dangers while maximizing its benefits.
What technical skills for a Project Management Internship stand out to employers?
Yaw Frimpong-Mansoh Ph.D.: Here is a brief description of the top nine transferable skills that student graduates vitally need to succeed effectively and efficiently in this constantly changing world.
Analytical and Critical Thinking. Employees with these competencies recognize there may be more than one valid point of view or one way of doing things. They evaluate an issue or problem based on multiple perspectives, while accounting for personal biases. They are able to identify when information is missing or if there is a problem, prior to coming to conclusions and making decisions.
Applied Problem Solving. People with this skill recognize constraints and can generate a set of alternative courses of action. They are able to evaluate alternatives using a set of criteria in order to select and implement the most effective solution and monitor the actual outcomes of that solution. They are also able to recognize there may be more than one valid point of view or course of action.
Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making. Workers trained with these competencies can assess their own moral values and perspectives as well as those of others. They are able to integrate those values and perspectives into an ethical framework for decision making. They consider intentions and anticipate the consequences of actions, both at the personal and social levels, and understand the ethical principles that apply to a situation before making decisions.
Innovation and Creativity. People with these competencies challenge existing paradigms and propose alternatives without being constrained by established approaches or anticipated responses of others. They bring their knowledge, skills, abilities, and sense of originality to the work that they do. They are willing to take risks and overcome internal struggle to expose their creative self in order to bring forward new work or ideas.
Digital Literacy. People with this competency have expertise in evaluating sources of information for accuracy, relevance, purpose, and bias. They respond quickly and creatively to emerging communication technologies and to the changing uses of existing technologies. They recognize how the basics of effective communication persist as the technological landscape evolves and changes while also recognizing the opportunities created for new and innovative approaches to get a message across.
Engaging Diversity. This competency makes employees understand that diversity provides a broader perspective, giving an organization a wider range of options toward resolving challenges. Such employees have the ability to see others points of view and recognize that only seeing things through one’s own culture and experiences is an impediment to achieving goals. They possess the cultural humility to acknowledge their own biases and to manage the conflicts that are inevitable in an increasingly diverse world.
Active Citizenship and Community Engagement. Employees with this competency understand that creating change and opening paths to new futures starts with the active participation of citizens in their local communities and even spans globally. They actively engage with their communities, because they know that their contributions impact the community and that their engagement with the community in turn shapes them. Through coursework, participation in service-learning projects, and volunteering, they have developed and fine-tuned their awareness of social and cultural differences, of the dynamics and needs of the local as well as global communities and are active citizens who engage with their communities to find new futures.
Teamwork and Leadership. Employees who possess this ability are able to both lead and be a part of a cohesive group. They understand their roles and responsibilities within a group, and how they may change in differing situations. They are able to influence others as leaders or as contributing members and have the willingness to take action. They leverage the strengths of the group to achieve a shared vision or objective. They effectively acknowledge and manage conflict toward solutions.
Oral and Written Communication. Employees with these vital skills have the ability to intentionally engage with various audiences to inform, persuade, and entertain. They are able to demonstrate their proficiency and expertise in various means of oral and written communication. They can create effective relationships with an audience as they keep in mind the needs, goals, and motivations of all involved. They are able to ensure that the communication they create is functional and clear to achieve a desired outcome.
Warren von Eschenbach Ph.D.
Associate Vice President and Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs (ND International) and Associate Teaching ProfessorUniversity of Notre Dame
ND International and Philosophy
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Project Management Interns?
Warren von Eschenbach Ph.D.: It is hard to see how the pandemic will not have an enduring impact on all of us; the question is whether the disruptions we are experiencing in the job market, in education, with social activities, and even geopolitical alignments, will continue long-term and to what extent there will be positive or negative consequences. The pandemic certainly has underscored the rapidity with which change can occur and the importance of resiliency and adaptability in the face of adversity.
What type of skills will young Project Management Interns need?
Warren von Eschenbach Ph.D.: Critical thinking and communication skills, information and quantitative literacy, teamwork and problem-solving abilities, ethical reasoning, and intercultural competency-all hallmarks of a liberal arts education-will continue to be essential skills for the future. But because of the rapid pace of technological, economic, and social change, graduates will need to possess an ability to continually learn anew, to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, and to anticipate future trends or issues.
The pandemic has also shown that many of the big issues we are facing are complex, multi-faceted, and interdisciplinary in nature. Graduates who can integrate various paradigms into a larger framework will have a distinct advantage.
What experience really stands out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Warren von Eschenbach Ph.D.: We often talk about the desirability of gaining T-shaped skills-ones that are both broad and deep. The future will require a metaphor that is more dynamic and iterative to capture the realities of the job market. Experiences that demonstrate a purposive range of activities to expand one's knowledge and abilities, such as service-learning, a professional experience, or undergraduate research, will be key for building this dynamic skill set.
Kirstin Wilcox Ph.D.
DirectorUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Humanities Professional Resource Center, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Kirstin Wilcox Ph.D.: The pandemic, and the economic downturn that has come with it, has mostly amplified things that were always true but easy to ignore in a booming economy:
-employers are looking for skills more than specific majors
-students stand out who can present evidence of those skills in the form of work samples, relevant experiences, projects, collaborations
-in a period of rapid change, like this one, people who can think creatively, change direction easily, and communicate to multiple stakeholders are valuable to employers
What skills stand out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Kirstin Wilcox Ph.D.: The so-called "soft skills" like communication, critical thinking, and the ability to cope with ambiguity are more important than ever listing them in a "skills" section of a resume is less effective than documenting them through thoughtful bullet points in an "experience" section that addresses the specific needs of particular employers.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Julie Way: Unfortunately, we're already seeing a downturn in recruiting and hiring. It's far more challenging for students to find and secure full-time jobs and internships than before the pandemic. Some companies were forced to cancel their internship programs and curtail their full-time hiring. However, industries with a technology focus have been least affected by the pandemic in terms of demand for their products and services, they've been able to more easily move to a remote working model, and the consensus is that remote work has been hugely successful, certainly more so than expected.
I believe we'll also see an influx of innovative technologies and automation that will increase the ability for companies to offer online and remote services, and the technology sector of the job market will increase correlatively because of the demand for the design, development, and implementation, and management of those new technologies.
So, the demand for STEM students remains stronger than for most, and it will continue to increase technology sector will be the first to bounce back. We saw that in the 2008-2009 economic downturn, and it's predicted the same will happen when the pandemic is better managed, and things are able to open up again.
And then there's healthcare, where the demand for healthcare professionals is growing daily and expected to outpace every other industry in the next 10 years.
What skills stand out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Julie Way: These are the most in-demand attributes year after year...
-Problem-solving skills and experience
-Ability to work on a team
-Industry-related Technical skills
-Analytical and quantitative skills
-Leadership
-Communication skills
-Strong work ethic
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Project Management Interns to find work opportunities?
Julie Way: While there are job opportunities for STEM students almost anywhere in the country, certainly large metropolitan areas hire more prolifically than rural and geographically challenging. I found a USAToday article that lists the top 15 cities hiring high tech workers, however, these lists will change year to year.
What type of skills will young Project Management Interns need?
Carl Barlett: To me, the two primary skills that will retain the most value over time for students are the abilities to critically think and to communicate effectively.
-Solving problems where the answer does not reside in a book can be a drastic shift from high school to college in the way that students perceive education. This becomes even more important in the modern workforce. With advancements in computer programming and the internet at our fingertips, employees are less repositories of knowledge than critical thinkers solving problems with incomplete information. If a student can achieve a level of comfort with that and make educated decisions in situations involving risk, they have the potential to add a lot of value to their company.
-I firmly believe that regardless of how smart an employee is, their value is gated by how well they can communicate their ideas. Additionally, employees increasingly need to be able to communicate their thoughts clearly and coherently to someone without their academic background. It is easy to get into the habit of using certain terminology or assumptions that someone in your area of expertise would know. However, once you enter the workforce, you are often communicating cross functionally with other departments or clients that do not have that same background. The ability to clearly and concisely communicate the value of your ideas to others through writing, speaking, and presentations is a skill that can be overlooked in the pursuit of technical skills, but is more in demand than ever.
What experience really stands out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Carl Barlett: While good GPAs and relevant majors are all well and good, students put too much focus on them in my experience. When I interviewed potential employees, what stood out for me on resumes was always something that made me want to ask them more questions. This might have been anything from in-depth projects or simulations they had participated in, case competitions they had voluntarily taken part in, or even unique hobbies they pursued in their free time. Anything that showed a spark of intellectual curiosity was paramount to me. In my experience, those with genuine interest and the desire to continue learning about what they do will always outlast those that approach their resume or professional skills as a checklist to complete.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Project Management Interns?
Carl Barlett: I think so. While some students have struggled in a virtual environment, there are a great number of students who have grown in their ability to self-motivate and perform high-quality work without constant oversight. The development of flexibility and autonomy inevitably feels like it is going to play an important role in a future job market that is unlikely to tie work quite so heavily to a single physical location. The ability to be a self-starter and problem solve feels like it will play an even more prominent role in recruiting talent in the coming years.
Thomas McCreight
Associate ProfessorLoyola University Maryland
Classics Department
What Project Management Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas McCreight: Our students tend to take a few years before settling on a career path. Many go to law school (our most recent grad who did so got a boatload of money, which is pretty rare for law schools); historically, all our graduates who have applied have gotten into good placs, and most in top-20 institutions. The three other graduates of 2020 took different paths: one is working for a relative who runs a business essential to the COVID response; another (double major in Writing) spent time writing for a few specialist journals and has applied to an MA program; the other, a second-generation immigrant, plans to apply to graduate school in Europe after the pandemic calms.
Over half of our majors double major in another field (we even had one in Chemistry about 20 years ago), and that gives them added flexibility (History and English are the two most common other majors for our double majors). Even in these tough times for academia, we have had students apply to and get large fellowships and scholarships for further study in Classics or History (2 Ph.D. acceptances, 1 M.A. in the last 4-5 years). A good percentage go into secondary education (teaching Latin and, often, something else in high school or junior high); these tend to work toward getting a master's degree in teaching as they move through their first years of employment. A couple have taken jobs at Loyola in administration or student life and used the university's benefits to get a degree in another field: for example, one double History and Classics major (and Phi Beta Kappa) got an MBA at Loyola and is now working in administration at another university. A few more of our double majors (Art History is another common component) have worked in the publishing industry, sometimes starting on the ground floor as proofreaders and have then moved up. One of these then moved into a Ph. D. program in Linguistics in Europe and hopes to land in a think tank or government agency here or in the EU.
Over the last 10 years or so we have had graduates spend 2 or more years in service-related work (the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and Teach for America have been common destinations) before continuing with work in the religious sector or social work.
What type of skills will young Project Management Interns need?
Thomas McCreight: We graduate interesting and interested people with broad curiosities and varied but complementary skills. Oral and especially written communication skills are probably their greatest strong point, along with a taste and capacity for hard work: one doesn't learn Ancient Greek on a lark. Managing hard languages from ancient societies, and being able to imagine oneself into a culture far removed in time, distance and culture, require flexibility of mind and spirit and a willingness to take intellectual risks. Additionally, over the last 6-7 years I have noted an increased trend toward valuable group work and collaboration in a cross-disciplinary way, and more sophisticated work with computers (this trend is, of course, not restricted to our department). For example, one student (a double major in Art History) who wrote an honors thesis (and took the medal for the highest GPA in his graduating class) did some of his own programming. He designed some tools to track changes in pronunciation of Latin (as evidenced, for instance, in gravestones of soldiers) in France, Spain and elsewhere in Europe as vernacular languages began to emerge from Latin as the empire splintered.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Project Management Interns?
Dr. Timothy Soelen: While we are certainly going through something awful, there are are also some silverlinings. Education graduates are experiencing something unique, something so disruptive to the norm. They are experiencing life, and in some ways, life in the real world that has ups and downs, varying flow versus the slow, steady, somewhat static life of school. The pandemic has broke this imaginary but real boundary. Adapting to this disruption, finding alternative solutions to learning, should be an incredible value-add to their problem-solving skill set. I'm imagining a new curricular that taps the here and now for project-based and problem-based elarning. And assessments that move way beyond simple answers but ones that require an understanding of the complexity of the world we live in.
What experience really stands out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Dr. Timothy Soelen: I encourage my advisees to have a variety of experiences that demonstrate the love for who they teach, the love for what they teach, and the love for how they teach. The resume tells that story, what the candidate has chosen to engage in to prepare themselves for the vocational calling to teach.
What type of skills will young Project Management Interns need?
Dr. Timothy Soelen: I was going to say flexibility but I'll choose elasticity instead. The abilty to change and adapt, be stretched and compressed. People capable of pivoting as quickly as our best educators did in March of 2020.
What type of skills will young Project Management Interns need?
Don Wyatt: In addition to facility at communicating virtually, both orally and in writing, I think the most important "skills" are really attitudinal, being versatility and optimism. Versatility is epitomized by being flexible enough to relocate to and work productively from any variety of locations other than the conventional workplace, as well as being able to approach and even embrace suddenly changed job conditions and responsibilities fluidly. Optimism involves remaining upbeat about an economy that is bound to change but not always at all for the better. As "skills," versatility and optimism are also important to develop because they are mutually reinforcing.
What experience really stands out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Don Wyatt: The experience that most stands out on resumes is of two types, having been rather constant and very likely to continue to be so for the foreseeable future. They are the demonstrated abilities to work independently and also to work as part of a group. The first indicates one's capacity to be resourceful and creative as needed, especially under such pressures as deadlines. The second shows one to be an effective collaborator, to be able to function constructively and harmoniously as member of a team. Being truly successful in the world of work requires some combination of both types of experience.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Aaron Ebata Ph.D.: I think schools, agencies, and companies have found that there are some advantages to employees working remotely, and that the future will include some aspect of that. But an increase in remote employment (whether forced or voluntary) creates other challenges to individuals and families. This also means that there may be new opportunities for goods and services that focus on meeting these new needs. For example, new models of shared childcare or home schooling focused on someone coming into a home (or "pod" of like-minded families).
Schools and not-for-profit social service agencies may be feeling a financial crunch and may not be hiring-but the pandemic may have also let to retirements or people quitting which may open up positions.
Students who are entrepreneurial will be at an advantage.
What skills stand out on Project Management Internship resumes?
Aaron Ebata Ph.D.: Evidence of the ability to take initiative, work independently, and meet deadlines. Evidence of success in doing remote work (completing projects or developing products) individually or in teams. Evidence of using critical thinking and creativity to solve problems. Evidence of working well with others. Evidence of flexibility and being a quick learner.
These are not new or surprising skills and competencies, but students will need to be able to show evidence for or illustrate their competence.
In our field, just having "a soft heart" is not really enough; students need to demonstrate that they are "tough minded" and can get things done.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Project Management Internship job market given the pandemic?
Christopher Gehrz Ph.D.: I'm not sure a historian will be the best predictor of future trends. But I do think the pandemic's dislocation of the economy underscores how unlikely it is that new college graduates will spend their careers on a single track. When not just individual companies but whole sectors of the economy can be thrown into turmoil so quickly, it's important that college students use liberal arts studies to cultivate a breadth of knowledge and skills. Not only because that kind of learning transfers easily from one job to another, but because it prepares people well for the more advanced graduate and professional studies that will help them retool, adapt, and advance.
What Project Management Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Gehrz Ph.D.: In one sense, almost any gap year activity could be helpful, since one of the skills that Aacu they value most highly is the ability "to work independently." It's hard to make the transition from K-16 education, where so much of your time and work has been structured for you, into a work environment where supervisors will expect you to set priorities, accomplish tasks, and manage time on your own. So a gap year of any sort might give you a chance to hone such skills. COVID permitting, a gap year can also be a time to travel, to develop more of the intercultural competency and facility with languages that are increasingly important in an economy where your bosses, coworkers, customers, and clients might live halfway around the world, or at least come from a very different background than yours.
What general advice would you give to a Project Management Internship?
Christopher Gehrz Ph.D.: First, be sure to sustain the life of the mind. You're no longer a college student, but you're still a learner, so you need to keep exercising those muscles. And you won't have people like me giving lectures or assigning books anymore, so you need to find your own ways to nourish your interests, sustain your passions, challenge your assumptions, and enhance your understanding.
Second, keep in touch with your college professors. Not only might you need to ask people like me for recommendations at some point down the road, but in turn, you can provide something to your alma mater more immediately meaningful than donations: helping us answer questions like these from newer students wondering how they'll connect their studies with their careers. (For example, I keep a list of several dozen alumni in various fields who have told me they'd be willing to be interviewed by first-year students wondering what they can do with a History major.)