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What is a project manager/consultant management and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Angela Grotto Ph.D.,
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

Project Management Consultants are specialized professionals who assist companies in making business decisions. They oversee and lead the execution of projects from planning to completion. Daily, they manage budgets, resources, and relationships to achieve organizational goals.

They also plan, develop, and implement schedules to ensure project completion within the set timeframe. During the execution of a project, the person in this position analyzes data and identifies trends and inefficiencies to prevent problems. Also, they provide roadmaps and timely policy recommendations to aid decision-making.

The Project Management Consultant can work in different industries, helping clients with the implementation of specific projects. The average salary of a Project Management Consultant is $91,434. But it can range between $81,396 and $102,356. To be a Project Management Consultant, you must be an expert in project management. You must also be a good communicator, team worker, possess interpersonal skills, and pay attention to details.

What general advice would you give to a project manager/consultant management?

Angela Grotto Ph.D.Angela Grotto Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Management, Manhattan College


  1. When job searching, be active and persistent - Network by setting up Zoom informational calls with professionals (alumni, people with whom your family work) to learn about jobs that you are interested in or to learn about organizations where you would like to work and then follow up with them; have someone you trust who is a professional review your resume and social media profile pages; carve out time every day to apply to jobs; use Handshake and LinkedIn as a resource; keep sending out applications; while job searching, volunteer or start your business project that showcases your skillset and then discuss it during your interviews.
  2. When interviewing, be creative - Use experiences from your academic career to demonstrate your capabilities. There are many skills you learn in class that are transferrable to the professional world. For example, as a student, you likely had to pivot to full remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, discuss how the new learning format has prepared you to work remotely as an employee, how small group projects have primed you to collaborate on a virtual team, and how small classes have equipped you to use technology such as Zoom.
  3. When deciding on a job offer, be open-minded - Your first job may not be the one you had imagined or hoped for upon graduation. Still, it may be a stepping stone to your ideal career or a way to build your network of professional connections. You create meaningful and valuable relationships with others who may one day help you get the job you want.
  4. When you land the job, be flexible - Show your employer or your boss that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and do tasks that you were not necessarily trained for or are unrelated to your degree. Also, when circumstances at work change, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, show that you are willing to step up and do a different job, do someone else's job, or work on another project or team. This flexibility will demonstrate your versatility and how you can adapt to new and unpredictable situations. Lastly, embrace the "gig" economy - be willing to start as a temporary or contract worker with a company to get your foot in the door and build more professional connections.
ScoreProject Manager/Consultant ManagementUS Average
Salary
8.0

Avg. Salary $114,409

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 12.98%

Black or African American 8.14%

Hispanic or Latino 8.94%

Unknown 4.50%

White 65.27%

Gender

female 32.32%

male 67.68%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Project manager/consultant management career paths

Key steps to become a project manager/consultant management

  1. Explore project manager/consultant management education requirements

    Most common project manager/consultant management degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.7 %

    Master's

    19.6 %

    Associate

    6.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific project manager/consultant management skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management16.93%
    Process Improvement8.87%
    Business Development8.48%
    Portfolio7.01%
    Business Process6.87%
  3. Complete relevant project manager/consultant management training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New project managers/consultant management learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a project manager/consultant management based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real project manager/consultant management resumes.
  4. Research project manager/consultant management duties and responsibilities

    • Present to leadership supply chain strategies on how to manage their inventory within PeopleSoft after cut-over into the new ERP system.
    • Deliver client infrastructure design, provider services, systems technology coordination and/or implementation, project manage implementation on-time and within budget.
    • Increase department collaboration through SharePoint team sites.
    • Design strategic organizational development programs for senior management; define tasks, roles and responsibilities, and infrastructure for new teams.
  5. Prepare your project manager/consultant management resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your project manager/consultant management resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a project manager/consultant management resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable project manager/consultant management resume templates

    Build a professional project manager/consultant management resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your project manager/consultant management resume.
    Project Manager/Consultant Management Resume
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    Project Manager/Consultant Management Resume
    Project Manager/Consultant Management Resume
    Project Manager/Consultant Management Resume
    Project Manager/Consultant Management Resume
    Project Manager/Consultant Management Resume
  6. Apply for project manager/consultant management jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a project manager/consultant management job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first project manager/consultant management job

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Average project manager/consultant management salary

The average project manager/consultant management salary in the United States is $114,409 per year or $55 per hour. Project manager/consultant management salaries range between $85,000 and $153,000 per year.

Average project manager/consultant management salary
$114,409 Yearly
$55.00 hourly

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How do project managers/consultant management rate their job?

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Project manager/consultant management reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023
Pros

I like to work with a team. Satisfaction of seeing the successful completion of a project

Cons

Strict deadlines, and stakeholders. Feeling undervalued or underappreciated.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

I enjoy problem-solving and identifying a path to completing a complex project. I like to ensure that moving parts come together smoothly and communicating successes and celebrating with the team.

Cons

Without the right support from project sponsors, a project manager is doomed to failure. There is an enormous amount of responsibility on a project manager to deliver a product on time and on budget, though without proper authority or backing, it's basically wheel spinning.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

I like working with Clients and challenges.

Cons

I would rather work remote with little travel.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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