When the boss asks you to manage a project, no matter how insignificant it is, take it. That small project will lead to more projects that will earn you the number of hours to qualify for a PMP Course; you never know when you can cash on it but it is best to be prepared.

Why Start Now

When people decide to take a PMP Course they are disappointed to learn that there is a number of project management hours to chalk up before they can take the course. Some will have to wait for a few years to get the required number of hours and the delay may cool or fan their desire to get a PMP certification.

You may not have decided yet about the course but if you become a project manager, because of an emergency problem, do not view the task as an extra task heaped on you; take it as an opportunity and do not dismiss your accomplishments. It could be the start of anything, a PMP Course and eventually a PMP certification.

How to Manage Your First Project

A project mostly involves managing people to work towards a goal. It could be as simple as leading a dishwashing crew, selling a new product, or difficult as synchronizing work in one unit of the company. To bolster your raw management skills, read management books and learn how to apply it on the job. These questions will help shape your project plans along the lines of project goals, project resources, and project monitoring.

* How well do you understand company objectives?
* What is the project’s short-term or long-term goal?
* Is the project timetable sufficient?
* Are varied resources available?
* Are skills appropriate and relevant?
* What are the additional resources that might be required?
* Is this the first project for most of the team members?
* What information should be shared and how should this be shared?
* Can risks be overcome?
* Are resources sufficient to cover the risks?

Do what the seasoned managers are doing and include the following activities; these strategies prepare you for a future PMP Course.

* Prepare a back-up plan
* Get feedback from the team members
* Categorize tasks according to their major and minor significance
* Document progress development
* Document problems that occurred during the course of the project
* Document the best practices that prevented and solved problems

Record everything from the planning, execution, and the completion of the project and keep an eye on team members to evaluate the appropriateness of their skills, their response to crises, or the level of their competencies.

You have to work with other units too – procurement, customer service, accounting, and top level management. By now, you know that a project manager must have great oral and written communication skills, good interpersonal skills, and must have effective leadership skills to keep team members well-motivated.

From your notes and your first-hand experience, you learn the practical applications of different management theories, which make up the different learning areas in a PMP Course. By now, start reading the PMI Credentials Handbook and do more research on PMP certification.

All of these tips prepare you to the demands of a PMP Course. So take up that project with confidence; you can do it.