How I Became a Project Manager With No Experience

For the past decade, I’ve been running this blog. My passion for blogging faded a long time ago, but I kept at it because it was still bringing in income.

As the years went on, I got really fed up with the ups and downs of blogging. Social media was always changing, and the nonstop hustle of online business just wore me out. I started wanting something more stable, where I could put in a certain number of hours and know exactly what I’d earn.

I ended up going on a bit of a journey, trying out different jobs and feeling scared that I’d never find my thing.

That was until I came across a marketing job on Upwork that also involved project management. Two jobs in one, and I thought, why not give it a shot? I signed up for a free course to get a better understanding of what project management involves. More on what happened later.

Today’s post, I’m going to show you:

• If project management could be a fit for you (it’s not for everyone!)
• How to get a job without going back to school
• What $$$ to expect 

Benefits of project management

• Businesses are DESPERATE for project managers (I know this from job research)
• A.I. can help with project management tools, but can’t replace them, which I’ll talk about a little bit
• Project managers have a lot of room for moving up in companies as the business expands and grows
• There’s a whole lot of satisfaction from being the problem solver and person who gets projects rolling and completed
• We’re paid well! Entry-level starts at $25/hour and quickly goes up to $45+/hour
• You can start your own project management business where you take on retainer work (which can lead to higher pay and fewer hours)

Who should become a project manager?

It’s funny, my husband thinks my job sounds like a nightmare, but it doesn’t even feel like work most of the time. This is when I realized not everyone thinks project management sounds fun. 

Do any of these sound like you?

• You love systems and processes
• You love making work for yourself and others more efficient
• You work well with others
• You enjoy managing a team and keeping them productive & happy
• You love solving problems, thinking critically, and finding solutions to challenges
• You’re all about staying organized and love that feeling when everything’s in place
• You love learning, which can include staying updated on new tools and best practices in project management

The reality of project management

I don’t want to talk about all the good things without highlighting the not-so-good parts about PM, so here are a few.

• Project management can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re just starting out
• Project managers require knowledge of various tools, methodologies, and soft skills, which can feel like a lot to learn at first
• You’ll likely get impostor syndrome and self-doubt, which is something I struggle with
• Anxiety over balancing multiple projects at once, with deadlines and teams thrown into the mix

Project management is sticking around

There is an endless list of daily tasks my boss needs me to do as the project manager, and we’re even hiring a few more project managers at our company in the next few months.

AI helps with task management and task delegation, but AI can’t inspire a team, resolve conflicts, or foster a collaborative environment; only project managers can.

Project managers also are the ones facing unexpected hurdles that require fast and rapid creative problem solving, again, something AI can’t do.

How you can get started today

This is exactly what I did to get started in project management and land a job in the field within one month.

1. I went down a rabbit hole on YouTube, but found that Deya’s YouTube channel had the best free and paid resources on becoming a project manager. So you can get started there. She resonated the most with me just because she’s close to my age and has a similar working background. If she’s not your vibe, there are tons of other channels on YouTube that can help.

2. I signed up for her free email course, where she walks you through her journey and shares valuable advice on creating a freelance career that’s both profitable and enjoyable. The email series covers:

• What exactly a “Digital Business Manager” is or does,
• How to price your services,
• How to find and land clients, including how Deya found 40+ clients,
• And tips on building a sustainable freelance career.

I also decided to join her paid course, opting for the top-tier level at $1,200 (though the lowest tier was $800 at the time of writing). I went all in with the top-tier package, which included all the bonuses. Honestly, those extras have been incredibly valuable now that I’m actually working as a project manager.

One of the bonuses is access to a highly active Slack community, which I’ve turned to countless times for support. Any time I hit a problem at work that I can’t figure out, someone in the group jumps in to help and often it’s Deya herself. It’s been a total game-changer. It was soooo scary working as a project manager with zero experience, but the Slack community made me feel like I might be okay.

I’m not sure if all tiers include this, but my tier provides actual projects I need to complete. Deya and her team then evaluate my performance, giving me real-world project management experience. I also earn certifications for completing the course and other related areas, which is pretty cool!

Where am I at now?

I’m working as a project manager at a job I actually enjoy. I did have to go through a couple jobs to find a company that felt right for me, but now that I’ve found it, I really feel like I found my place.

Finding this job felt relatively easy, but that’s probably because I was applying consistently and dedicating a lot of time to the process. When I landed this role, I was actually in the middle of interviewing for three different positions and ended up turning two of them down.

I’m by no means getting rich from this yet, but earning $25/hour as someone new to the field feels like a solid starting point. Right now, I genuinely enjoy my job and don’t see myself leaving anytime soon, but I’m also aware that, down the line, I might be open to a change if it comes with a significant pay increase.