Project Manager Jobs in the United Kingdom

Project Manager Jobs Overview

Project managers usually work 40 hours a week, bringing project ideas to life. They coordinate teams to meet core business objectives, monitor project progress, and create schedules to ensure they can meet strict deadlines. To qualify for project manager jobs, you'll need strong problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of knowing how to make smart financial decisions.

Project managers work in a diverse range of settings, including small businesses, schools and universities, medical facilities, manufacturing warehouses, retail departments, and restaurants. There are also travelling project manager jobs available, as well as remote project manager jobs for those who want to work from home.

Common project manager jobs include:

• Data conversion project managers: Deliver premium technical solutions to achieve key business objectives.
• Engineer project managers: Collaborate with construction teams and architects to fulfill building projects.
• IT director: Lead projects to help companies integrate software and cloud-based products.
• Web content developer: Develop and oversee online projects, such as content marketing plans and analytics.

How to Find the Project Manager Job That Fits You

Finding a project management position that gives personal satisfaction is vital to accomplishing professional objectives. Follow the advice in the sections below to set ambitious career goals.

Think About Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

Consider your strengths and weaknesses when beginning your job hunt for a project management position. Ask yourself what industry you can see yourself working in. For example, if you don't like the sight of blood, you know to look for positions outside the medical industry.

Use Your Skills and Credentials

Think about any special skills or credentials you possess, such as a business management or IT degree, that you can use to demonstrate project management expertise or industry experience. Always consider areas where you need improvement, such as leadership skills, which are vital to effective project management.

Apply to Positions You’re Qualified For

Before submitting an application, review the job description carefully. While reviewing it, assess whether you can truly fulfill the requirements for the position.

Can you lead groups of people to complete projects? Can you work with leadership and other stakeholders to determine their objectives for the project? How good are you at prioritising project tasks? What project management tools are you familiar with?

Not all project manager jobs will be a good fit for you. This is why you should always take your personal preferences into account when reading job descriptions, such as a preference for flexible hours or a small versus large company.

Find Jobs That You Have Experience In

Next, you need to think about your qualifications and any previous experience you have as a project manager. You can use personal experience instead of degrees to secure some project manager positions. If most of your experience is in the construction industry, look for relevant positions by adding the word construction to your search phrase when searching for open positions.

Look for Red Flags

Read through job descriptions carefully, looking for red flags like excessive demands that are not commensurate with the offered salary. Think about whether or not you share the company's values by reading its mission statement.

Look for Growth Opportunities

Be on the lookout for opportunities to better yourself and consider areas in which you can benefit from further training or experience. Investigate opportunities for internal advancement and training to discover whether the employer facilitates career growth. Let the hiring manager know that you will track your accomplishments, take advantage of employer-based training programmes, and demonstrate leadership skills to secure internal promotions when they become available.

Think about how this job fits with your long-term goals as a project manager. Do you desire to one day become an executive project manager? If so, will the positions you’re applying for help you learn executive-level project management skills?

How to Apply for Project Manager Jobs

Getting the project manager job you want requires careful planning, including a winning CV and cover letter. Send your CV to potential companies after you've narrowed down your options by following the advice below.

Prepare for the Application Process

Print the job description, read through it carefully from beginning to end, and underline any key phrases you notice. Assess which skills it states you must have and determine whether you're missing any of those qualifications. Read the application guidelines, attentively looking for specific instructions, such as providing proof of credentials.

Create an Effective CV

Here are a few ways to make your CV as strong as possible.

• Include project manager keywords (like leadership, research skills, budget management, motivation, conflict management, and team management) to help your CV get past applicant tracking software.
• Use a chronological, functional, or combination format for your project manager CV and an application-based cover letter.
• Highlight your project manager skills, like interpersonal skills, effective delegation, being a fast problem-solver, being highly organised, and paying strict attention to detail.
• Include samples of other projects you’ve completed to showcase your project management experience.
• Double-check your CV for typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes.

Write a Compelling Cover Letter

Create a cover letter tailored to your specific experience with project management:

• Discuss your background and any prior project management experience you have.
• Make sure to mention relevant project management skills you have, like leadership, conflict management, organisation, motivation, team management, and communication.
• Explain why you're a good fit for the position.
• Justify how you will add value to the brand.
• End with a call-to-action that encourages the hiring manager to reach out to you with any questions.

Submit Your Application

To apply for project manager jobs, simply join Monster, create your profile, and upload your CV. Make sure to set your CV status to visible to ensure potential employers can see it when they search our candidate database. Simply fill in your relevant job experience in project management, and click the “Submit” button to have your CV go live.

When you find a project manager position on Monster that you want to apply for, just click the “Submit Application” button to send your existing profile, including your cover letter and CV, to the hiring manager. However, before you do, make sure all the content in your application, CV, and cover letter is free of typos by putting it through a spell and grammar checker.

How to Follow Up with an Employer

Timing your follow-up: Always follow up with potential companies after sending an application. Give the employer a week or two to review your application before following up.

After an interview, send a thank-you message the next day. You can send the thank-you note by email, phone, or text.

How to follow up:Using email is an easy way to conduct a follow-up. However, it's a good idea to follow up with an in-person meeting after an interview for a high-paying or management job, particularly if you had to travel far to get there. You can easily fit in a follow-up visit by stopping by the office again before heading home the next day.

Having trouble thinking of a professional, appropriate follow-up? Consider one of the two examples provided below:

• "I appreciate your consideration of my application, [name of recruiting manager]. I hope to hear from your organisation soon, and in the meantime, I invite you to get in touch with any inquiries you may have concerning my background or expertise. Have a wonderful day, and thanks again."
• "In reference to my application for the project manager position that I submitted on [date], I would like to follow up with you. I'm really interested in the role and would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have. If you wish to get in touch with me, my number is [add here]. Thank you very much for your time, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."

Who to follow up with:When following up, try to get in touch with the hiring manager. You can always follow up with the interviewer if the hiring manager wasn't involved in your selection process.

You can usually find the hiring manager's email address and phone number in the project manager job application that you submitted. If you’re unable to locate the hiring manager's contact information, feel free to ask the company's human resources department.

Interviewing Tips for Project Manager Jobs

In order to impress potential employers, it's important to prepare for your interview. Use our tips to ensure you leave a good impression during your next interview.

Preparing for the Interview

Before committing to an interview, research the organisation to discover whether you'd be a good match for its culture and if its reputation meets your standards. You can perform your research by viewing the company’s social media profiles and website, and reading through reviews. When researching the company’s website, make sure to read through its mission statement and any values it lists on their "About" page.

Preparing for the interview will make you less nervous and increase your chances of getting the job. Use these preparation tips to ensure you’re ready for your next project manager interview:

• studying the job description
• researching the interviewer
• recreating the interview setting and practising with a friend
• performing salary research
• identifying your selling points
• knowing the details of the role you're applying for
• picking your biggest strength and creating a story to tell about it
• writing down the questions that you want to ask the interviewer
• verifying the interview time and location
• prepping for tough interview questions

Interview Process

A hiring manager or someone in recruiting will likely be the first person to contact you about an interview. This will probably take place through email or over the phone, and the person will update you on your application status and when and where the interview will take place.

Many hiring agents allow you to schedule an interview around your current work schedule. Make sure to ask whether it’s behavioural or competency-based, as this will help you prepare for the interview.

Interview Tips

The STAR method can help you prepare for a behavioural interview, which usually focuses on your past experience and skills. Questions asked during behavioural-based interviews don't evaluate your potential to handle a situation. Instead, they reflect on your past experience handling similar situations. Also keep in mind that even though many project managers work remotely, you should always dress presentable for a video or in-person interview.

Follow Up

After the interview, send a thank-you message to the interviewer no later than the next business day to reaffirm your enthusiasm for the role. Contact the company again if you haven't heard back within three days.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

When you first get a job offer, congratulate yourself and then read through it to make sure you understand what’s being offered. You can thank the hiring manager by phone, email, text, or in person and ask any questions you may have regarding the offer. Look out for inconsistencies between the offer and what you read in the job description and discussed during the interview.

Make sure you do your homework before starting salary negotiations to guarantee you're getting a fair rate for the project manager position. As you create your strategy for negotiation, keep in mind the value you provide and the state of the market.

Project Manager Career Paths

Project managers can move in a variety of directions with their careers. Some jobs call for formal education or certification, while others require nothing more than the right project management skill set. For example, if you specialise in IT, you can use your experience to secure an IT project management role.

Always evaluate potential jobs and industries in light of how well they fit in with your values, skills, and interests. Explore a variety of industries and professions to choose one that appeals to you.

Common career paths for project managers are:

• Advertising manager: Help promote goods, services, or brands by working with sales teams to develop, launch, and manage promotional initiatives.
• Apartment manager: Ensure apartment complexes are safe and healthy to live in, collect rent from tenants, fill vacancies by conducting tenant application processes, and handle all tenant complaints.

Similar Occupations

Project managers have a wide range of career options to choose from. Some of the most popular related careers that project managers choose are:

• aircraft engineer
• clinical social worker
• events coordinator
• healthcare manager
• web developer