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How do I highlight the impact if it's less tangible?

I'm interested in Project Management. How do I highlight the impact when the result is less tangible and what are the things recruiters want to see from a new grad in project management.

Context:
I don't have leadership roles but I do led teams in academic projects but just basic development. No results actually just initiative in leading.
I have no internships yet in PM.

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Wyatt’s Answer

Hello Shaina,

When results are less tangible, especially for new grads interested in project management, focus on highlighting your contributions to process, team coordination, and initiative. Even without formal leadership roles or metrics, you can showcase core PM skills by describing how you organized work, communicated with teammates, or helped the group stay on track. Phrases like “coordinated a team of X,” “managed project timelines,” or “facilitated team communication” demonstrate value. These efforts show recruiters that you understand the fundamentals of project ownership and collaboration, critical in any PM role.

Recruiters hiring for entry level project management roles aren’t expecting years of experience; they’re looking for evidence of potential initiative, structure, problem-solving, and communication. Leading classmates in academic projects, managing deadlines, and assigning responsibilities all count. You can also build your profile by taking beginner friendly PM courses (like Scrum, Agile, or Google’s Project Management certificate) and by reframing your past projects as case studies that explain your role in driving progress. Leading without a title is still leadership, make sure your résumé and portfolio reflect that.

Best of luck to you!
Wyatt
Thank you comment icon I love the last statement, Wyatt!! I am actually taking a google pm on Coursera!! Will definitely redo my resume using this perspective! Thank you Wyatt!!! Shaina
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Prema’s Answer

Hi Shaina,

As someone who's worked in project management, I want to encourage you by saying you’re already doing more than you think.

Even if you haven't held formal leadership roles, leading academic projects counts. What recruiters care about is how you think, solve problems, and work with others. So when reflecting on your experiences, ask yourself:

Did I help set the project timeline or break down the work into phases?

How did I coordinate the team, even informally?

Did I manage communication and make sure people were aligned?

Did I help resolve any team conflicts or challenges?

Was the project delivered on time or with improved quality?

Did I take initiative when others hesitated?

These are all core PM competencies: leadership, risk management, communication, time management, and problem-solving. Even if the results aren’t easily measured in numbers, you can emphasize things like “delivered ahead of schedule,” “ensured team stayed aligned,” or “prevented delays by identifying gaps early.”

As for next steps:

Consider certifications like CAPM (for new grads) or CSM (Scrum Master)—both are great resume builders.

Join student chapters of PMI or other PM communities (like Women in Product or TechLadies) to build your network.

And definitely document your academic projects like real case studies on your LinkedIn or portfolio—use them to tell your story.

You're off to a great start—just keep practicing how you frame your value.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you want help reviewing your project descriptions!
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Neha’s Answer

Hi Shaina,
It surely is skillful at the graduate students to highlight leadership and project management experience. Even if the project is less tangible, there are certain skills you can elaborate on :

- Project initiation - What was project, requirement, priorities, deliverables, goals and deadlines and how you scope out of project. The project impact or need to achieve certain goals you look for.

- Leadership and team management-
How you lead the team, identify which resources are appropriate for certain tasks or made some strategic decisions etc.

- Strategic development and project management
Any special strategies, Methods used, SWOT analysis , historical data used to take some decisions, or survey, software tools which you used to accomplish goals like Agile Scum, Kanban or many other project management techniques.

- Mentorship and Guidance - For project purpose, how you improved or act as mentor for the team. The guidance or knowledge you gained or resources you use such as professors, special classes, any leadership courses etc. Many certifications are available to highlight professional training you have gained for or during this project.

- Cost effectiveness and scope - In case of company businesses and commercialization, finances always come first. However, you can always explain how can you lead, manage and accomplished the goal as 'Student' with limited resources explaining limitations and how you resolved. Here, if you made any efforts on networking or sponsorship, even if its from neighbors, family, professors for project that would be really helpful. Because, the companies, hiring managers already know the student limitations, however how you made efforts and evaluate the problems that really matters.

- Conflict Management -
Team Management - Size of team, or how you manage team, handling conflicts between each other

- Future Implementation
How this project can leverage in future or what you learned from it which can be applicable in your future job.

Hope this would be helpful.
Thanks,
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Mike’s Answer

Hi Shaina,

Awesome question! What stands out most is your passion for exploring a career in project management, especially your awareness of the challenge in highlighting impact when the work is less tangible. I’d like to share a bit from my personal experience.

Being a strong project manager is never easy—it often means driving programs without direct authority. Your effectiveness comes from your ability to influence cross-functional teams. At the core, this depends on being seen as a trustworthy and reliable partner. Respect from peers isn’t something you can demand; it’s something you earn through consistency, credibility, and empathy.

The intangible contributions of a project manager are often more fundamental than the immediate results. Think of them like air or water—essential, yet not always fully appreciated. You create value by enabling efficiency, reducing execution risk, saving costs, and accelerating outcomes, even when those contributions aren’t always visible day-to-day.

So, when you highlight your impact, focus on the value that wouldn’t have existed without your involvement. That’s the glue that holds programs together—the unseen but central force that makes things happen.

Hope this helps answer your question and gives you a perspective on framing the impact of intangible contributions.
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Matteo’s Answer

Hi Shaina, you've made some great points.

When a hiring manager interviews someone for a junior role, they aren't just looking for achievements or success stories like they would with a senior candidate. Instead, they want to see that you're open-minded, eager to learn, willing to earn relevant certifications, and ready to bring fresh ideas to the team.

Since you're interested in a project management career, it would be helpful to show your enthusiasm for understanding the true value of the projects you work on. Highlight how you can support the project team by clearing obstacles and using your communication skills effectively, as project managers often connect the project team with business stakeholders.

Also, if you have any experience in academic projects, make sure to mention how you helped your team overcome challenges.

Wishing you all the best,
Matteo
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Nixio’s Answer

Sometimes all it takes is creativity to find a way to measure almost anything, try exhausting that first.
Then, your approach could be to present your project goal, which would be to go from state a to state b.
Next your baseline could be based on observable features of previous state both measurable and non-measurable.
Then focus on the how and what actions YOU took.
Finally highlight how those actions influenced any change in the previous state and what observable changes were a result of your efforts.

Suggested template to help you structure your thoughts:

Previous state: situation to change or issue to be resolved
Observable features of the situation or issue:
Who was impacted: stakeholders
a) Measurable
b) Non-Measurable

How: Highlight your steps in the process
Final state: Project outcomes
Lessons learned:
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Jim’s Answer

Hi Shain,

Thanks for your question. It's crucial to show clear evidence of project success when possible. In your situation, use other strategies to highlight your impact.

Start by sharing stories. Recruiters enjoy hearing specific examples. Talk about how you solved problems, improved teamwork, spotted issues, or built new connections. Be detailed—describe the project, the steps you took, and include general timeframes like "spring of 2024." Mention the first names of people involved to add credibility. Discuss the challenges you faced and how others reacted to your leadership.

Also, don't shy away from sharing moments when things didn't go as planned. This shows humility and a willingness to learn from your experiences.
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Alex’s Answer

Don't assume you don't have results! The projects you took part in will have had some kind of impact. Even if the outcome feels less tangible, think about the end results of that project : did you drive increased knowledge? did you deliver a recommendation? did you discover that a certain approach would not drive desired results?

Your ability to see the impact where it is less tangible is a valuable asset for any program manager.
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Josafat’s Answer

Hi Shaina, there are several way to measure impact even without numbers, percentages or even in not-official leading, management roles. It is all about how you tell your story. For example, as Senior Expert Service Delivery Manager, my organization does not have a structure of team lead or supervisor, we report directly to management. Nevertheless, I use my knowledge and expertise to support my team, my manager and partners and I make sure I let my leaders know the impact of my collaboration by stating how I help the organizations all-across and at different levels. It is similar to when you prepare a resume for a job opportunity, basically self-yourself. You can rely on tools such as LinkedIn for tips. Hope this helps and opens doors for growth, opportunity and success.
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Ricardo’s Answer

Hi Shaina,

Highlighting your impact in project management, especially when results are less tangible, can be a challenge, but it’s definitely manageable. You can consider some of the following ways:

1. Focus on Soft Skills
Project management relies heavily on soft skills. Emphasize skills such as:
* Communication: Describe how you facilitated discussions, shared updates, or resolved conflicts within your team.
* Collaboration: Highlight your ability to work effectively with diverse teams or coordinate with different stakeholders.
* Problem-Solving: Share examples of how you identified challenges in a project and worked with your team to address them, even if the result wasn’t quantifiable.

2. Emphasize Initiative and Leadership
Even if you haven’t held formal leadership roles, leading academic projects shows initiative. You can frame your involvement in ways that reflect your potential:
* Leadership in Action: Discuss specific instances where you took the lead on tasks, organized meetings, or motivated team members.
* Role Definition: Explain your role and responsibilities in these projects, showing that you understood the importance of leadership even in a collaborative environment.

3. Showcase Project Management Methodologies
If you have experience with any project management methodologies (like Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall), mention them. Even academic projects can incorporate these frameworks:
* Methodology Application: Describe how you applied principles of these methodologies, such as sprint planning, retrospectives, or stakeholder engagement.

4. Describe Project Context and Challenges
Even if you can’t quantify results, you can still provide context:
* Project Goals: What was the objective of your academic projects?
* Challenges Faced: Discuss any obstacles you encountered and how you worked to overcome them, which shows resilience and adaptability.

5. Highlight Learning Outcomes
Reflect on what you learned through your experiences:
* Skills Developed: Identify specific skills you honed during your projects (e.g., time management, risk assessment).
* Impact on Future Projects: Discuss how these experiences will shape your approach to future project management roles.

6. Use Action-Oriented Language
When writing your resume or discussing your experiences in interviews, use strong action verbs to convey impact:
* Words like "coordinated," "facilitated," "developed," and "implemented" can help convey your involvement more dynamically.

7. Tailor Your Resume
When you apply for positions:
* Match Keywords: Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, which can help with applicant tracking systems and demonstrate your fit for the role.
* Format: Use a clean, organized format that highlights your project management skills and experiences clearly.

What Recruiters Want to See from New Grads in Project Management
1. Understanding of Project Management Principles: Familiarity with methodologies and tools.
2. Communication Skills: Ability to convey information effectively to team members and stakeholders.
3. Teamwork and Collaboration: Experience working in teams and contributing to group goals.
4. Problem-Solving Ability: Demonstrated capability to navigate challenges.
5. Enthusiasm and Willingness to Learn: A positive attitude and eagerness to grow within the field.

By strategically framing your experiences and emphasizing relevant skills, you can effectively communicate your potential as a new graduate in project management.
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Kate’s Answer

You are in the project management mindset! Being able to show impact is always important- and just because something doesn't feel tangible doesn't mean that it doesn't matter. Think beyond ROI and share how the work you are doing has laid the foundation or ties to things that are measurable. Keep track of the amount of time you spend on something and how it impacts the overall project- sometimes it is resultant of a client (or internal user) ask, sometimes it will simplify a process down the road. Understand your why for every action you take.
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Saiyed’s Answer

Hi Shaina,

I bet you've seen lots of answers to your question already, but here's a bit of encouragement.

Try to find a specific area that excites and energizes you. That's where you'll shine the most.

Project management involves handling the scope, schedule, and budget, but having a special skill makes you stand out. It helps you understand the solutions better, whether they're functional or technical.

And remember, good communication is key to being a great project manager.

You've got this!
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Murat’s Answer

To show the hidden benefits of a project, connect them to business goals and use feedback like testimonials and surveys. Create visual stories, like before-and-after pictures, to make these impacts clear. If you can, use numbers, like showing improved employee retention as a sign of better morale. Relate the benefits to strategic goals and returns on investment. Use stories or comparisons to make abstract benefits easier to understand. This helps everyone see and value the complete worth of your project.
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Natasha’s Answer

When you don’t have formal authority, project management is all about leading by influence - you already have that mindset! Recruiters want to see that you can bring people together, build alignment, and move a project forward even when you’re not the official leader. You can highlight this by showing how you set direction, organized work, and motivated your peers in academic projects. For example, maybe you created a shared schedule, facilitated discussions when your team was stuck, or made sure everyone understood their role. These examples demonstrate that you know how to guide without a title and can influence outcomes through communication, organization, and initiative. As a new grad, recruiters are less focused on whether you owned a formal leadership position and more interested in whether you can work across groups, earn trust, and keep projects on track. Show that you can align people around a goal and help them deliver together—that’s the core of project management.
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Anita’s Answer

Adding to the great answers. Do a -before and after - comparison: when I started this is what the team, organization etc was facing and now this is what we have accomplished and we got there because of the following things I did, I led and collaborated with others to do - highlight how you dealt with challenges or opportunities and other ideas you have that you would like to continue with, on your next assignment or opportunity. Suggest process improvement ideas based on your experience which will show what you are already doing and your interest to continue and grow
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Olivia’s Answer

Hi Shaina,

Project management revolves around balancing scope, time, and cost. If you can highlight how your team managed these aspects and your role in it, you'll effectively showcase your contributions. Think about whether your team delivered the project on time and what you did to help achieve that. If the project became more complex, consider how you helped everyone stay focused and adapt to changes. Project managers are like air traffic controllers; they may not land the plane, but they ensure everything goes smoothly. Reflect on the project's scope, time, and cost, and map out how you contributed to these areas. This will help you quantify your efforts. For instance, in college, I led a team of five to finish in second place in a case competition against 10 nationally ranked universities or organized the set up and break down of 20 student club booths for a fair attended by 1,000 freshmen.
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Mark’s Answer

Hi Shaina, This is a challenging question. Sometimes projects do not always have obvious tangible value in terms of dollars or budget. From what you've written, I would consider highlighting the size of the teams you have lead or number of resources involved. Do not forget project executives and stakeholders. Also, review the scope and project charter (if one exists) of your projects and look for anything of value to highlight. The projects had to be implemented for a reason, right? I hope this is helpful. Best of luck!
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question and understand your concern.
Below are my suggestions :
1. When searching for opportunities, you can stress on your project management experience in leading academic projects
2. Plan to Professional Project Management qualifications, e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Scrum Master, etc.
3. Look for any intern opportunities on PMO. It can help you to familiar how project management works.
4. Gain more experience working in PMO before taking up Project Management role.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
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Randi’s Answer

What a thoughtful question! I would try to focus on these strategies:

Tell Outcome-Oriented Stories
Frame your work in terms of how it influenced decisions, improved team alignment, or enabled progress. For example, if you facilitated a stakeholder workshop that clarified priorities, describe the before-and-after state.

Show Process Improvements
Even if the end result isn’t visible, improving how work gets done is valuable. Highlight how you reduced meeting overhead, improved documentation clarity, or helped unblock a team.

Use Stakeholder Feedback
Positive feedback from peers, mentors, or clients can serve as a proxy for impact. If someone said your coordination helped them meet a deadline, that’s worth noting.

Reference Frameworks and Tools
Mentioning that you used Agile ceremonies, RACI charts, or risk registers shows you’re applying structured thinking—even if the results are qualitative.

Track Engagement and Adoption
If you led a new onboarding process or launched a dashboard, track how many people used it or how it changed behavior. These are indirect but meaningful indicators of success.

As far as what recruiters typically look for and/or what I look for when hiring:

Ownership: Even if your role was small, show how you took initiative or led a piece of the work.
Learning Agility: Demonstrate how you adapted to feedback, learned new tools, or navigated ambiguity.
Communication Skills: Highlight how you kept stakeholders informed, facilitated meetings, or resolved misunderstandings.
Team Collaboration: Show how you worked across functions or helped align different perspectives.
Curiosity and Drive: Mention any certifications, side projects, or mentorships that show your commitment to growth.
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Ignacio’s Answer

Hello Shain
That’s a great question, and one that shows you’re already thinking like a project manager. Here’s how you can highlight your impact, even when the results aren’t easily measurable:

1. Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome
Even if there wasn’t a final product, you can still show how you contributed to progress:

“Led a team of 4 in an academic project, organizing weekly check-ins and assigning tasks to keep the team aligned and on schedule.”

This shows initiative, planning, and coordination... Core PM skills.

2. Highlight Soft Skills
Project Management is about communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Use examples like:

Facilitating team discussions
Resolving misunderstandings
Keeping the team motivated and on track
These are all valuable, even without a finished product.

3. Use the STAR Method. Structure your stories using:

Situation: What was the context?
Task: What were you trying to achieve?
Action: What did you do?
Result: What changed because of your actions?
Even if the result is “we learned how to work better as a team,” that’s still impact.

4. What Recruiters Want to See in New PM Grads
Initiative: Did you step up to lead or organize?
Communication: Can you clearly explain ideas and updates?
Teamwork: Have you worked well with others?
Curiosity: Are you learning about PM tools or methods (like Agile, Jira, Trello)?
Organization: Can you manage time and priorities?
Example You Could Use:
“In a university project, I took the lead in organizing our team’s workflow. I created a shared task board, scheduled weekly syncs, and helped resolve blockers. While the project didn’t reach completion, we improved our collaboration and stayed aligned throughout.”

Ignacio recommends the following next steps:

Study the STAR model for interviewing
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