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How do I get a job in project management with little experience?
I need help getting a job because I have been trying with no results. I want to do project management jobs and work with teams of people. I currently work for the military.
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Yoav’s Answer
Working in the military means you are likely already doing project management every day—planning missions, coordinating logistics, managing timelines, and leading teams under pressure are the exact core skills civilian project managers use, just described with different words. The key to breaking through is translating your military experience into civilian language on your resume; swap out service-specific jargon for terms like project planning, risk management, stakeholder coordination, and resource allocation. You can also look into obtaining an entry-level credential like the Certified Associate in Project Management, or even go for the Project Management Professional certification if your military time counts toward the leadership requirements, both of which can often be funded through military credentialing programs. Reaching out to veteran professional networks on platforms like LinkedIn can also open doors to mentors who have successfully made this exact jump and can point you toward supportive hiring managers. You already have the leadership, discipline, and teamwork experience that employers crave, so keep refining your approach and do not lose heart. You are fully capable of making this pivot, so stay confident and best of luck on your career journey!
Updated
Jenny’s Answer
Lacey,
You are working for the military, but are you also a service member? If so, they will help to fund any education you need to assist you with obtaining a Project Management position. They also have a re-skilling program to help veterans transition from the military to civilian occupations. Even if you aren't a service member, there are things you can do to help you stand out from others in the job search. I'm listing some next steps below that I hope will be helpful.
One very important step when looking for a new job: networking with people you know. Schedule coffee, a Zoom meeting, a lunch, or a call with the people you know. Let them know what you are looking for and ask them for referrals. Most new jobs happen because of networking and referrals. You should still be submitting your resume, but get out there and connect with people.
I hope the steps below will help you. I wish you the very best in your search.
Jenny
Know your benefits and opportunities through the VA: https://www.va.gov/education/
Resume updating: upload your resume to ChatGPT or Claude AI (one of my favs) and ask it to assess your resume for Project Management. Ask it to provide suggestions for updating your resume and your LinkedIn account.
Along with the Coursera recommendation from a previous post, you could look at LinkedIn learning (available with a paid subscription to LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/learning/topics/project-management
Here is another option for skill building for service members: https://www.knowavet.org/skills-training-for-veterans/
You are working for the military, but are you also a service member? If so, they will help to fund any education you need to assist you with obtaining a Project Management position. They also have a re-skilling program to help veterans transition from the military to civilian occupations. Even if you aren't a service member, there are things you can do to help you stand out from others in the job search. I'm listing some next steps below that I hope will be helpful.
One very important step when looking for a new job: networking with people you know. Schedule coffee, a Zoom meeting, a lunch, or a call with the people you know. Let them know what you are looking for and ask them for referrals. Most new jobs happen because of networking and referrals. You should still be submitting your resume, but get out there and connect with people.
I hope the steps below will help you. I wish you the very best in your search.
Jenny
Jenny recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Martha D.’s Answer
Hi Lacey. Yours is an excellent question. A few ideas:
- Even if your job title doesn't include the words "project management", could you give examples in your resume and job interviews of projects you have managed?
- Do you have or would you be willing to get a Project Management certification? The first link below is to a Google Project Management course offered by Coursera. My former employer offered courses through Coursera so I trust the platform. You can pay for Coursera access per month to keep down the cost, but at least the Army has offered up to $4,000 per year for professional development (even for civilian employees). I don't know the current rules but someone in your department should know about education benefits, if any.
- You say you are working but also are a student. Have you enlisted the career services center on your campus to help you make contacts and find opportunities? They could also help you rewrite your resume to highlight relevant information and may even have student rates for online certificates.
- Some companies have recruitment programs focused on veterans. Perhaps you could contact them first to get noticed?
- I don't know your financial needs, but could you consider either another job within the same organization to get a foot in the door or also applying to more entry-level jobs in project management to get more experience?
I hope this helps and wish you good luck!
Coursera course - https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-project-management/paidmedia?utm_medium=sem&utm_source=gg&utm_campaign=b2c_namer_multi_google_ftcof_specializations_px_dr_bau_gg_sem_pr-bd_us-ca_en_m_hyb_25-09_business-general&campaignid=23007646226&adgroupid=192701769721&device=c&keyword=project%20manager&matchtype=b&network=g&devicemodel=&creativeid=785552051755&assetgroupid=&targetid=kwd-10219576&extensionid=&placement=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23007646226&gbraid=0AAAAADdKX6aOhiYgixZdtjxCdknvDBo_V&gclid=CjwKCAjwsfzSBhB5EiwAOGyqSfGKZ_EPTjLKLRETR9zHa7fyCsiyey7UeZTAd152Vcl-hM60-NN4OhoCPWkQAvD_BwE
- Even if your job title doesn't include the words "project management", could you give examples in your resume and job interviews of projects you have managed?
- Do you have or would you be willing to get a Project Management certification? The first link below is to a Google Project Management course offered by Coursera. My former employer offered courses through Coursera so I trust the platform. You can pay for Coursera access per month to keep down the cost, but at least the Army has offered up to $4,000 per year for professional development (even for civilian employees). I don't know the current rules but someone in your department should know about education benefits, if any.
- You say you are working but also are a student. Have you enlisted the career services center on your campus to help you make contacts and find opportunities? They could also help you rewrite your resume to highlight relevant information and may even have student rates for online certificates.
- Some companies have recruitment programs focused on veterans. Perhaps you could contact them first to get noticed?
- I don't know your financial needs, but could you consider either another job within the same organization to get a foot in the door or also applying to more entry-level jobs in project management to get more experience?
I hope this helps and wish you good luck!
Martha D. recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Valerie’s Answer
Hi Lacey! It's awesome to see you're interested in project management. As someone who loves being a PM, I happy when I hear someone is considering entering this field also!
Here are some simple steps to help you get started:
1. Check out PMI: Visit the Project Management Institute's website. They have great learning materials and some free introductory courses.
2. Use Free Resources: Look online for free articles and videos about project management. I recommend these to people I mentor to help them learn the basics.
3. Highlight Your Military Experience: As Yoav mentioned, you might have already done project management tasks without realizing it. Understanding PM concepts can help you showcase your military experience on your resume.
Good luck with your journey!
Here are some simple steps to help you get started:
1. Check out PMI: Visit the Project Management Institute's website. They have great learning materials and some free introductory courses.
2. Use Free Resources: Look online for free articles and videos about project management. I recommend these to people I mentor to help them learn the basics.
3. Highlight Your Military Experience: As Yoav mentioned, you might have already done project management tasks without realizing it. Understanding PM concepts can help you showcase your military experience on your resume.
Good luck with your journey!