How To Start a Career in Project Management at 30 Without Experience

If you're looking to change careers in your 30s, you may be wondering about the different options available to you. Perhaps you're interested in project management, but you're wondering: is it too late to pursue this career?

30 is not too old for you to start a career in project management. In fact, project management is a great career to pursue a little later because of the unique set of skills it requires.

Keep reading to find out more.

Is 30 Too Old to Start a Project Management Career?

The short answer to this question is that you're never too old to start a new career. But you may be wondering if you'll experience age discrimination in the workforce or have trouble getting started at this point in the game.

It is true that, in general, companies are used to hiring younger candidates just out of school or older candidates who already have years of project management experience.

If you are 30 or older and just starting out in project management, you may have to work harder to convince that first company to hire you.

That said, it is far from being too late to make this career change. In fact, 30 might be seen as the perfect age to transition into a project management career.

At 30, you are still young enough to have a lot of working years left; there is still plenty of time to establish yourself in your new career. But you are also old enough that you've gained crucial work and life experience and have probably built important skills along the way.

Project managers need to have strong leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and managerial skills. For a new project manager in their early 20s, someone without much work experience, the job can be overwhelming.

On the other hand, someone in their 30s probably already has a significant amount of work experience. They may have even gained management experience.

If you are 30, then chances are you know how to work with and lead a team; you have probably developed your ability to manage time and resources; you may even be a parent who has learned how to juggle the many different facets of life.

All of these skills translate to project management. They will help make your transition into this field as seamless as possible and will likely help you succeed as a project manager.

So, if you're looking for your first project management job at 30 or beyond, it's important to highlight your skills and experiences in your resume and when speaking to potential employers.

Let them know what you have to offer, and even if you're not the youngest candidate, chances are, they will be willing to give you a chance.

What Degree Do You Need for a Project Management Career?

Most companies hiring project managers are looking for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree. But what are the best bachelor's degrees to pursue if you want to work as a project manager?

The ideal degree for this profession is a project management degree. These types of degree programs will teach you the specific skills and processes you'll need to succeed in this career.

That said, if you already have a bachelor's degree and don't want to go back to school before changing careers, you may wonder if your current degree could translate into a project management career.

The good news is that other types of management degrees may be sufficient to get a job in project management. Good options include:

• management
• business management
• supply chain management
• human resource management

A more generic degree in business, such as business administration, may also help you get a job in project management. If you have a minor or concentration in management, even better.

How Long Does it Take to Complete a Project Management Degree Program?

If you don't yet have a degree and are planning to go back to school to major in project management, you may be wondering how long you can expect to spend in school before graduating.

Like most bachelor's degrees, a degree in project management requires at least 120 credit hours. Students can typically graduate after four years of full-time study.

That said, many adult students are too busy to study full-time, instead opting for part-time or flexible online programs. If this sounds like you, then the time it takes you to graduate will depend on how quickly you acquire your 120 credits.

Part-time students often need at least six years to graduate. Again, though, this will depend on how many credits you take per term.

Online programs allow a greater degree of flexibility than most campus-based programs; you can usually choose when and where to study, which may allow you to learn full-time even if you are juggling other commitments.

Studying year-round will allow you to graduate more quickly even if you are taking a lighter course load.

What's more, if you already have some college experience, you may be able to transfer some or all of your credits, in turn allowing you to graduate even sooner.

Should You Start a Career in Project Management?

The decision to pursue a project management career is entirely yours. Only you can decide if this professional move makes sense for you at this point in your life.

That said, project managers are in high demand and are usually well-compensated for their work. They can work in almost any industry, so you can decide which field interests you and pursue jobs in that field.

If you think you have the skills and education, or are willing to get them, then transitioning into a project management career might just be an excellent decision.

Pursue Your New Project Management Career Path Today

You are never too old to pursue a new career, and 30 is a great time to move into project management because of the skills you've gained through your work experience. If you're interested in becoming a project manager, then right now is a great time to start.