If you're looking to break into the project management industry, gaining knowledge of project management software could set you apart from other candidates. Familiarize yourself with popular tools like Microsoft Project, Basecamp, or Asana. This is particularly useful if you don’t have much practical project management experience to showcase.

Additionally, try and gain some practical experience, even if it's in a voluntary or junior capacity. The ability to demonstrate some familiarity with project management processes and methodologies can go a long way in the selection process.

Another recommendation for breaking into the project management field is to earn industry-specific certifications. Particularly sought after are the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials offered by the Project Management Institute.

Even if you're at an entry level, having these certifications can significantly improve your resume and demonstrate your commitment and understanding of project management principles. These can place you ahead of other candidates without such certifications.

Make sure your resume speaks directly to the job you want. This tells the hiring manager that you understand what it takes to be an entry level project manager. Show how your skills fit this job. Use words from the job ad. This makes it easier to see you're a good match for the role.

• Use words like project scheduling and risk management if the job ad mentions these.
• If you've led any projects, even in college or an internship, make this clear. Say something like managed a team to deliver on a tight deadline.
• Match your previous job tasks to what an entry level project manager does. For example, if you've organized events, link this to manage project logistics.

When you apply for a job as an entry-level project manager, it is important to use strong action verbs in your resume. These verbs show what you have done in a clear and direct way. This helps the hiring manager see your skills and abilities quickly.

Using the right verbs can set your resume apart from others. Think about the tasks you've done that relate to managing projects, even in a small way, and choose verbs that describe these actions well.

• To show you can start and guide projects, use initiated, coordinated, executed, implemented, and launched.
• If you want to show you can work with others, use collaborated, facilitated, engaged, negotiated, and partnered.
• For describing how you plan and organize, use planned, organized, outlined, structured, and scheduled.
• To show you can analyze and solve problems, use assessed, resolved, analyzed, diagnosed, and troubleshooted.
• When talking about managing the project's end, use completed, finalized, delivered, closed, and accomplished.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Seeking, Communicated, Made, Make, Oversaw.

As you begin your journey as an entry-level project manager, it's important to highlight the right skills on your resume. These skills show you can handle project tasks. Here are some you might include:

• Project scheduling
• Risk management
• Cost control
• Agile methodologies
• Scrum framework
• Microsoft Project
• Project management software like Asana or Trello
• Resource allocation
• Stakeholder management
• Data analysis

Choose skills that match the job you want. For example, if you aim to work in tech, Agile methodologies and Scrum framework are good to include. Put these skills in a dedicated section. This makes it easy for hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to see your abilities. Include them in your job history to show you have used them in real situations.

Remember, you do not need to have all these skills. Focus on those most relevant to the projects you want to manage. Good luck!

When you show your impact with numbers, it makes your achievements clear and easy to understand. Here's how you can do it:

• Think about times you helped save time on a project. Estimate the percentage of time saved and write it like this: 'Improved project workflow, resulting in a 20% reduction in time to completion.'
• Consider any budget you managed or contributed to. If you can calculate cost savings, show it as a number: 'Identified cost-saving opportunities, cutting project expenses by 15%.'

Even if you're not sure of the exact number, a good estimate based on facts is helpful. Here are two more ideas:

• If you supervised a project, estimate the number of team members you led: 'Coordinated a team of 5 to meet project goals ahead of schedule.'
• Did your work affect sales or customer satisfaction? Show this change: 'Helped launch a marketing campaign that increased sales by 10%' or 'Implemented a new process that improved customer service ratings by 25%.'

Use these numbers to show how you make a difference. They help you stand out and prove that you can bring real value as a project manager.

When you apply for an entry-level position in project management, showing any leadership roles or promotions you've held can make a significant difference. You want to give clear examples that prove you can lead a team and take on more responsibility over time. Think about times when you've been given more tasks or when others looked to you for guidance.

• Managed a team of volunteers for a local charity event, coordinating schedules and tasks, ensuring timely completion of objectives.
• Selected as the lead intern for a group project, responsible for reporting progress to supervisors and organizing meetings.

If you're unsure if your experience counts as leadership, ask yourself if you've ever been in charge of organizing an event, mentoring new team members, or leading a group discussion. These are all good examples of leadership. If you've been promoted, even in a part-time job or a club, include the title change and explain what new responsibilities you took on. This shows your ability to grow and adapt to new challenges.

• Earned promotion from customer service representative to team leader within six months, overseeing a group of five and improving service response times.
• Advanced from member to treasurer in university's economics society, managing the budget and financial reporting.

When applying to small companies or startups, like Basecamp or Trello, highlight your ability to wear many hats. Show your experience in multitasking and handling various roles within a project. Use phrases like "managed multiple tasks across different project phases" or "adapted to various roles to meet project needs."

For larger corporates like IBM or Microsoft, emphasize your experience with structured processes and teamwork. Mention any familiarity with specific project management tools or methodologies. Use phrases like "coordinated with cross-functional teams" or "followed Agile methodologies to deliver projects."