When you look for a job, you assume your new employer will provide two weeks vacation, career advancement possibilities and some type of benefits. But are employers looking for anything beyond technological competence, performance, results and a team player? You might be surprised to find that communication skills, and honesty and integrity are equally at the top of their list, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2007 survey. Right behind those qualities were interpersonal skills, motivation/initiative, strong work ethic and teamwork skills.

All of those attributes are inherent in a professional project manager, so use your Project Management skills to put your career in high gear:

1.    SHOW RESULTS. Project Management is the art and science of getting things done. When you improve your Project Management skills, you can get things done quickly and know how to document the results, so you can chart success after success, year after year.

2.     BE EFFICIENT. Project Management teaches you how to make the most efficient use of resources to generate the best results in the least amount of time.  At the end of every project, capture best practices and lessons learned, creating an invaluable documentation of hits and misses.

3.     CREATE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE. Your communication sills are about how you manage your communication. Teams do not magically meet with success when they meet only once. Be sure you communicate what’s relevant to the team clearly and frequently enough and that you always communicate successes.

4.     PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS. Not running with scissors doesn’t necessarily mean you play well with others. Think kindergarten sand box.   Do you really play well with others?  Enough so they want to be on your project team?  Good project managers know when to lead and when to get out of the way.

5.     LET YOUR CONFIDENCE SHINE. When someone shows confidence, everyone in the room feels it, too. Cheetah students say their biggest payoff from Project Management training or PMP® certification is the confidence they gain. A solid Project Management foundation makes you feel more competent so you project more confidence to your team and your boss.

6.     KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS. Missed deadlines and projects that slip through the cracks are career killers. Project Management skills focus on timelines and results that build your reputation and give team members a reason to trust you.

7.     GET A GRIP. Good project managers don’t have to freak out. They remain calm and in control because their Project Agreement identifies all the deadlines, who is responsible for what and when, and documents every change.

8.     ADAPT TO CHANGE. Don’t ignore change. Good project managers know they often have to adapt their plans and document what has changed and how that impacts the entire project.

9.     KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW.  What are your strengths and weaknesses?  Once you have a solid foundation of Project Management skills, keep building on it. Continuous learning and a thirst for knowledge are always attractive to employers and team members.