University Professional Development Report: Project Manager Career

This report provides a detailed professional development analysis for an aspiring Project Manager. It begins with a self-introduction, outlining the student's career aspirations and preferred industry sector. The report then explores macro trends and challenges in the Australian job market, including political, economic, social, technological, demographic, and natural factors impacting the Project Manager role. Short-term and long-term career goals are defined, followed by a discussion of professional ethics and values, referencing the PMI Code of Ethics. A competency assessment evaluates various skills, with strengths and weaknesses identified and addressed through proposed solutions. The report emphasizes skills such as communication, teamwork, organization, and problem-solving, supported by references to relevant sources.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional Development
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Self-introduction:
My name is <Insert your name>. I am a strong-willed, confident and ambitious person
who is determined to become professionally successful in life. I believe that given the persuasive
skills and analytical skills that I possess, the career of Project Manager best suits me best.
Accordingly, I can work in various industries, including the construction, engineering and the
Information Technology industry, however my personal preferences lies with the Electronics
Industrial Sector. In the next five years, I see myself as a Project Officer, entrusted with the duty
of setting up and implementing objectives in compliance with the needs of the clients, set
deadlines, manage and monitor the progress of the project. As of now, I do not possess any
experience in the role of a Project Manager, and yet I believe that given the skills and
competencies, I possess, this is the best job role suitable for me. I have a direct and assertive
communication style, which will enable me to define my goals, objectives and expectations,
before my team members. I have strong leadership skills that will help me influence my team
members to execute and accomplish the tasks in a timely manner. Besides, my reflective and
analytical skills will also help me define the scope of the project and plan accordingly, as well as
to evaluate the expected outcome of a project. Apart from my personal skills, I also possess
technical skills, such as I am comfortable in making budgets using MS Excel, and at the same
time, I can use work schedule software necessary for timely competition of a project, with much
ease.
Mega Trends and Challenges:
MACRO - ELEMENT Reference
Political The government of Australia is heavily investing in (Walsh,

2PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
the construction and healthcare industries, and hence
the importance of hiring a group leader in the role of
a Project Manager, for hiring new employees, taking
new initiatives and estimating the budgets in
increasing.
2107)
Economic The growth in Australian economy is witnessing a
rapid growth in the job role of Project Manager.
There are multiple prospects in the IT, marketing and
defence industries. However, part-time workers are
getting replaced by full-time project managers, given
the economic growth.
(O, Neill,
2017)
Social The number of applicants applying for the
designation of Project Managers is increasing, and
hence employers are preferring employees with
proper academic degree in Project Management.
(Brown,
2015)
Technology With the advent of technology, the works of a Project
Manager can be accomplished with greater ease than
before. AtTask, online workflow management
software and other cloud computing and security
applications are simplifying the tasks of the Project
Managers.
(Walsh,
2017)
Demographic Majority of the job vacancies in the role of a Project (Schwalbe,

3PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Manager are available in New South Wales, Western
Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
2015)
Natural In the construction and mining sector, there are strict
laws and regulations to ensure ecological balance
while implementing any project. This can affect the
cost-effective approach of the project implementation
programs in a negative way.
(O’Neill,
2017)
Summary:
From the above discussion, it becomes clearly evident that there are innumerable
vacancies in the jobs of a Project Manager across the capital cities of Australia. Especially, along
the eastern coast of Australia, one can enjoy infinite job opportunities in the designation of a
Project Manager. However, along with the increase in the job prospects, Australia will also
experience an increase in the number of applicants. This will definitely create much competition
in the labour market. Employees possessing degrees in project management courses will be
preferred. Besides, the salary scale will also differ. The salary scale will vary from $46, 300 to
$60,000 according to the expertise level of the certificate course the applicant had enrolled in.
The sectors where there is maximum vacancy in the designation of PM are IT, Accounting,
Government, Defence, and Real Estates. New South Wales generates maximum jobs (4772) in
the position of a PM. With the advent of technology, the works of a Project Manager can be
accomplished with greater ease than before. AtTask, online workflow management software and

4PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
other cloud computing and security applications are simplifying the tasks of the Project
Managers.
Goals
Short-term Goals:
 Learn to be a good communicator so that I can conduct brief and actionable meetings that
can accomplish better ends.
 Upgrade my technical skills so that I can communicate my ideas and opinions with the
help of effective tools and dynamic platforms, such as web conferences and online
forums.
Long-term Goals:
 Develop a better understanding of the financial health of the company I am working for.
 Embrace new technology and acquire technical skills so that I can easily leverage tools
that help me capture pertinent real-time data from multiple sources.
 Develop an understanding of the industry I am working in, by reading different trade
publications and following blogs and twitter accounts.
Ethics and Professional Values:
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that believes that the action of an individual is either morally
right o wrong, depending on the intent with which it has been done, and the impact it has on the
people concerned. Professional ethics is an integral branch of ethics, that intends to govern and
judge behaviour in the light of a specific profession. Each employee working engaged in any
occupation has a set of moral obligations towards the profession, which he must abide by. The

5PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
important professional values which I possess as a Project Manager are honesty, fairness, respect
and responsibility. Once I did a three month old internship under the supervision of a Project
Manager, and I realized the importance of honesty in the profession. Being a Project Manager,
one has open access to the proprietary and copyrighted materials of a client, and yet the manager
has to ensure 100% confidentiality of the information with him. The status reports that a PM is
required to provide on a regular basis, showing the progress of the projects, must reveal
absolutely accurate and truthful facts, even though the facts may not work in favour of him. I
have also read the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct that I believe does assist the
Project Manager in making wise decisions, especially when you he is encountered with difficult
situations when he might feel the need to compromise his own integrity and values. At the same
time, maintaining integrity towards one’s tasks and job duties, as well as maintaining
accountability towards the stakeholders is also an integral aspect of the project management
ethics. At the same time, I believe that enabling active participation of each stakeholder is highly
important as well. It is important to encourage the diverse viewpoints and to enable individuals
to contribute to the specific project in their own ways.
Competency Assessment
SKILLS Ranks
1 Analytical skills 7
2 Creative thinking skills 6
3 Critical thinking skills 6
4 Decision making skills 6
5 Interpersonal skills (talking, listening, 5

6PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
networking etc)
6 Organising skills 4
7 Planning skills 6
8 Problem Solving skills 7
9 Self-confidence 6
10 Teamwork 4
11 Technology (IT - computers) 5
12 Time Management skills 4
13 Verbal communication skills 4
14 Written communication skills 6

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Analytical skills
Creative thinking skills
Critical thinking skills
Decision making skills
Interpersonal skills (talking, listening, networking etc)
Organising skills
Planning skills
Problem Solving skills
Self-confidence
Teamwork
Technology (IT - computers)
Time Management skills
Verbal communication skills
Written communication skills
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Strength and Weakness:
SKILLS Definition Reference
1
Teamwork skills
The skill of working in
close collaboration with
the team members and to
influence them to
perform the actions in
due time.
(Indeed.com,
2017)
2
Organizing skills
A skill of keeping the
projects on tracks, while
also managing the staffs.
(Seek.com,
2017)
3 Interpersonal communication skills The skill of (Indeed.com,

8PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
communicating,
persuading and
influencing others’
opinion as well as
listening to the
suggestions of the
subordinates regarding
the project
implementation
procedure.
2017)
4
Problem-solving skills
The skill of identifying
problems in a project
beforehand and solving
the same.
(Indeed.com,
2017)
5
Decision-making skills
The skill of making an
intuitive decision that can
have a positive impact on
the future of a project,
once it is implemented.
(Indeed.com,
2017)

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Skills Deficiencies Why Solution
1 Communication
skills
I am more of a shy, withdrawn person. I do not possess a very impressive
communication skill, especially
verbal communication skill (4), and
hence I would engage myself in
professional seminars and soft skill
enhancing conferences, that can help
me become an assertive and
confident communicator.
2 Teamwork skills I face difficulty in collaborating with
other people, and prefer to
accomplish tasks on my own.
Teamwork skills are highly
important for the successful
completion of a project. This is
because each team member must be
made aware of his own shared
responsibility in helping in the
accomplishment of the project. This
is why, I would learn how to
socialize with too many people at a
time, and try to encourage open
communication at workplace. I
would also employ the use of a
project management system called
Azendoo that can help me in
effective team management.
Strength I have impressive leadership qualities, which makes me fit to lead any

10PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
team and implement any project within a given time.
I am self-motivated and persevering by nature, which makes me highly
determined to accomplish my projects.
I am a highly organized person, who can track and monitor the progress of
each project with absolute diligence. I will never miss the deadline of any
project as well.
Weakness I often fail to communicate crucial matters persuasively, and my verbal
communication skills are not very good. However, I am working on them.
I do not like to work in teams.
I often get too much stressed out, while overburdened with work.

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Reference List:
Brown, D. (2015). Career information, career counseling and career development. Pearson.
O'Neill, B. (2017). 2017 Trends in Project Management Jobs - College for Adult
Learning. College for Adult Learning. Retrieved 15 September 2017, from
https://collegeforadultlearning.edu.au/trends-in-project-management-jobs/
Project Manager Jobs in Melbourne VIC (with Salaries) | Indeed.com. (2017). Au.indeed.com.
Retrieved 15 September 2017, from https://au.indeed.com/Project-Manager-jobs-in-
Melbourne-VIC
Project Manager Jobs in Sydney NSW (with Salaries) | Indeed.com. (2017). Au.indeed.com.
Retrieved 15 September 2017, from https://au.indeed.com/Project-Manager-jobs-in-
Sydney-NSW
Schwalbe, K. (2015). Information technology project management. Cengage Learning.
Senior Project Manager Job in ACT. (2017). SEEK. Retrieved 15 September 2017, from
https://www.seek.com.au/job/34414386?
type=standout&userqueryid=d6c04298d8b195308ab360358d261fa6-1034591
Walsh, B. (2017). Job Outlook In Australia 2016-2020 - Optimum Consulting. Optimum
Consulting. Retrieved 15 September 2017, from http://www.ogroup.com.au/job-outlook-
australia-2016-2020/