Building a Dream Team: How to Hire the Best Project Managers

Hiring a highly skilled project manager is crucial as they can make or break the success of a project. Their expertise can determine whether you meet deadlines, stay within budget, fulfill requirements, or fall short of expectations.

While not uncommon, it is disheartening to note that a staggering 70% of all projects end up failing.

This highlights the significance of improving project management practices across industries. Surprisingly, 42% of companies lack an understanding of the need or importance of project management, which further compounds the issue.

This article will discuss the process of hiring top-notch project managers, enhancing project management practices, and employing effective strategies to identify the ideal candidate for your organization!

What Does a Project Manager Do?

The role of a Project Manager encompasses the comprehensive management of a project, including its planning, procurement, execution, and successful completion.

A Project Manager assumes overall responsibility for the project, overseeing various aspects such as defining the project scope, leading the project team, and efficiently managing the allocated resources.

A project management office often plays a crucial role in ensuring effective project execution and obtaining a project management certification can enhance the capabilities and credibility of professionals working within the PMO. Additionally, the project manager assumes the crucial role of overseeing the daily operations and management of the project.

Further, they are entrusted with ensuring proficiency in handling the six key aspects of a project:

• Scope
• Schedule
• Finance
• Risk
• Quality
• Resources

Competence in managing these facets is essential for the project manager to effectively navigate the project’s complexities and ensure its success.

Here’s why you need project managers

Despite evidence showing that organizations with a mature project management process are more likely to achieve timely and cost-effective project delivery, only 46% of organizations prioritize project management as part of their culture.

Project managers play a crucial role in facilitating project execution by breaking down complex projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This simple, yet systematic approach involves assigning clear responsibilities, establishing milestones, and setting deadlines.

Project management includes:

• Providing leadership and motivation
• Removing roadblocks
• Coaching and mentoring
• Ensuring clear accountability for the team’s success.

As a result, project managers enable teams to work more efficiently, respond promptly to challenges, and demonstrate heightened adaptability in addressing issues that may arise during the project lifecycle.

What You Can Expect from a Project Manager

In the dynamic landscape of managing multiple projects, the project manager plays a pivotal role in overseeing the project’s lifecycle. With responsibilities spanning various departments and multiple teams, the project manager is the person responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects.

Technical know-how and open communication skills are essential in coordinating team members and mitigating potential risks. While an entry-level position may require a certified associate and a few years of experience, a master’s degree or graduate degree in a relevant field can provide a solid foundation for managing projects.

Acting as a central place for coordinating tasks and responsibilities, the project manager ensures that the project progresses seamlessly and makes sense in achieving the desired outcomes.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Project Ideation and Planning: Begin by formulating and developing the initial project idea.
• Team Creation and Leadership: Assemble and lead a capable team to execute the project.
• Progress Monitoring and Deadline Setting: Continuously monitor project progress and establish achievable deadlines.
• Issue Resolution: Address and resolve any challenges or issues that arise during project execution.
• Financial Management: Effectively manage project finances, including budgeting and cost control.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Ensure the satisfaction of project stakeholders by engaging and meeting their expectations.
• Project Performance Evaluation: Assess and evaluate the overall performance and outcomes of the project.

Motivating the team

Project management is a vital discipline that relies on the expertise of a project manager possessing strong project management skills.

Project manager roles and responsibilities include motivating their team members. Project managers:

• Set clear goals
• Provide support and resources
• Recognize achievements
• Promote effective communication
• Build trust and collaboration
• Offer development opportunities
• Lead by example

Additionally, they play a crucial role in directing the project team, ensuring effective communication, resource allocation, and timely execution.

Lastly, To streamline their work, project managers often utilize project management software, enabling them to efficiently plan, track progress, and collaborate with stakeholders in the dynamic project management world.

Project Manager Certifications

A career in project management offers vast possibilities, with the PMP Certification serving as the pinnacle of industry-recognized credentials for project managers. It is widely regarded as the gold standard, demonstrating proficiency in project management across the globe.

With this certification, professionals can pursue a project manager position within any industry, leveraging their technical skills and expertise. The versatility of the PMP Certification extends beyond industry boundaries, allowing individuals to work in diverse settings, including project management offices (PMOs).

This certification propels careers in project management, serving as a testament to one’s capabilities and opening doors to exciting opportunities.

Organizations are showing dedication to the development of project managers through training initiatives. A significant majority, 61% of companies, offer project management training in some capacity.

Furthermore, 47% of these organizations have taken additional steps to establish a well-defined career progression pathway for individuals pursuing project management careers.

How Do I Hire a Project Manager?

When searching for the right project manager, there are several key factors to consider. First and foremost, evaluate their project management experience, as it provides valuable insight into their ability to handle complex projects and navigate challenges effectively.

Consider their personal and professional interests as well, as a genuine passion for the field can drive motivation and commitment to project success.

To initiate the hiring process, conducting a phone interview allows you to assess their communication skills and initial fit for the role.

FreeUp points you in the right direction

When utilizing the FreeUp platform for project management recruitment, follow these guidelines:

1. Assess Cultural Fit: During the initial interview for the project management vacancy, prioritize evaluating whether the candidate aligns with your team’s culture and internal processes.
2. Explore Experience: Inquire about the candidate’s relevant project management experience, allowing you to gauge their suitability for the role.
3. Seek Relevant Qualities: Look for qualities and traits that are essential for effective project management, such as leadership, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability.
4. Verify Credentials: While FreeUp only recruits the top 1% of freelancers, it is always best to ensure that the candidate you’ve selected from our top-of-the-line freelancers possesses the necessary certifications and credentials to support your next project!
5. Collaborate with Executive Recruiters: Leverage the expertise of executive recruiters available through the FreeUp platform to assist in finding the ideal project management candidate for your organization.

Why Should I Use FreeUp for Hiring Project Managers?

While there are numerous platforms for hiring project managers, they often follow a similar and time-consuming process.

We save you valuable time upfront by thoroughly screening project managers for skills, attitude, and communication. You gain rapid access to a curated selection of pre-vetted project managers by submitting a request that outlines your specific requirements.

Moreover, our project managers exhibit strong dedication, minimizing the likelihood of them leaving or dropping your project. In the rare event that a project manager does depart, we cover replacement costs and swiftly connect you with a new project manager, ensuring a seamless transition.

FreeUp is dedicated to streamlining your hiring process by saving time and safeguarding your projects!

How Much Will It Cost Me?

The salary range for freelance project managers varies significantly. However, in general, you can expect a specific hourly range depending on where the freelancer is located. 

• Non-US Freelancers: 7 to 20 dollars an hour
• US/UK/CA/AUS Freelancers: 24 to 50 dollars an hour

Multiple factors influence the average project manager’s salary, including:

• Experience in project management: Years of experience in the field contribute to the salary range.
• Specialization in niche projects or markets: Project managers with expertise in specific areas may command higher rates.
• Location: The geographical location, whether it’s a city, country, or remote work arrangement, can influence the salary range.
• Certification or education in project management: Additional qualifications and certifications can enhance a project manager’s earning potential.
• Cost of the average project budget: The complexity and size of the projects managed also play a role in determining the salary.

It is important to note that the payment for project management services may be lower for shorter projects or less experienced individuals.

Ultimately, the salary range for a project manager reflects what you can afford and are willing to invest in their expertise.

Will Hiring a Project Manager Save Me Money?

An outsourced proficient project manager is expected to generate cost savings for your company that exceed their fees. This rule of thumb emphasizes that the value delivered by a successful project manager is often greater than the financial investment required to engage their services.

In fact, the project management industry has experienced remarkable growth, with a projected increase of $6.6 trillion by the close of 2020. Among the various processes within project management, stakeholder engagement stands out as the most valuable.

Effectively engaging stakeholders to contribute significantly to project success and outcomes. In fact, a staggering 62% of successfully completed projects can be attributed to having supportive sponsors.

These statistics highlight the critical role of stakeholder engagement and sponsor involvement in driving project achievements and reinforce the importance of cultivating strong relationships with key project stakeholders.

Are Project Managers Worth It?

The short answer here is a big yes! Project managers are absolutely essential for successful project management. With their expertise in project management methodologies, certification, and experience, they bring value to any project.

Their role involves aligning project goals with organizational objectives, planning and executing projects, and effectively managing project teams.

Good project managers possess both technical and soft skills, ensuring efficient budget management, effective communication, and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Investing in project managers leads to improved project outcomes and increased efficiency, making them invaluable assets in the project management world.

What makes them worth it?

Here is what makes hiring project managers worth it for your business: 

• Clearly defined objectives
• Enhanced efficiency
• Improved communication and collaboration
• Effective risk management and analysis
• Enhanced quality control
• Time-consuming nature of project management
• Consideration of project management costs
• Potential lack of flexibility

To Sum Things Up

Building a dream team of project managers is vital for the success of any organization.

Remember, a strong project management team can drive your projects toward successful outcomes, saving you time, money, and headaches along the way.

If you’re ready to find top-notch project managers, consider leveraging the expertise of FreeUp Freelance Project Managers.

With our pre-vetted pool of skilled professionals, FreeUp can help you quickly connect with the perfect project manager for your organization.

Don’t wait; take the first step in building your dream team today!