A career in project management can be a difficult one to break into as the job involves many unsuspecting hurdles along the way, all unique in their complexities and all requiring a tailor made resolution. Depending on your previous experience and background, these challenges can be tackled astutely or rumble out of control. So which type of people will struggle with the demands of project management?

Fresh out of the box: In other words, newbies. Those who fancy a completely different career or have always been intrigued by the world of project management. Also graduates just out of university will find it difficult to lead a team any further than they have actually gone themselves. As a result, these people will find it hard, if not impossible to sail through a project management position.

Technical Support: You have been the brains behind many big projects, probably even working as part of a project management team. You stared at problems right between the eyes and proved that there is no such thing as a problem, only a solution. However, the technical side is only one aspect of project management and there are many new skills which you will need to acquire to complement the multi-faceted job requisites of this role.

General Managers: You think of yourself as a people person and have been managing teams for quite a while. In fact, you know you are good at motivating people and want to use this natural gift to gain more responsibility, work on projects and swell out your bank balance. Project management involves much more than leading functional teams; the world is fast-paced, demanding and complex and the switch may well be too extreme. Ask anyone who has suddenly found themselves acting as a Project Manager and you will see that this dynamic world is definitely not for the feint hearted.

So how do you go about gaining that knowledge so badly needed to build a career path to the Project Manager's office? This depends on your own personal strengths and weaknesses along with your personality and background. You need to have skills in two particular areas. These are called hard and soft skills.

Hard Skills - these are the nuts and bolts of project management. You need to be able to think analytically. If you are naturally inquisitive and logical with good problem solving skills then these will be easy for you to master.
Soft Skills - the art of great communication and building strong working relationships with people. The sort of people who excel in this area are outgoing characters who exude confidence, exact fairness and implement tact when managing a project. They are also the type of people who are able to tame difficult personalities.

Whether you recognise yourself as a hard skilled person or lean more towards the soft skills, you need to broaden your knowledge in both areas but especially in your weaker skill set.
Graduates - You have no relevant work experience in project management but you do have some knowledge of the theories involved with PM. You will need to pan out both your hard and soft skills.

Technical Whizz Kids - Yes, you will definitely have the know-how to absorb the hard skills. However, you may falter with soft skills as you lack the art of being able to effectively manage people.

General Managers - You will relish in the soft skills having successfully motivated teams to work towards a goal. The hard skills are where you will face the biggest challenge unless you have a naturally analytical mind.

Some great ways to expand your project management knowledge:
Join blogs and podcasts.
1. Talk to people who are already functioning as Project Managers and take advantage of their pearls of wisdom, experience and direction.
2. Get the lowdown, pick up tips and read everything you can. Start with publications which outline the fundamental concepts of Project Management to see if this is something which still captivates you.
3. Look for Project Management organisations online and sign up. They will keep you up to date with courses, strategies, skills, training and answer any of your questions.
4. Why not even go one step further and become an apprentice? Advertise online through social networks or post some ads in your local area to find that guru who will point you in the right direction.
5. Apply your budding project management skills to your existing role to progress within the workplace. Donate freely of your time and show willing. Make your manager aware of your ambition to become a Project Manager and prove that you are capable of such a role by demonstrating your competency through your daily actions.

When you apply for a project management position, ensure that the company you work for is able to meet your career goals. Does it flourish financially by delivering successful projects? Does it invest in project management or believe in it as a formal discipline? To help with your job search, consider applying for the following roles which all relate to project management.

Assistant Project Manager
Junior Project Manager
Project Scheduler
Project Analyst
Project Assistant
Project Coordinator
Project Controller

Some companies may offer a range of management or technical positions through which you can progress and gain those valuable skills needed for running your own projects. Make it an aim to put yourself at the best possible advantage by working in an environment that can give the career advancements that you need. Then in no time at all, you may respond to an ad in your local shop window from someone who would like you to mentor them and is keen to benefit from your experience.