The right project manager can make all the difference between a project that makes it to the finish line and one that doesn’t. If you’re looking to hire a project manager to lead your project and team to success, here’s what you should keep an eye out for.

Skills to look for in a project manager:

1. Change management

Being able to manage change and engage stakeholders throughout the process of a project are key skills that any great project manager should possess. We hear why from Talent Perth Team Lead, Kate Reynolds, “Change management incorporates lots of different behavioural management skills, such as engaging stakeholders and bringing people on the journey of the project with you. The project managers who have these subset skills will command the premium rates in the market and are a very attractive proposition for hiring managers.”

2. Communication

Strong communication skills are an essential competency of any project manager, with the best of the best honing these skills to influence and lead. According to Talent Head of Government, Steve Tompkins, “The traditional project manager role is evolving. Enter the ‘Project Influencer’. The influencer uses EI to build human connections and understand the motivations of their team. They also use data-led logic, critical thinking, and strong communication skills to propose solutions to problems. They don’t just answer to stakeholders, they answer to their team, filling the role of sword and shield for them and fuelling a productive project team where every member feels valued and performs to the best of their ability.”

3. Emotional intelligence

It’s important for project managers to have high emotional intelligence – it’s a crucial part of managing a team and project where timelines and tasks can shift. Steve Tompkins explains that, “By focusing on the emotional needs of their teams, studies have shown that project managers can increase productivity by reducing absenteeism and retaining their best talent. A proper understanding of emotions, both yours and others, is required – making it a necessary leadership skill for project managers all over the globe.”

4. Technical skills: data, AI & automation

Technology is revolutionising the project services space, driving demand for project specialists who can leverage it to create efficiencies and achieve project success. So, which emerging – and existing – technical project skillsets are top practitioners honing? Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, and Automation all make the cut, with the best of the best leveraging this tech to drive efficiencies in their work. According to Talent Head of Government, Steve Tompkins, “Project management involves a significant amount of data and project managers are increasingly leveraging data insights to make informed decisions, handle projects in a better way, and increase business growth.”  Talent Melbourne Practice Lead, Kylie McManus, also notes that, “Project managers and business analysts with specialised skills in cloud, data, cybersecurity, and popular ERP/CRM systems like Salesforce and MS Dynamics, are in highest demand.”

So, how can you find and hire project candidates who possess these attributes. Here’s what we suggest…

Attract and hire a project manager using these tips:

1. Offer meaningful work

A Talent survey of over 500 candidates revealed that the opportunity for exciting and meaningful work matters most to 85% of these professionals when looking for job. If you’re seeking to attract a top project manager, ensure that you’re selling the role and project in your job ad and interview. Highlight the exciting aspects of the project and the impact it will have on the business, to demonstrate the meaningful work the candidate will be a part of.

2. Expand your talent search

Finding top project managers is no easy feat, so to ensure you’re maximising your chances of finding leading project professionals, you’ll want to broaden your options by opening yourself up to different talent pools. Consider opening your role to remote workers to tap into talent from different geographies, using contractors for set project periods, or offering flexible work arrangements, to give yourself a greater selection of candidates to choose from.

It’s also important to consider diversity, equity and inclusion when hiring, ensuring that you’re engaging in inclusive hiring practices to attract a diverse range of candidates. Think – using gender neutral language in job ads, engaging in blind applicant screening, and having a diverse interview panel. This will not only widen your candidate pool, but it’s also the right thing to do. For tips and tricks on hiring with DEI in mind, check out our Talent DEI Hiring Toolkit.

3. Deliver on what candidates are seeking

If you want to attract top project talent, it’s important to make your role – and company – enticing to candidates. This involves delivering on what jobseekers are searching for. Talent research reveals that flexibility, a positive company culture, competitive remuneration, and progression opportunities are all sought after. If you can deliver on this, you’ll have a leg up in the hiring market.

4. Offer variety and opportunities for growth

Diving further into jobseeker expectations, when searching for their next project role, the opportunity for career progression and development matters most to almost half (48%) of jobseekers. For permanent employees, this means the opportunity for promotion and development, and for contractors, this is variety in the role and the likelihood of a contract extension. Talent Adelaide Account Executive, Taliya Lukeman, notes, “Longevity and variety are at the forefront of candidates’ minds when deciding on new work. We are finding that employers who have a clear roadmap in place for providing professional development for new hires are securing great talent.”

5. Sell your brand

Be clear on your EVP and ensure you have a strong employer brand which promotes this to jobseekers. From writing a compelling job ad which sells the role and highlights the perks that come from working with you, through to how you sell your brand and the project to candidates in the interview – it all counts when sourcing top project talent. It’s also important to deliver a positive candidate experience to all job applicants to ensure you maintain your brand in market. Make sure to offer feedback to each candidate after the interview, regardless of the outcome, to ensure each touchpoint with your company is a positive one.

6. Use a dedicated recruiter

Running a project is no easy task, and having the right people on board to see it to success is essential. However, with a busy schedule and hundreds of considerations on your mind, hiring can take up a significant amount of headspace. A dedicated recruiter can take this task of your plate, and with a deep understanding of your business and requirements, they can place top-tier project talent into your company at speed.

At Talent, we can find you the right project managers to keep your project on track. As a Platinum partner to the Project Management Institute (and the only recruitment partner), we understand what it takes to successfully deliver a project. Working with more than 11,000 project professionals around the world, and a global network of clients spanning across all industries, as well as placing over 1,000 PMs in new roles per year, we’re fluent in project management.

Let us hire the best project manager for your next project – get in touch to learn how we can help.