How to Hire the Best Project Managers for Your Organization

Suppose you want, need and can afford the best of the best when hiring your next project manager or better yet an entire fleet of project managers. Your organization is not looking for the most affordable - it's all about finding the right fit, talent and experience.

How do you go about it? Where do you start? I've done my share of searching for project managers and it comes down to three considerations.

Expand Your Search

Want the best? Expand your search and look outside your local avenues or geographical area. Look everywhere and then be ready to be a bit flexible. Consider work arrangements or relocation discussions in order to make it all work out with one or more of your top three candidates. Are you going to pay for relocation? Are you able to pay well for relocation? Those are just a few things to consider before you’re ready to expand your search. If the budget is not an issue, step outside the box and give it a shot.

Virtual Teams and Remote Leadership

Not everyone wants to relocate to Portland, Maine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota... or even relocate at all. A lot of that incentive to relocate went away about 8 years ago when the job market and housing market went completely flat and it's just become so expensive to move around for jobs that most are hesitant or won't consider doing it. Plus, job tenures are shorter now and the workplace overall is constantly evolving which may have had an impact on the spike in remote workers. Be open to the project manager staying right where they are and managing the project remotely. If they are experienced, they will be able to handle the virtual team effectively and likely thrive. Plus project management software makes it easy for teams to collaborate in a central platform from wherever they are.

Experience is Key

Is a Certified Project Manager (PMP) or another Project Management certification required or necessary? Do your projects require it? Do you have external project clients that are in an industry or niche where it will be a requirement of the project manager you assign to their project? To answer these questions in short, it may be beneficial for you to have a mix of certified and non-certified but very experienced PMs. In my book, experience trumps certification and I think you'll find that your project clients feel that way, too.

Summary

Many factors can get in the way of finding the best talent for your projects. Such as budget, the time it takes to find a new PM or PMs and the biggest obstacle, finding a PM that blends with the current team. If you want good, experienced project managers you can get them. Think outside the box. Be flexible.

PM Chat

What are your thoughts? What hiring practices or suggestions work for you? Please share and discuss.