With graduation approaching, many of us are spending quite a bit of time working on job applications. Many of the job postings I have encountered include the same key phrases:
 
The preferred candidate has leadership experience…
 
For this position, a candidate with at least 2 years of experience will be considered…
 
Experience cannot be substituted for education…
 
Another phrase that has recently caught my attention is:
 
Candidates with project management experience are preferred.
 
PROJECT. MANAGEMENT. This sounds pretty intense, right? This sounds like something a professional would do. The whole concept seems way too “adult” for me.
 
Wrong.
 
Project management is actually really simple. The main idea involves working with a group of people to meet their goals before a deadline. That’s it. People. Goals. Deadline.
 
For example, in one of your classes you may have worked in a group on a project or assignment. Here is your group of people. This assignment probably required the development of a paper or presentation on a specific topic. This would be your goal. The professor more than likely included a due date on the syllabus. This is your deadline. Look at that. You’ve got project management experience!
 
Maybe you have somehow managed to escape the excitement of group projects in your classes. There are opportunities for project management in your student organizations. The members of the organization would be your group. The goals or objectives you have may be to increase your membership or recruit more upperclassmen. The deadline could be by the end of the year or the end of your time at A&M. This is another experience in project management that many students don’t realize they are experiencing.
 
Now you just have to market your project management experience to your potential employer!
 
What skills did you learn during your experience? Did you learn how to communicate with your teammates? Did you learn how to prioritize tasks or organize group meetings? Were you able to learn how to manage time and complete tasks on schedule? These are all skills that you can bring into the workplace!
 
The next time you feel underqualified for a position, or not “adult” enough to even apply, rethink your experiences. Take the time to consider the projects you have completed and the groups you have worked with. You might surprise yourself by proving to be one of the most qualified candidates for the job!

--- Joseph Tate
Joseph Tate is a Masters student in the Bush School of Government and Public Service