Millions of companies are hiring project managers these days and thanks to the number
of courses available there is enough manpower available to fill the positions. But when the companies advertise for a particular position, they do not clearly state everything in the Job description. Many of us fulfill the criterions in the JD but still fail to get the job.
Don't go by what the company publishes. There are still some salient competencies which are essential for a project manager. Here are the most important ones:
Analytical Skills It is the skill to understand and solve complicated problems. We rarely have access to complete information or every resource possible. A successful project manager can work around the limitations to find appropriate solution.
Interpersonal skills Team is not just made of people, it is made of many personalities. A manager should be capable of handling the differences and conflicts. Hence interpersonal skill is an important competency in a project manager.
Planning - The project manager is responsible right from project commencement to contingency planning. The team depends on the manager for direction. Hence a project lead should be able to think strategically and organize resources and milestones accordingly.
Emotional Balance- Just intelligence does not ensure success. High emotional quotient is also required to manage people. It is important that s/he maintains his/her cool in difficult situations and take rational decisions even in crisis.
Creativity/ Productive Thinking Manager doesn't just manage, s/he also improves. A project manager can only add value to the job if s/he can come up with more efficient processes to improve work and productivity. Innovation and out of the box thinking is expected from a good project manager.
Communication Communication is a non-negotiable trait in a project lead. Ability to speak and write clearly, openly and succinctly is essential. A project manager is also required to motivate, train and coach the team members.
You can read about most of these in text books and websites, but if you cannot relate relevant experiences supporting your skill, you may not get selected even in the HR Interview.