In the absence of a project manager or senior staffer, a project manager trainee typically works under that person, handling aspects of project initiatives. These junior members of a project management department are frequently undergoing training to become project managers at a higher level. Although many of their job duties and responsibilities are similar, they may have a lower overall level of responsibility because their mentors are often involved in higher-level project observation or monitoring.
Certain key areas of logistics may be a part of a project manager trainee’s job. This can include managing a company’s shipping schedules or larger transportation programs. Another important area is purchasing, where a trainee could help set up purchasing arrangements for raw materials or anything else the company requires.
Supervision is another important aspect of many project manager trainee professionals’ training to become full project managers. Individually or in groups, these people may collaborate with company employees or outside contractors. They may be directly involved in payroll issues or topics of company policy compliance, or they may be more broadly involved in remotely monitoring work groups. Many project managers and their trainees contribute to a company performing all of this workforce observation and human resources work.
Many project manager trainees may be required to become familiar with a variety of software applications that the company uses on a regular basis as part of their work. This could include a variety of decision-making software. Humans can use decision support software to help them make tactical decisions for their employers. Because one of the most important aspects of a project manager’s job is to make these high-level decisions, companies may ask them to use and become familiar with specific software applications. It’s important to note that decision support software isn’t the only type of IT resource that one of these professionals might use to manage project-related issues; presentation software or other tools could also be used.
A project manager trainee may act as a liaison or messenger between various departments within a business. This individual may spend time in high-level meetings deciding how to proceed with a project. They may also compile detailed reports for upper management to keep them informed about the status of various business project phases. The project management trainee may face a steep learning curve in terms of creating and tracking detailed timelines for individual phases of large projects.