Here's how you can navigate potential career paths as a project manager in the Service Operations industry.

I believe that project management is a mix of talent and knowledge. Being certified , or getting a deep knowledge about Service operation project management is not enough to build our careers. It's more important as well , the skills and experience that shape our talents. On the other hand , networking would be an advantageous to learn from others success and failures. We shouldn't start the journey always from scratch. But , we could start it from where others are ending and concluding.

Over the years, I’ve realized that strategic planning & continuous learning are the bedrock of career growth in any industry. In my view the role of project management has undergone significant transformation, once a straightforward process has now become a multifaceted discipline, requiring a blend of technical knowledge, leadership skills, & a deep understanding of market trends. One of the most significant challenges I’ve encountered is the integration of new technologies into existing frameworks. This challenge is not just technical but also cultural, requiring a shift in mindset and approach. I invite professionals to share their insights and thoughts on these observations.

Simple. Understand the team dynamic that you are working in first. Does the language make sense? If something is not transparent with you how can you get the right data? What are the skill sets that my superior needs and what skills sets must I be able to provide to my team.

The skill set of a PM is rather unique, not like many other professional skills, PM's primary skills set lies at soft side. Mindset, Mental model, T-type view (Horizontal & Vertical), along with other key words you often hear: Stake holders management, communication, cross functional and domain quick learning etc. While for Service Operations industry, since they are more direct people facing, the primary key of success of company in this business is experience. If you are a PM in this industry, on top of above mentioned general skills development, you need add the Empathy of your customers, your stakeholders, your working partners, your teams...

If you decided devote yourself into the Service operation industry sector for a rather long period, you want to be a PM does not mean you should start as one. My personal experience in the business as PM while working with all other function partners, I would actually suggest you choose start from a front-end service practitioner for 1-2 years, truly learn and feel how to service customers; you may rotate to a mid-ware key function such as supply chain, to enhance your insights how back-end support front. Your step 3 after 4-5 total years, will be in much better shape start being a new but solid PM. You will much deeper understand your project team's thinking, quickly find the best way to co-work, accelerate your career growth curve

From my point of view, certifications related to project management are badges that validate your skills and knowledge of good practices in the industry. Obviously, this makes you more attractive to employers - even more so to companies with high standards and international roles - and in some cases it can be decisive in the decision about a job. However, I am completely sure that certifications must be complemented with experience in various projects, since each project is different and new things are learned in each one. I am convinced that experience plays a key role when it comes to management. I have met excellent project managers without certifications or postgraduate studies, with excellent values and achievements.

Networking is a part of working nature as PM, it's even more critical than many other function roles. I would suggest set your networking into 3 aspects: 1) Network with project core team, clear view on their dual hats: daily functional role+their R&R identified in this project. 2) Networking with your peers: you will find other PMs in your company or even wider PM community (for example Linkedin, haha), everyone has their unique experience, skills, opinion and informative resources. Active exchange will exert a subtle benefits on you. 3) Networking with the world. Always keep your eye open on the business dynamics and the socioeconomic, reach true customers you are serving, what they are thinking. That's where your work should start from

Continuous learning is critical to everyone nowadays, but have even broader needs to a PM. As PM means you will always meet different scenario, every project will be different regardless your experience or seniority. In this tech boost era，you need learn to keep up with all functional aspects what's new is happening. One more, the whole society dynamics means our customers minds are changing, you can never serve them in same way, even that worked pretty well in the past so you take it for granted. So keep learning your customers, learning functional & technical change, and keep invent and iterate different way fit for manage a project, your soft skills are there, is your least worry.