5 traits that drive success in the EVM field
If you’re interested in a new career path, earned value management (EVM) offers an opportunity to specialize in a sought-after niche skillset. Consultants who learn and apply EVM principles help make critical, highly complex undertakings – like Department of Energy, Department of Defense, national science lab and large-scale infrastructure projects – a reality.
At Manta Ray Consulting, we employ EVM to help plan and control budgets, timelines, resources and more so projects are completed on time and within budget. And although many EVM consultants come from technical backgrounds, a much broader set of skills fuel success in this field. People who launch careers in EVM come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from political science and the humanities to math and engineering, and they often leverage a set of common traits that enable people of any discipline to be successful at EVM.
An analytical mindset: Thinking critically and drawing on all available data to make important decisions is core to EVM. Consultants must be able to interpret data, draw conclusions and effectively solve problems based on what they uncover.
An aptitude for math: While EVM practitioners don’t need to be mathematics pros, they do need an aptitude for examining numbers and validating data and budgets. Being able to make calculations and quickly see where figures aren’t lining up enables EVM consultants to swiftly uncover issues and dig deep to bring accuracy and efficiency to projects.
Curiosity: You may have heard the phrase that “you don’t know what you don’t know,” and this holds true when managing highly complex projects. Curiosity drives EVM practitioners to re-examine data when something doesn’t look right, ask smart questions of clients and ultimately have a bigger impact on the projects we support.
Organization: It goes without saying that intricate projects have a multitude of stakeholders, workflows and resources – and a multitude of data and documents to match. Having the ability to keep everything straight amid the chaos sets outstanding EVM consultants apart from the rest.
Adaptability: When working on large-scale initiatives, variables change often – sometimes daily. Demands, suppliers, resources and site conditions are always evolving. EVM consultants who can adapt quickly are able to roll with the punches and help clients re-evaluate and move forward successfully.
Forging a great career in EVM isn’t just about being an engineering or math whiz; often, soft skills are what enable exceptional consultants to look at a situation from a different perspective and make a real impact on client projects. If the traits listed above resonate with you and you’re interested in starting a career in EVM, check out our recent blog on online training resources or reach out for more information on open positions.