Careers in Project Management: A Q&A with MRC President and Co-founder Manny Abela

Manta Ray Consulting’s president and co-founder, Manny Abela, has more than two decades of experience in project management. He has worked in major commercial and governmental contracting environments, growing his expertise along the way. As a business owner and a project management professional, Manny understands the ins and outs of starting a career in the field. He recently answered several questions about MRC’s hiring process. 

Q: How do you approach the project management hiring process? 

A: When evaluating potential candidates for a project controls position, the most important attribute we look for in a candidate is the ability to relate to people. A candidate with a well-developed set of “soft skills” is more desirable than someone with a lot of experience but underdeveloped soft skills. 

Q: Is there a particular approach in your hiring process that is unique to MRC? 

A: At MRC we focus on a candidate’s raw potential rather than years of experience. We believe that it is easier to mold a candidate with raw potential into an MRC consultant rather than attempt to retrain a candidate with a lot of experience but saddled with bad habits. 

Q: What skills do you look for in a potential hire? 

A: During the review process, our team focuses on a candidate’s aptitude and enthusiasm for learning, regardless of how long they have been in the industry. A candidate who knows it all is one to avoid. These candidates tend to show a lack of willingness to learn and accept new ideas or concepts. 

Q: How do the skills you look for vary based on the position? 

A: A candidate for a senior project controls position must have a proven track record and an enthusiasm for continued learning and mentoring. An intern looking to get their start does not have to have a history in project controls. In this case, we would look for potential and aptitude for learning. Such a candidate would be expected to show the ability to work in a team environment not long after starting. 

Q: What skills should folks in the PM world come in with versus what will they learn over time? 

A: Someone with strong analytical skills will have a head start in this industry. Most other skills can be learned over time, but the ability to analyze data will set such a person apart from the masses.  
In addition, someone with a strong sense of team/community, coupled with their enthusiasm for learning and teaching, makes for the best candidate.