Is Project Management For Me?
I’m not even sure what I’m looking for here besides honesty from people who understand this field.
I was laid off for the second time in 3 years, and it’s really making me question whether Project Management is actually right for me.
What’s confusing is that I thought I was doing well — positive performance review, merit raise, good feedback from stakeholders — and then suddenly I was laid off with vague mentions of “performance issues” that had never been formally addressed with me before.
After being underemployed for 18 months following my previous layoff, this honestly wrecked my confidence. I feel embarrassed, discouraged, and unsure what my next move is supposed to be.
Now I’m reflecting on whether I even enjoy PM work at all, or if I just enjoy certain parts of it.
I do enjoy:
- organizing chaos
- keeping timelines on track
- creating structure
- translating big ideas into actionable steps
- communication and coordination
But I genuinely dislike:
- budgeting/finance-heavy work
- constant scope creep
- client appeasement politics
- feeling responsible for everything at all times
So I guess my question is: are these still “project management” strengths, or does this sound more aligned with a different career path entirely?
Sorry if this comes off as venting. I think I’m just trying to figure out where I fit professionally after a really difficult few years.