A day in the life of a Consultday project manager

Glenn Relaes

Senior HR IT Consultant

January 16, 2025

As a project manager, my day starts early. While others may be reading the news over their first cup of coffee, I focus immediately on my emails. I scan the new messages, prioritize, and create a list of the most important actions for the day. This gives me a clear overview and allows me to work in a focused manner. 

Productive on the go

As soon as I get in the car, I make the most of my travel time. This is when I make the first phone calls to colleagues, clients, or others. A brief consultation to coordinate matters or to catch up on the progress of a project can provide a lot of clarity. It is efficient, productive, and keeps the lines of communication short.

Diversity and challenging

What makes my job so fascinating is the diversity. No day is the same, especially if you serve several clients at the same time. At one point, for example, I had three projects running side by side: Hogeschool Rotterdam, Geboortezorg Limburg, and Grant Thornton. Each of these organizations has unique challenges and needs (and views!), which require customization and flexibility.  

In addition, the consultations are diverse: from management team meetings to working groups, project groups, and steering committees. Each consultation has a different purpose and requires a specific approach. It’s up to me to monitor progress and make sure everyone stays on the same page.  

Not only are the consultations diverse, but so are the types of projects I do. Where I am doing a policy implementation at one client, I may be leading a testing team and doing a system implementation at another.   

Also, not all clients are in the same location and travel is an important part of my job. Turning travel time into work time is an art, and fortunately we can make calls and consult from the car.   

Stakeholder management: the key to success

One of the most challenging, but also essential aspects of my job, is stakeholder management. In every project, you work with different stakeholders, each with their own expectations and interests. It is an art to find a balance in this. By being open and honest, building trus,t and listening well, you can overcome most obstacles. 

A moment to myself

Although my days are often full and busy, I also try to take some time for myself during days where I work from home. A short walk with the dog works wonders. It provides a fresh perspective and helps me move forward with new energy. 

The satisfaction at the end of the day  

What makes my job as a project manager so great is the impact you can have. Coordinating complex projects, working with diverse people, and achieving tangible results gives me satisfaction every day. It’s not always easy, but it’s the challenges that make the work interesting and motivating.  

Every day is different, and that is exactly what makes this profession so fascinating. Project management is a role in which you can really make a difference – for the client, for the team, and ultimately for the success of the project.  

What difference are you going to make? We are still looking for a new (Junior) HR IT Consultant/Project Manager! Will I see you in our team soon? 


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