I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but felt the need to re-post a response I made because I am very curious to know your thoughts. I also know another poster here was looking forward to some feedback based on her current situation as well..
Below is my exact response from another thread. I appreciate you reading through and looking forward to seeing some feedback on this. I felt it needed to have it's own thread and for the subject to be refocused away from the original post which is now 5 pages back...
So far I see a lot of very general responses. I would like to add more info to then see how one would qualify and for what type of title or position in terms of PM work.
Admin assistant really doesn't fit from what I have seen. By the description most tasks have to do with a lot of office and clerical needs, billing, and maybe coordinating any travel or tasks like that. This includes answering phones etc..
So here goes - I've worked in freight forwarding/logistics for 11 years now and held a sales/PM position regarding trade show freight transportation for a good year before relocating.
This is how I try to relate my duties with PM work or the work of let's say a coordinator. Experts - let me know your thoughts.
First contact made with customer (Initiating phase) - I do this daily to get information to put together for freight transportation needs. This includes cost budgeting/planning, method of transport best used based on needs of time and what's most cost effective, PU/Delivery details.
Once I have the information I need, I schedule based on the target PU date and choose specific methods of transportation to hit the delivery target date. (Planning) - I also schedule the vendors I am using to carry out the work.
Then I (Execute) the work, it's now the day we PU the freight and pack it for transit, get any related documentation together, drop to carrier.
Once shipment is in route - (monitor + control) we now track and trace the shipment the whole way through until it hits final destination at carrier facility. This includes monitoring any changes to where cost would be affected, delivery dates, etc..
Then we execute final delivery to customer and (close) for final billing once shipment has been satisfied and complete.
Some of this may incorporate parts of the 10 knowledge areas, maybe on a very shallow scale compared to "projects" directed towards PM work. But I like to view each transportation move as a small project. They are temporary, involve some ITTOs in itself, have a clear scope of work that needs to be done or is expected, involves the 5 process groups, and ALL involve a level of EEFs and OPAs. Not only do we have organizational policies and procedures, templates or methods etc - But we also need to fall inline with government regulations (air + ground + sea transportation rules/laws/standards (Customs/TSA regulations, OSHA etc.) We must take in to account weather aspects and other factors not in our control.
In a nutshell, does ANY of this qualify for PM experience even at an entry level with a CAPM certification to follow?
I see PM titles in my company with other stations and Logistics coordinators etc... A customer of ours who deals with domestic trade shows considers every movement she asks for services on, a project..
Does this qualify to even go for a PMP certification?
I know many of you are in different applications, maybe more fitting applications, but I hope my general breakdown can give a clear idea of what is being questioned. I'm not sure how long the OP has been doing freight, but this definitely sparked my interest in getting answers as I am on a mission to get my CAPM and currently studying.
And before anyone says it, yes a lot of this may be considered operations because this is on going, daily - but I feel it does have some relations to PM work as I learn more. Saving Changes...
Certainly, it does, In many companies there are so many titles without meanings, it is all about your job description, responsibility, the size and complexity. The presentation that you submitted above sounds like a project with start and end, temporary although it could be very repetitive. I think you can be qualified easily to PMP.
However, I suggest that you contact PMI directly and I am sure they will consider.
Your focus should be on what you are doing not about your title. Saving Changes...
Thank you for your honest feedback. That actually makes me very optimistic and hopeful that I can apply for the PMP. I would rather aim for that than the CAPM if I qualify.
I took your advice and sent customer service an email. I copied/paste most of my post to exemplify my experience. Hopefully they give me the green light.
I feel that would be my best outcome versus going for the CAPM. Let's see what happens. Either way I'm preparing myself to get certified regardless. Saving Changes...
Absolutely. Although if you haven't had too much experience with projects, I would suggest the CAPM, as it is a good stepping stone to the PMP. Many people who do the CAPM find it much easier to do the PMP, compared to those jumping directly to the PMP.
...
1 reply by Michael Brian
May 31, 2018 3:00 PM
Michael Brian
...
Sante -
As I still wait for PMI response, you have me curious.
From what I know, the PMP is situational based and the core focus on on the 5 process groups whereas the CAPM is technical and focused on the 10 knowledge areas.
If one does not have a CAPM and studied for the PMP, would you achieve the same level of comprehension since everything integrates with each other?
I'm sort of at a fork in the road now that I know my experience may actually count and qualify me. The PMP is like gold. I almost feel inclined to shoot for the stars and spend the dedicated time studying for that versus an entry level certification if doing so can accomplish providing me the same exact understanding as a whole.
As you can see above, my experience is different due to my application. It's not as technical as the CAPM exemplifies about projects.
Another point running through my mind is that being technical only gets you so far. It's always the base or foundation of any skill learned, but "life" is what matters and the events that occur at a given moment. Since the PMP is based on experience or even just placing yourself in the situation of each question, I feel it teaches you or prepares you more towards what life will throw at you as a PM. So why not go for the PMP to get a firm understanding on how you need to think as a PM in result of these questions on the exam?
In simple explanation to ensure I am clear and making sense -
The CAPM is sort of like high school and college. It teaches you areas that you don't necessarily apply in life such as critical thinking skills or other life skills you need in order to survive in the world of business. (Technical)
The PMP teaches you those secrets. The skills you NEED to apply to life's situations in order to come out on top and be successful in those challenges. (Performance)
If I compare it to an entry exam for police officers, the PMP would be closely related. Situational based applying common sense, critical thinking, and so on.
Absolutely. Although if you haven't had too much experience with projects, I would suggest the CAPM, as it is a good stepping stone to the PMP. Many people who do the CAPM find it much easier to do the PMP, compared to those jumping directly to the PMP.
Sante -
As I still wait for PMI response, you have me curious.
From what I know, the PMP is situational based and the core focus on on the 5 process groups whereas the CAPM is technical and focused on the 10 knowledge areas.
If one does not have a CAPM and studied for the PMP, would you achieve the same level of comprehension since everything integrates with each other?
I'm sort of at a fork in the road now that I know my experience may actually count and qualify me. The PMP is like gold. I almost feel inclined to shoot for the stars and spend the dedicated time studying for that versus an entry level certification if doing so can accomplish providing me the same exact understanding as a whole.
As you can see above, my experience is different due to my application. It's not as technical as the CAPM exemplifies about projects.
Another point running through my mind is that being technical only gets you so far. It's always the base or foundation of any skill learned, but "life" is what matters and the events that occur at a given moment. Since the PMP is based on experience or even just placing yourself in the situation of each question, I feel it teaches you or prepares you more towards what life will throw at you as a PM. So why not go for the PMP to get a firm understanding on how you need to think as a PM in result of these questions on the exam?
In simple explanation to ensure I am clear and making sense -
The CAPM is sort of like high school and college. It teaches you areas that you don't necessarily apply in life such as critical thinking skills or other life skills you need in order to survive in the world of business. (Technical)
The PMP teaches you those secrets. The skills you NEED to apply to life's situations in order to come out on top and be successful in those challenges. (Performance)
If I compare it to an entry exam for police officers, the PMP would be closely related. Situational based applying common sense, critical thinking, and so on.
I appreciate and look forward to your response. Saving Changes...
Hi Michael, the 10 knowledge areas are within the 5 process groups, so they both cross over. Yes everything is integrated, but the level of comprehension is a feature of how much you study, assisted by, but not totally dependent on the fact you may have passed the CAPM. I only recommend doing the CAPM based on the level you are at or have stated you are at, but having said that, I have always been one to shoot for the stars also (if you have the required hours of experience to apply for the PMP exam). Regarding experience, it does go a long way to help you pass the PMP exam. In other words, very few "scholars" can pass just on theory alone. I don't see the CAPM as high school or college, I see it as the first year of a University course ;-) Saving Changes...
After live chatting with a PMI rep and taking their suggestion to take a glance at the application, I feel the best thing for me to do is to stick with the CAPM.
Although what I do is closely related to project work, I really have no idea how I could even translate that on the application. I handle thousands of shipments throughout the year. In a given day I can set up anywhere from 5 pickups at different locations to 25 pickups having to route and send them to final destination.
I also took a look at the exam outline and what is involved. I would say my "project" experience is not as detailed as PMI suggests in terms of PM as a whole. Freight transportation is on a very different scale as the repetition of the work closely integrates itself on an operational level. There are accounts that do involve project based work especially within our medical equipment moves which integrate with our IT structure.
As a company whole we do work with applications from IT, Government, Medical, Industrial, Automotive, Energy, Displays and Marketing - but as a single office we are not on that particular end. Our office like many of our offices directly handle transportation and logistics needs.
With that said, I remain on target for my CAPM and once achieved see where it can possibly take me. I would ultimately like to remain in the field I am in as this is all I know and am good at. If looking to become a new PM or coordinator in a different application, I would have an uphill disadvantage without having a background in that field.
I want to set myself apart, polish my skill set, and create more value to progress. Unfortunately opportunity has not allowed me the chance to take myself to the next level in where I feel I need to be at or should have been at by now.
So that's where I'm at. CAPM it is and I feel it will be a nice asset to add. Hopefully it can open some doors of opportunity. Saving Changes...
Natalie ChuClinical Development Liaison| Pasadena CyberKnife CenterLos Angeles, Ca, United States
Hi Michael,
I passed my CAPM in January and thought I should share my experience with you.
The reason I decided to go for the CAPM is because I hadn't accumulated enough hours to take the PMP exam yet. I work in a small company that doesn't have an official PM role nor a formal PM procedure in place;I have just been managing projects based on personal experience or what I think it's logical. However, studying for the CAPM definitely helped me develop a better understanding of the PMI's project management framework and I am happy to tell you that I have started to establish the company's first ever PM processes!
Overall, I think taking the CAPM is quite beneficial (to my situation at least) and feel that it is a stepping stone to the PMP. Passing the CAPM gave me a boost of confidence in preparing for the PMP exam and I highly recommend those who can't take the PMP exam yet to consider the CAPM exam.
Good luck!
Natalie
...
1 reply by Michael Brian
Jun 04, 2018 7:13 PM
Michael Brian
...
Thank you for sharing Natalie.
I definitely see some value in it which is why I bothered to consider it. I know it will enhance some skills I may have as well as give me additional tools to help me become more valuable.
I passed my CAPM in January and thought I should share my experience with you.
The reason I decided to go for the CAPM is because I hadn't accumulated enough hours to take the PMP exam yet. I work in a small company that doesn't have an official PM role nor a formal PM procedure in place;I have just been managing projects based on personal experience or what I think it's logical. However, studying for the CAPM definitely helped me develop a better understanding of the PMI's project management framework and I am happy to tell you that I have started to establish the company's first ever PM processes!
Overall, I think taking the CAPM is quite beneficial (to my situation at least) and feel that it is a stepping stone to the PMP. Passing the CAPM gave me a boost of confidence in preparing for the PMP exam and I highly recommend those who can't take the PMP exam yet to consider the CAPM exam.
Good luck!
Natalie
Thank you for sharing Natalie.
I definitely see some value in it which is why I bothered to consider it. I know it will enhance some skills I may have as well as give me additional tools to help me become more valuable. Saving Changes...
