I have been working as a project manager for a couple years now at a building material supplier. I want to further my career in project management. How important is a 4 year college degree. Cornell offers project management certification through online courses. Would this be worthwhile? I am planning on getting my CAPM. I only have an associates degree, so I will have to wait a few more years to get my PMP certification. Saving Changes...
If you've never taken any courses in project management, I'd suggest a foundational course covering all PMBOK knowledge areas with lots of hands-on exercises - a three day course is usually plenty for that.
Then, focus on gaining more experience and target the PMP - skip the CAPM unless it will take you too long to accumulate the required experience hours for the PMP.
Thank you Kiron. Since I only have a 2 year degree, I will need to wait another 3 years before I can qualify for the pmp. I will look into foundational courses. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Tim
In today’s world, I find industry specific certifications for experienced professionals hold more value than college degrees to a certain extent so I recommend a course in project management, it will give you a pretty much good overview and CAPM is a good start.
RK Saving Changes...
Joseph SanilDelivery Mananger| USTKochi, Kerala, India
I too agree with Rami. Stream specific certifications will be of greater value than college degrees. However I still believe no matter how many certifications you hold, until and unless you have sufficient hands-on its of no use. Certifications are a mere tool for self-marketing hands-on experience is what comes into play most of the time Saving Changes...
Dorentina HysaProject Coordiator| Albanian Media InstituteTirana, Albania
Tim,
What do you want to do with the certification (PMP/CAPM)? How will you use it for your career advancement? Answering that question helped me decide which one to go for.
*CAPM- a good first step, 5- years validity, easy to "upgrade" to PMP later if needed, suitable for academics (I am involved with academia and CAPM is suitable for me at this point of my career; besides I work with project but not in management role).
*PMP- a certification for those with considerable experience and who are directly involved with project management (your case).
Timing is important. You said it will take you 3 years be able to qualify for PMP, right? In that case I support the idea that Kiron gave you. Better to get some training courses and go for PMP rather than get another diploma from a university.
Dorentina Saving Changes...
That will be my goal then, to get certifications. Then get more experience. Doing a quick job search it seems that a lot of employers are requiring a bachelors degree, which make me unsure of myself. The certification route seems to be more affordable and quicker.
Would you guys recommend any other certifications? Saving Changes...
My goal is to make myself more marketable. I want to start putting me resume out to different companies and look for different career opportunities. I want to find a company where I can take on more responsibility and take on larger projects.It seems like I need to ask myself of what industry I want to be in. I am not sure of the answer. Saving Changes...
Andrew SoswaTechnology leader| Leading global financial institutionElk Grove Village, Il, United States
Tim, I have this conversation in my family several times. It resulted in some advocating to send their children to MIT or Oxford and I was totally opposed the idea. Why?
Understanding it - will take a mindset change.
A. Do you go to school to study structure/methodology, see/hear famous teachers, get a diploma/cert/paper from a recognized school to show it to the recruiter?
Sure, it still works for some schools.
B. Or do you want to use the school as the springboard to exciting career or path to find what you love doing?
If this is your answer, then get immersed in all things project management related, volunteer for local PMI chapter, organize projects, meet with people, do stuff.
If you go for certs, the truth is that the world is getting saturated with CSMs and PMPs, it almost looks like nowadays everyone can get one of them certs.
If you want to be more marketable, don't depend on your diplomas, certs, or paper-knowlegde but seek to acquire skills that require longer time than a 2 day course to develop into mastery. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to excellence.
...
1 reply by Tim Freitas
Apr 10, 2020 7:49 AM
Tim Freitas
...
Thank you for the reply Andrew. I think this is exactly what I need to hear. I know what I need to do to build the career I want. I let my mind get the best of me. I get worried about my lack of degree holding me back. It hasn't held me back yet.
I am definitely in the option B category. At this point I think I need to just sit down, figure out which certifications I want to get. Map out a path to get more experience. Network with professionals. Put myself into the market place.
Tim, I have this conversation in my family several times. It resulted in some advocating to send their children to MIT or Oxford and I was totally opposed the idea. Why?
Understanding it - will take a mindset change.
A. Do you go to school to study structure/methodology, see/hear famous teachers, get a diploma/cert/paper from a recognized school to show it to the recruiter?
Sure, it still works for some schools.
B. Or do you want to use the school as the springboard to exciting career or path to find what you love doing?
If this is your answer, then get immersed in all things project management related, volunteer for local PMI chapter, organize projects, meet with people, do stuff.
If you go for certs, the truth is that the world is getting saturated with CSMs and PMPs, it almost looks like nowadays everyone can get one of them certs.
If you want to be more marketable, don't depend on your diplomas, certs, or paper-knowlegde but seek to acquire skills that require longer time than a 2 day course to develop into mastery. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to excellence.
Thank you for the reply Andrew. I think this is exactly what I need to hear. I know what I need to do to build the career I want. I let my mind get the best of me. I get worried about my lack of degree holding me back. It hasn't held me back yet.
I am definitely in the option B category. At this point I think I need to just sit down, figure out which certifications I want to get. Map out a path to get more experience. Network with professionals. Put myself into the market place.
...
1 reply by Andrew Soswa
Apr 10, 2020 9:06 AM
Andrew Soswa
...
You made my day. Thank you.
As a token of appreciation, I'll tell you another story. Long time ago, I could not understand why I felt anxious to achieve something, happy for a few fleeting seconds from achievement, and then thought about next achievement. (Part of that was instilled by culture - "compare yourself to others doing better than you"). It was a vicious cycle - over time I felt I was not happy. When I realized that happiness is the change - this continuous traveling, learning, finding new things - I found happiness.
It also requires a mindshift change. Most people want to achieve something (a cert/diploma/position) and reap the benefits of the achievement. IT'S A TRAP! Some people redesign their thinking to believe that the happiness is in achieving, a continuous traveling on a journey to become more and better in whatever they desire. (Plus, it's a great recession-proof principle that will guarantee you always plenty of job opportunities)
Just a thought to ponder, my friend.
Saving Changes...
Andrew SoswaTechnology leader| Leading global financial institutionElk Grove Village, Il, United States
Apr 10, 2020 7:49 AM
Replying to Tim Freitas
...
Thank you for the reply Andrew. I think this is exactly what I need to hear. I know what I need to do to build the career I want. I let my mind get the best of me. I get worried about my lack of degree holding me back. It hasn't held me back yet.
I am definitely in the option B category. At this point I think I need to just sit down, figure out which certifications I want to get. Map out a path to get more experience. Network with professionals. Put myself into the market place.
You made my day. Thank you.
As a token of appreciation, I'll tell you another story. Long time ago, I could not understand why I felt anxious to achieve something, happy for a few fleeting seconds from achievement, and then thought about next achievement. (Part of that was instilled by culture - "compare yourself to others doing better than you"). It was a vicious cycle - over time I felt I was not happy. When I realized that happiness is the change - this continuous traveling, learning, finding new things - I found happiness.
It also requires a mindshift change. Most people want to achieve something (a cert/diploma/position) and reap the benefits of the achievement. IT'S A TRAP! Some people redesign their thinking to believe that the happiness is in achieving, a continuous traveling on a journey to become more and better in whatever they desire. (Plus, it's a great recession-proof principle that will guarantee you always plenty of job opportunities)
Just a thought to ponder, my friend. Saving Changes...
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