Hello guys. I am currently a Telehealth administrator and coordinator at my current role but it has a project management aspect to it. I was wondering if I were to go thru with the courses at my current college campus along with earning the PMP certificate, would that increase my chances of earning a PM job in IT if I do not necessarily have any project management experience to begin with? The reason I ask this is because the name for my current role isn't technically 'Project Manager' and I want to earn a certificate to hopefully have me start transitioning myself in this kind of role.
Jonathan,
The job title doesn't matter as much as the experience. In most of my PM roles, my title was something else and I have seen many "PM" job descriptions which are more administrative than project leadership.
Part of the value in the PMP certification is that it does require experience performing PM job functions but many of those functions are not exclusive to the PM. Technical principals/leads for example, typically plan and manage their team's own work, essentially managing projects within larger projects.
When applying for a PM position, demonstrating that you can perform the essential job functions will carry much more weight than someone who has a certification, but can't show the experience. It could get you in the door in an entry level PM/project administrator position and pass some HR application filters, but for roles with significant responsibility, hiring managers will probably look more at your experience than your certs.
Keith
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1 reply by Jonathan Thompson
Jun 09, 2022 1:42 PM
Jonathan Thompson
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Thank you for giving me more input. One more question...when you say the PMP requires experience performing PM job functions, what do you mean by that? Are people that are wanting to take the PMP certification not able to unless they have worked a PN job previously?
Jonathan,
The job title doesn't matter as much as the experience. In most of my PM roles, my title was something else and I have seen many "PM" job descriptions which are more administrative than project leadership.
Part of the value in the PMP certification is that it does require experience performing PM job functions but many of those functions are not exclusive to the PM. Technical principals/leads for example, typically plan and manage their team's own work, essentially managing projects within larger projects.
When applying for a PM position, demonstrating that you can perform the essential job functions will carry much more weight than someone who has a certification, but can't show the experience. It could get you in the door in an entry level PM/project administrator position and pass some HR application filters, but for roles with significant responsibility, hiring managers will probably look more at your experience than your certs.
Keith
Thank you for giving me more input. One more question...when you say the PMP requires experience performing PM job functions, what do you mean by that? Are people that are wanting to take the PMP certification not able to unless they have worked a PN job previously? Saving Changes...
You can double check with customer care, but the current PMP requirements include having the prerequisite experience (36 months leading projects if you have a 4 year degree, 60 months without), when you apply to take the exam.
You need to have had end-to-end (full lifecycle) experience leading projects. In general, solo (i.e. you were PM and sole contributor) projects are not considered eligible, and there does need to be substantiating evidence of the role you played in case your application gets audited.
Kiron
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2 replies by Daniel Crookston and Jonathan Thompson
Jun 09, 2022 3:56 PM
Jonathan Thompson
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Alright Kiron. That clears up alot of things for me. But let me ask you this...what is the point of getting a certification when every employer with these types of jobs practically make you have experience beforehand to get the jobs anyway?
Jun 14, 2022 8:00 AM
Daniel Crookston
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Kiron,
You mentioned that projects where you're PM and sole contributor are not eligible to count toward the PMP certification. This is news to me. Does this mean that my freelance software development work, where I developed all of the software myself, can't be counted?
To be clear there were always multiple stakeholders, providers of expert judgment and technical expertise, at least two lawyers, etc. involved. I managed all of their involvement. But I wrote all of the actual code myself.
You need to have had end-to-end (full lifecycle) experience leading projects. In general, solo (i.e. you were PM and sole contributor) projects are not considered eligible, and there does need to be substantiating evidence of the role you played in case your application gets audited.
Kiron
Alright Kiron. That clears up alot of things for me. But let me ask you this...what is the point of getting a certification when every employer with these types of jobs practically make you have experience beforehand to get the jobs anyway?
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Jun 10, 2022 9:30 AM
Kiron Bondale
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To add to Rami's response, one can have PM experience but not have knowledge of any framework or set of good principles or practices. Hiring someone with sufficient experience and a certification shows they are at least aware of standard nomenclature and practices.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Jonathan
Kiron is totally right and to answer your question: Certifications are merely a proof that you have in-depth knowledge but are not a proof that someone is capable of doing the job.
Alright Kiron. That clears up alot of things for me. But let me ask you this...what is the point of getting a certification when every employer with these types of jobs practically make you have experience beforehand to get the jobs anyway?
To add to Rami's response, one can have PM experience but not have knowledge of any framework or set of good principles or practices. Hiring someone with sufficient experience and a certification shows they are at least aware of standard nomenclature and practices.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Daniel CrookstonOperations Manager| Ukrainian Children Inc.Ut, United States
Jun 09, 2022 3:34 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Jonathan -
You need to have had end-to-end (full lifecycle) experience leading projects. In general, solo (i.e. you were PM and sole contributor) projects are not considered eligible, and there does need to be substantiating evidence of the role you played in case your application gets audited.
Kiron
Kiron,
You mentioned that projects where you're PM and sole contributor are not eligible to count toward the PMP certification. This is news to me. Does this mean that my freelance software development work, where I developed all of the software myself, can't be counted?
To be clear there were always multiple stakeholders, providers of expert judgment and technical expertise, at least two lawyers, etc. involved. I managed all of their involvement. But I wrote all of the actual code myself.
Thank you.
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Jun 15, 2022 1:38 PM
Stéphane Parent
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"Does this mean that my freelance software development work, where I developed all of the software myself, can't be counted?"
You've answered your own question: software development work is not project management work.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Jun 14, 2022 8:00 AM
Replying to Daniel Crookston
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Kiron,
You mentioned that projects where you're PM and sole contributor are not eligible to count toward the PMP certification. This is news to me. Does this mean that my freelance software development work, where I developed all of the software myself, can't be counted?
To be clear there were always multiple stakeholders, providers of expert judgment and technical expertise, at least two lawyers, etc. involved. I managed all of their involvement. But I wrote all of the actual code myself.
Thank you.
"Does this mean that my freelance software development work, where I developed all of the software myself, can't be counted?"
You've answered your own question: software development work is not project management work. Saving Changes...
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