Experienced PM Obtaining PMP with HS Education... Disaster?
Anonymous
Hi all,
I have 6 years of project management experience in JIT/custom manufacturing industry. The pay cap is not good - and in a very high COL area. I am pursuing my PMP now that I am eligible, but I only have a HS diploma. I see many job postings are looking for educated, highly experienced individuals with PMP to complement them. I need some sort of formal education, but I realize PMP will only even be recognized at face value by hiring managers who are looking for PM's specifically.
Has anyone else pursued PM career with no college education with success?
I am only employed as PM because it's a niche industry that I have a lot of experience with (permit acquisition, design, estimating, sales, etc), this is a job I could obtain anywhere in the USA, but again the pay cap is below average. Average salary here is $75K (which is my goal), pay cap in this position is $45-52K unfortunately.
Any personal experience is welcome. My cost of living is too high to go back to school now unfortunately, I work 7 days a week between my business and career. I can find time to study for the PMP, no issue. But going for a full BA degree would be too much. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I've known many who are highly experieced project managers without formal university education and they work as Senior Project Managers. Project Management is all about experience and if you have that experience in certain industry then you should be fine and obtaining PMP will be an asset. However, PMP will not guarantee higher pay or promotion. Saving Changes...
If you meet these requirements, you are eligible for PMP. No matter if you don't have an university degree. PMP may help you to consolidate your experience and knowledge.
*High School Diploma or Associates Degree
*60 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years
*35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® certification Saving Changes...
Thank you both for the input. I suppose my concern is not having the 'degree' checkbox ticked and being denied by HR or hiring managers before I even get to interview. It may take a lot of experience to overcome that, in addition to the PMP. I'll continue studying and test for the PMP in mid 2023. I definitely regret not getting a formal education earlier in life, I just can't seem to advance my career in any meaningful way no matter how much I try.
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2 replies by Kiron Bondale and Rami Kaibni
Dec 16, 2022 11:43 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Sean
You will get there, trust me but you are rightm it might take a a decent experience to get you there but you will get there. 10 Years of experience is usually a happy place for employers and it also depends what industry you work in.
Good Luck.
RK
Dec 17, 2022 8:01 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Sean -
a lot depends on the industry and the location in which you choose to work. Certain industries put a lot more weight on having a college/university diploma or degree whereas others focus on the quality of your previous work experience and your competency to do the job more than your educational qualifications.
I've found that certain engineering professions really emphasize formal post-secondary education whereas IT roles tend to look more at things like experience and certifications.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Dec 16, 2022 11:25 PM
Replying to Sean S
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Thank you both for the input. I suppose my concern is not having the 'degree' checkbox ticked and being denied by HR or hiring managers before I even get to interview. It may take a lot of experience to overcome that, in addition to the PMP. I'll continue studying and test for the PMP in mid 2023. I definitely regret not getting a formal education earlier in life, I just can't seem to advance my career in any meaningful way no matter how much I try.
Sean
You will get there, trust me but you are rightm it might take a a decent experience to get you there but you will get there. 10 Years of experience is usually a happy place for employers and it also depends what industry you work in.
Thank you both for the input. I suppose my concern is not having the 'degree' checkbox ticked and being denied by HR or hiring managers before I even get to interview. It may take a lot of experience to overcome that, in addition to the PMP. I'll continue studying and test for the PMP in mid 2023. I definitely regret not getting a formal education earlier in life, I just can't seem to advance my career in any meaningful way no matter how much I try.
Sean -
a lot depends on the industry and the location in which you choose to work. Certain industries put a lot more weight on having a college/university diploma or degree whereas others focus on the quality of your previous work experience and your competency to do the job more than your educational qualifications.
I've found that certain engineering professions really emphasize formal post-secondary education whereas IT roles tend to look more at things like experience and certifications.
Kiron
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Dec 19, 2022 8:43 AM
Stéphane Parent
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"I've found that certain engineering professions really emphasize formal post-secondary education..."
I still shake my head when I see manufacturing companies searching for project managers with an engineering degree, without any mention of project management experience or certification.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Dec 17, 2022 8:01 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Sean -
a lot depends on the industry and the location in which you choose to work. Certain industries put a lot more weight on having a college/university diploma or degree whereas others focus on the quality of your previous work experience and your competency to do the job more than your educational qualifications.
I've found that certain engineering professions really emphasize formal post-secondary education whereas IT roles tend to look more at things like experience and certifications.
Kiron
"I've found that certain engineering professions really emphasize formal post-secondary education..."
I still shake my head when I see manufacturing companies searching for project managers with an engineering degree, without any mention of project management experience or certification.
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Dec 19, 2022 12:47 PM
Kiron Bondale
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Very true Stéphane -
I'd say this goes back to the way folks in many engineering fields got into the PM role and the expectation that not only could they manage a project but they could competently review and critique engineering designs.
My father worked for SNC Lavalin and he never took any formal PM courses but spent the last 20 years of his career as a project director for a huge hydroelectric project in South-East Asia.
I remember the robust discussions he and I had about the relative merits of technical competency and project management theory when I first got into the profession. :-)
"I've found that certain engineering professions really emphasize formal post-secondary education..."
I still shake my head when I see manufacturing companies searching for project managers with an engineering degree, without any mention of project management experience or certification.
Very true Stéphane -
I'd say this goes back to the way folks in many engineering fields got into the PM role and the expectation that not only could they manage a project but they could competently review and critique engineering designs.
My father worked for SNC Lavalin and he never took any formal PM courses but spent the last 20 years of his career as a project director for a huge hydroelectric project in South-East Asia.
I remember the robust discussions he and I had about the relative merits of technical competency and project management theory when I first got into the profession. :-)
Kiron
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Dec 19, 2022 4:44 PM
Stéphane Parent
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I can imagine how "robust" those discussions were!
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Dec 19, 2022 12:47 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Very true Stéphane -
I'd say this goes back to the way folks in many engineering fields got into the PM role and the expectation that not only could they manage a project but they could competently review and critique engineering designs.
My father worked for SNC Lavalin and he never took any formal PM courses but spent the last 20 years of his career as a project director for a huge hydroelectric project in South-East Asia.
I remember the robust discussions he and I had about the relative merits of technical competency and project management theory when I first got into the profession. :-)
Kiron
I can imagine how "robust" those discussions were! Saving Changes...
Linda MullallyProject Manager, Consultant| Strategic Technical Consultant, Project Manager, Learning FacilitatorMa, United States
Not having formal education can be challenging, but you can prove your worth in a lot of different ways. Getting the PMP may not necessarily guarantee an income increase, but I am pursuing mine for the same reason - to switch industries and ideally increase my pay. I have heard from many in my network, and who have actually experienced it themselves, that getting the PMP helps you switch industries and get higher pay. You should qualify to take the PMP based off your experience - the application requires documentation detailing all the projects you've worked on, and your duties in those jobs and how they are aligned with the tasks of a project manager. I would suggest writing this up to make sure you have the experience needed to apply. You can easily get the required 35 training contact hours - there are some very affordable courses on Udemy and other PMI created training and study materials that have been very helpful for me.
Best of luck! Saving Changes...
Jessica ReidConfiguration Management Specialist| Thales Canada Defense and SecurityDartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
What I don't understand is why PMI equates a College Diploma with a High School education. Some of those programs are arguably more advanced than some university degrees. I know a lot of people who feel they cannot apply for the PMP because "they don't have a university degree," yet they have a college diploma and are a certified Technologist. Also, some people seem to think only "technical" people can obtain the PMP, and if you have any degree that doesn't fall within Engineering/Science/etc., you can't possibly get a PMP. It's a bit of an issue I have. There are plenty of people who are far more capable of certain things than I am, and vice versa. People need to stop pigeonholing/stereotyping.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 23, 2023 12:15 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Jessica, While I somehow hear your point of view, I am not sure I agree with you quite honestly:
1) College diploma programs are not more advanced than university degrees. They might focus more on certain subjects but in the overall scheme of things, I don't think they are more advanced than 4 year university degrees.
2) Who said that people without university degree can't apply for the PMP? If someone has a college diploma, they can certainly apply if they have 60 months of experience leading projects in the past 8 years.
3) Having an engineering or scientific degree is not the one factor and no, not only technical people can apply because half of what we do as PMs if not more, is more soft skills related than technical related and those soft skills you gain from experience, not a university degree.
Of course, I am not trying to undermine what you've said, but only respectfully stating my opinion!
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