Personally, what I have observed among my peers is that most of them working in the industry prefer doing certifications or bootcamp courses rather than university degrees. Do you feel that in future, the value of university degrees might take a downward slope based on the skills demanded in the industry today?
For ease, let's keep the field mostly concentrated on project management and while answering, it would be great to include the "why" part of it. Saving Changes...
Undergraduate degrees are still in demand for PMs across multiple industries & geographic locations. They tend to be less critical for PMs in the technology world, but are pretty much must have's in engineering PM roles.
As such, I'd suggest that they complement certifications rather than competing with them.
However, when it comes to Graduate level degrees, those are very dependent on the value placed on them by a specific company (outside of academia, that is). I'd see greater competition between pursuing those or attaining multiple certifications.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Bisharah, we live in a rapidly evolving world where the demand for specialization is growing every day. A few years ago, being a generalist was often sufficient, but now it's essential to be both a generalist and a specialist in one or two fields.
University degrees offer valuable foundational knowledge, so I still believe that bachelor's degrees are important for building solid professional foundations. However, the value of graduate degrees depends on various factors. In my experience, these days, industry-specific credentials often provide greater benefits than advanced university degrees. As a lifelong learner, I've personally chosen to pursue both to strike a balance while leaning more on industry-specific certifications.
However, I believe university degrees will still hold significant value for several reasons. First, they provide a comprehensive understanding of foundational principles that are crucial for long-term career development. A degree often fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential in project management.
Moreover, many employers still look for degrees as a benchmark of commitment and capability, especially for higher-level positions. While certifications can enhance your skill set, a degree can demonstrate a broader knowledge base and the ability to handle complex challenges over time.
In conclusion, my opinion is that while the emphasis may shift towards certifications, I think university degrees will continue to play a vital role in career advancement, particularly for those aspiring to leadership positions in project management.
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1 reply by Bisharah Saeed
Oct 31, 2024 10:53 AM
Bisharah Saeed
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Thanks for the detailed answer Rami! It makes sense as well because often people tend to think whether university degrees are worth it but it is nice to see with explanations what are the values they hold and how it will be beneficial for the long run.
Generally speaking, I'd like to see a little more critical thinking when it comes to project managers, education, and certification, based on what I keep seeing on Reddit and Quora. No, getting an MBA or PhD doesn't guarantee you'll get a job as a project manager. Don't expect to get hired as a project manager straight out of school. If the closest thing you have to relevant experience is school, get a degree in a field where project managers work, get some experience in that field, and then work your way into project management (more or less; the path can be a little different in construction than in IT, for example). Stop asking "which certification should I get next." Be a lifelong learner, but don't waste your time or money on "extra" certifications that hiring managers don't care about.
University degrees will only be significantly "less pursued" if companies stop requiring them. Hiring managers don't always look favorably on resumes where candidates have more certifications than experience, especially when they're not relevant to the position. They especially don't care about whether you attended a certification boot camp.
I think that part of the problem is that the loudest voices talking about what it takes to become a project manager are the certification sales people. As long as that's the case, your observations aren't likely to change - people will focus more on certifications and how to quickly become a project manager (before they even know if they'll enjoy the career).
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1 reply by Bisharah Saeed
Oct 31, 2024 10:58 AM
Bisharah Saeed
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Very valid point Aaron! A degree doesn't guarantee the entry into the role that we are aiming for. Experience is always key. I have also seen from my experience seeing irrelevant certifications on resumes just to fill up the space. I feel ultimately understanding what the industry or the job market wants for a specific role will be the deciding factor for candidates looking forward to get into different job roles.
Bisharah, we live in a rapidly evolving world where the demand for specialization is growing every day. A few years ago, being a generalist was often sufficient, but now it's essential to be both a generalist and a specialist in one or two fields.
University degrees offer valuable foundational knowledge, so I still believe that bachelor's degrees are important for building solid professional foundations. However, the value of graduate degrees depends on various factors. In my experience, these days, industry-specific credentials often provide greater benefits than advanced university degrees. As a lifelong learner, I've personally chosen to pursue both to strike a balance while leaning more on industry-specific certifications.
However, I believe university degrees will still hold significant value for several reasons. First, they provide a comprehensive understanding of foundational principles that are crucial for long-term career development. A degree often fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential in project management.
Moreover, many employers still look for degrees as a benchmark of commitment and capability, especially for higher-level positions. While certifications can enhance your skill set, a degree can demonstrate a broader knowledge base and the ability to handle complex challenges over time.
In conclusion, my opinion is that while the emphasis may shift towards certifications, I think university degrees will continue to play a vital role in career advancement, particularly for those aspiring to leadership positions in project management.
Thanks for the detailed answer Rami! It makes sense as well because often people tend to think whether university degrees are worth it but it is nice to see with explanations what are the values they hold and how it will be beneficial for the long run. Saving Changes...
Generally speaking, I'd like to see a little more critical thinking when it comes to project managers, education, and certification, based on what I keep seeing on Reddit and Quora. No, getting an MBA or PhD doesn't guarantee you'll get a job as a project manager. Don't expect to get hired as a project manager straight out of school. If the closest thing you have to relevant experience is school, get a degree in a field where project managers work, get some experience in that field, and then work your way into project management (more or less; the path can be a little different in construction than in IT, for example). Stop asking "which certification should I get next." Be a lifelong learner, but don't waste your time or money on "extra" certifications that hiring managers don't care about.
University degrees will only be significantly "less pursued" if companies stop requiring them. Hiring managers don't always look favorably on resumes where candidates have more certifications than experience, especially when they're not relevant to the position. They especially don't care about whether you attended a certification boot camp.
I think that part of the problem is that the loudest voices talking about what it takes to become a project manager are the certification sales people. As long as that's the case, your observations aren't likely to change - people will focus more on certifications and how to quickly become a project manager (before they even know if they'll enjoy the career).
Very valid point Aaron! A degree doesn't guarantee the entry into the role that we are aiming for. Experience is always key. I have also seen from my experience seeing irrelevant certifications on resumes just to fill up the space. I feel ultimately understanding what the industry or the job market wants for a specific role will be the deciding factor for candidates looking forward to get into different job roles. Saving Changes...
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