I have recently finished my first major project as a PM, migrating our accounting software. I was interested in PMP certification since I took a PM class during my MBA, but it always seemed like a far fetch to me. Now I feel like I want to steer my career in this direction, but not sure what the next step should be. This 3 month project was my first real PM experience. To all experienced PMs out there: Should I go for a PMI certification, or should I wait until I gain more experience? Saving Changes...
Personally I don't think there's any one right answer to this question. If you lack experience, then you will need to study more. If you have the experience, then studying should be quicker and easier.
If you're thinking of taking your career in this direction, then I would definately recommend going after the PMP certification. It's a visible confirmation to potential employers that you are a knowledgable PM.
For me, I had been PM'ing for three solid years, and dabling in it a couple years before that. After taking the exam someone asked me .... "Do you know more as a result of taking this exam". My answer was "Very little new knowledge, rather the formalization and confirmation of what I already knew".
Good luck ... and personally I'd highly recommend it! Saving Changes...
Your next step is to gain the minimum of 3 years experience (4500 project management hours) + 35 PDUs so you can sit for the PMP exam. Go to PMI.Org for detail information. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
This doesn't make too much sense to me; I already knew about the 4500 hrs. requirement and others but how am I supposed to advance and work on serious projects if all the jobs require PMI certification and you can't get one w/o experience? It looks like a paradox to me. Saving Changes...
That's a bit of an assumption, Anon. Not all "serious projects" require PMI certification. You've already got experience with your migration project (assuming you're the same Anonymous that started this thread). Keep plugging away with your work. Those 4500 hours will add up quickly, especially if you recognize how much of what you do is really PM work, whether you have the title or not, and successful work, whether you have the certification or not.
One caveat -- don't let you new knowledge screw up the good common sense things you've probably done so far. Saving Changes...
Frank makes a great point. Be careful not to abandon what you have already found to be effective. I am currently in the process of studying for the PMP, and a challenge has been to "unlearn" some of the things I have learned while managing real projects. I would guess many experienced PM's have also experienced this. That being said, I think having the PMP distinction carries a lot of weight (read: credibility) in certain circles, and would be a valuable credential. Saving Changes...
Thanks to replies, they are really valuable at this point. I guess I got a bit nervous about not being able to find more opportunities to advance as a PM; our company does not offer such big projects in a continiuos manner. I thought certification may open the doors, but I feel a bit more confident now. I found communication vital (and fatal if it lacks) to my Project. I guess I have had quite a few lessons over the course of 3 months! Orkun (Previously Anon) Saving Changes...
Shiryl DeanVice President| BNY MellonNew York, Ny, United States
Orkun, I'm also thinking of taking the PMP, but have been working as a PM for about 5 years. One thing I notice in many organizations is that it doesn't take "project management" experience to become a PM. The prevailing wisdom has been, "if you're a good programmer, you'll make a good PM." Sometimes that's true, and sometimes it isn't. I came from a developer background (hopefully I've become one of the "better" PMs). I've learned to like the position, although I had to go through many hurdles to really understand and appreciate it. If you have the opportunity to lead more projects, that's a great thing. Read as much as you can on PM techniques, and get guidance from other experienced PMs. Also, one thing to note about the PMP, as an earlier poster mentioned, you may have to unlearn what you've learned to pass the test. The answers are based on PMI's project management methodology, which may differ (sometimes greatly) from how you're company conducts its projects. Saving Changes...
"if you're a good programmer, you'll make a good PM." Organizations that take this point of view are almost always LOSERS and lack an understanding, knowledge, and maturity level of project management practices, till one day the sh*t hits the fan and the entire function has been outsourced. Saving Changes...
At least I'm not a good programmer (since I'm not a programmer, at all - I'm an economist that seems to fail to get away from IT related jobs for the last 6 yrs.), so I don't have to worry about anything hitting the fan, unless my managerial skills fail. Saving Changes...
Also, don't be overwhelmed by the number of project experience hours required to take the exam. That includes any aspect of a project from team member to PM, and it doesn't have to be work related as well. It could be a project with a community organization -- any project. So maybe your company doesn't do large projects often, but all the little ones count! Saving Changes...
