Question to anyone who would care to answer... Is a Master's degree in Project Management a step above a PMP certification, a stepping stone to it, or a waste of time -- get a PMP? In today's job market, what are employers looking for more -- a degree or a certification? Saving Changes...
I agree. Further, for an experienced Project Manager the certification is probably a much easier path to tread. If you are interested, you can download the toolkit at http://www.4PMTI.com or at any of the other PMP Exam prep companies to find out what's in it for you. While you are on the website, you can take a look at a few sample PMP Exam questions as well as a roadmap to certification whether you want to do self-study or go for training.
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Hi Scott, why not get them both. I would submit that a PMP and a Master's degree aren't even comparable. But they will be compared nonetheless..! Also, employers look for things they need - not just credentials and certificates. Decide what you want to do. Take into consideration the job market, of course, and commit to and develop a life long learning plan in support of your professional aspirations. You are a project manager, so plan you career. Seek advice from someone that has attained professionally what you want to achieve. Good luck. -- Mark Perry, VP of Customer Care, BOT International Saving Changes...
Scott, Mark's comments are pretty much right on the money. A careful review of the current Job market reveals that a MBA with a PMP cert is probably your best choice. Saving Changes...
Having already earned both my PMP and Masters' Certificate in IT Project Management, I am now working towards a Masters of Science in Project Management. The rational behind my thinking is two fold.
1. I am now a Project Manager but eventually I want to become a Program Manager and run a PMO. After that, I'd like to be a departent VP or CIO at a medium sized company. All the job postings I have seen for Program Manager and above have had a Masters Degree listed as a requirement(they don't always specify in what field, just that you have a Master's Degree).
2. Running a department, or for that matter, running a company, is like running a slightly larger program - Thus I determined that getting the Masters in Project Management would be better than the traditional MBA. I may be wrong but that is my thought.
If you are a project manager now or are trying to become one and do not have any plans to go futher in the career path, than I would say getting your PMP is more important (and more cost and time efficient) than getting your Master's. However, if you want to go further, I would recommend both.
bethany Saving Changes...
Andree Emsley PMPIT Project Manager| Coventry Health CareAvondale, Az, United States
I believe they are looking for experience and the PMP certification. If you have the experience, you don't really need the degree but you do need the PMP certificate. If you don't have experience, you can't even get the PMP. Saving Changes...
Ramakrishna CH PMPDelivery Manager| Value MomentumHackensack, Nj, United States
As Andree pointed out for a Masters certification there is no prereq (from the job point of view) where as for a PMP certification you should already be functioning as one. Clearly, PMP is a professional recognition for an already PM/ similar level person, where as masters Or any formal degree is a qualification acquired for starting a career in general. Saving Changes...
I don’t put a whole lot of validity behind certifications. I have met plenty of PMP’s over the years who have problems managing even the simplest of projects. On the flip side I have met plenty of individuals with Master level degree who are just as incompetent. I don’t think either or are going to catapult you to the pinnacle of success. Experience to me plays the biggest part in evaluating someone’s talents. However in today’s highly competitive working market it is good to have as many credentials as you can. I chose to get my PMP after years of experience to validate my qualifications and to assist in meeting the requirements to more lucrative positions.
My decision to complete the rigorous task of an on campus MBA program at a private university was to further my knowledge of the foundation of business to help me in my career. To me the PMP is more of a short term goal while the MBA is a long term career goal. Saving Changes...
I am currently in the Military. I am an officer and serving as the Assistant S3(Operations and Training Officer) for a Signal Unit. Due to numerous injuries I will be leaving the military soon.
I currently have a Bachelors in Information Systems. I am in the process of obtaining a Masters Certificate in IT Project Management and a Masters Certificate in Six Sigma.
In the current marketplace given my expierence of 1. leading small teams of 30-50 personnel in charge of more than $10 million worth of satelite communications, tactical networking, tactical telephones, and commercial(cisco) products 2. In charge of the operational planning and training of a BN of over 600 personnel (civilian and military) and 3. my certificates, How hard will it be to get a Project Management job. Will I need a degree? Any advice would be great. Thanks. Saving Changes...
Jon - It's funny that you ask this question because there was a similiar question on linkedin.com (http://www.linkedin.com/answers/career-edu...77020669548_in) - I think several factors will determine how quickly you find a position. 1. Format of your resume. It needs to be tailored to the civilian world versus military (most people in the civilian world will not understand what a S3 Alpha is but you could Operations & Training Officer) 2. What locations are you looking at (I live in the DC area and there are a pleothra of jobs for former military folks, especially if you have your clearance - clearance = gold) 3. Where are you looking for job postings (dice.com is great for tech work but probably not the best place for artists)? You might also want to check out the following websites - http://hotjobs.marineea.org/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/linkedInArmy - Good Luck! Saving Changes...
