Would you hire a Paper PMP?

Andrew made a great point - I agree with him.

On the other hand, with regards to your question of whether I would hire a paper PMP or not, then it is a Yes / No:

1- If I see potential in the candidate then yes because I like to invest in people. PMP exam is not easy and all questions are situational so if he managed to pass then I am pretty sure he has the ability to learn and excel. It all depends on the budget and project circumstances.

2- I won't hire a paper PMP if it was a critical project and / or I did not see any future potential in him / her.

Based on the premise at the beginning of your writing, "from a very experienced PM and one of the founders of the PMP. He clearly stated he dislikes what he calls a Paper PMP, meaning someone who has little experience", I was shocked that an original participant of creating the PMP feels that way since he created it that way.

My two cents. In order to sit for the exam one must have some experience (PMI has the right/duty to check on it). I just passed the test last year in my first try, and the practical experience questions were abundant (meaning without experience probably I have failed the test).

If having minimum experience makes one a bad PM, then nobody without experience would be ever hired at all in any field.

Education/certification only means you have acquired certain knowledge and an organization is behind it; like any university providing a diploma. How many newly Licensed Professional Engineers are ready to take full charge of a project? Only the ones with experience; what I mean is in every profession there is a difference between having credentials and having experience. As mentioned by others, a PM will be hired to fulfill the specific position requirements. As we all know, if someone vouches for you, your chances of getting a job increases. The PMP by PMI is a document that vouches for you; afterward, one has to show/prove what one can do.

I'm interested in this topic, could you share the full article?

The dilemma is how do you make the distinction between a "true" PMP and a "paper" PMP?

If you're referring to the value of the certification I would say that If I have two candidates with similar years of experience I would choose the one with the PMP certification over the one with no certification.

Make a distinction is easy, in a face to face interview, not with your human resource department, PM in front PM, asking about risks, stakeholder engagement, communications management...real situations. 3 questions, 5 minutes and you'll resolve the dilemma.

Hi John,
Paper PMP for real? A lot of people think the PMP is the flagship PMI credential, but i see it as more of an entry-level certification for PMs. Having the credentials means, you have the minimum required experience along with passing the 200-test exam and subscribing to the ethics. A lot of people misuse the PMP versus the PgMP credential when describing what is required from a position. This is a directly from the PMP handbook - "The PMP Role Delineation states that candidates for the PMP certification:
- Perform their duties under general supervision and are responsible for all aspects of the project for the life of the project.
- Lead and direct cross-functional teams to deliver projects within the constraints of schedule, budget, and scope.
- Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience to appropriately apply a methodology to projects that have reasonably well-defined requirements and deliverables".

On the other hand, "The PgMP Role Delineation states that candidates for the PgMP certification:
- Under minimal supervision, program managers are responsible and accountable for the coordinated management of multiple, related projects directed toward strategic business and organizational objectives. These programs contain complex activities that may span functions, organizations, geographic regions and cultures. Program managers build credibility, establish rapport and maintain communication with stakeholders at multiple levels, including those external to the organization.
- Program managers define and initiate projects and assign project managers to manage cost, schedule and performance of component projects, while working to ensure the ultimate success and acceptance of the program. Program managers maintain continuous alignment of program scope with strategic business objectives, and make recommendations to modify the program to enhance effectiveness toward the business result or strategic intent. Program managers are responsible for determining and coordinating the sharing of resources among their constituent projects to the overall benefit of the program.
- Program managers possess the knowledge and skills needed to be effective in the project, business and/or government environments, and to make decisions that accomplish strategic objectives. In addition, the program manager should have advanced skills in finance, cross-cultural awareness, leadership, communication, influence, negotiation and conflict resolution.

I think we should be wary of using terms such as "Paper PMP", "Green PM" and "Inexperienced Manager" as most organizations wrongly classify positions. I have been in a position where in some organizations i would be described as a Program Manager but I was doing PM-related work managing projects under a portfolio. Being PMP-certified just means that you met the minimum criteria, passed the exam and subscribe to the ethics. It doesn't make them Paper PMP as that is a misnomer. Some people are better than others when it comes to managing people, process and technology. An ineffective PM or inexperienced PM or a bad PM (yes, i would go there) is just that, what do we call someone with no PMP credential?

I have found and recognize that the title Project Manager really does not mean anything. Let me explain; the tile PM should identify a certain level of competency, however it is just a title. The truth is in what actions the person carrying the title performs. You made a supportive example when you were labelled Program Manager, but was doing PM-related work managing projects under a portfolio.
I glad you brought in the handbook definition. Therefore, if I am not currently assigned a project, am I a PM? I would say no because I am not performing the required duties.
So my question to you is how do you write your expectation for a job position when looking for a Project Manager? Do you focus strictly on experience, credentialing/ education, or both? What are your scoring criteria for forming your team?

Mayte,
I will try to find the original post

Mayte,
you ask scenario based questions? it works if the interviewer thinks through their own scoring criteria, what is an acceptable answer and what is not.