Project Management Central
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Topics: Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) |
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PMP can't hurt you, but bear in mind that it isn't the definitive answer for everyone. A lot of companies do ask for it, it is still the standard, and with the new process (using the revised PMBOK), it's a much improved qualification. It demonstrates that you have the foundation skills of project management, especially important if you don't have a huge amount of practical experience. BUT......... if I am hiring experienced PMs I am looking for experience and methodologies that are more relevant to my world - if I'm looking for someone to manage software development projects then familiarity with RUP, SDD, etc are going to stand out more than a generic qualification like PMP. Not everyone agrees with me, so don't rely on that, and remember my first comment - it can't hurt.
Geoff Choo
Trento, Italy
A PMP doesn't guarantee that you'll be a good manager, but it certifies that you have a baseline knowledge of generally-accepted project management thoery and practices (according to the PMI). You still need to back up your certification with hard project management experience.
As to whether it is worth it? My career research in Europe indicates that companies in Europe looking for PMs are definitely requiring proof of PM competency either through post-grad education or through certification from PMP, Prince2 practitioner or IMPA. 
In my experience (19 years) if 2 otherwise equally qualified people apply for the same position, and one is a PMP and one is not, the PMP will put you over the top. It won't get you the job in and of itself, but it can be valuable.
Bill DeSantis
Westerville, Oh, USA
Agreed. PMP certification can't hurt you, and at the same time it won't guarantee that you'll be a proficient project manager.
Is it worth it? As to the difference it would make in your style of project management, that will probably be up to the individual and their company. I have found that PMP certification provides a standard measure from which I can build upon. I am lucky though, my company's internal PMO office embraces it and then works with PMP / PMI guidelines and practices. So, this type of methodology is proliferated throughout my company. How many companies are requiring it? Certification for my company has become a standard for our PM's. Its part of their performance objectives to gain and or maintain certification. You may want to scan a few job listing sites (Monster.com, etc.) and look under Project Management. I think you'll find quite a few job descriptions list this certification as a requirement and or as a "plus" for hiring consideration. Hope this helps. 
It depends upon once own objective, to get a new job definetly it would be advantages when compared to without certification.
To make a project successful, this may be one criteria but not the only criteria. We can recap the objective of the famous book " What they don't teach at Harward Business School"...ie Social Skills. The same skill set along with other required skills is required to be a successful PM not mear PMI certification. Rama Krishna Rao Tadepalli, Siebel - CRM Consultant
Tammy Sheffield
Oakland Park, Fl, USA
Thanks to everyone for their responses. My experience is diverse and speaks for itself -ranging all aspects of a project, technical / developement to change mgt to training. I've been luck and been exposed and managed all areas.
Chad Krysiak
Concord, Nc, USA
I am fresh out of school and have been working for a company as an engineer now for about 9 months. During a bi-yearly manager/employee evaluation, I requested I be placed on larger scaled projects to help enhance and utilize my project management skills. Although I am not certified, I feel I do have strong project management skills.
Anyways, my manger comes back to me with a brochure on a project management certificate program offered through UNCC continuing education and tells me to think about it. My question to you all is, since I only have 9 months of SMALL scaled project management experience, and I would have to wait a long time to meet the category 1 criteria in order to take the PMP exam, should I wait to take this program? Also, does the program itself count towards the 35 contact hours needed? Thanks a lot.
Chad,
I can't comment on whether the program would count for contact hours, check with the provider to be sure. As for the rest of my advice, I'll try not to sound like an old fogey....... If you are fresh out of school then you have a lot of newly learned skills that you want to put into practice and turn theory into real world experience - nothing wrong with that. However you only have a narrow perspective on project management - what you learned in school, plus what you have done in 9 months, plus what you gained by osmosis in being around other project people. Additional training will give you another perspective, a new way of looking at things and ultimately give you more 'raw materials' to use in building your own personal PM style. I consider project management to be art, not science, there are many different ways to do it successfully and the more exposure you get to different ways of thinking early in your career then the easier you will find it to create and perfect a style and approach that works for you (IMHO). Make sense??
David Kester PMP
Bothell, Wa, USA
Recently the job market in the Seattle area has really put a push on PMP certifications for the jobs I'm looking at. I have been managing projects for 8+ years and like others I have learned most of my skills and abilities on the job. So now with all that experience I am on the road to certification. The terminalogy, concepts, and skills that are tought and referred to in the PMI guide is good information. I can't say that I have learned a better way to get projects done. I have of course become much more of an expert on the PMI process as well as the method descriptions and terminology.
What the certification is going to buy me is an easier time getting passed recruiters and into interviews. Also, because I am going to the time and effort to get certified I'll be using that fact in my salary negotiations. It appears to me that unless you work at a company that uses the PMI Process, terminology and methods you'll have to repeat PMI training prior to certification anyway. Chad, what do you want to get from the training? My rule of thumb is, don't take training you don't have a plan to use. It'll just be a waste of time because you won't retain it. 
Dear Tammy, according to John Musser, Columbia University, Fall 2002; the average PM salary is $81,000. PMI PMP certification adds 14% to the salary average. Hence, a $2,000 investment can return you over $100,000 in ten years. Viewed as a financial investment, a PMP is "worth it." Cheers. -- Mark Perry, VP of Customer Care, BOT International
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