I am planning to pursue my PMP certification by Q1 2005. In the meantime, I am thinking to pursue a higher education, either MBA or Master in PM. Would PMP is good enough to proven one's PM professional? Necessary for Master in PM? What I consider is ... market value. Please advise! Saving Changes...
Go for the PMP 1st and dedicate yourself to life long learning. I'm not sure there's a payoff for completing an advanced degree since 95% of the CIOs in the USA only have a 4 year college degree. Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Dear Allan, I agree with Tom. If you are a project manager, go ahead and get your PMP. Regarding pursuing higher education, I would seek to align your professional aspirations with a plan and commitment to life long learning in support of those aspirations. You might ask your manager or HR executive at your company for a career counseling meeting. Additionally, if you don't have one already, identify and maintain a relationship with a mentor or two. This can be an expert or executive in your company or an outside professional relationship. If you ask, they will mentor - in fact, they won't stop mentoring..! Hope this helps. -- Mark Perry, VP of Customer Care, BOT International 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...
I would recommend a PMP because the market for project managers is demanding this certification. I would highly recommend a Masters because you will demonstrate your ability to learn and apply knowledge.
Having an MBA also puts you above the rest because it shows you are capable of setting a goal and accomplishing it. An MBA is also a requirement determined by the job market.
But with an MBA you are more likely to obtain skills for problem solving and look at the big picture.
HTH
Dennis Saving Changes...
I would have to agree with Dennis. Go with the PMP over a MS in Project Management. I also believe an MBA will give you a much better advantage over an MS of Project Management since it will make you much more versatile to companies should you want to grow beyond being a project manager or a program manager at some point in your career. Saving Changes...
Kevin FriedelProject Manager| BNP ParibasCortlandt Manor, Ny, United States
Allan,
In my experience, your education should be aligned with your career goals. If you aspire to be a PM, then an MBA is not required. I have an MBA and as a PM, the MBA has not really mattered. An MS, in any discipline, is a cheaper alternative and takes a lot less time to complete but again, you should only pursue a degree if the career that you eventually want to have demands it. My SME is in financial services, specifically trading and investment banking. My ability to get new work as a consultant is based on two things: my previous experience/skills and networking. My MBA looks good, but rarely makes a difference. Saving Changes...
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