I have been a project manager for over three years and have been successful in delivering large scale web applications to Fortune 500 type clients in a small entrepreneurial company that has no formal project management career path. I have no formal project management training or PMP and have applied more agile/extreme than traditional management techniques. I have decided to find a job in a company which has adopted project management as a discipline and career path. Should I attempt to get my PMP before my search or will experience get me in the door? Saving Changes...
My recent experience is that more and more companies want to see PMP on your resume. At least indicate that you are studying for the exam. Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Dear Anonymous, I agree with Barbara. Companies look for certification credentials as well as evidence of on-going career planning and professional training. You don't have to wait until you get your PMP to pursue other opportunities, but it would be helpful to put in place a professional training plan for yourself and be able to discuss and/or show progress against your plan. As Agile and Extreme are becoming more "traditional", you might find that you have very marketable skills. Good luck! -- MArk Perry, VP of Customer Care, BOT International Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Thanks for all the great feedback! Saving Changes...
I would agree as well that more companies, in particular large organizations, can require PMP just as they require a bachelor's degree. The PMP certification itself does not make the PM, but it is a minimum and then your experience and training build on that. I would not hire a project manager just because they have the PMP. But I would want the PMP and the experience/training all together in my candidates. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
The PMP certification does NOT prove that you are a successful project manager, but it does bring about other benefits. It NEVER hurts to demonstrate your commitment to your profession, and having the PMP proves beyond a shadow of doubt that one can follow-through to achieve an extremely challenging goal. Saving Changes...
Mike Cooper PMPPrincipal Project Manager (retired, sort of)| New England Project ServicesWestford, Ma, United States
Dear anonymous,
There are some things that having a PMP demonstrates, and some things it does not. One thing it absolutely does not prove it that one can follow-through to achieve an extremely challenging goal. In fact, it does not test for this interpersonal skillset at all. It does demonstrate that you passed the exam, and therefore have some theoretical knowledge about project management. It does not provide any indication about how capable a project manager you actually will be in real life. This is very hard to demonstrate, and hiring a project manager is one of the hardest positions in IT to fill. You never know if a PM will fit into the culture, be able to manage stakeholders, deal with personnel issues, etc, unless you or someone close to you has personal experience of the PM - gained either before they start or many weeks / months after they start. It is much easier to convince yourself that someone will not be a good PM than to convince yourself that they will be a good PM. Saving Changes...
Ed ParazooSr Consultant| Understandable SolutionsKettle Falls, Wa, United States
It appears more and more beneficial to have your PMP than to not. I have been delaying my certification process as I like my knowledge and experience to "stand on their own two feet". In order to do that.....you must first get in the door! The reality of the matter is that door is becoming more and more difficult to get through without your PMP. I have talked with recruiters that basically say - there are so many applicants out there that using the PMP as a requirement narrows the field down to a more manageable number. Companies are looking for the certification as some indication of the candidate's "educational level" in the project management arena. Alas, after many successful years of project management I am now studying for the PMP.... Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Dear Mike, by my statement "having the PMP proves beyond a shadow of doubt that one can follow-through to achieve an extremely challenging goal", I was referring to obtaining the PMP cert as the goal, and not interpersonal skills. Naturally no exam can objectively evaluate interpersonal aptitude. I'm sure that you would agree that the PMP is NOT a simple exam, and requires a certain level of commitment to acqcuire. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Hi Ed; good call on the PMP as a marketing tool. Anything certification/accreditation/education that can give candidates an advantage is worthwhile. Saving Changes...
Sameer IyerVice President - Salesforce Centre of Excellence| Barclays Bank, Plc.Pune, Maharashtra, India
I too, agree that PMP can be a very effective self-marketing tool. With increasing competition in this field, the recruiters need something to filter the candidates. PMP certification thus adds a value.
Moreover, since PMI has already set the guidelines for qualifying for this exam, a PMP certification certainly adds certain weightage to your experience. Saving Changes...
