Bacchus JohnsonSenior Project Manager| Matrix ResourcesCharlotte, Nc, United States
Is there real value (or only perceived value in our world) for PM Certification? Who offers classes/training/testing that is of highest value? I am only aware of the Project Management Institute's program. Will having the PMP, etc. on my business card truly open doors? Thanks for any input. Saving Changes...
Trish Sutter PMPPrincipal Consultant| Armada Business Consulting Inc.Armada, Mi, United States
When you are dealing with projects that have a multi-million dollar value to your company, who will you trust your projects to? The degree and certification are added insurance to what should be an already proven track record. I want the best.
As a hiring manager, I want my projects to be successful for my company. I require the degree as a minimum because the degree shows a person to have that extra dedication. Too many try to dismiss that extra formal training that a degree provides.
As a rule of thumb, I see a level of polish, professionalism and communication ability in degreed staff that just is not there in un-degreed staff. There is even more of those positive qualities and then some in those with PMP certifications.
On a final note, there will always be exceptions to what I have noted above. But I find it to be true more often than not, it is refected in the success of the projects. Because of that success indicator, I will continue to use it as hiring criteria. Saving Changes...
I have just read many of the comments posted on this topic and felt the need to add my two cents as well. As a new PMP (March 1, 2002), I feel that the commitment and work was well worth it. I have been a project manager for 14 years and watched the projects that did not follow a standard methodology go down the tubes. PMP offers a standardized way of doing things to ensure that all the steps are followed. If a project manager is already doing this, why not go the extra step and give our profession the recognition that it deserves by sitting a recognized exam and getting the designation. Our company has just started asking for new recruits to have the designation. Consider the possible career advancement and opportunities in a company that values this certrification. I think that more and more, companies are seeing the value add of having people not only with experience but also with a structured way of thinking. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Tom (Mr. PMP),
I disagree with your idea that a college degree should be required to take the PMP exam. Are you trying to lobby for this requirement so that YOU remain more marketable and shut out others who get promoted through the ranks of thier companies and not be able to get certified? If so, maybe you ought to re evaluate yourself and see if you are all that and more.
I would encourage as many people to become certified with our without degrees. PMI has already set rules for number of hours requirements for various parts of the life cycle of a project. For a non degreed individual would need atleast 4 and half years of project management to take the exam. I personally think that is quite enough experience in order for a person to take the exam.
College Degrees for Project Management is highly over rated. Maybe a degree for the particular industry would be nice, but for Porject Managers its more about working with people and good communication skills.
I do agree with your last post Tom, in that a degree is a good start for HR teams and will give you the advantage in almost all cases, however a lack of degree should not be a wall against PM certification.
The ability to recognize that it's about people, organizational alignment, businees value, and solutions, not technology comes with time and experience, not a new diploma regardless of major.
I have found most new engineers simply didn't know what they wanted to be when they grew up and stayed in school. This obviously doesn't make them brighter or more dedicated. As for the tech folks not doing well as PMs... I think you have it or you don't. Saving Changes...
Tom, did you actually call non degreed people bottom feeders? Are the uneducated heathens holding you back Tom? Are you feeling degraded? Not getting the respect you KNOW you deserve. Moving this profession forward requires knowledge, experience and the sharing of both. The PMP certification is supposed to mean you've studied, you've read AND spent your time in the trenches really learning. If you want to be treated as special become a neurosurgeon. If you want to be treated as a serious PM professional and respected for it, realize the strengths in people and how to use them. Try reading Project Management As If People Mattered by Robert J. Graham, because some of those bottom feeders may work for you some day. Saving Changes...
Dave PriceSenior Project manager| Jeanco Consulting IncWhitby, Ontario, Canada
Thought I might give a Canadian view on this topic. Being involved on a few very large projects has given me the opportunity to work with team members of varying education and certification. For the record I am a PMP and see value in it. I am also a P.Eng and see value in that as well. There has been some discussion a round the value of a degree. I think what that brings to the table for a potential employer is a proven ability to learn. From my experience that is what really counts. As for the value of the PMP certification that remains in the hands of PMI. If this certification is too easy to get it looses value. If it can be a paper certification (no practical experience) it also looses value. The other side of the coin is that if it is too hard to get it becomes an acedamic award much like a PHD (in my humble opinion). I am currently preparing to chose the next project I work on and I am seeing more than ever companies want you to have PMP or at least be working towards it. That is it real value ... if employers see it! Saving Changes...
"Tom, did you actually call non degreed people bottom feeders." YES!!! If you are working in the IT sector, and don't have a college degree, you'll be stuck working for 3rd and 4th rate companies for the rest of your career and NEVER be considered as a serious candidate for the better companies in America. That's the way the system works. Also, requiring a college degree for PMP will simply bring this certification to the same level as other professional certifications, won't that be nice!!! Again, it's the competition in the marketplace that will eventually drive standards UP. Saving Changes...
Unfortunately, probably true. But then again, just imagine how serious Bill Gates would be if he hadn't dropped out of Harvard his junior year. I guess the reason I've been so heated over this thread is that I am one of those bottom feeders. I work in project management in the aerospace sector(no.. not certified YET) and don't want the door shut in my face. My best friend since childhood has a degree in microbiology and works on the bottling line of a distillery. My brother dropped out of high school but owns an inspection and engineering company providing optical measurment systems to a major auto manufacturer. In a nutshell, a degree does not make the person more capable of anything. If you want to make it mandatory... the degree should be in PM, not whatever looked like fun in the school catalog, as doctors don't take arts then write a surgery exam. Saving Changes...
Jeff, I also worked in aerospace, paid my own way through college, and know 1st hand what it is like to have the door shut on my face. The COMPETITIVE marketplace always rules!!! In the case of Bill Gates, he was raised by upper middle class parents and attended private school. His mother was on the board of directors of the American Red Cross when the CEO of IBM was also a member of the same board, thus the link between the initial development of MS DOS product and the success of Microsoft. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, we're not born with such advantages or access to high level connections. Saving Changes...
New to this post, I have an interesting insight. A director of a large Telecom company where I work is a high school graduate..and has in excess of 20 certifications in technology and an honorary doctorate (!!) from a university...and I guess he can't sit for the PMP. :)
