Subscriber Q&A. Why the PMP?

Watch my video response.

[youtube height=”360″ width=”640″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x98anPxsdhs[/youtube]

 

Here’s the Q&A email I had with someone on LinkedIn that became a subscriber recently. I’ve changed the subscriber’s name that contacted me via LinkedIn.com, but thought the Q&A email and response video would be helpful to everyone:

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[toggle_box] [toggle_item title=”Subscriber Q and A” active=”False”] [quote align=”Left” color=”#999999″]Jahquay,

Good afternoon. You do not know me, but I appreciate you accepting my invite nevertheless. The reason I am writing you is because I was doing some research recently with respect to the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and I came across your name.

I noticed you have your PMP, congratulations on your achievement. I too am considering going down this path as I currently am working in project management [section omitted for subscribers privacy] and I think this credential would compliment my MBA and thus make me more marketable as a whole.

If I may, I would like to ask you the following questions:

1. Do you think the PMP has added value to your brand?

Absolutely. I think it further solidified my experience and abilities with something verifiable. I like how you asked about brand. As my latest post is about how the PMP builds your brand of being a project manager. having the PMP credential doesn’t automatically make you a great project manager, but helps to present you as someone who is serious enough to take an exam and be able to back up your experience if audited (I was). Having the PMP allows me to get into job interviews other project managers wouldn’t be allowed to without it. Further more it makes me highly desirable because of my other credentials and experience. It helps to give you the total package. Back in July I put out my résumé  online and in 3 weeks I had a job offer. Disclaimer: not everyone’s experience will be the same, but its all about how you position yourself.

2. Based on your experience, was the PMP valuable in helping you obtain positions in industry prior to you starting your own company?

See my last answer. I started my own company while I worked for an employer (see my profile for a timeline that matches with that employer). I would say that the PMP is a method that employers use for screening purposes as well. So just by having the credential you become much more desirable. Don’t get me wrong having the PMP doesn’t automatically get you a job offer, but it can be a talking point about who you are as a project manager and how seriously you take your profession. It’s really no different than how an accountant seeks and brains the CPA credential.

3. Has listing the PMP on your marketing materials been helpful with obtaining projects from industry with your clients?

I would have to say yes. Given that my clients are seeking the PMP credential (I teach others how to pass the PMP exam, hence HowToPassThePMPExam.com.

4. Has anyone ever asked you why you decided to pursue the PMP given your degrees are in business management and not project management, which has a much smaller scope (I am in the same boat as well)?

Actually, I have the following credentials MBA, Master degree in Project Management, Graduate Certificate in Project Management, B.S. in Network and Communications Management, and am PMP certified. (I received my Master degree in project management before my MBA). From that list you can see 3 of my 5 credentials are in project management. I believe this shows project management for me (in my opinion) is something I’m passionate about and wish to grow in.

However to answer your question, I think the best answer is to talk about how seeking and obtaining your PMP credential makes you a well rounded manager. In business nothing gets done without a project. Want to roll out the new HR health benefits (that’s a project), want to migrate from one accounting software to another (that’s a project), expanding your IT network
(that’s a project), and on and on. So when someone asks you “why as someone with a background and education in business management do you wish to get the PMP credential”, tell them you wanted to learn the best practices for achieving projects and aligning resources to the vision and strategy of the organization with duplicable results.

I hope this helps. Keep in touch and I look forward to hearing back from you.

I’m looking forward to hearing back from you. – Jahquay Hyles

Regards,

John Doe[/quote] [/toggle_item][/toggle_box]

The PMP credential is one of the most sought after credentials amongst project managers. It’s not the only project management certification, but it is one of the top 2 globally recognized and readily accepted by employers. This is also part of the reason I decided to obtain the credential myself. There are many benefits to becoming certified. Here are some reasons to become PMP certified:

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1. The PMP is recognized and desired by employers wanting to hire project managers.
2. The PMP certification provides added leverage in negotiating a higher salary similar to other higher education credentials.
3. Having the PMP certification allows you to apply for project manager jobs that require it.
4. Provides an official stamp of approval for your experience verifiable by pass employers (I was selected for PMI’s audit so I have employer sign off of my project management experience).
5. Show cases your ability to pass a difficult examination that tests your knowledge and experience (as applied through the PMBOK Guide) regarding project management.
6. Creates opportunities for networking with other project managers who are also PMP certified.[/toggle_item][/toggle_box]

There are many more benefits than the ones listed above, such as achieving a difficult goal, receiving additional education, learning best practices, sharing your knowledge, and etc. As a project manager you goal is to enable success through your knowledge. You can’t do this if you aren’t continuously growing that knowledge. The PMP isn’t the end all be all for that knowledge either, but it is a step toward better yourself and that is something everyone wants to see in a project manager.

If you are willing to take a few months of your life to make a difference in your life you should study and sit for the PMP exam. You might be asking why does something so important only take a few months to obtain? The answer that question really comes down to your experience. Not everyone can sit for the exam just by reading the PMBOK Guide for several reasons. Those reasons being:

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1. The Project Management Institute (PMI) requires you to have one of the following to be eligible to apply:
a. A four-year degree (bachelor’s or the global equivalent) and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and       directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
b. A secondary diploma (high school or the global equivalent) with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and       directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
2. Nobody knows the passing score. That’s right PMI keeps this a secret. Click here to read the bottom of Page 30 of the PMP Handbook if you don’t believe me. The passing score for all PMI exams is determined by sound psychometric analysis.
3. Not all of the content you are tested on come from the PMBOK guide.
4. Your project management experience doesn’t automatically make you a candidate to pass. Often times our own project management experiences and practices don’t align with the PMBOK guide, which made up of what PMI considers the best practices (processes) for project management.
5. The PMP exam questions are not always choose the right answer. A lot of the questions are choose the best answer. This could mean that all the answer to the question could be right, but now all of them are the best answer to go with. This makes for a tricky exam.
6. Simple questions can be the toughest and often require memorization.

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The PMP exam will open up doors and provide opportunities that you normally wouldn’t have. It’s a conversation starter when networking with others in your industry or career field. The PMP won’t get you the job, but it won’t hinder you either. In fact it will make you marketable and help to build your representation as a great project manager.