PMP Is Marketable…Are You?

Coca-Cola “The Perfectionist” from Variable on Vimeo

Are you a perfecting your skills as a project manager? Do you spend your time working to learn better and learning to work better. If not you should be. Project management is a skill that is perfected over time. I am still perfecting the art of being a project manager, working with other, and honing my soft skills. Project management can be very profitable if you choose to invest in it and let the results be invested in you.

This video above really speaks to the development of a product. I don’t even like the drink Coca-Cola, but I know its brand and recognize that every one else seems to loves it. Love it or hate, we all respect it for what it is. Profitable. You building your brand as a project manager is no different. Part of branding is association. If you associate with the right organizations, people, and even products, you will start to build your brand. The PMI name is one way to not just build your skill set and credentials, but it’s also a way to brand your self by association.

Employers hiring project managers are looking for three letters, PMP (Project Management Professional). You can say that those three letters don’t matter in relation to what the person can do, but none the less you won’t get an interview without them in a lot of cases. The goal of becoming a certified PMP isn’t just for the letters, but for building you. It allows you the opportunity to network with others in your field (PMI Chapters), and showcase your talent and experience.

Being relevant in today’s job market is very important. When you stop being relevant you work your way towards expendable. We all know what happens after that. To be clear I’m not saying that having PMP will prevent you from being laid off, let go, fired, released from duties, or whatever else they are calling these days. However, what I am saying is that you want to be marketable. Coca-Cola is marketable. Are you?