Search for a few minutes for jobs on virtually any job site, and you'll discover most of the post-doctoral positions for project managers list "PMP certification" as either mandatory or highly preferred. For many employers, PMP certification is required to be promoted or linked to the evaluation of performance.
If you're a project manager in search of a new position or hiring manager looking for open positions in project management you are aware of the importance that the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is given within the workplace.
Based on Anderson Economic Group Anderson Economic Group, approximately 1.2 million project managers with new jobs will need to be filled through the year 2016. However, in many instances, those who don't have the PMP certification won't be taken into consideration. As per Kevin Archbold, a consulting manager at Key Consulting, "many recruiters divide their resumes into two piles: those with PMP certification and those without." He continues to say to the effect that "today there are enough qualified PMP project managers who have certifications that recruiters do not have to sort through non-certified applicants.
This article examines the reasons why the PMP certification is so desirable in today's job market and business environment.
I. Customers are demanding PMP certification from their vendors.
It doesn't matter whether you believe in the inherent worth that comes with PMP certifiability or not, the reality is that many large companies and organizations are simply demanding this.
If your business has participated in a bid for a government project during the past few years - whether it was local, state or federal chances are you've encountered the PMP certification requirements. This requirement is however not only for public entities. In a report published in 2010, published by CIO.com, Steve DelGrosso, director of IBM's Project Management Center of Excellence described the current customer requirements for PMP credentials in the following manner:
The marketplace in the U.S. is demanding the PMP certification or other project management certification. Going back five or six years, IBM has seen requests for proposals where the clients are demanding certified project managers be part of the proposal. If you can't present a certified project manager on their deal, they won't consider you.
DelGrosso added that, as of 2010 14,000 of IBM's 250,000 project managers were certified and that the number was rising. "The top project managers at IBM have been certified as project managers.
For certain kinds of businesses, the entire approach to business is based on strict procedures, which is why having a PMP qualification is essential. "Highly regulated industries (e.g., financial services, pharmaceuticals, defense, and aerospace) wouldn't consider anyone without [the PMP] certification," says Tim Wasserman, Program Director of Stanford's Advanced Project Management Program. 5. If clients are seeking PMP certification for the projects that they contract out, companies that are interested in these contracts must be able to have PMP credentials on the board (and the more, the more).
II. Having your PMP certification shows you speak the common language.
As a project manager, you might spend the vast majority of your time communicating with your team members. However, it helps if your team members can all speak a common language so that they can all be on the same page as you. For example, people who have PMP certifications know the difference between procurement and a P&L.
David Wakeman, a PMP credential holder and director of the Employment Support Center, summed up the situation as follows: "Having an understanding of an accepted framework for managing projects provides me with the ability to interact with vendors and clients in a fair and equal manner. "6 This view is repeated by numerous Project Management Academy clients. For one of the clients - one that is a U.S. military institution The driving factor in its PMP certification was to align the processes and procedures of its organization with the major vendors (whose key employees needed to hold PMP credentials holders).
The more you know about how projects run, the better off you are. When there is a problem with communications, things can go wrong, but having a team of project managers who have completed the Project Management Professional certification will have much less chance of miscommunication and will be able to eliminate the communication flaws that cause most problems.
III. Achieving your PMP certification shows that you are motivated and goal-oriented.
Employers want to hire people who are motivated to go above and beyond the normal call of duty. These people are also willing to commit themselves to their professional development, which shows commitment and dedication.
The process of earning your PMP certification requires a significant amount of energy, time, and concentration along with your regular work and family obligations. It is essential to be able to manage your time effectively and be able to handle some additional stress in your daily life. A lot of people will tell you that they think the PMP test was the most difficult test they've ever had to take.
If it wasn't so difficult it would be of only a small amount of significance. If you're an individual who is willing to take on this task, particularly while working full time, you are worthy of being acknowledged for going over and above your usual obligations. If you've learned the best practices laid up by PMI as well, you could contribute significant value to any business.
IV. Your PMP certification shows you can manage projects in a structured and repeatable fashion.
As project managers, we are able to adapt to the unexpected. All projects are expected to bring unknown ideas and tasks, and our ability to manage in an ever-changing environment is pivotal. But while every project is different, there has been a value in using a set of standardized, repeatable processes endorsed by experts around the world.
There is a need for standardized project management techniques and processes that make it easier for business leaders to collaborate. In its 2013 Pulse of the Profession™ Study, PMI addresses this need and finds support among other things in the 2012 IBM CEO Study which found that 53% of chief executive officers (CEOs) believe projects should have standard processes.
Take risk management for example. This is an area where you want to use the same approach (or a similar approach) every time. Of course, your risks will differ in each case, and your responses will too, but the way you go about identifying and analyzing risks should not. Using the processes, tools, and documents endorsed by PMI, you can effectively identify, manage and control any project's risks.
V. Achieving your PMP certification shows you are an intelligent person.
Employers know the PMP exam is a difficult test. It tests your reading comprehension and attentiveness to detail, which are essential skills for any professional. If you pass the PMP exam, employers will see you as more qualified than people without a certification from this exam.
The overall pass rate on the PMP exam was between 60 and 75 percent in 2010. The content of the exam is closely guarded, but general feedback suggests it has become more difficult over recent years.
The overall pass rate on the PMP Exam was between 60-75% in 2010. While details about the exam content are closely guarded, general feedback suggests that the exam has become substantially more difficult in recent years, particularly following the release of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK).
But while these traits are all very important, they are just the beginning. To add additional value to these skills, a PMP certification can be a perfect way to learn about more specific business processes and improve the efficiency of further innovation.
However, the PMP credential shows that an organization has a commitment to managing risk and financial well-being. Many major players in today's economy are demanding it from their vendors and business partners, so organizations and employees cannot afford to buck the trend if they wish to stay competitive.
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