♪ Hey. ♪
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- Hey, thanks for joining me today.
So in today's episode, I wanna answer a question
that comes up to me all the time,
and that question is, should I get my PMP?
So if you're new to project management,
you might actually be thinking, get your what?
So let me break it down for you quickly here.
PMP are three letters
that you might find at the end of someone's signature.
And those letters stand for Project Management Professional.
It's a credential that's offered
by the Project Management Institute, also known as PMI
and for years has been the global professional standard
for the project management industry.
If you're not familiar with PMI,
definitely check them out
because they provide project management training tools
and network opportunities to over 500,000 members worldwide.
I've been a member of PMI,
I've attended local chapter meetings
and I've even attended the global Congress
a couple of years ago.
So there's a ton of value at PMI,
depending on what you're seeking.
So back to the PMP certification.
I actually have a little secret to share with you.
I don't have the PMP.
Controversial.
A professional PM and an educator without the certification,
is that heard of?
Of course it is.
Do you think I could sit here
and talk about project management
without feeling like I really know my stuff?
Let me answer that for you.
No.
I never got my PMP for a few reasons,
both personal and professional mainly.
I never actually needed it as a digital project manager.
I think if I were in construction and manufacturing,
or even some other industry
where there's a single best practice for running projects,
I likely would have needed the certification
to even get a job interview,
but that's just not how it is in digital.
So I educated myself on project management
in many other ways, mainly through doing and reading.
Also, I'm gonna be super honest here.
I happen to really, really, really dislike tests.
I get anxiety over them, always have always will.
It's just how I am.
Don't ask me about that driver's license test when I was 16,
that was an absolute embarrassment.
So anyway, the PMP certification test
has always been somewhat of a deterrent for me,
which might sound silly to you,
it's starting to sound really silly to me, but hey whatever.
That said, I can say that I am a certified scrum master
because the agile principles and values
were really more closely aligned to a way
that I was working in digital,
which by the way, I'm seeing that the PMP is actually
transforming because of the role agile is playing
in business these days.
So more agile education is being incorporated into the PMP,
which is gonna make it even more well-rounded
and really cool.
So anyway, I was able to pass that CSM test
and at this point I'm pretty sure I'd pass the PMP too.
Which obviously means that you can do it
if you want it bad enough,
but you might be wondering, if he didn't do it,
then why would I do it?
And that's a fair question,
but don't compare yourself to others in your career.
Do what you feel is best for you
and for your career longterm.
I should also mention here that
when people ask me if they should get their PMP,
my response has always something like this.
Hey, if you have the time and the resources to get your PMP,
absolutely do it.
Learning is never a bad thing.
And the PMP provides some really great foundational learning
for project managers in any industry,
no matter what, if you take the PMP
and you study it and you take that test,
you're going to gain practical knowledge
and prove that you know your stuff.
Plus there are some pretty great benefits
to getting your PMP.
Let's talk through those now.
First the PMP will help you to build core PM skills
in a way that can't be done on the job.
You'll learn a common global language
around the way projects are discussed
and operated in a variety of businesses.
And that will immediately build your knowledge base,
skillset and even your confidence in any setting.
Honestly, just knowing the language and the tactics
and being able to explain those things to team members
or even clients will show your authority
and your subject matter expertise.
And that's never a bad place to be as a project manager.
The layer on top of that,
is that the PMP provides a structured framework
for how to manage projects.
Again, having that foundational knowledge
of how projects should operate, is really helpful.
That said, it's also kind of rigid
and you'll need to do a little bit of work on your own
to connect those concepts
to what you really do in the real world.
But hey, part of being a good PM in any industry
in any place is adapting.
So my thought is that if you know your basics,
you can lean on those things
and do what works for your projects and for your teams.
And because of the PMP deals more in theory and process
than actual strategic thinking, creative problem solving,
and even managing people and personalities,
it won't necessarily ensure 100% success for you.
In fact, those feel like pretty big holes
in a lot of PM education to me, not just PMI.
But let's be honest,
you'll always have to put the hard work in
and think on your feet,
whether you're a certified PM or not.
If you're interested in that
kind of non-processed kind of learning,
definitely check out my classes at TeamGantt.
I personally love to talk about communication tactics,
leadership strategies, expectation setting,
and a lot of other topics
that compliment the more structured process stuff.
So carrying on with the benefits and listen, I'm sorry,
I know I'm sharing considerations along with the benefits,
but these are things you should be thinking about
if this decision is kind of weighing on you.
And trust me, I know, I actually think about this often,
maybe too often, I don't know.
So the other thing about the PMP is that those three letters
carry some weight.
In fact, the PMP is global.
So when you do get it,
you immediately open yourself up to
a whole new world of job opportunities and connections
because you've proven your level of knowledge
and experience as a PM.
It's kind of cool actually.
I've seen PM's cross from digital to supply chain
and other industries,
and I have to think the certification had something
to do with that.
So yeah, having the PMP
can open the door to career opportunities
and in today's global economy,
you're recognized as a PMP no matter your location
or your industry, that's no doubt a resume builder,
and kind of exciting in the expanding world of remote work.
Just think of the possibilities that could be opened up.
Those are a lot of benefits to consider.
And you may have some other things in mind
that are benefits to you.
Now, maybe you don't care about the clout
that comes with the PMP as much as the money.
Good news is, the PMP can increase your potential
for a raise or a promotion.
That's awesome.
According to a global PMI research study,
PMP certified survey respondents,
earned 22% higher median salaries on average
than those without the PMP certification.
Research also shows median salaries steadily grow
the longer you hold the PMP certification.
So show me the money PMPs.
All of those are really great excuses
to use your personal time and energy
to level up your career.
But you know, there are some barriers to entry here,
and this might actually surprise you.
In fact, you need actual project work experience
to get your PMP, depending on your educational background,
you'll be required to have anywhere between
three to five years of non-overlapping PM experience.
4,500 to 7,500 hours of leading projects,
and 35 hours of formal PM education just to get certified.
So no noobs are allowed here in the PMP.
That's actually a lot of work and experience
I just outlined,
but you should check up on PMI certification
eligibility requirements
before you embark on your PMP journey.
Just know that those requirements
really do boost the weight of the PMP and what it carries.
It shows that anyone who holds the certification
is truly serious about their craft.
So PMPs are in pretty solid company,
and I think that's pretty awesome.
So if this all feels like a lot, I feel you,
trust me I feel you.
But you should know that PMI
does offer some lower level certifications
that you can use to build up to the PMP.
Personally, I love that approach
because it doesn't feel so overwhelming,
especially as someone who's working a full-time job
and has a lot of other commitments outside of work.
And just know it doesn't stop there.
You have to continue to learn and earn credits
after you get your PMP.
Basically you have to stay current and educated,
which again, just shows the dedication needed
to be a certified project management professional.
So I actually have a colleague
who got her PMP last year
and she told me that the most difficult part
of the entire process
was actually completing the application.
So I guess if you can get through the paperwork
and commit yourself to reading
the official PM standards book, which is actually called
"The Project Management Body of Knowledge" or "PMBOK Guide",
if you can do that, you can study a few nights a week
and take practice tests, you'll be absolutely fine.
So the bottom line here is right, it worth it?
And you probably already know my answer.
Only you can answer that question for yourself.
And there's a whole lot more to consider,
including how to go about getting certified.
We have a full PMP certification guide on teamgantt.com.
It includes the pros and cons, requirements
and even has a handy list of resources to help you learn.
So definitely check that out with the link on the screen.
And now I'm thinking, maybe I should just do it,
put my test fears aside and get the PMP.
What do you think, want to do it with me?
We could probably start a cohort or a study group.
Let me know if you're interested
or even give us your thoughts on certifications
in the comments, I'd love to hear what you're thinking.
I'm gonna go ahead and finish this coffee
and think about it a little bit.
In the meantime, I'd love it
if you'd subscribe to our YouTube channel,
and go ahead and click on that notification bell
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We've always got new content coming
and don't forget that we offer free live classes,
templates guides, and so much more over at teamgantt.com.
Thanks again.
See you in the next episode.
♪ Hey ♪
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