Now that I have this shiny certificate tucked away in a manilla envelope on my bookshelf, what does it mean? I am a Technical Project Manager looking to expand my skills into the Product Management field and have recently kicked off the search for a new job. It still surprises me how many companies list PMP certification as a requirement. I have the piece of paper so I get to pass through this first stage of screening, but what did I really learn and why would a company care if I am a PMP or not?
Here are my thoughts:
- It shows initiative and follow through. The PMP exam is not cheap and they scare the dickens out of you during the study process so you know you need to put in a significant amount of time preparing for the test. If you can follow through and complete the goal, you may have the determination to work through the next product design meeting where everyone has a different opinion and you need to get something out the door.
- It is a weed out tool. As lame as it sounds, some companies are overwhelmed by applicants or under educated about the positions they are recruiting for. This is a tool to make it easier to categorize applicants and get resumes through the process.
- You may actually learn something. While 90% of what I studied would get me fired if I applied it at most jobs I've had, there were one or two techniques that I've applied to my current position. Not everything is applicable, but recognizing what doesn't work is often as important a skill as recognizing what does work.
Am I happy I stuck with it and received my PMP? Yes. Do I expect to magically be hired at my dream job because of it? No. (But if my dream job is listening, please call me.) I expect hiring managers to use any tool available to make their jobs as painless as possible, but I have a lot to offer beyond a piece of paper.
