IT Folks - PMP Certification
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4,840 Posts
<p>Here, at my job, I don't see the point (other than just to learn something new). I don't think it gets you any more money or fame or whatever.</p>
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<p>Yet, some of the sheeple here are persuing it.</p>
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<p>They tend to be younger. The only thing I can think of is, they're planning on leaving after they get it.</p>
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<p>Yet, some of the sheeple here are persuing it.</p>
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<p>They tend to be younger. The only thing I can think of is, they're planning on leaving after they get it.</p>
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20,433 Posts
<p>If you're a career PM- I'd say it's an advantage. It also depends on the kind of PM you practice. If you're an insular PM- and that's all the duties you have (which are common in larger organizations) and you want to just remain as a PM, I'd say it's definitely not a disadvantage.</p>
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<p>I think it also depends on the kinds of projects you want to PM. With some projects, risk mitigation is more important, and they'd want the added third party verification of your skills and knowledge base.</p>
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<p>Me personally- I used my days as an IT PM in an extremely general practice that included a great deal of strategy work and account management, so the PMI certification was never applicable. I also never wanted to stay a PM- it was a stepping stone to running my own business unit.</p>
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<p>If your company recommends it, and is footing the bill, I'd say why not? If not- I'd say your experience speaks for itself.</p>
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<p>I think it also depends on the kinds of projects you want to PM. With some projects, risk mitigation is more important, and they'd want the added third party verification of your skills and knowledge base.</p>
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<p>Me personally- I used my days as an IT PM in an extremely general practice that included a great deal of strategy work and account management, so the PMI certification was never applicable. I also never wanted to stay a PM- it was a stepping stone to running my own business unit.</p>
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<p>If your company recommends it, and is footing the bill, I'd say why not? If not- I'd say your experience speaks for itself.</p>
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7,938 Posts
<p>Company is indeed footing the bill and even is offering courses. I am now a Director, but my educational background won't advocate in my favour. The three letters would help.</p>
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<p>That said, I am a very good PM with solid experience who HATES that job, loathes it. I've been Program Manager and Delivery Manager for a while now and I prefer that, but still the whole PM thing gets to me even if I am "esteemed" in the company for my abilities. BLECH!</p>
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<p>I am looking at this as a parachute. </p>
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<p>That said, I am a very good PM with solid experience who HATES that job, loathes it. I've been Program Manager and Delivery Manager for a while now and I prefer that, but still the whole PM thing gets to me even if I am "esteemed" in the company for my abilities. BLECH!</p>
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<p>I am looking at this as a parachute. </p>
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Joined
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4,840 Posts
<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Grizzly</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/73042/it-folks-pmp-certification#post_1989121"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Company is indeed footing the bill and even is offering courses. I am now a Director, but my educational background won't advocate in my favour. The three letters would help.</p>
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<p>That said, I am a very good PM with solid experience who HATES that job, loathes it. I've been Program Manager and Delivery Manager for a while now and I prefer that, but still the whole PM thing gets to me even if I am "esteemed" in the company for my abilities. BLECH!</p>
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<p>I am looking at this as a parachute. </p>
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<p>I have to ammend what I said before. If you already *are* a PM, I would say, yes, go for it. If you can document your past projects, you can probably get some "credit" hours too.</p>
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<p>Deal is, I come from more of a tech perspective. I'm a Development Manger who doesn't get to program enough anymore, and I don't like it at all. Management sucks. All I want to do is program. Being a tech lead would be my ideal job. But...alas, with age comes experience, and they need people to tell the other young programmers what to do.</p>
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<p>If I could be 70 years old and still be programming, I would. But, it's not likely. I'm 52 now, and no one wants to hire a 50+ year old programmer. No matter how good I am.</p>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Grizzly</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/73042/it-folks-pmp-certification#post_1989121"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Company is indeed footing the bill and even is offering courses. I am now a Director, but my educational background won't advocate in my favour. The three letters would help.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That said, I am a very good PM with solid experience who HATES that job, loathes it. I've been Program Manager and Delivery Manager for a while now and I prefer that, but still the whole PM thing gets to me even if I am "esteemed" in the company for my abilities. BLECH!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am looking at this as a parachute. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p>I have to ammend what I said before. If you already *are* a PM, I would say, yes, go for it. If you can document your past projects, you can probably get some "credit" hours too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Deal is, I come from more of a tech perspective. I'm a Development Manger who doesn't get to program enough anymore, and I don't like it at all. Management sucks. All I want to do is program. Being a tech lead would be my ideal job. But...alas, with age comes experience, and they need people to tell the other young programmers what to do.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If I could be 70 years old and still be programming, I would. But, it's not likely. I'm 52 now, and no one wants to hire a 50+ year old programmer. No matter how good I am.</p>
<p> </p>
Joined
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4,840 Posts
<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Grizzly</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/73042/it-folks-pmp-certification#post_1989155"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>We are of an age...</p>
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<p>And I agree, I would still code if I could, but I've burned that bridge a while back. </p>
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<br><br><p>I still get to sometimes, but more and more, I can hear it in my bosses voice, what he doesn't say, he wants me to move more into the project role, and I don't want to.</p>
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<p>My biggest problem...since we got bought out, now I work for a firm who DOESN'T WANT to do software development. They want to buy 3rd party software and have us do integration. Which is kinda bogus, if you ask me.</p>
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<p>I want to make something on my own. Not piece things that other people made together.</p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Grizzly</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/73042/it-folks-pmp-certification#post_1989155"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>We are of an age...</p>
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<p>And I agree, I would still code if I could, but I've burned that bridge a while back. </p>
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<br><br><p>I still get to sometimes, but more and more, I can hear it in my bosses voice, what he doesn't say, he wants me to move more into the project role, and I don't want to.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My biggest problem...since we got bought out, now I work for a firm who DOESN'T WANT to do software development. They want to buy 3rd party software and have us do integration. Which is kinda bogus, if you ask me.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I want to make something on my own. Not piece things that other people made together.</p>
Joined
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177 Posts
<p>I had it - The PMP certification, but didn't maintain it. going through the process was of value, i learned somethings, got some insight and vocabular and it gave me a bit of credibility. Some companies require it, though in IT, I am hearing that ITIL certification is more valuable because it is IT focused. My PMP did enable me to cross industries because the priniciples apply to any project, but being a good pm still requires knowing the industry/specific domain so you have a better sense for risks, when team members or venders are being overly optimistic or not quite straight with you and being able to help team members when they are struggling. If they are paying for it, I'd go for it.</p>
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7,938 Posts
<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kerfwango</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/73042/it-folks-pmp-certification#post_1989371"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Grizz, if you hate being a PM, why would you want to shore up your resume with a certification?</p>
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<br><br><p>1) I am getting on. If I were jobless I would have to fall back on my resume that has... a degree in Theology in it. Yup. Really hirable.</p>
<p>2) While I hate it, I am good at it. And I am not tooting my own horn here.</p>
<p>3) All those years, nice experience, but "You're old" and how to compete against someone younger with the certification?</p>
<p>4) If I wanted to do what I am good at and love I'd starve. Writing just ain't going to pay the bills.</p>
<p>5) They're paying for it.</p>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kerfwango</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/73042/it-folks-pmp-certification#post_1989371"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Grizz, if you hate being a PM, why would you want to shore up your resume with a certification?</p>
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<br><br><p>1) I am getting on. If I were jobless I would have to fall back on my resume that has... a degree in Theology in it. Yup. Really hirable.</p>
<p>2) While I hate it, I am good at it. And I am not tooting my own horn here.</p>
<p>3) All those years, nice experience, but "You're old" and how to compete against someone younger with the certification?</p>
<p>4) If I wanted to do what I am good at and love I'd starve. Writing just ain't going to pay the bills.</p>
<p>5) They're paying for it.</p>
<p>At one time I thought I needed the letters MBA after my name in order to get to where I am. I got there anyway, so I was obviously wrong. I never regretted not doing an MBA, as I've learned most of the important stuff on the job or through short company sponsored courses. I just don't get to add them letters to my resume! I would prolly be good at the next level above my job, but that doesn't interest me. I like what I do and there is a solid market for my skills. At some point in professional life you get so that everyone knows you or knows someone who knows you, and that counts more than the extra letters when job hunting.</p>
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<p>PMI is highly regarded in industry. I know lots of engineers who are good at projects but don't have the designation. I'm a strong believer in having employees belong to a professional organization related to their work, as it brings a higher level of professionalism to the position. I also pay 5% more to those who have a professional designation.</p>
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<p>With your academic background perhaps you could qualify for the Godfather's association???</p>
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<p>PMI is highly regarded in industry. I know lots of engineers who are good at projects but don't have the designation. I'm a strong believer in having employees belong to a professional organization related to their work, as it brings a higher level of professionalism to the position. I also pay 5% more to those who have a professional designation.</p>
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<p>With your academic background perhaps you could qualify for the Godfather's association???</p>
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7,938 Posts
<p>I too abandoned the search or the thought of the search for an MBA. This is much less painful.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately there's no association for failed-monk-concert-photographer-disk-jockey-elementary-school-teacher-programmers.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately there's no association for failed-monk-concert-photographer-disk-jockey-elementary-school-teacher-programmers.</p>
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1 Posts
<p>Been lurking for a bit, saw this and wanted to share a link to explain PMP better to those who are confused:</p>
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<p><a href="http://pmexamguide.com/" target="_blank">http://pmexamguide.com/</a></p>
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<p>could be of use to OP and a few others; explains the exam and its benefits. It's a fairly well respected certification in some circles.</p>
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<p><a href="http://pmexamguide.com/" target="_blank">http://pmexamguide.com/</a></p>
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<p>could be of use to OP and a few others; explains the exam and its benefits. It's a fairly well respected certification in some circles.</p>
Joined
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7,938 Posts
<p>Thanks.</p>
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Well I applied and got my exam date. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed. By that date with the number of courses I've taken in the last year and a bit I'll have a Master's Certificate in Project Management so that will help with the parachute as well.</p>
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Well I applied and got my exam date. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed. By that date with the number of courses I've taken in the last year and a bit I'll have a Master's Certificate in Project Management so that will help with the parachute as well.</p>
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