The Primary Reasons Why Employers Need PMP Certification
You will see that most project managers list PMP certification as either strongly preferred, or required, if you spend some time looking through the job listings on an online job board. Most organizations require PMP certification to be promoted or perform advanced performance evaluations. No matter if you are a hiring manager for vacant project management positions, or a project manager seeking better opportunities, it is important to understand the importance of Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in the workplace. According to the Anderson Economic Group, there are more than 1.2 million new project manager positions. However, most job applicants who fail to produce a PMP certificate will not be eligible for consideration. Key Consulting’s consulting manager Kevin Archbold says that many recruiters separate their resumes into two piles. He says, “Today, there are enough good PMP project managers, such that recruiters do not have to sift among the uncertified.” You will learn more about the benefits of PMP certification and why you should have it. This is especially important if you want to advance your career. Companies, Customers, and Other Entities Demand PMP Certification. Regardless of your belief in the intrinsic value of PMP certification, it is important to understand that major companies and other entities demand it. Global markets are demanding PMP and other project management certifications. Certain firms require a strict adherence to defined processes in order to run their business. PMP is therefore a must. Tim Wasserman, Program Director at Stanford’s Advanced Project Management Program, says that “highly regulated industries (e.g. financial services, pharmaceuticals and defense) wouldn’t consider anyone without [the] PMP] certification.” Clients may require PMP-certified managers to manage their projects. Vendors who are interested in these contracts must have PMP-certified managers. PMP Certification enables you to speak the common language. Project managers will likely spend a lot of time communicating with vendors, employees, clients, and other stakeholders. There is also the possibility that project managers may have different team members depending on which project they are working on. It’s possible that their team members may not speak the same business language. This will help them communicate with their sponsors, program managers, team members, and other stakeholders. David Wakeman, Employment Support Center, summarized it as follows: “Having a solid understanding of a project management framework allows me to communicate with vendors and clients on an equal playing field.” Although it is unlikely that miscommunications will be completely eliminated by having a team of PMP-certified professionals, it will reduce the likelihood of them happening. PMP Certification Holders Manage Their Projects in a Repeatable, Structured Fashion. Every project has unknowns. Project managers must be able to handle these unexpected events. PMP Certification allows users to have easy access and repeatable processes as well as standardized practices that are endorsed by experts around the globe. It also increases collaboration between diverse businesses in today’s economic environment.