Project Managers aren’t BORN!
Do I need a Project Management Degree or the PMP?
In my 25+ years as an Education Advisor, I have been asked this question so many times. Inquirers usually value the Project Management career potential but have no idea where to start.
As a technical school advisor and a degree holder, I want to declare my bias towards certifications. For some, it is the perfect solution for their career move, but it is not for everyone.
My advice? Anyone can become a Project Manager if they are willing to start in an entry-level role and earn their way through real-world experience.
Don’t wait to launch your career. Industry analysts predict around 22 million new project management jobs by 2027. Now is the time to capitalize on the growth in this employment sector with an average entry-level wage more than $50K.
Entry-level job roles include Project Coordinators, Project Schedulers, and Project Management Assistants.
To answer the question, do I need a college degree?
NO, many enter this field through non-traditional routes.
PMI, the Project Management Institute, offers a skill validation certification called the CAPM, Certified Associate in Project Management, which proves you have all you need to START your career. It’s a great way to get on a project team and start using your new skills like predictive project management, agile principles, and business analysis. The GOOD news? The CAPM can be achieved in months, not years, a win for both the employer and job seeker!
Would a degree be helpful? Of course! When employers compare resumes for hire, they weigh each part of the trifecta; experience, degree, and certification. Experience is usually the heaviest weight so the sooner you can start that clock ticking the better. A degree can show your education is well-rounded, and demonstrate your interest and commitment to this field. I have found it carries more weight when it comes to promotability. The certification is a very focused credential on the skills needed for this job role, nothing else. It says, “I can do this job today”.
The next question, which is better for me? I ask my inquirers to evaluate this decision based on several factors.
Am I willing to commit to 4 years of education to accomplish a degree?
Should I incur that expense? No one wants to join the “student loan sufferers” who after graduation couldn’t find a good paying job to pay back their loans!
Am I willing to commit to the months of intense study a certification requires? They are short term education endeavors but are volume intensive and demanding, that is their value. If they were easy, we would all be certified and hiring managers wouldn’t value them!
A degree is a great way to explore and mature before joining the job market, especially for those who are not sure what they want to do yet. If you know what you want, a certification may be the better route to get you into the field in a relatively short time period.
A degree will not impact the qualifications for the CAPM, but it does benefit PMP candidates, reducing the experience required to sit that exam from 60 to 36 months.
Can I have my cake and eat it too? Sure! A certification can help you get into the field, and while you are gaining valuable experience, you can pursue your degree. Win, win, win!