Why You Should Hold The PMP Certification

The Project Management Professional certification (PMP) is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) along with a host of other certifications related to project management. This is their most popular certification, popularly regarded as the gold standard for project management. There are currently more than 1 million PMPs in about 80 countries in the world.

There are several reasons to hold this certification as it provide loads of opportunities and advantages to the holder, some of which are:

• Opportunity to command a high paying salary and earning potential.

PMP certified project managers on the average are able to command higher wages compared to their non-certified counterparts. According to a survey conducted by Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey, Ninth Edition; with respondents coming from more than 30 countries and several industries, certified Project Management Professionals (PMPs) have been reported to earn approximately median salaries of 22% higher than their non-certified counterparts with the same education and experience levels.

The PMP certification is a very valuable credential to employers across several industries ranging from Pharmaceuticals, Mining, Information Technology, Consulting, Insurance, Banking, Aerospace, Automobile, Government Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and a host of others.

A recent Earning Power salary survey by PMI shows that PMP Certified professionals are positioned to earn 23% higher in salary than their non-certified counterparts. A 2020 Digital Project Manager Salary Survey shows salary across different project manager positions and by different countries.

• Worldwide recognition

The PMP certification is world-renowned as the gold standard for Project Management. As a result of this, the Project Management Professional certification is highly sought in more than 35 countries of the world and there are more than 1 million active PMP professionals worldwide according to the Project Management Institute (PMI). The PMI has a presence on several continents including Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and North America. This makes it possible for holders of the certification to have access to job opportunities across various markets in different countries.

• Opportunity to be in a highly sought after profession

According to the PMI, research shows that nearly 2.2 Million roles will need to be filled yearly through 2027 with project management related roles. This is an indication that opportunities abound for professionals in this field.

• Opportunity for remote work

There have always been opportunities for project managers to enjoy the flexibility of working remotely. This possibility is now more common given the COVID-19 pandemic. Various companies across the world have their project managers working from remote locations for safety reasons.

• Opportunity for growth

There is an opportunity for a project manager to keep improving his/her skill, knowledge, and experience as a project manager. Certified Project Managers have the opportunity to transition to program managers, Business Analysts, product owners, product managers and portfolio managers. They also have the opportunity to work in hybrid roles like Project Managers and Business Analysts. They can also hold roles as Agile Project Managers like Scrum Masters, Kanban Lead, etc.

• Better opportunities

You are automatically ahead of your uncredentialed peers in the job market with the PMP certification. As a certified project manager, you are more likely to be headhunted by companies and recruiters for your knowledge of the industry standard and experience. You also stand a better chance of making it to interviews when you submit job applications and ultimately getting employment offers.

• Increased Confidence in your knowledge and abilities.

Passing the PMP certification increases your knowledge as well as your confidence in taking on projects. You will be equipped with the needed tools to take on projects of varying sizes and complexities. You will be more at ease with utilizing your acquired knowledge and skills.

• Ability to manage projects across different industries.

With the PMP Certification, you will be able to work in different industries such as Construction, Information Technology, Engineering, Insurance, Banking, Consulting, Government, NGOs, etc

• Access to a rich network of professionals and resources.

As a certified project management professional, you will have access to project management resources via www.projectmanagement.com.  You will also have the opportunity to network with other project management professionals across several fields. This access will provide a unique opportunity to network with them, expanding your professional network while participating in learning as well as knowledge exchange.

• Spillover effect on personal life

After experiencing the magic and beauty of project management as a professional, you will consciously and subconsciously utilize your knowledge and skills to handle things outside of work. 

You will utilize it while planning your day for example from waking up, meditating, exercising, eating, working, emails, phone calls, till you go to bed. You can utilize it while working on household projects with family and friends to help stay organized and significantly increase the chances of success.