Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional
How to Become a Certified Project Management Professional
How to Become a Certified Project Management Professional
It is predicted that employers will need 2.2 million more project-oriented professionals each year through to 2027. The globally recognized Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is the leading designation for project professionals across various industries, including engineering and construction. The letters “PMP” affixed to your name signal to potential employers that you have the education, experience, and training to successfully lead a project. The certification is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), an association for project, program, and portfolio management professionals around the world.
Are you interested in obtaining your PMP designation? Here are the steps involved in securing this coveted certification.
Background Qualifications
To begin, you’ll need a four-year college degree, an associate’s degree, or a high school diploma. If you have a four-year degree, you will need 36 months of experience leading projects, plus 35 hours of project management training. If you have either a high school diploma or an associate’s degree, you’ll need more on-the-job experience —specifically, 60 months— and 35 hours of project management training. These 35 hours may be obtained from a variety of sources and can be in real time or self-paced. Depending on the provider you select, training typically costs around one thousand dollars. It’s worth talking to your employer before you sign up for training, to determine if they will sponsor you and pay for this portion of your certification preparation.
Application Process
Once you’ve completed the educational requirements, it’s time to gather your documentation and apply to sit for the exam. You’ll need a record of where you’ve worked, the projects you’ve worked on, and the hours associated with each project. You’ll also need proof that you’ve completed your required 35 hours of training. The application fee is currently $405 for PMI members and $555 for non-members. PMI membership is $129 annually, so you should strongly consider joining the association before paying the application fee. Be thorough and honest in all steps, as applications are randomly audited and you never know if yours might be selected for a closer look.
Acing the Exam
From the date you receive word that you are approved to sit for the exam, you have one year to take it. You’ll need to schedule a time to take it live at a testing center or online. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and requires deep knowledge of the five domains of project management as defined by the PMP Examination Content Outline and A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). Careful preparation is key, with the average PMP candidate spending 35 hours or more studying for the exam. If you do not pass on your first try, you are allowed to retake the exam up to two more times in your approval year.
Maintaining Your Certification
Once you’ve passed your exam, your newly minted PMP certification lasts three years. You are required to earn and report 60 professional development units (PDUs) within this cycle, and in every three-year cycle thereafter. If you do not complete 60 PDUs in a cycle, your designation will expire, and you will have to begin the application process again and retake the exam.
The PMP designation demonstrates to employers that you are serious about your training and up to date in your project management knowledge. By taking the time to work through the steps outlined above, you will likely be recruited more easily and be able to command a higher salary than similar candidates without the certification.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com
3 Strategies that Successful Project Managers Utilize
3 Strategies that Successful Project Managers Utilize in their Daily Activities
Project managers are highly coveted positions and for good reason. According to BLS, a PM in heavy and civil engineering construction, for instance, earns a median annual wage of $95,630. Unfortunately, working as a project manager is no small feat. Whether in construction, environmental or engineering industry, you’ll have to take charge in every stage of the project from initiation, execution, performance, monitoring to closure. You’re accountable for the entire project scope, resources, project team, and most importantly, the success or failure of the project. Therefore, you’ll need to be more strategic
and thoughtful to meet your responsibilities and ensure project timelines remain on schedule and within budget. Thankfully, utilizing these project management tips can help you reduce the risk of failure and deliver projects more efficiently.
Plan Strategically
Strategic planning is among the most important elements of project management. It helps you and everyone involved to know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. When planning out a project, you’ll have to identify deliverables – establish project milestones, determine required labor as well as equipment. Planning strategically will go a long way in maximizing efficiency.
Establish a Flow of Communication
Effective communication is essential for successful project completion. In fact, 59 percent of the US workers believe that communication is their team’s major obstacle to success. Therefore, as a PM you’ll need to establish a flow of communication with the stakeholders and suppliers as well as other team members on the ground. Good and bad news alike will need to circulate in a timely manner. Failure to do so will lead to delays, misunderstandings and other problems in the long run.
The contract documents, including the drawings, progress records, request for information (RFI), and change order forms establish the basis for all communication in any project. Thus, it’s vital that any direct communication that’s not stated in these documents be acknowledged, documented and reported via the right channels; this flow of communication will make preparation and implementation smoother.
For large and more complicated projects, tools such as Collaborative Work Management (CWM) will come in handy. Such tools will dramatically improve communication by syncing attachments, comments, news, budgets, and calendars and enhance real-time scheduling of changes. As a result, it will allow you more time to coordinate work at the site and direct your efforts towards success.
Form a Habit of Monitoring Progress and Making Adjustments
Managing a project requires integrated effort and more attention. A good PM should be an essential part of the project, working closely and figuratively alongside others. You’ll have to carefully analyze daily progress reports as well as keep an eye on schedule and budget. Many are the times you will need to actually see an issue in person before you can resolve it. In case the set timelines start to slip, you’ll need to identify the possible root cause and discuss ways to bring the project back on track.
In conclusion, the key to a successful project completion is being firm but flexible. Always ensure you’re looking ahead to understand the risks involved in the project and try to mitigate them before they become big problems.
If you are looking for a career as a project manager, Webuild Staffing is here to help. That’s what we do best every day – find exceptional professonals, exceptional jobs!
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com