Gotcha!

(Bait and switch, I know. But it’s for your own good. Stay with me.)

I know some people believe that certifications like the PMP are just something to get through as fast as you can, as easily as possible.

Many people drift through college too, taking the easy classes and doing the bare minimum to get that piece of paper.

That may be what you want, but it’s not what you need. I’m about telling you what you need to know, even if you don’t want to hear it. So here’s me grabbing you by the shoulders and telling you how I see it.

I want you to know what works. Here we go.

Listen Up

I take a hard line on this.

Go for the PMP exam if you want to grow by understanding the PMI framework. For many, this may be the first glimpse into formal project management, as a discipline and not just shooting from the hip. That’s awesome.

Go for the PMP exam if you have the experience required to sit for the exam. Don’t try to skate your application through so you can get a piece of paper. You don’t build a career with pieces of paper. A successful career is built over time with hard work through experience and education.

Go for the PMP exam if you realize it’s just one element of your appeal as a candidate. Don’t think that piece of paper is going to land you a job. There is so much more to landing a project management job than that.

The Bottom Line

If you want to pass the PMP exam fast and easy, go somewhere else. I can’t help you. Go waste a few thousand bucks on a “PMP boot camp” instead. I know some people love ‘em, but they give me the creepy-crawlies.

Now if you want to:

• Grow as a professional during the process of earning your PMP certification,
• Retain what you’ve learned,
• Feel great about an actual accomplishment after you’ve passed,

I can help you with that

Join the thousands of other people in our community who get free and fresh pmStudent knowledge as soon as it’s published.

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