Guest post by Ian Bond. I was a job seeker and carefully read job postings to find out what I really wanted. I was repeatedly told that Project Managers require x years of experience, certain technical skills, as well as a track record in managing projects. The “PMP Certified” comment is buried below. It’s sometimes not clear if this is required or preferred, or if it’s just an error. Is it something they need, want, require, or fear? If they want it, I can help. I am currently studying and have used the PMBOK to learn PM skills and strategies. My results speak for themselves – I have successfully managed projects since the 90s that took our mid-sized business from Novell to NT and Windows to Active Directory without a hitch. Let’s go! But what if they really need it? What if they contract with a government, or other smart source who understands the value of a PMP but doesn’t have one on staff? This is a smart way to get top-notch results while passing the costs onto the poor contractor who didn’t see it coming. If they require a PMP certified IT person, then I should let them know that I am working on it. Is that enough? Will I ever hear from them to be certain? There’s also the added bonus of a PMP certification. At least I know where I stand. I can then negotiate, but I know it’s a well-oiled company with high standards. There is no way they will lower their expectations of me. Who would be afraid of the PMP certification? Perhaps my old employer tried to set up a PMO with a strong leader but found that the executives found her demanding and annoying. They wanted to preserve their 70’s-style processes, protect the cash cow, and let every deadline slide to keep the profit figures high every quarter. If the PMP is afraid of losing his job, then the company or organization is in trouble. Maybe it’s a government agency who can’t be bothered to maintain discipline. It’s a black hole that is “doomed”, as Dilbert puts it. The problem with fearful managers is that you don’t know until you get into the interviews. I need a job. I’m good at it. But there are many others just like me, trying to get attention. Perhaps the black hole isn’t so bad if there’s a paycheck in the it… In the meantime, I’m still on the PMP track. It’s the future.
