The Project Management Professional or PMP certification is one of the most esteemed certifications for project managers. Project Management Institute (PMI) offers the PMP certification. The PMI is in the United States of America. The role of a project manager is very versatile; therefore, the benchmark for even attempting is relatively high.
For this certification, you need to have a certain amount of experience in project management. Make sure you are eligible to fill out the PMP exam form. The requirements to fill out the application are:
- A four-year degree
- 36 months leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification
Or - A high school diploma or an associated degree (global equivalent)
- 60 months leading projects
- 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM® Certification
So, even before you start to fill out the exam form and take any PMP classes, you require more than thirty hours of experience in project management based on your degree. And to be entirely fair, it is not too much to ask because, after this certification, your earning potential and your credibility in the industry will increase many folds.
What is Project Management Experience?
Suppose you have spent time planning, managing, or leading a project, then congratulations! You are eligible for PMP experience. However, you might be thinking by now that PMP experience requirements are high, and you can only apply if your job title is 'Project Manager.' But that is not the case. If the nature of your job is such that it requires project management of some sort, then you can apply for this job. Such titles as supervisor, Assistant project Coordinator, Team leader, or any other job title that entails project management are good PMP application experience examples.
You can show the relevant experience by collecting the following documents:
- Projects you have led, detailing the roles and responsibilities and the project's duration.
- Pieces of training you have completed detailing the institute and the qualifying hours.
A project has many phases; if you have worked in any of these phases, it counts as relevant experience. In the initial phase, you must define the project's goals and timeline. The second phase is the planning phase. Here you have to make the plan for the project. The third phase, i.e., the execution phase, is the phase of action. The plan is acted upon according to the requirements of the client. The fourth phase is the monitoring phase. Here the project is monitored, and all deviations rectified. The project's final phase is the closing phase, where the final report is made on the result.
What Qualifies as Project Management Experience?
As mentioned earlier, the PMP certification experience requirements can be anything in which you have worked as a project manager. You must be thinking if project management certification without experience is possible. But the answer is no. The PMP application samples have shown that filling out the experience section is one of the most challenging tasks. However, sometimes the job title does not suggest working in the capacity of a project manager, but the job description says otherwise. In such a case, you need to analyze your role in the project and dig deeper to discover the various PMP project management experience elements. The best way to find out any PMP certification experience is:
- In your previous years' experience, look for any roles that have given you the opportunity of project management.
- Find any volunteering project management experience.
- Look into your present responsibilities and identify any project management experience.
- If you have additional PM roles and responsibilities, maybe this is the place to find more hours dedicated to project management.
These project description examples for PMP applications are indispensable tools. If your goal is to qualify for the PMP exam, then the benefits of keeping a log of your work are very useful while filling out the form. The candidates should maintain a record of their work.
There are many project stages, and all of these require project management. PMP experience examples that can be used as PMP work experience requirements are as follows:
1. Planning
In the planning stage, a project manager maps out the project's scope, timeline, and resource allocation. Then, they allocate the work to different individuals or teams. Project planning can be done using software or manually. For example, visualization of a project can be effectively done using a Gantt chart.
2. Leading
If you have been a team leader or are in that position, your role is that of a visionary for your team. This can be one of the PMP project experience examples for your application. As a team leader, your job is to motivate the team members to bring out their best. But, above all, your job is to manage the team's effectiveness by keeping a people-centric approach.
3. Execution
Execution begins when everything is mapped out on paper. Execution takes most of a project's time and energy, which is obvious. In this stage, many might be done simultaneously to culminate in the completion of the project. This is the most essential part of examples of project management experience for PMP.
- Time management
One of the most important skills of project management is time management. The project has to be planned and executed in such a way that it is completed before the deadline. If any changes are required, they can be finished within time. Proper planning entails correct estimation of time for every process of the project as well as keeping a lumpsum amount of time for failure, mismanagement, and human error.
- Budget
Keeping track of the budget is one of the most vital skills for a project manager. As a project manager, you must learn to stay within the budget and allocate proper funds for each process. The ultimate failure of a project manager is a lack of funds due to the excessive expenditure.
- Documentation
A project manager needs to keep a record of all the activities related to the project. A project manager should collect all the data on when a process begins or ends and the percentage of completion. This kind of documentation can also serve as a future reference and help avoid mistakes made in the present. Many project management apps are available to make this process easier.
- Maintenance
Project maintenance is keeping track of the project and aligning it with the plan or making adjustments to it to maintain the project timeline. Removing obstacles and maintaining the timeline and the budget are critical aspects of project management.
The seven aspects together form a PMP experience template. Project management training courses online also teach the same things in depth.
Top Cities where Knowledgehut Conduct PMP Certification Training Course Online
How to Acquire Experience in Project Management?
The best way to find project management experience is through finding a job with the title of project manager where you have the responsibility of managing projects. However, if you cannot find enough hours of experience to apply for the PMP exam, then you can look through other portfolios to find something that resembles an experience.
To find out hidden PMP experiences samples in your career, you should start to:
- Keep a record of your work
If you are tired of reporting your work every day at work, then think of it as collecting detailed information about your career. If you have been keeping a record of your daily work, you have a meticulous summary of all the projects you have undertaken.
Keeping a record of your work is useful in keeping you disciplined at work to maintain a superior work-life balance. And you get the added benefit of keeping track of all your activities, which you can use to fill out the PMP application experience samples accurately.
PMP application accepts volunteer projects managed by you in its application form. Find out if you can handle any projects by volunteering. Offer any help for your company and add this to your applications.
If you have a string of networks, you are bound to find leads for project management. Networking is essential for every job, not just project management. You must have heard that man is a social animal, so even in the business world, people need each other to survive.
Every industry has a corporate ladder and a way in which a project manager can offer their services. The easiest industry to enter as a project manager is the software industry or the consulting industry. If you want to start as a project manager, consider entering these industries.
Companies usually prefer project managers with experience, and there are rarely any positions for a junior project manager. So, look for opportunities within a project to manage a part of a project. Once you have enough experience managing and have proven your worth, you can move on to become a project manager of smaller projects. And once you have experience running small projects under your belt, you can move on to more significant projects.
Running projects in your company that were your idea is a successful turning point in your career. And if this project is profitable for the company, it is the icing on the cake. Running your own project is an infallible way to hone your management skills.
As mentioned earlier, the job titles do not matter to the PMI. If you have successfully provided a product or a service to the customer, you have managed the project. Just make sure you have some references for the project and the people you have worked with.
The Certified Associate in Project Management or CAPM is a qualification that will provide you with new opportunities to break through into the field of project management.
Why Is It Essential to Have Experience in Project Management?
Hands-on experience in any job is the best way to learn the nitty-gritty and the daily workings of that industry. The fact that you need project management experience to apply for the PMP examination tells you a lot about the need for experience in project management.
Do not let the lack of experience be the reason for not appearing in the exam; the above steps can help find the relevant experience. Then, let KnowledgeHut’s PMP classes guide you to the best of your abilities.
Unlock your potential with our innovative csm course online. Acquire the expertise to excel in the dynamic realm of project management. Enroll today!
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember is that your job title does not have to be 'Project Manager' to be considered relevant experience. Whenever you have unknowingly managed a project in your career, that part of your experience will count as experience as a project manager.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I show my experience for PMP certification?
Firstly, you should maintain a log of your daily, monthly, and yearly work. From this log, you should be able to fill in descriptions like project title, organization, project description in 500 words, etc.
How many years of experience do you need for PMP?
You need an experience of 36 months if you have a four-year degree and 60 months if you have a high school diploma.
Can I get PMP without experience?
No, you cannot get PMP certification without experience.
How do I file PMP experience hours?
Experience that includes a project description and project deliverables will be the most appropriate form of PMP experience hours.
Does auditor experience count towards PMP’s experience requirement?
If you have had to manage any projects as an auditor, then auditor experience will count towards the PMP experience requirement.
What qualifies as PMP experience?
PMP experience is the time leading, managing, or directing a project.
