As a marketing professional, you might be thinking about some of the best ways would be to enhance your career prospects. While there are many directions in which you can take your career, as a marketer, you are constantly executing projects of various kinds and in different industries. Therefore, project management plays an integral part in every marketer’s life, and as a marketing professional, you must constantly work on improving your project management and project delivery skill sets.
So, whether you are targeting senior marketing roles or planning to add new skills and competencies to your managerial armory, getting the coveted PMP certification would add some serious weight to your resume.
If you have never heard of the PMP before, you should know that it is a gold standard certification in the project management domain. According to a survey by the Project Management Institute (PMI), PMP-certified professionals earn a median salary of $135,798 per year, which is 25% more than non-certified professionals. In fact, CIO magazine ranked the PMP as North America’s #1 project management certification. It can even be argued that the PMP is the world’s most sought-after project management certification.
Contents
1. PMP certification process and eligibility
Obtaining the PMP certification for marketing professionals is no different from anyone else in another industry, such as information technology or manufacturing. However, there are 2 parts to the process.
- Demonstrate prior project management experience to PMI by filling the PMP application.
- Once your PMP application is approved, study and take the PMP certification exam.
The PMP application process is quite critical since if you cannot prove to PMI that you have solid project management experience, they may reject your PMP application, which will stall the process of obtaining the certification entirely.
Therefore, you must document your project management experience properly. Have a look at these PMP application examples to understand how to capture the information correctly.
In general, you must ensure that the projects you mention on your application are projects and not operational work and that you managed the projects from the beginning till the end. Your experience must come across as leading a project rather than just being an individual contributor. Getting a PMP application review is also a great idea since your application will be reviewed by an expert who deeply understands how to write and get the application approved.
Once your application is approved, you can move to the next step in the process: paying for the exam, studying for it, and taking it when you feel ready.
2. What is the format of the PMP certification exam?
The PMP certification exam is a multiple-choice exam that tests your project management knowledge. The exam content is designed using project management best practices from various industries such as manufacturing, construction, information technology, healthcare, legal, and many others industries. Most of the exam questions will present you with a short 2-3 lines project scenario and will expect you to determine how you would respond to it. There will be 4 options given, and only 1 will be the correct answer.
Most people who succeed in the exam on the first try focus on knowing the exam materials, applying their personal project management experience, and solving several practice exams.
The exam is 230 mins with 180 questions and tests on the waterfall and agile project management knowledge.
3. How can PMP certification help marketing professionals advance their careers?
These days sales and marketing professionals go by different titles such as marketing manager, digital marketing manager, marketing coordinator, social media manager, marketing assistant, account manager, customer success manager, product manager, etc. The PMP certification is beneficial for all such titles and beyond.
Here are some obvious benefits of acquiring the PMP certification by marketing professionals.
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# 1 Improve their credibility with employers and clients.
One of the primary benefits of acquiring the PMP certification for marketing professionals is that they can gain a deeper understanding of project management principles and practices and thus improve their ability to manage complex projects. This enhances their credibility as individuals when pitching ideas or projects to clients or interviewing for potential employment positions.
2. Speak industry jargon
Possessing the ability to speak using industry jargon has several advantages, such as improving your communication skills, demonstrating expertise and knowledge, developing relationships with stakeholders, and, in general, helping you come across as a mature, well-read, and responsible individual. This is especially beneficial when conversing with C-suite executives, making public presentations, or engaging with peers and teams. Acquiring the PMP certification can further develop your business vocabulary and strengthen your communication.
3. Improve the planning, organizing, time, and budget management skills.
Most marketing professionals are constantly working with tight constraints when it comes to budget and time, and their job is to maximize the return on every dollar they spend. Additionally, marketers must regularly make trade-offs and decisions based on market responses. Therefore, marketers must continuously work on improving their planning, organizing, prioritization, and time, budget, and risk management knowledge and skills. The PMP certification can teach you the best practices employed by organizations and individuals globally that can enable you to better plan and execute marketing projects.
4. Better salaries and job positions
Getting the PMP certification can significantly bump up your salary. According to a recent survey by PMI, most PMP certification holders draw higher salaries than their counterparts without the certification. Depending upon where you are in your career, you can expect a salary increase ranging from 10-50%. In addition to the salary increase, the PMP certification also opens new doors for you, such as being considered for leadership positions within your organization and outside.
In summary, a PMP certification is considered a valuable asset in the industry and can help you excel in your career. Since it augments your ability to manage projects in almost all industries effectively, adds to your professional development, and enhances your career prospects, investing in the PMP certification will be a wise decision that can benefit you in more ways than you can imagine.
