Project Management Certifications to Consider

Today, we’re shredding some common misconceptions about the PMP certification that might be holding you back: Title ≠ Requirement: You don’t need the “Project Manager” title to qualify for PMP—just 3 years of managing projects in any capacity, like risk management or client interactions. CAPM Before PMP? Nope! There’s no sequential rule. Whether you start with CAPM or jump straight to PMP, the path is yours to choose. Agile Compatibility: Think PMP isn’t fit for Agile? Think again! PMP embraces all methodologies—Predictive, Adaptive, Hybrid—and adapts to each. Exam Content Sources: The PMP exam isn’t tied exclusively to any PMBOK edition but to the PMP Examination Content Outline, making your study broad and comprehensive. Valued by Top Firms: Giants like Google and Microsoft actively seek PMP-certified professionals. The credential is a beacon across industries, not just traditional ones. Ready to break barriers and ace the PMP exam with my personal 30-day study plan? Comment "PMP" below, and let’s get you started on a journey to certification success. #PMP #ProjectManagement #CertificationGoals #CareerDevelopment #MythBusting #PMI

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲? Whether you're aiming for a role in tech, cloud, or large-scale enterprise delivery, certifications can give your profile a strong edge—especially when applying to structured environments or global organizations. Here are some of the most in-demand certifications today: ✨ APM – Ideal for those just starting in project management ✨ CSM / CPO – Core Agile/Scrum principles for Scrum Masters and Product Owners ✨ PMI-PMP / PMI-ACP – Widely respected by Fortune 500 companies and cloud giants like Amazon ✨ PRINCE2 – A process-heavy framework favored by governments, the UN, and UK-based institutions 📈 In fact, according to PMI’s 2023 Talent Gap report, 2.3 million new project roles will need to be filled each year through 2030. Upskilling now could open big doors. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱, 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. In my experience, what truly makes a strong enterprise project leader is not just the credentials, but the ability to communicate effectively, earn the respect of tech teams and clients, navigate both technical and business needs, align stakeholders, and keep everyone focused and organized. These aren’t skills you can master through exams—they come from years of experience, adaptability, and having led diverse projects across different industries, company sizes, and cultures. So when seeking leading PM positions, we shouldn't only think about which certification to pursue but also about how to develop the leadership, empathy, and systems thinking that drive real project success. #ProjectManagement #ProductManagement #CareerGrowth #PMP #PRINCE2 #CSM #Agile #Leadership #EnterpriseDelivery #ExperienceMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #Tech #Careers #AI

Stop giving your PMP more power than it has. Same for your MBA, Scrum cert, or any other credential. They don’t open doors. They don’t close them either. I’ve earned my PMP and a Master’s degree. Neither of them magically changed my career. I did. Because certifications and degrees are just tools. Some people land $120K+ PM roles without a single one. Others collect credentials like trading cards, and still can’t get interviews. The difference? Strategy. Storytelling. Intentional action. If you’re getting a PMP, CAPM, or SAFe cert hoping it guarantees a job, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. If you’re getting it because you know exactly how it fits into your career positioning, you’re in the driver’s seat. Think Formula 1: The fastest car doesn’t always win. The smartest driver with the right race plan does. So yes, study, learn, and earn your credentials if they align with your goals. But remember: the credential isn’t the story. You are. How to Get the Most Out of Any Certification in Your Job Search 1️⃣ Define the why before the what. → Which roles require this cert? How will it position you? 2️⃣ Tie it to a bigger career story. → “I earned my PMP to scale my leadership impact on enterprise projects,” not just “I have a PMP.” 3️⃣ Show the application, not the acronym. → Use project examples where you applied the principles the cert teaches. 4️⃣ Update all your communication channels. → Resume, LinkedIn, networking pitch, align the message so the cert is a proof point, not the headline. 5️⃣ Leverage it to expand your network. → Join the association, attend events, and connect with others in your cert community. When you use credentials strategically, they stop being shiny badges and start becoming career accelerators. 📥 Want help turning your certifications into interviews and offers? Apply to my 1:1 coaching, link in comments. ♺ Repost to help a PM stop chasing magic keys and start owning their strategy. Follow Jesus Romero for grounded PM insights that go beyond the buzzwords.

Do Project Managers need a PMP? If you're in the Project Management space, you see this topic a lot on LinkedIn. The biggest argument against the PMP is that it doesn't show a person's soft skills, those critical skills that make a good PM. Emotional intelligence. Critical thinking. Problem-solving. Leadership. I agree that a certification doesn't mean a person has these critical skills. The PMP does require 3 years of experience, so at the very least, it can demonstrate experience and a common framework. (And yes, the ability to pass a test.) The PMP application doesn't require the applicant to have managed large budgets, or large teams. So the experience can be broad. Unfortunately, the market is tough. And like it or not, the PMP is requested on a lot of job postings. It's even more crucial for career changers. The PMP can help clarify how previous experience was, in fact, project management, without having had the title. Career pivoters into Project Management are taken more seriously when they have a PMP. I speak from experience. At the least, it gives them a fighting chance to share how their experience has given them the critical skills mentioned above. 👉 Also. The continuing education piece of the PMP is worth mentioning. The PMP is not just one exam and done. There is ongoing education happening to maintain that certification every 3 years. In fact, I would encourage Hiring Managers to ask potential hires with PMPs what things they are doing to maintain their PDUs. The PMP is more than just passing a test. And, Hiring Managers should look for vital skills that go beyond a certification. Agree or disagree? PS: If you are curious how to apply for the PMP with non-traditional experience, check out my ebook or send me a DM. #PMP #ProjectManagement #CareerPivot #TransitioningTeachers #PDUs

How I Passed the PMP Exam I didn’t pass the PMP exam because I’m a genius. I passed because I treated it like a real project. I set a deadline, built a plan, and added contingency buffers. Here’s exactly what I did: → I gave myself 60 days → Broke the PMBOK guide into weekly sprints → Took over 1,200 practice questions → Reviewed my wrong answers more than my right ones → Simulated the 4-hour exam environment twice → Used weekends for deep dives, weekdays for review → Focused heavily on mindset, not just memorization But the biggest shift? I stopped studying to pass a test. I started preparing to think like a project leader. It wasn't about definitions. It was about decisions. Scenario after scenario, I practiced choosing what a calm, confident PM would do under pressure. The result? A passing grade and way more confidence at work. If you're studying for the PMP now, here's my advice: 🎯 Treat it like a project 🧠 Focus on how to think, not what to memorize 🪫 Don’t wait until you feel ready. You’ll never be. What helped you most when studying for your PMP?

How I personalized my study plan for the PMP exam; passing AT/AT/AT with under 30 days of prep! 🤔 I received a lot of questions about how I studied for the PMP exam. 🤩 To simplify things I made a visual with some tips you can use to make your own study plan! Here are some more details and materials I used: 1️⃣ Limited studying & made it achievable. ➡ 2-4 hours per day ➡ 6 days a week ➡ 15-20 hours total each week. 2️⃣ Studied iteratively. ➡ Repeated and adjusted as needed. ➡ Used data and feedback to inform decisions. ➡ Repeated phases to develop the end result. 3️⃣ Tailored my learning. ➡ Holistic learning took place when I studied the PMBOK or took mock exams that cover all topics. ➡ Incremental learning took place when I focused on one area until mastery before moving onto a new topic. ➡ I was solid on Agile, so focused on Waterfall and the Process Groups. ➡ I made visual study guides. You can check them out here: https://lnkd.in/gCp7tvFA 4️⃣ Used feedback loops & data analysis. ➡ I reached out to others, talked with mentors, and analyzed my results. ➡ I adjusted my plan based on feedback, data analysis, or if life got busy. ➡ I experimented, tracked the metrics, and adjusted as needed. 5️⃣ Adjusted my materials based on needs. ➡ Julia Ode, PMP®, CSM® was an amazing mentor and support throughout. She has a fantastic PMP study guide and resources you can check out here: https://lnkd.in/ggDidkup ➡ David McLachlan YouTube videos. Week 1: listened to PMBOK and PGPG overviews. Week 2-4: listened to 20 practice Q&A daily (~30 min. at 1.75X). ➡ Used PMI membership to access Project Management Institute publication for free. Used them as a search tool to find particular topics. ➡ Attended 2-3 study groups per week. PMI Finland Chapter has one on Tuesday and Sunday. Gabor Stramb and Anna Lung'aho have groups on Thursdays. ➡ Used PMI Study Hall Essentials. Took 1 full exam week one to establish a baseline. Took practice questions on focus areas week 2-3. Then took the second mock exam mid-week 3. ➡ The day before my exam I relaxed and listened to Andrew Ramdayal's PMP mindset videos. 💪 I hope these tips help you make your own study plan to prepare for the PMP! ❓ Please let me know if you have questions, something to add, or feedback in the comments! Happy studying my friends! 🙌 _____ ♻ Like this post? Please react, comment, or repost! Hi, I'm Melissa- a Project Management Professional (#PMP), Certified Scrum Master (#CSM), and Certified Scrum Product Owner (#CSPO). I'm actively looking for a great team to join- feel free to reach out if you think I'd be a great fit or to collab on something! I post about #ProjectManagement, #Agile, #education, #motivation, tips for #transitioningteachers, and everything in between. Follow or connect with me for more! 🙌 #PMP #PMPprep #PMPexam #Study #Studyresources

I’m frequently asked whether a certification is worthwhile.   With the caveat that not all are created equal, here are some of the many benefits in my opinion.   • It demonstrates a commitment to learn – an underappreciated, yet significant strength in the modern era where change and complexity are constants.   • It forces you to learn, usually in a way that’s thoughtfully designed by industry experts.   • It forces you to continue learning over time (through CE requirements), creating a means to stay ahead of the pace of change.   • It enhances your credibility in your current job, typically serving as part of a justification for increased responsibilities.   • It supplies you with the knowledge to better handle those responsibilities, improving your likelihood of success and inevitably leading to promotions and better compensation.   • It helps distinguish you from other candidates for future jobs.   • It enhances the story of your journey – a wildly underappreciated differentiator in a competitive job market.   • It instills confidence and pride, both of which help personally and professionally.   • It connects you to a community of like-minded individuals with whom you can learn and grow together.   • It enables you to mentor others who want to follow your lead, a richly rewarding experience to pay it forward (and a signal that you’re an expert).   • It creates a flywheel of opportunities, such as public speaking, volunteering, consulting/freelancing, serving on advisory boards, and teaching.    The reality is that many of these benefits are perceived as “soft.” But speaking from experience, they’re also unquestionably real and incredibly meaningful.   At the other end of the spectrum, some may suggest you should learn by doing. That’s important too—but that binary, “either/or” mindset is so limiting. It should be a “both/and” situation.   For the cherry on top, here are my thoughts on the #AIGP specifically: https://lnkd.in/e7rQNDQs.   And here’s my running list of AIGP resources and tips: https://lnkd.in/g9yCY6w2 – with another update coming tomorrow.

5 Free 𝗣𝗠𝗣® Resources for our Military Community The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 for project managers because it validates their knowledge and experience in project management, enhancing their credibility and career prospects. It's a 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙, signifying that the holder has met the Project Management Institute (PMI)'s rigorous requirements. And... PMI's 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘎𝘢𝘱 report provides a data-rich look at the rising demand for skilled project talent across regions. Backed by LinkedIn's Talent Insights and a global workforce analysis by PMI, the report projects a growth in demand of up to 30 million project professionals by 2035! 📈 Check out the resources to get ready! 1. 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗟 Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) is as a workforce professionalization tool for 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 (Active, Guard, & Reserve). https://lnkd.in/e5VaJyCB 2. 𝗚𝗜 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 The GI Bill covers a wide range of certifications and licenses, including those in IT, healthcare, project management, and skilled trades. It can cover both the training costs and exam fees for specific certifications. https://lnkd.in/eV_3xWnQ 3. 𝗠𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 (𝗠𝘆𝗖𝗔𝗔) The MyCAA Scholarship is a workforce development program that provides up to $4,000 to 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 for the pursuit or maintenance of a license, certification, or associate's degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field. https://lnkd.in/ecRzZ6w5 4. 𝗢𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗢𝟮𝗢) Supported by grants from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the Schultz Family Foundation, Onward to Opportunity (O2O) utilizes an online learning platform to help 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲, 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 learn business, technology, and customer service skills to accomplish their personal and professional goals. https://lnkd.in/exZZR9D6 5. 𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿ovides guidance and the tools necessary to make your goals a reality, whether it's in career planning, business development, job opportunities, certifications, apprenticeship, or transitioning/retiring from the Military. https://lnkd.in/etKRPgmk Have you used any of these resources? Let us know in the comments, which ones you'd recommend! ♻️ Was this valuable? Repost to help others upskill. 👉  Follow Matt Quick for more Military to Project Management advice.

What's my advice for passing the PMP? I passed the PMP exam on the first try recently, scoring Above Target in all three domains, and want to share my tips for success in case you are considering the certification. The PMP is 180 multiple choice questions and it is dry, dry, dry. You want to set yourself up for cognitive success, so rest well, hydrate, and try to calm your nervous system before the exam starts through some slow breathing or meditating. Choose the testing center option. Trust me, I opted for the at-home Pearson software and it was a nightmare. I should have listened to Reddit! Everything went wrong: my house’s air conditioning broke, my laptop wouldn’t charge, my dog kept barking, I got a white screen of death for the first 30 minutes and had to sit on the phone with customer service trying to work it out. By the time exam started, I was not in a good head space. Plus, I had to wait a full 24 hours to get the results, but if you take it in a testing center you get your score immediately. As far as studying goes, the most useless tools were the official PMBOK guides (6 and 7 have relevant content). Don’t get me wrong, these are informative for learning about the field and useful as a reference when you are taking a course. But they aren’t set up to help you study for the PMP, in my experience. Here are the resources that were worth every penny: • Third3Rock’s Cheat Sheet. This is a compact PDF that has all the content you need. The mindsets at the beginning are probable the most important part of this document. • David McLachlan’s YouTube channel. This is the only free resource, and I like that you can control the speed. The big videos with 150 or 200 questions are the best. I paused the video before he revealed the answer to test myself. • The TIA Exam Simulator. There are 6 mock exams. My scores gradually went up from 58% to 78%. Watching the video explanations was helpful, but one piece of advice to NEVER escalate isn’t really true once you get to the actual PMP exam. • PMI’s Study Hall. This is the gold standard. You could probably get by with only this resource because it comes from the official source. I only used the Practice Questions and Practice Exams but there were a lot of other resources. If you are scoring in the high 60s on the practice questions and exams, you are ready to go! The two biggest pieces of advice I have: pay for the PMI Study Hall, and take the exam in a testing center. #PMP #ProjectManagement #StudySkills Image Description: A testing room with individuals in computer booths and a proctor watching on.

Kicking off PMP certification journey, here is the study plan that worked for me! Aiming to master the PMBOK Guide, ace practice exams, and conquer the PMP with confidence. Here’s a peek to the strategy. Weeks 1-2: Building a foundation with PMBOK and Agile principles. Goal: Complete 100–150 practice questions, understand exam format, and build a foundation in PMBOK principles. Weeks 3-5: Deep diving into People, Process, and Business Environment domains. Goal: Complete 250–300 practice questions, master EVM calculations, and understand all domains. Weeks 6-8: Tackling 400+ practice questions and full-length mock exams. Goal: Complete 400–500 practice questions, take 2 full-length exams, and solidify weak areas. Weeks 9-10: Final prep with targeted reviews and exam-day readiness. Goal: Complete 1–2 full-length exams, refine knowledge, and prepare mentally. Tips for Success Practice Questions: Aim for 1,500–2,000 total questions by Week 10 to build confidence. Time Management: During practice exams, aim for ~1.3 minutes per question (230 minutes for 180 questions). Study Environment: Minimize distractions; use a consistent schedule. Application: Submit your PMP application early (Week 1–2) to secure your exam date. Stay calm and read questions carefully, noting keywords like “first,” “best,” or “next.” Good luck on your PMP journey! Pro tip: Consistency is key—2-3 hours daily and 1,500+ practice questions will get you there! Who else is on the PMP path? Let’s connect, share tips, and crush it! #PMP #ProjectManagement #CareerGrowth #PMBOK #Leadership