PMP Certification for those who want to make it big in Project Management!

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, Mr. Lejo John - a PMP Certified Project Manager at CSC - sharse how the Project Management Professional Certification from PMI spurred his career growth. CSC is a Fortune 200 company known for providing information technology services to clients in more than 90 countries.

Shiksha.com: What is your current designation at CSC?

Lejo: I am a Project Manager handling multiple projects at a time. I handle infrastructure projects, VoIP solutions and several other projects.

Shiksha.com: Besides PMP Certification, what other qualifications do you have?

Lejo: I have done B.Tech in IT from Kurukshetra University, CCNA, Juniper Network Firewalls, ITIL V3 Qualification and have expertise in several related IT domains.

Shiksha.com: Whoa! Does that mean that for PMP Certification, we need to be a complete technology nerd?

Lejo: Not at all. PMP Certification is for those who want to become Project Managers in any domain and people from any background or any sector can go for it. A person with any kind of domain knowledge can do PMP Certification to get management positions in that particular field. For example, an education expert with a PMP certification can head institutional projects or college projects.

Shiksha.com: What does Project Management actually mean in the real world?

Lejo: Project Management is about planning, managing resources, and successful execution of a project. However, it is not as simple as it sounds. Depending on how vast your project is, there are always thousands of scenarios to handle, hundreds of hurdles and variables that have to be managed and you actually learn to handle challenges only with experience. The Project Management Professional or PMP Certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the best rigorous programs available to introduce you to the basics of the field. Once you know the science, it is up to you to learn the art.

Some of the typical day-to-day activities of Project Managers include:

• Analysis and design of project goals
• Cost Estimation
• Defining Project Timeline and maintaining coordination between different departments/individuals
• Resource Estimation and Allocation of Work
• Risk Assessment and Management
• Organizing human and material resources
• Directing the project work as a whole and ensuring that the project is successfully completed within the set timeline
• Tracking progress and sending out reports on a regular system through Management Information System
• Analysis of results, forecasting future trends, and developing future strategies based on these results and trends
• Quality Management and Resolution of Issues
• Maintaining the Six Sigma Quality
• Project Closure and Communicating to Stakeholders

I usually work 13 to 14 hours a day. Then too, I have to be available 24X7 for all the stakeholders of the projects including the seniors and clients in US and UK, who often call around 2 or 3 in the night according to Indian Standard Time.

Shiksha.com: What is an industry average of salary package for a fresher who is PMP Certified?

Lejo: A fresher cannot do PMP Certification. You need to have at least 4500 hours of project management experience in your domain to do PMP Certification. It takes you about five to six years of work experience in a senior position to meet this requirement. It is the strictness of regulations which make PMP Certification so distinctive and well-respected worldwide.

With that kind of experience and an additional credential of PMP Certification, you can easily get a package of Rs 7 to 8 lakhs per annum. However, there is no limit to how far you can reach, depending on your personal caliber.

Shiksha.com: Which institute did you join to prepare for the certification exam?

Lejo: Since it is mandatory to undergo 30 to 40 hours of mandatory PMP training at one of the authorized PMP Certification training centers, I had to join AstroWix, Hyderabad. The training program is quite intensive in nature and you need to have full focus to clear the exam.

Shiksha.com: What fees did you pay for the exam and how much salary hike one can expect after being PMP Certified?

Lejo: I paid about 25,000 rupees to PMI for the exam. Worldwide, PMP certified professionals earn at least 10% more than their non-certified peers, which is admirable for a plum position of a Project Manager.

Shiksha.com: What is the exam pattern of a Project Management Professional Certification?

Lejo: There is a 15-minute computer tutorial at the beginning of the test. Then, you have to answer 200 objective-type questions in four hours. There is no negative marking in the test and you are evaluated on only 175 questions. But since you will not know which 25 questions will be left out, it is very important to pay equal attention to all the questions you solve.

One can choose between paper-based or computer-based PMP Certification exam. I went for the latter as it seemed to be faster and more efficient. Most questions are from Planning, Execution, and Monitoring and Controlling phases of the Project Management. There are some questions on Project Initiation, Closure, and Professional Ethics too.

Shiksha.com: Do you need to renew the certification at regular intervals?

Lejo: You need to earn 60 Project Management Units or credits every three years to keep the PMP Certification current. Otherwise, you will have to reappear for the exam.

Shiksha.com: What advice would you like to give to the future Project Managers?

Lejo: PMI (Project Management Institute) has more than half a million members worldwide across over 185 countries. It offers wonderful professional development opportunities and adds weight to your resume. However, if you enter the field, be prepared for hard work and constant vigilance.

To know more about PMP Certification, join the discussions going on our Shiksha forums.

Source: Ruchi Shrimali (Shiksha Team)

Date: 11th May, 2011

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