The “Why” of Becoming a Project Management Professional
Commitment to Becoming a PMP Comes FIRST
Cheetah Students Pass the Actual PMP Exam the Day after their Four Day Cheetah Exam Prep Program.
Over the past 23 years, with Cheetah Learning’s “0 to PMP in 5 days” program, we’ve heard many reasons why Cheetah students make the commitment to do the hard work of becoming Project Management Professional certified – the most in demand global certifications for project managers.
Cheetah students still pass the PMP exam on Friday after their four day program, like they have since 2001. But, PMP trainers from other organizations reach out to us on Linked In asking what we know about what they are seeing – the first time failure rate of their PMP students is over 80%.
What could be happening for these other providers as we have not seen the exam change all that much even though PMI has made some pretty big changes to the PMBOK?
The PMP exam stopped being based on the PMBOK over 7 years ago. It’s now based on over 200 references. While this adds to the challenge of parsing through all the information required, we do also know it’s harder for people to become PMP certified when they are not adequately addressing distractions or the anxiety levels that have gone up overall.
We redesigned the Cheetah Exam Prep program in 2019 to address both distractions and anxiety that negatively impact people’s ability to pass the PMP exam. Then we redesigned it again in 2021 to better organize the material in the 200 references so that Cheetah students can more easily make sense of the vast amount of knowledge required to pass the PMP exam. By reducing information overload, improving Cheetah students ability to focus, and implementing proven strategies to reduce anxiety, Cheetah students still pass the PMP exam after four days in their Cheetah program.
It’s very frustrating and demoralizing to commit to becoming PMP certified, only to find yourself facing the triple threat that feed off each other – distractions, information overload and anxiety. Why commit to a wasted journey?
The majority of Cheetah students come to us because they are referred by a boss, colleague, or friend (often after they failed using other exam prep approaches).
Commitment to becoming a PMP comes first. Then doing what it takes to pass the PMP exam is the next logical step.
Here are the ten reasons Cheetah Students tell us they commit to becoming Project Management Professional certified:
- Keep My Job – PMP certification validates project management skills, competency, and commitment to professional development. During downsizing or organizational restructuring PMPs are retained over non-PMPs
- Get a New Job – Employers prioritize candidates with PMP certification when hiring for project management positions as reflected in job postings, where PMP certification is listed as required to secure employment.
- Move into a Leadership Role – Earning the PMP demonstrates leadership skills that drive measurable business outcomes and chart the path to advance into higher-level positions within organizations.
- Get Promoted– Many organizations offer career development programs or pathways that include obtaining PMP certification as a milestone for promotion.
- Get a Pay Raise – Most PMPs see an immediate pay raise of $20,000 with earnings over 20 years being $250,000 more than non-PMPs.
- Improve my Professional Reputation– Clients and stakeholders have greater confidence in projects led by PMP-certified professionals, contributing to positive relationships, repeat business, and referrals.
- Do Better at Managing Projects – PMP certification ensures PMs share a common foundation with a structured approach to managing projects, leading to improved project outcomes.
- Get recognized for my Project Management capabilities – PMP certification increases visibility and exposure. Recognized as subject matter experts in project management, they get called upon to lead high-profile projects. This leads to greater opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Keep up with my peers who are already PMP certified – To align with industry norms and remain competitive with their peers , people often feel pressure to obtain the PMP.
- Improve my networking options – PMP certification serves as a validation of an individual’s project management skills and expertise. As a result, certified professionals find it easier to establish rapport and credibility when networking with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, leading to more meaningful and productive interactions.
Once someone fully commits to becoming a Project Management Professional, the next logical decision is:
“How can I go about doing this in the most efficient and effective way possible?”
People who ask themselves that question are the folks who take Cheetah’s “0 to PMP in 5 day” 23 year proven approach to passing the PMP exam.
“The first thing my boss said when I told him I was interested in getting my PMP certification was that if I was going to do it, he’d heard Cheetah Learning was the best.”