Abusing the PMP designation

Among other things, I “own” the CanadianPM group on LinkedIn.  Because of that I get requests to join from a number of people and I allow them to join based on a set of criteria.  This means that I do read everyone’s profile.

I have seen an emerging trend lately, which I consider an abuse of the PMP designation.  Some people are documenting their current or previous positions as “PMP at such and such”.  Actually, this happened again this morning.

 

For those who don’t know, the PMP is not a position, it is a designation linked to a certification.  The only reason I can see for using “PMP at such and such” in a LinkedIn profile or in a resume is to get ahead based on search criteria.  Doing this is lame.

 

The PMP should not be a ticket to employment as a project manager.  I know a hell of a lot of PMs that are not PMP and do good work, some are actually awesome.  I also know some PMP that are crap at project management and passed the exam purely because they have a good memory and know how to play the multiple question exam game.

My opinion is this; if the only way you can get a PM job is because you have PMP tagged after your name or because you put “PMP at such and such” in your LinkedIn profile or resume, you might question why you did that and who you want to impress.  Either of you may be jackasses…

 

What do you think?  As always comments are welcome.

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Comments

[Cornelius Fichtner]

Patrick,

I have to admit that I'm not all too shocked that you are seeing this. But I am appalled.

Every month I help several hundred project managers to take (and hopefully pass) their PMP exam. So I understand that the PMP Exam is a tough exam and that it takes focus and dedication to prepare and get ready for it. For some this is just too much.

What I find as a PMP trainer isn't people claiming to be PMPs. Instead, I find people openly and blatantly asking to receive pirated versions of the PMBOK Guide, free copies of PMP prep books to be emailed to them or asking for free links where they can download my video prep materials. Talk about project managers who haven't read the code of ethics and start our their PMP journey on a completely wrong foot.

So yes... it's sad to see that there are PMs out there stealing training materials and it is even sadder to see that there are those who add the PMP to their profile just so that they have it.

However, I have learned in the last few years that this is an uphill battle and I must admit that I've pretty much given up on trying to "educate" these people. Instead, I decided to focus on those who have real aspirations and want to do it the right way. That is a much more enjoyable place for me to be in.

Oh... and I agree with your assessment, that having the PMP designation does not make you a good PM. I remember one individual at a previous employer where we almost applauded when they finally let him go...

[Kellycrew.wordpress.com]

Patrick:

First off, let me say that I agree with you 100% that there are great PMs without the PMP designation and some horrible PMs that have it.

I think were we begin to separate is in using that designation on our resume or LinkedIn profile. Just as a Doctor lists MD and an Account will list CPA, it is a designation that I have studied, practiced, and been tested on my knowledge for a specific topic.

Recruiters (as with most folks I run into) don't get what project management is or how to screen a potential applicant, so they ask for the PMP. If that is their criteria, right/wrong/indifferent, then why would I hold that back from my profile? I think the bigger issue is getting the PMI to enhance their audits of applicants in order to maintain the value of the designation.

I don't feel my hard-work to follow the PMI criteria, continue my education and development as a PM, and successful delivery day-to-day should be watered down by the rest.

[Patrick Richard]

Cornelius,

Thanks for the comments; I am an avid listener of your podcast and to have you read me is very pleasing.

What I read in your comments is a recognition that some people want to have their cake and eat it too. I do agree that we should work with those who want to better themselves and forget about those who are trying to game the system.

My concern is that those with loose ethics may well hurt those who truly invest in themselves. The HR world is bad enough as it is, recruiters that sell meat not skills, candidates that have been “polished” so they sell well but know nothing, resumes that are so farfetched that you want to laugh, gamed referrals, etc.

In many organizations project management is seen as a cost not a skill; what will happen when organizations start thinking that project management is a waste?

One small clarification because I believe I did not stated correctly what I am seeing; it is less a case of people claiming that they are PMPs but of people implying that they are. This makes me think that, if their bluff is called, they’ll just say that they just weren’t precise.

Thanks again,

Patrick

[Patrick Richard]

Robert,

Thanks for the comments. I believe though that you read me wrong. I have nothing against a PMP advertising himself as such; I do so myself.

What rubs me wrong is someone implying that they are PMP certified by putting something like “PMP at ACME” as a position they held at some point in the past. If they had written “PM at ACME”, I’d be fine with it.

Thanks again,

Patrick

[Rob van Hell]

It seems to me that people who are using the PMP designation to show up in linkedin search results will end up revealing ignorance of the designation's meaning. In other words, it could backfire.

All this recent discussion in the blogosphere about the PMP and it's perceived and actual value makes me chuckle. No designation in the world will do anything on its own. Let's say you get spectacularly lucky and an employer overlooks a thin resumé, a hollow interview and places all of their chips on the PMP - although you'd have to ask yourself what kind of company would do that - and you get hired. The only thing that will let you keep that job will be your performance.

If you obtain a PMP designation and you maintain it, it shows at least a minimum interest in project management. If you use the PMP to game search engine results, well, that just shows that you suspect that you are missing something.

[Patrick Richard]

Rob,

It could backfire or it could not. For it to backfire you need to have the person that does the hiring can ask the right questions. This is far from certain; by analogy, how often have you seen people that buy technology based on the buzz around it?

Any training will give an edge but only for a short time; after that period experience kick in. What worries me is that the hiring game is more and more based on search and computers that index resumes; this is ripe for the type of games I'm talking about. This means that the deserving people may get lost in the background noise because HR is overworked or lazy.

I agree that if you maintain your credentials you eventually come up ahead but, again by analogy, there are a lot of companies or technologies that did not survive even if they were the best.

[Ganapathy]

I have started Management Scholars Academy to teach Project Management and conduct PMP boot camps in Chennai. Check out my blog.