Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Project Managers at Delve Inc
Jenn, a senior project manager, reflects on the PMP certification, noting that its value depends on one's experience; they found their unconventional path through operations more beneficial than pursuing the costly and potentially unnecessary certification. This unconventional approach, combined with a proactive attitude of "learning as much as I can from as many different people as I can," led to a fulfilling career trajectory.
Project Management, Career Development, Professional Certifications, Career Exploration, Industry Realities
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Jenn Knaus
Senior Project Manager
Delve, Inc.
University of California, Santa Barbara - 2004
N/A
History, Art History
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical, Consulting & Related Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The PMP certification is expensive and may not be necessary for everyone, especially those with sufficient experience. Consider the cost-benefit carefully before pursuing it.
2. There are unconventional paths to becoming a project manager; experience in operations or other fields can be valuable.
3. Early exposure to diverse industries and jobs can help students make more informed career choices. Don't be afraid to explore different options and learn from various experiences.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
I will say that I am not a PMP, so the Project Management Professional is one of the certifications you can get to be a project manager. It is a very US-centric certification. I became a project manager before that was widely accepted as a certification.
You'll see on job descriptions, PMP preferred or PMP required. I've had a few opportunities to get it, but I have not gone that route. I feel like, and I've been validated in this by a few jobs I've had, that I have enough experience as a project manager that I'm not going to gain any value from the PMP certification.
It is $2,700 plus the test to get the initial certification. Then you have to renew it every three years, which is additional coursework and money. I find that inherently wrong because it doesn't seem necessary.
I think it would be valuable to someone starting out, especially if their company was going to pay for it and they didn't have much experience in project management yet. Unconventionally, I came up into the project management and program management field through my work in operations and some other things I've done.
If I were in school now and considering project management, I would think really long and hard about whether that certification was going to benefit me or how I might leverage that. But at this point in my career, I don't know that there's a ton that I wish I had known.
Back to my original comments about my university experience, I didn't really know what I wanted to be when I grew up when I went to college. I didn't know what kinds of roles were available. I just did what felt good and right, thinking, "Oh, maybe I'll be a teacher or maybe I'll be a nurse."
Knowing what I know now, those paths are not right for me. Maybe if I had been exposed to different industries and jobs earlier, I would have had a different path. But I'm super happy with where I've landed based on the path I forged.
Again, it was all over the place. I just learned as much as I can from as many different people as I can and try to apply those skills.