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Looking for a job? Highlight your PMI Credential
By Sandy Farnan, PMI Writer
You have been laid off, let go, or are between jobs. You are searching for a full-time project management position or for your next client. You are not alone. But how can you stand out from all of the others? If you hold one of PMI’s project management credentials, now is the time to let it shine.
 You went through the vigorous process of earning a PMI credential. You documented your education and extensive project management experience for the application, and prepared for, sat for and passed the exam, or other evaluations. You also participate in professional development activities to maintain your credential. Why not draw attention to it?
Job hunting is the best time to emphasize this accomplishment.
Show prospective employers and clients that your skills and abilities have been validated by an objective third party.
Savvy employers recognize the dedication that goes along with earning and maintaining professional credentials, and it will reflect positively on your commitment to the project management discipline.
Here are three ways in which you can shine a light on your PMI credential:
- Use the credential after your name.
When you earn and maintain a credential, you can and should use the designation after your name. Therefore, if you earned the Project Management Professional (PMP)SM credential, be sure that “PMP” appears after your name on your business card, your resume and cover letter, and even on your e-mail signature. This is the quickest and easiest way to highlight your credential.
- Call out the benefits of your credential in your cover letter.
A cover letter is a necessity, says Anthony Balderrama, a writer for Career Builder. Whether it is a two paragraph e-mail or a formal, traditional letter that you attach with your resume, the cover letter sets you apart, is your sales tool, and shows your value to the hiring client or organization.
Here is the perfect place to focus on how your credential led you to using repeatable processes that helped bring in projects on time and within budget.
Did having the credential earn your organization more work because the customers required it? Again, highlight this in the cover letter. Discuss how many clients you solidified because of your credential.
- Feature your credential in your online networking profile.
Perhaps you have been shy to get engaged in online communities, but services like LinkedIn® or Plaxo.com are great ways to showcase your experience and highlight your credential. Professionals create and maintain networks on these sites and usually post resumes or summaries of their experiences. Be sure to include your credential letters after your name and your credentials in your professional summary. You can also leverage these services to meet other credentials holders and to find work.
Finding a job in the current competitive market can be a daunting task, but your PMI credential can assist you in this feat if you let it.
You worked hard to obtain the credential and continue to put forth the effort to maintain it. Let it shine and let the credential speak for your knowledge and experience. This could make all the difference between getting an interview or staying in job-hunting pool.
Highlighting the credential worked for Wendy Brokaw, PMP, of Maryland, US. Wendy has over 11 years of experience as a project manager, but when she went to switch from the IT to the pharmaceutical industry, she had little medical training beyond some volunteer work as an ambulance driver.
“Lucky for me, one of the interviewers was also a PMP, and understood what the science was and knew it could be applicable to any industry,” says Wendy, who got the job and has not looked back since.
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