A lot of professionals quietly hope that once they clear the PMP exam, recruiters will automatically see them as project managers. In this Lounge Access conversation, Shoaib takes a very honest look at that belief. He starts by walking through PMI’s official PMP eligibility criteria, including the requirement for months of experience “leading projects,” and how the application form asks you to describe what you actually did during those projects. On paper, it sounds strict, yet in practice many candidates with limited real project management experience still manage to get their applications approved and pass the exam.
That gap between the theory of eligibility and the reality of who clears the exam is exactly where confusion begins. Shoaib explains that training providers who sell 35 contact hour courses often highlight the exam and the salary benefits but rarely talk about what happens after you pass. The exam proves that you understand project management concepts and can speak the language. It does not prove that you have already spent years leading teams, managing risks or delivering projects in a specific domain.
Recruiters and hiring managers, on the other hand, care deeply about that second part. When they see PMP on your resume, they assume you already have solid experience leading projects and are looking for someone who can step into a professional project manager role from day one. If your background does not show that kind of work, PMP alone will not bridge the gap. It can get your profile shortlisted, but it will not carry you through interviews where examples of real project leadership are expected.
In this session, Shoaib’s message is simple but important. PMP is valuable, but it is not a magic entry ticket into project management, especially if your past roles have not involved leading projects. Before investing time and money, you need to be clear about your current experience, the roles you plan to target and how PMP fits into a broader career story rather than standing alone as a quick fix. This video is a must watch if you are thinking of PMP mainly as a shortcut to a project manager job.
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