The biggest hurdle for those of you who have decided to take the PMP exam is that you must fill out the application form about your “project management work experience” and “project management education you have attended.”
I think there are many people who think this is a burden or a hassle and are putting off taking the exam.
In order to resolve such concerns, in this article I will discuss the key points on how to write about “Project Management Experience” using an example from when I applied.
Contents of this article
- I will explain the application contents for project management experience along with the application form (examples included).
- I will also explain the requirements for project management experience needed to take the PMP exam, as well as points on how to write about project management experience.
Please refer to the article below about how to write project management education and examples.
PMP Certification Requirements
To be eligible for the PMP certification, you must meet professional experience requirements.
In addition to the project management experience described above, you must have completed at least 35 hours of formal project management education.
Please refer to the article below for project management education.
What is Project Management Experience?
So, what does “project management experience” mean?
There are detailed requirements as follows.
Contents of Project Management Experience
The experience does not necessarily have to be paid work, but it does need to be in a professional setting. Activities such as school projects or planning personal events would not qualify.
All project experience must be recorded individually regardless of the number of projects you include.
It is also required to concisely describe the purpose, goals, and outcomes of the project.
Since projects are temporary endeavors, they must not be routine work or regular operations.
Period of Project Management Experience
If you have worked on multiple projects simultaneously, the number of months of project management experience (36 months) must not be counted twice.
Project Title
Please note that in the title column of the application form described below, you are required to write the “project name”, not your “role” in the project.
Project Team Size
You need to be able to accurately indicate the number of project members.
Audit
PMI conducts an audit of some applications for the PMP exam.
PMI says a specified percentage of applications are randomly selected for audit.
The criteria used to select audit targets has not been in public.
If you are selected for an audit, you will be required to submit appropriate evidence (supporting documents).
Supporting Documentation
- Copies of your diploma/degree or global equivalent;
- Signatures from your supervisor(s) or manager(s) from the professional experience(s) recorded in the experience verification section of the application; and
- Copies of certificates and/or letters from the training institute(s) for each course recorded on the application to meet the required contact hours of professional education.
I was fortunately not to be selected for the audit, but it seems like collecting evidence will take a lot of effort.
Take Inventory of Project Management Experience
Based on the above requirements, take an inventory of your own project management experience.
The key point when taking an inventory is that it is efficient to keep the context structure in mind and organize it from taking inventory stage, in order to create a context structure that follows the stream of project management in the end (when applying).
An example of context configuration is shown below.
Take Inventory of Project Management Experience
- Project objective
- Role in the project
- Initiating the project
- Planning the project
- Executing the project
- Monitoring and Controlling the project
- Closing the project
- Outcome and Evaluation
Additionally, applicants are required to describe their project experience in approximately 200 to 500 words.
I have uploaded the Excel file that I used to organize my project management experience, so please feel free to use it if you like (it is free).
Although it is a very simple sheet, it can be organized efficiently and I think it will be useful (examples included).
Excel sheet for inventory of project management experience
Application for Project Management Experience
What you should be careful about when applying is to use the words used in PMBOK as much as possible.
As someone with experience in project management, it is desirable to write in correct project management terminology.
Also, by using the words used in PMBOK, it will be easier for PMI personnel to understand.
For the words used in PMBOK, you can refer to the workbooks and reference books you use, or the official PMI website.
- When describing your project management experience, use the words used in PMBOK as possible.
- For the words used in PMBOK, refer to your own workbooks, reference books, or the official PMI website.
(Reference : Project Management Institute | PMI)
Application Items
The application items are as follows.
Application Form
The PMI application form is as follows.
Example of Project Management Experience
An example of project contents is shown below. Please refer to it.
Description
Project objective
Design of Satellite Operation for the ___ satellite
Role in the project
As a project leader
Initiating the project
-Making documents of high level Assumptions and Constraints, high level requirements.
-Making summaries of schedule and milestones.
Planning the project
-Collecting requirements and defined scope doing interviews.
-Making documents of Work Breakdown Structure.
-Making Project schedule.
Executing the project
-Directing and managing project work and generating deliverables.
-Acquiring and releasing Human resource according to the human resource management plan.
-Making team organization chart and assign task.
Monitoring and Controlling the project
-Conducting monthly meeting for reporting and sharing work performance information with stakeholders.
-Performing configuration management using change control application.
-Controlled quality using Check list and doing review.
-Conducted quality inspection by quality inspection department in order to correspond the organizational standard.
Closing the project
-Transition of Final products to Client.
Outcome and Evaluation
-The performance of the project team was highly evaluated by client. The project work was done without problems and the final products were all delivered within due time to the client.
Excel Sheet for Inventory of Project Management Experience
(Reposted)
I have uploaded the Excel file that I used to organize my project management experience, so please feel free to use it if you like (it is free).
Although it is a very simple sheet, it can be organized efficiently and I think it will be useful (examples included).
Excel sheet for inventory of project management experience
Conclusion
Thank you for reading to the end.
Finally, I will summarize the points on how to write about project management experience as below.
In my experience, PMP is one of the most useful qualifications for work. I would be really happy if I could be of any help to you.
- Create a context that follows the stream of project management.
-Project objective
-Role in the project
-Initiating the project
-Planning the project
-Executing the project
-Monitoring and Controlling the project
-Closing the project
-Outcome and Evaluation - When describing your project management experience, use the words used in PMBOK as possible.
- Describe your project experience in approximately 200-500 words per project.
