What Makes a Good PMP Trainer? 2012. Oliver F. Lehmann, PMP 1
What Makes a Good PMP Trainer? When you invest your own money or your employer s professional development budget to become PMP certified, you will probably want to go with the best trainer available, because you know that it is the person in the field, the trainer, who matters, far more than the training provider or the training hotel, or anyone else. PMI has made it quite easy for a certified PMP to become a trainer in the business of preparation for the PMP certificate. It has no quality standards or processes for the assessment of a trainer s competency and performance and no formal accreditation. The entry hurdle for a PMP prep trainer is very low, but surviving the first year or two is hard. Some new trainers are very good, but others fail in less than 24 months. You do not want to sit in a class when the trainer fails. So it is up to you to identify the best trainers. The following criteria may help: 1. Does the trainer hold the certificate he or she wants to prepare you for? It is very difficult to gain respect in front of a group of seminar attendees if the trainer hasn t been there before. The trainer may be capable to communicate the exam contents and requirements, but will always leave an element of doubt in the students minds. A PMP trainer should be PMP certified to maintain credibility. 2. Is the trainer a member of PMI? The PMP exam undergoes constant change and further development. Some changes are publicly discussed and communicated; others are rather under the hood. Some trainers still claim that they know the passing score of the exam (which PMI has decided to keep secret in 2006) or that all you need to know to pass is the PMBOK Guide (many exam topics are not covered in the PMBOK Guide, like Project selection or the Kickoff meeting). A trainer needs to be part of the community to be an insider and in addition must have the listening skills and the interest to pick up PMI s open and hidden messages referring to changes. 2012. Oliver F. Lehmann, PMP 3
3. Has the trainer experience as an educator? Having practiced as a project manager is important, but you want a person who has proficiency needed to transfer knowledge and experience to a group of students. 4. Does the trainer use interactive language? Many trainers know only two mental states: Talking and waiting to talk again. In a classroom environment, they don t need attendees, they are too happy with themselves. You may be able to have a brief contact with the trainer before you make your decision, e.g. at the telephone. Does the person communicate clearly? Does the trainer give you time to ask questions and answers them satisfactorily, or does he/she give a monologue? Does the person invite you to give feedback, and does he/she respond to the feedback? 5. Is the trainer understandable? You do not want to spend 35 contact hours project management education with a person who talks sloppily and with a low voice. Many trainers run classes in a language which is foreign to them. This can make it hard to develop a level of brilliance that they achieve in their native language without any problems. You want a person with a strong and articulate voice. Someone, who is easy to hear and understand and who brings joy to listeners, not distress. A short conversation at the phone may help you test the trainer. 6. Does the trainer positively support the certification? There are trainers who have a bad opinion on PMI and the PMP certificate. Others tell you that it is all easy (it isn t!) or give you extreme guarantees ( 100% pass rate or money back ). In the end, it is your responsibility to pass the exam. A trainer can contribute, but not more. And you do not want a trainer who backstabs his/her own students later. I recommend seeking a trainer who understands and communicates the high requirements of the certification test and who helps you meet them in an inspiring and motivating fashion. 2012. Oliver F. Lehmann, PMP 4
7. Does the trainer know about PMI and the PMP certification? A trainer should know: 1 The rough number of PMP credential holders at PMI (~480,000) The rough number of members of PMI (~390,000) The cost of the exam ($405/$555 for members/nonmembers) The location of the next Prometric testing center running PMP exams The contact data of the local PMI chapter How to access the PMI virtual library And some more. These data relate to the certification process and finally to his/her market place. If the person doesn t know them, what else may the person not be aware of? 8. Does the trainer know the exam syllabus? This may sound strange, but PMI has a document called PMP Examination Content Outline, which serves as the syllabus for the exam. Many trainers believe that another document, the PMBOK Guide, serves for that purpose. If the trainer doesn t know the syllabus, how does he/she want to lead you to the exam success? 9. Does the trainer give back to the project management profession? A PMP prep trainer should be an insider not only in PMI but also in the global community of project managers. Does the person have a record of not-for-business activities as a volunteer? Does the person give to the profession, or is he/she only exploiting this community to his or her own good? 10. Does the trainer set the right expectations? This is something that training has in common with project management. Set the wrong expectations, and you will frustrate your stakeholders. 1 All data by September 2012. The numbers of members and credential holders are expected to grow further. 2012. Oliver F. Lehmann, PMP 5
11. Has the trainer invested enough in seminar materials? Maybe, the trainer gives you a sample of the training materials used. Developing good training handouts, presentation slides, exercises etc. takes a lot of time, and developing them further over time to adjust them to feedback from students and to changes by PMI takes additional time. As a trainer, one can have an easy life, develop something quick and dirty, and that s it. Or, one takes the time to create something great. Good materials support memorizing by use of text and images in sound combination (attracting both hemispheres of the human brain!) and ideally by use of colors. Does the trainer understand this and do training materials show that the person has invested time and money to create materials that make learning easier? 12. Does the trainer have letters of recommendation? Good recommendations endorse both, the recommended and the recommending one. A good collection of recommendation letters is a strong signal that the trainer could maintain a positive relation with students and customers after the training. 2012. Oliver F. Lehmann, PMP 6
Checklist 1. Does the trainer hold the certificate he or she wants to prepare you for? 2. Is the trainer a member of PMI? 3. Has the trainer experience as an educator? 4. Does the trainer use interactive language? 5. Is the trainer understandable? 6. Does the trainer positively support the certification? 7. Does the trainer know about PMI and the PMP certification? 8. Does the trainer know the exam syllabus? 9. Does the trainer give back to the project management profession? 10. Does the trainer set the right expectations? 11. Has the trainer invested enough in seminar materials? 12. Does the trainer have letters of recommendation? 2012. Oliver F. Lehmann, PMP 7