What the Google PM Certificate will and won't do for your career


Hello Reader,

I get messages fairly regularly from people who are part-way through the Google Project Management Certificate and have started wondering whether it's actually going to lead anywhere. Which is a very reasonable thing to wonder, and I'd rather give you an honest answer than a cheerful one.

The short version is that it can genuinely open doors, particularly if you're moving into project management from another field or you're in the early stages of your career and need something credible on your CV that demonstrates you've done more than just read about it. But it's not a substitute for experience, it won't get you to senior roles on its own, and what you do with it after you finish matters as much as finishing it.

I did the certificate myself, and I've also been involved in hiring project managers, so I've seen it from both sides. My full write-up is here — it covers which roles it realistically positions you for, what employers actually think when they see it, and how to make yourself a stronger candidate once you have it.

If you're weighing it up against other options, it's worth reading before you decide.

Have a great week!

Elizabeth,

P.S. If you're looking at other certifications too, I've written about the PM PrepCast for PMP exam prep as well. There's a lot of noise out there, I try to cut through it!


Things to read about thinking:


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