More D.C. professionals re-booting careers as project managers

Career-related pain has gripped millions across the United States. Some is sharply felt—such as those who have been laid off. And some of that discomfort is duller, uncertain, cloudy: for example, the legions of workers who have experienced the “F” word, furlough.

Against that backdrop, there has been a surge in interest among professionals seeking to gain Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, says Mike Welles, founder and principal of EdWel Programs.

Since 1992, EdWel, an adult-education and training firm, has helped more than 25,000 boot camp graduates work toward PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. The industry leader’s training program is so effective that some students have attained key certification four days after enrolling in an intensive “boot camp” course.

In the metro Washington, D.C. area, where the company has had a strong presence since 1998, EdWel hashelped over 3,000 professionals prepare for the PMP certification exam.

Welles compares the spike in interest to the reaction of many professionals during the Great Recession about a dozen years ago. In both instances, there was a roughly three-month lag time between the onset of the crisis and the significant uptick in professionals pursuing PMP certification.

In the following Q & A, Welles offers more insights into this murky moment in the marketplace, including counsel on what American workers can do to strengthen their career outlook.

Q: What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on EdWel’s operations, or the way you do business?

A: Almost overnight, our students switched from requesting traditional classroom instruction to registering for both video conference-based and online classes. Right away, we huddled with our real estate and publishing partners to adjust operations and keep students progressing toward their career goals.

There’s this enormous apparatus that has been built since the mid-1980s, when corporations began investing in high-tech, architecturally inspired training centers. Now this infrastructure is like an old manufacturing floor. It’s out of date; it doesn’t work anymore.

Classrooms that could hold 25 people, now can hold eight or 10 students safely. Like EdWel, they are going to reduce their cost by not having all this real estate. The question is: Will people pay a premium for video conference-based training?

Q: Over its nearly 30-year history, EdWel has helped thousands from all across the country gain PMP certification. The company is especially active in 20 cities, from Boston to Los Angeles, and from Orlando to Seattle.

What are some of the trends you have observed lately, whether by region, type of business professional seeking your help, or anything else?

A: An immediate impact is that people have to manage remotely now. Instead of in-person project meetings and planning sessions, teams are meeting via Zoom, Slack or Citrix. There’s a strong possibility that you may never meet these people in person—you may never have that human interaction.

Inevitably, roles among team members and project managers change. Clear, precise communication and professionalism among team members becomes even more important to the team.

Q: What, if anything, has surprised you about the outplacement sector the last few months?

A: There seems to be a level of exhaustion among some workers in their 40s and 50s. A foreboding sense of ‘here we go again.’ Most haven’t taken a test since high school or college. How many of us wake up on a Tuesday and say to ourselves, `Boy, I feel like taking a multiple-choice exam today?’ This is what EdWel specializes in: guiding and mentoring people so they succeed in a high-stakes, high-pressure, multiple-choice exam.

There is clearly a huge demand that will only grow. A study commissioned by the Project Management Institute indicates that in the decade leading up to 2027, employers globally will need nearly 88 million individuals in project management-oriented roles. Today, I’m seeing more positions suggest or even require a certification open the door to an interview.

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EdWel Programs is online at www.edwel.com, and includes information about its upcoming project management training programs in Washington, D.C.