By Gabor Stramb
March 5, 2026
Project managers keep asking me the same questions about the PMP. So let’s clear it up.
First one:
1.“Will PMP increase my salary?”
It can, But let’s be real: the certificate opens the door. Your performance keeps you in the room. Nobody pays you more because you framed a certificate. They pay for outcomes, revenue impact, risk reduction, and delivery. If you can’t execute, the letters don’t matter.
2.“Do I need to memorise everything in PMBOK?”
No. This isn’t about memorising a book. The exam tests how you think. It tests:
- Your Mindset
- Servant leadership
- Value delivery
- Decision-making under pressure
If you study to memorize, you’ll panic in the exam. If you study to understand how a PM thinks, you’ll be fine.
3.“Is PMP even worth it?”
If you want global credibility? Yes. If you think it’s a lottery ticket to instant success? No. It’s leverage. Not magic. It increases your surface area of opportunity. What you do after that is on you.
4.“If I fail, can I take it again?”
Yes. Failing isn’t fatal. But here’s the part that separates amateurs from professionals:
Don’t just re-book, rebuild.
Analyze your weak domains.
Fix your system.
Change your preparation strategy. Failure is feedback if your ego doesn’t block the lesson.
And here’s the one nobody talks about:
5. The biggest mistake PMP candidates make? Isolation.
No support system. No mentor. No feedback. You can’t see your blind spots alone, so stop treating this like a solo mission. If you’re serious about leveling up as a project manager, don’t just chase the badge. Build the capability and trust
Gabor has spent 16+ years leading projects in two of the toughest industries there are Energy (Oil & Gas) and Telecommunications where scope, risk, and stakeholders rarely sit still.
In 2021, he founded Projectcertifications.com to bring that same real-world discipline to PMP and CAPM exam prep. His weekly Study Group has helped hundreds of aspiring PMs move from scattered self-study to a clear, structured path to certification.
Working in close partnership with the PMI Chapters across the globe.
Gabor holds a PMP certification and a master’s degree in Project Management from George Washington University.
Stay connected:
