Is being a Project Manager worth the pivot? 💭


Hello Reader,

Every week, I hear from people who say:

“I want to become a project manager, but I don’t know where to start.”

And I get it.

The first thing you see when you search online is a bunch of articles telling you to get certified. Most of them suggest the PMP—which costs $405 to $555 just to take the exam. That doesn’t include prep courses, which can easily push your total cost to $1,000-$3000 or more.

Here’s what no one tells you:

You don’t need a certification to get your foot in the door.

I didn’t have one when I started.

But I still made the pivot—and it changed everything.

I not only landed better-paying roles…I also got invited to write for the Institute of Project Management, got featured in a number of publications, and even started booking speaking engagements.

That one decision opened up more opportunities than I could’ve imagined—and it all started with positioning what I was already doing.

I created the Project Manager’s Toolkit for you (or someone you know) who is curious about being a PM but don’t want to waste months (or thousands of dollars) trying to figure it out.

Inside the Toolkit, you’ll get:

✅ A breakdown of real PM roles + salary ranges (Glassdoor reports $70K–$119K/year)
✅ Where to find solid jobs without a PMP
✅ A resume + keyword cheat sheet to help you get past the filters
✅ A step-by-step career roadmap to keep you focused and moving

It’s just $7.
And it’s the same strategy I wish someone had handed me when I was figuring all this out.

You don’t need a certification to prove you’re capable. You just need a clear path—and a little push.This is both.

—Donna Franklin West

P.S. Got a friend or teammate who’s clearly got PM skills but no formal title? Pass this along—they deserve the tools to take the next step.

The Virtual PM

Get the latest in Project Management with The Virtual PM newsletter: expert tips, tech trends, leadership insights, and tools like checklists, assessments, templates. 👉🏽 www.thevirtualpm.org 👉🏽 www.thevirtualpm.digital

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