One of the questions I’m asked most often via LinkedIn or through my mentoring practice is whether the
People are worried that they’ll invest time and energy and it still won’t be enough. So is it?
I’ve taken it myself (as well as many other project management exams over the years) and I used to lead a team of project managers, so this is my take on the job prospects linked to the
Key things to know
- The
Google PM Certificate can open doors to a new job (phew!). - You’ll build a better, stronger application if you can show practical experience and interpersonal skills as well.
- A lot depends on your potential employer’s expectations and industry norms.
What does the Certificate teach you?
The
- Practical project skills: planning, execution, kick off and close
- Agile ceremonies and basic
Agile principles - Documentation
- Soft skills like stakeholder communication
The Capstone project helps you apply your learning and gives you an example you can talk about at interview (although a real example is 100 times better than one from your studies).
Recommended
Google Project Management Certificate
5.0
A solid, professional, well-recognized project management course from a great training provider. Perfect for beginners and people interested in learning more about project management as a career.
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you #ad
Do employers recognize the Google Certificate on Coursera?
OK, on to the big question! Do employers recognize the
On the plus side:
- Google’s brand is highly credible.
- Anyone who has looked at the training will know that it is good quality.
- Many recruiters see Coursera certificates on resumes these days, so it’s a well-known and common training provider.
But employer practices vary. Some will insist on PMI credentials or APM credentials, or train you in their in-house method and look for potential rather than courses.
Employability reality check – are you likely to get a job?
So, is there evidence that employers recognize the
Actually, there is quite a lot!
1. Employer recognition through Google ‘s Career Certificates Employer Consortium
Google has established a Career Certificates Employer Consortium, comprising over 150 U.S. companies, and there is a UK version as well – I’m not sure if there are others but it’s worth checking for your country.
These are made up of organizations that are committed to considering
2. Job listings on employment platforms
Job platforms like ZipRecruiter list lots of positions that mention the
You’d want to narrow it down a bit based on your location and interests (and removing the jobs where ‘certification’ is in the job title), but you’ll certainly find some roles where it will be valuable.
3. Academic institutions incorporating the Certificate
Some educational institutions, such as Purdue Global, have integrated the
That’s a good thing, right? It highlights the certificate’s relevance and recognition in both academic and professional settings.
The certificate certainly won’t be the only thing employers look for. They’ll also want to see a strong LinkedIn profile, highlighting relevant work experience.
What employers say
“This is one certification we recommend that our remote candidates pick up if they’re interested in project management positions,” says Hayden Cohen, CEO of Hire With Near.
“It gives employers a recognizable resume line to pair with their overseas universities, and also helps with aspects of U.S. corporate culture that may be unfamiliar to Latin American candidates.”
Helps with cultural fit
It gives employers a recognizable resume line, and also helps with aspects of U.S. corporate culture that may be unfamiliar to candidates.
Hayden Cohen
Deepak Shukla, CEO of Pearl Lemon Placements, agrees. “We’ve seen candidates with the
“Employers, particularly startups and mid-sized firms, appreciate that the certificate signals initiative and foundational knowledge. While it’s not a replacement for experience, it does reduce onboarding time, especially in project coordination and junior PM roles.”
Reduces onboarding time
While the
Deepak Shukla
However, employers also look for other skills — the certificate alone isn’t going to let you waltz into a role.
“In my view, the
“In the past, we’ve hired three managers with
A filter for hiring
If two candidates are tied, the cert tips the scale. But it’s never outweighed real-world tests.
Oleksii (Alex) Kratko
Snov.io hiring managers simulate crisis scenarios during interviews, like, ‘Your dev team just lost connectivity mid-sprint. Walk me through your next 20 minutes.’ “Certificate holders often default to textbook steps, while stars improvise solutions using tools like Starlink backups or decentralized task re-routing,” Kratko says.”
The
“Senior hires at our company need ‘algorithmic empathy’,” Kratko says. “It’s about balancing data-driven deadlines with human crises, for example pausing a sprint because a teammate’s city is bombed.”
“We’ve passed on certified PMs who aced Coursera but failed our ’empathy audit’, like refusing to adjust timelines for an engineer evacuating family. Conversely, our best PM joined as a support agent with zero certs but re-engineered our deployment pipeline during the 2022 blackouts using handwritten Gantt charts.”
Now that’s a unique experience to share at interview…
What jobs can you get with the Google Project Management Certificate?
The Certificate is an entry-level course – you aren’t going to get a Senior PM job or be hired to manage a major infrastructure program as a result, especially if you don’t have any prior project management experience.
Look for entry-level project management roles:
- Project Coordinator
- PM Assistant
- Junior Project Manager
- Program Assistant
- Scrum Team Support roles
Salaries for these jobs vary by geographical region and industry. The APM salary survey (2025) reports that consultancy, energy and utilities and the legal profession have the highest project management salaries, so if you’re not bothered about what sector you work in, check those out!
| Entry-Level Job Title | Typical Salary (UK/US) | Notes |
| Project Coordinator | £25k–£35k / $45k–$65k | Great first step |
| Junior Project Manager | £30k–£40k / $55k–$75k | Often needs some experience |
| PM Assistant | £22k–£30k / $40k–$55k | Support-focused role |
| Scrum Team Assistant | £30k–£45k / $60k–$80k | Agile-focused teams |
| Program Assistant | £24k–£32k / $45k–$60k | Broader admin/project work |
How to boost your job prospects after the Certificate
Let’s say you’ve completed the certificate and are looking for a job. Here are some tips on how to boost your job prospects and make your application more attractive to employers.
1. Complete the Capstone
Complete the capstone project. It’s a lot of work, but it gives you hands-on experience filling in documentation and drafting emails to stakeholders.
For tips, see my article on how to get through the Sauce and Spoon case study.
Showcase your project on LinkedIn.
2. Do a project
Sounds obvious but hiring managers want experience. Get some experience.
- Volunteer through PMI or a local project management association.
- Take on a project at work.
- Structure your own work like a project – there’s nothing stopping you writing a project initiation document or starting a risk register for your day job activities.
3. Use the AI Job Search course
This is a bonus module available within the certificate program. It’s not going to affect whether you get your certificate or not, but it’s worth going through it to learn how to maximize your job opportunities.
It will help you plan for interviews and draft a strong application. You’ll also get hands-on experience with Gemini and Notebook LM, so that’s more skills you can put on your CV or resume.
4. Post your Credly badge
Link your achievement to Credly and get your badge and course completion linked to your LinkedIn profile. This is so it can be verified by employers.
5. Keep learning
Read, watch YouTube, go to conferences. I recommend starting with some accessible project management books like Managing Multiple Projects that will help you get job ready for a busy workplace.
The bottom line
Yes, you can get a job – but the certificate is just the first step. You won’t necessarily walk into a job, but it can certainly help you get hired.
Many employers still look for PMI credentials, so get the
Keep learning and applying your knowledge. You’re on the right path, and a job is just around the corner!
Your next steps
Want to kickstart your PM career? The
