Would you hire a project manager with 15 years experience and no PM certs, or the project manager with 5 years experience and PMP/Prince2? Why?

I will hire the PM with15 years experience if he/she have credible refrences and pass the interviews.15 years experience takes15 years while a PM certificate may take one year. IF possible, I will ask the candidate to get certified during his/her work and within an agrreable time frame.

Interesting topic.

I somewhat agree with Mr. Mohammad Tohamy Hussein Hussein.

However, we should not underestimate the one with5 years of experience with PM certificate.

I, personally, am  not firm believer of certification (as I do not have any except my graduation degree),  what I look is talent and capability of handling the desired task.

The certificate can be considered when you want to choose from two persons who scored same in interview.

Now each has pros and cons. 

For example,

The15 years experienced may not aware of latest practices that a5 years experienced with certificate may have learnt.

5 years experienced may not react well in critical situation where15 years experienced can handle that very easily as (s)he might have faces same lot many times.

My vote goes for15 years experienced provided (s)he has knowledge of latest practices.

Depend on the project required experience, if it matches more with  any o f the two candidates

it depends. Heavily on the personality of them , who  can lead and communicate. More effectively

it depend on size of project and whether any of tthe two has managed  similar size to bigger

sometimes you have to be not too young in order to  make your colleagues believe in you 

For my opinion, I always respect the certified person who has any kind of certifications which contributes to the project requirements. The certification has a lot of advantages, keep in mind that it requires a lot of studying and preparations, and some time the person needs to be in full time status for study, like the PMP and CISSP, Also the value of certification is always let the certifier to rely in the code of ethics when handling any kind of conflicts and issues.

5 years with pmp certificate for sure---- especially5 years experience after pmp. Now to make my point clear i will ask a question - What is the difference between a foreman/Superintendent/Technican than a fresh grad engineer in work? - From my point of view the answer is pretty simple the fresh grad has more knowledge but less experience than the foreman - Usually give this grad2-4 years learning from the foreman or supervisors or...... Then this fresh grad will be much better than all of these in all aspects of work. WHY ?? --- KNOWLEDGE COMPANIED WITH EXPERIENCE  -- We are engineers so for sure we beleive READING ADD LIFES TO YOUR LIFE. 

I hope i have made my point clear.

Before answering the question we have to assume the environment of the project and I will also assume both the5 and the15 years are entensive project experience and not a one year experience repeated many years, then my answer will be:-

• In a company where project methodolgy was established and used, you will need the expert not the certificate.
• In a company where no methodolgy was established, and there is NO vision to have one, you need the expert not the certificate.
• In a company where no methodolgy was established, and there is a vision to have one, you need the certificatet MORE than the expert.

Experience can override certificate, but certificate without experience is just a certificate. I am certified in many diciplines (it happened as I played many roles in our company), but mostly were of little added value compared to the experience.

years of experience not important, but the quality of the experice is the most important

for me I prefer  certifed project manager(PMP or PRINCE) with5 years experience 

5+ Yrs of Project Management experience as a PM is good enough to shorlist him for interview. Now through interview I'd decide whom to hire. Some real world situational question would decide if the one with PMP/Prince2 certificate has better understnading of project or someone with15+ yrs. 

It depends on the requirement of the company objective. 15 years is quite good or say well expertize in his area of job. He can work independently without much supervision. But in todays changing world, once has to be update himself with new technique and tools,new innovations, everyone has to learn everyday.

For example, Droctors, if they dont update themselves according to new diseases, medicines, operations technique they will left behind or cant treat or cure the paitent problem easily. Nowdays most of the operation done without doing any surgical, if they dont learn them they will be out of date.

Learninh new things is benefical for both the employee and company, employee can earn more and company get good employee.

Certification course is to update ones knowledge, gain contacts, and can walk to gether with the world, these changes are coming in companies also.

Its better to hire a 5 years project manager with PMP/Prince2.

I will vote to15 years experiance in project manager if he has a talants and knowledge to manager.

I shall follow the project requirements, my ultimaye focuse will be the success of the project