alot of industries require PMP as a standard for recruitement.

Yes experience is more required than the PMP certificate but you can not even apply for the pmp without at least 450 hours of prior project management experience.

I took the exam and passed. it was problem-solving based and not the typical definition-based exam. the more you are welling to problem solve the more likely you are to do well in the exam.

good luck. also consider the PRINCE2 as a standard. it is also well recognised by many industries. PMP is american PRINCE2 is British