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Working full Time and preparing for the PMP exam

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  1. Have you been planning for a while to take the PMP Exam?
  2. Are you not able to dedicate your time to prepare?
  3. Not sure where and how to get started?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, continue reading

According to PMI, Research indicates that employers will need to fill nearly 2.2 million new project-oriented roles each year through 2027. This means skilled project managers are in high demand.

The PMI and its certifications are discussed in this article What is the Project Management Institute, and what are the Certifications they offer?

PMP certification validates the skills towards People, Process and Business Environments.

These abilities are important not just for projects, but they also improve your mindset and provide you with proven best practices adds value to you and your organization.

If you are an Individual Contributor, Subject Matter Expert, Team Leader or a Manager who is consistently facing difficulties running your projects operations with constant challenges towards People, Process and the environment. I strongly suggest you to prepare for the PMP exam.

It doesn’t mean you wont run into people or process related challenges after achieving the PMP certification.

As long as you deal with people or business environments there will be problems.

But the PMP certification will give you the tools for you to go and solve when you face them and your attitude towards problem solving will definitely improve.

As a new manager I was lost between solving the day to day internal and external stakeholders challenges with never ending constraints.

Preparing for the exam totally changed my focus towards the problem solving.

The questions you take in the exam are pretty much the real situational problems you face on a daily basis so it’s worth taking it.

Here is the list of tasks under each domain covered in the PMP Exam Content Outline (do download the latest PMP Exam content outline from the PMI website directly, it contains the enablers meaning Illustrative examples of the work associated with the task)

PMP Exam Content Outline

Now you know the domains, tasks covered in the PMP Examinations, the next question is how to get started.

Listen to Podcasts/Interviews relating to Project Management
  1. Projectified® Podcast – PMI free available on PMI website & Apple Podcasts
  2. PM Insights (Project Management Insights) by Karen Cherrett free available on Apple Podcasts
  3. PM PrepCast by Cornelius Fichtner (On demand)

Listening to these podcasts, contents motivates you and ofcourse gives you the insights and tips you need for free to get started.

It also became a habit to listen while commuting to work.

Take Free Exams to test your knowledge

Understanding your knowledge towards the Project Management skills tells you where you stand. Get started with PM PrepCast Exam Simulator (Free version)

Note: the test questions will be quite lengthy and don’t worry if you get a low score, you are just testing your knowledge and it is normal.

It’s not a 100 meter race, it’s a marathon. You can improve through consistent practice, practice and practice only.

This article contains selected Tools And Resources For Your PMP Certification Preparation

Don’t rush selecting the Study Materials

If you google everybody will recommend what worked for them, so my suggestion is to take your time to understand your style of reading.

For example: Do you like to read a book, listen to a tutorial or a class room training, upon take a decision. Don’t rush into registering to the expensive course if you have a tight budget.

Trust me you can pass the exam sitting at your home and buying the required books online too.

Read the PMP Exam Content Outline, Certification Handbook & Why should you get the PMP thoroughly.

By now you know more about PMP exam, it purpose and how it will help you.

The next step for you is to Register to pmi.org by creating a login account

https://www.pmi.org/

Note: The language in the Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Prep 9th edition language was quite easy to understand so I prepared using that.

Tip: Give your supervisor/manager a heads up and take study leaves ahead of time so you may focus only on your examinations.

Conclusion

Preparing for the PMP exam is a big step as part of your career and do not take it lightly, it is very stressful indeed. I have read it many times that taking the PMP exam itself is a project.

It becomes easier when you connect the PMP tools and techniques with your day to day work and start implementing those tools, inputs and the outputs towards your projects or operations.

So do the prep work, I know working fulltime and studying these huge materials at the end of the day isnt fun.

There were days I questioned myself why do you even want to do this and “why don’t you just give up, “but I didn’t!

So, commit yourself, establish a habit, and you will gradually become accustomed to it.

Once again I want to remind you, the exam is not a 100 meter race it’s a marathon! So practice, practice , and practice.

Note: there are quite a few online training institutions available online, here are some of them. I will continue to add more trainings providers in the upcoming days. Please feel free to visit.

  1. PM Exam Coach

2. PMP Certification & Training – Exam Prep – PMP Boot Camp | Velociteach

What are the challenges you came across while preparing for the PMP Examination. Please do leave your comments about the article.

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