Journey Towards PMP Part 2
A lapel pin and signed certificate mark the confirmation of PMP designation. Accolades from friends and colleagues prioritize the event. There is also an aura of professional hiearchy amongst staff and industry and a host of new found colleagues with similar designations.
Wow! Had I known that long ago; I may not have waited so long!
We know where the journey ends, but where does the journey of preparation for testing begin?
After having received approval of the PMI organization of information provided in support of the designation; you have to schedule and write the exam. There is much preparation required to support you writing the exam. If you are a holder of ASQ Certification, I'm sure you know what I mean! Reading, studying, reviewing, memorizing, understanding concepts and formulas are crucial. There is a body of knowledge to grasp and know inside-out and upside-down. So how do you prepare?
There are so many options to help you prepare for the PMP exam. It comes down to how much time you have to prepare, how much money and how much you need to learn and absorb. There are a number of on line courses, content, sample tests etc to help you assess your current level of understanding on the body of knowledge. You need then to fill in the gap!
I took a four day intensive offered by PMPTI designed as a review to help prepare to answer the questions I would likely see on the exam. I like to learn in face to face sessions where I can interact and ask questions; classroom style. Some of my colleagues preferred to work through on their own following a workbook (by Rita Mulcahey) and then self testing with CDs provided to simulate the online test environment. Whatever the means of learning there are some important things to remember for the day of the exam.
1.Get a good nights rest
2. Don't cram in last minute
3. Eat a light meal
4. Make sure you know how to get to the test site, know where to park and understand if there is any parking fees or time limits. Try driving out before the exam as a test run.
5. When you sit the exam, you will receive a pencil, blank sheets of paper and a simple calculator.
6. Take 15min of your exam time to go thru the online tutorial. It is helpful to understand you can go back and answer questions you missed or were not sure of.
7. Take a few minutes to "brain dump" ; choose a blank sheet of paper and record formulas, concepts, definitions you remember.
8. Take a deep breath and begin... the time goes by though you will likely have some time to review.
9. When ready and comfortable press the submit button.
10. Wait 30 seconds for the congratulatory note that you passed. Hurray!
Enjoy the journey !
