“What helped me really was using the Simulator exams, to find out where I am lagging and improving that bit”, said Jino.
I was trying to pick his brain to understand how he passed PMP with the perfect ‘Above Target’ score.
“Also, I realized that just by giving myself enough time for a thorough preparation, I have become a better project manager”, he concluded.
Wise words, I thought.
I have seen many students taking a ‘slam-dunk’ approach to PMP preparation.
They give themselves 2-3 weeks and cramp their daily schedule with 5-6 hours of daily study schedule.
This might work for some.
Although, this might be also a great recipe for burnout.
I think what might be prudent to do is to make small adjustments to the daily routine.
Add a 1-hour slot or 2 slots of 30 minutes (one each in the morning and evening) for study.
Then align it with a study plan.
Reflecting on what you study, applying it to your current project.
I mean, TRULY enjoying the study process, and passing the exam becomes like a predestined side effect.
What’s great is that you come out a better project manager in the process.
Jino gave himself 5 months to do exactly the same.
And did it in style – all 3 Above Target score. ?
Jino Ranjit has a master’s in computer applications and working as a senior consultant for an IT company in Tokyo, Japan. In his free time, Jino plays piano or joys cycling.
Read on to know how he did it, and maybe how you can use some of his techniques to ease your PMP efforts.
What made you take up PMP®? Did you consider any other certification exams?
Project Management Professional is a globally recognized professional certification, and I dreamt of being a part of that elite group for a long time.
Another reason for me was the better prospects that “PMP” against my name can bring. No matter how many projects one has worked on, PMP teaches valuable skills including management of personnel, tasks, and complex projects, to contribute to the organization’s growth.
In my research, I did not find a better alternative than PMP certification.
Now that I am certified, I think this will enable me to take on more challenging responsibilities.
While studying, I have been able to learn and demonstrate project management skills, which is such a win. I am aware of terminologies, processes, and developments – a much broader perspective of project management.
Which study resources did you use for your preparation?
I used the following –
- PMBOK Guide,
- Joseph’s Udemy course
- Rita Mulcahy’s book,
- Agile Practice Guide, and
- Simulator for mock exams (I got one from pmaspire).
I did go through a lot of YouTube videos – mainly for mock exams with an explanation of answers.
I took many free mock exams, which helped me a lot during the final stages of my preparation.
Also read:
- One strategy and one technique that Umut shares from his PMP exam experience
- Take your pick from this curated PMP study resources (includes free ones)
- Sign up for the free version of Cornelius’ PM PrepCast here
- Copy Constantin Brescan’s PMP strategies
Umut Karabudak is a Civil Engineer working in a manufacturing company as a Project Manager. He lives in Ankara/Turkey and during his free time Umut enjoys watching movies and going on long drives.
Brescan Constantin is an engineer with 15 years of experience in Quality Assurance (automotive, agricultural equipment, large-volume components for nuclear fusion). “Simulation PMP exam used as a study strategy is often overlooked, unfortunately”, he said when asked to suggest a single best study technique.
I took a 5-day classroom training to prepare for the exam, which also gave me the 35 contact hour certificate that is one of the mandatory eligibility requirements of the PMP exam.
“It is essential to unlearn few things to learn PMP®,” says Biju Nair, Director- Programs and Projects at Indian Air Force. PMP® certified recently, he shares his study advice in this week’s PMP Lessons Learned article. Don’t get surprised by his advice, you will find out how this makes sense in a bit.
Over the last couple of decades, I have been involved in different kinds of projects at various levels. While doing my Masters in Business Administration, we had to study project management as a subject. This is when I had my first exposure to PMBOK Guide.
Ramya Ganesan has been working with SAP for the longest of her career, which spans close to 2 decades. A Computer Science engineer, Ramya has a master’s from the University of Illinois.
PMP is the coveted certification for project management. I’ve been a project manager for several years now and wanted to take the time to get a formal education in the field.
Sandeep Maddala is a project manager handling multiple projects in CAS, ISP VOIP, and IPTV domains. In this week’s PMP® lessons learned article, he shares how he prepared for his PMP exam, why he opted for the online test mode, and the insights he has gained along the way that could now help PMP aspirants.
