Navigating Challenges, Resources, and Success in Pursuit of PMP Certification
Hey there, fellow project manager!
Although I do not currently wear the project management title, I have managed many projects through the years, and for as long as I can remember I wanted to be PMP certified, but just never felt like I had the time and since I was ran my own business it just seemed like a bit of an ego boost and put it off every time I looked into it.
As you may know my family and I immigrated to Wales in March 2020, and you know what else happened in March 2020. Well, with the world in lockdown I was fortunate enough to find work, thankfully Construction is considered key industry, after settling in with the new job and company and getting all my competencies out of the way I was looking for a new challenge. Hey, we suddenly had all this free time when I wasn’t at work.
Application
After confirming I was eligible to sit the 4 hour 200 question exam (this has changes since):
Four-Year College / University degree
· 36 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years
· 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM ® certification
-or-
High School or Secondary School Diploma
· 60 months of experience leading projects within the past eight years
· 35 hours of project management education/training or CAPM ® certification
I submitted my application on 14.10.2020 had confirmation that I was eligible and booked my exam date for 13 December 2020 at 10:00.
Preparation
I purchased the PMBOK ,Oh my Soul, what a book, when I received the book, I instantly felt disheartened, and after reading a few pages even more so… it was hopeless, I was never going to get through all of this information it’s just too dry to consume.
I tried reading it several times, but it was just too information dense. I started researching online and looking at online resources like Reddit, YouTube, Udemy and podcasts looking at what others have done to achieve success, to achieve the 35hours training I enrolled in PMP Exam Prep Seminar – Complete Exam coverage with 35 PDU’s to tick the box on the 35 hours course/training and bought Scott Payne’s book, PMP PMBOK Audio Study Guide!, PMP: First Attempt.
I also subscribed to a PMP exam simulator to get a feel for the type of questions. I listened to Podcasts and Audiobooks on my commute and reviewed the text every evening, after about 3 weeks I got started with the exam simulator and reviewed again focusing on the areas I struggled with, a week later I tried the practice exam, I passed, but got a few questions wrong, I reviewed again paying special attention to the areas I was struggling with and a few days ahead of exam day I tried the practice exam again, I passed with a very good score.
Examination
On the 13th of December 2020 I sat the PMP exam and was successful:
I was absolutely delighted and over the moon with satisfaction that my efforts had paid off.
Realisation
It has been almost 4 years since passing the exam, and I do not think it has made any difference to my career, it has been my experience that not very many people in the UK construction industry recognise PMP.
Let me know in the comments below what you think, are you familiar with the PMP certification? Have you earned the qualification and had a different experience?
I do not however think it was a waste of time and money, it has certainly opened my eyes to processes and management plans I might not have considered previously.
I will be posting how I am managing or implementing these processes/plans on projects I am currently working on.
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