.

“PM to ‘PMP Above Target’ In 6 Weeks. How about that?”

“Why not”, he smiled.

Bhaswanth is a postgraduate in Industrial Pharmacy, and has been associated with Pharmaceuticals with manufacturing, Quality and Project Management.

He scored Above Target in all the three domains.

Did you know that Bhaswanth did not use PMBOK guide at all?

Not that I’m suggesting either way, but it is possible to ace the exam with or without the PMBOK. And this is a case in point for without.

Plus, in this interview, he also talks about how to avoid Student syndrome.

He also used some insanely effective ways.

Imagine your study desk with post-its all over the wall. Stand in front of it for 15 minutes a day and soak in all the knowledge.

This, and more, Bhaswanth shares today.

All that worked for him. Which can work for you too.

Let’s get started.

What made you take up PMP?

I’m already an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black belt and Green belt.

Ever since I assumed project management responsibilities, I considered getting certified by globally accepted institutes. PMI is one of such globally recognized certification bodies.

I believe that PMP would help me enhance my project management skills and open new opportunities for me.

Thus far I have handled various projects in pharmaceuticals using predictive approach. Am now looking forward for IT project manager role with the Agile Project management skills I learned through PMP. I consider this PMP as a much-needed addition to my profile.

Also read:

• “A bit of planning makes your PMP prep a breeze”, says Lakeevia, after scoring PMP Above Target
• Juan Carlos reveals a critical aspect of preparation to de-risk your PMP exam
• Theveline shares how she got PMP (and PMI membership) for FREE!

According to you, what is the one thing a PMP aspirant must have, to prepare well and pass the exam?

In my opinion, to be successful in PMP certification, these two factors are essential.

1. Understanding the concepts clearly.

Questions will be based on concepts, so more than ITTOs it is important to understand concepts. The same holds good for agile and hybrid portion as well.

Also, I went with the approach of studying process-group wise, instead of Knowledge area wise. Going by the process flow across the process groups (Initiating to Closing) helped me immensely.

2. Developing Project Manager mindset.

This mindset is a must-have for every PMP aspirant to pass the exam. Not only for being successful in PMP exam but also in their PM career as well.

The exam tests whether you can think like a project manager, and this thinking approach has to be developed as you study the content.

How to develop this mindset?

For every concept you study, imagine how you would implement it as a project manager.

Which study resources did you use for your exam preparation?

I used Andrew Ramdayal’s Udemy course for my 35 Hours training, And attended Percipio PMP boot camp.

I also did a lot of self-study for the preparation.

During these 35 hours of training and boot camps, I prepared my own notes.

I used the same notes during my revision for the exam, and I never read the PMBOK book.

It’s interesting that you never used PMBOK! What was your approach?

[continue reading…]

“With proper planning you can even exceed PMP goal”, says LaKeevia after crushing her PMP exam.

Juggling work and family with an infant and older child, LaKeevia planned here PMP so immaculately that she was able to complete her study a month ahead of schedule.

The same held true for her exam as well. She was able to manage time well and complete a whole hour ahead of time.

And guess her result – a perfect Above Target in all 3 domains.

LaKeevia is from Virginia, US. She has a BA in psychology and an MA in Education and Human Development with a specialization in Rehab Counseling. When not busy working, LaKeevia spends time with family, friends, and traveling.

What made you take up PMP?

I have been interested in the PMP certification for a while. I did my research on various certifications and this one stood out to me the most, especially since I’ve worked on projects within my career.

I did not consider any other certifications at that time.

Career growth and development were my expectations from obtaining the PMP certification. I also see the PMP certification helping me in both of those areas.

According to you, what’s the most important factor for success?

I think a PMP aspirant should have a positive outlook, determination, and confidence within themselves.

Picking a study schedule based on your work/home life is a must.

Things do happen, but be prepared to continue to press on and stick with it.

Also read:

• How Juan Carlos derisked his PMP exam
• How Theveline got PMP, resources, as well as twice the PMI membership fee all funded
• The complete 4-week PMP study plan (including PMP scholarship opportunity)
• Click to subscribe for free brain-frieldly PMP videos (hit Bell icon to get as I publish)

Which study resources did you use for your exam preparation?

[continue reading…]

Once the exam started, oh boy… the true terror began!

I read my first question, and remembered thinking to myself “wow, I don’t know the answer, this is nothing like the simulators”.

The same happened for the second question, the third one, fourth, fifth, and so on…

By the time I was around question 30 I thought to myself that I had already lost the exam, and everything I did was just a waste of time, I was completely demoralized.

Someone that began their exam this way, ended up scoring Above Target on all the domains.

Wouldn’t you want to understand exactly how they did it?

That, and more, you will be able to get in this week’s PMP Lessons Learned interview.

Juan Carlos is from Guatemala City. With a master’s degree in Project Management and a Bachelor’s degree in System Engineering and Computer Science, Juan works as an IT Project Manager. He loves binge-watching web-series, apart from enjoying movies in theater.

Because he loves teaching, Juan also contributes as a teaching assistant. One of his goals is to teach at his university on Project Management.

Juan is a PMP topper, he scored Above Target in all the domains, and shares how he did it, this week.

Don’t miss reading his exam experience. Gave me goosebumps.

What made you take up PMP?

I enrolled myself in a master’s degree program here in Guatemala.

To be able to graduate, one of the requirements is to get one of four certifications: CAPM / PMP by the PMI, or IPMA D / IPMA C by IPMA.

I knew since the very beginning, before enrolling myself, that I wanted to be a PMP, and it didn’t matter to me that it was the hardest certification of my options. That was my primary reason for taking up PMP.

What was your core expectation from this exam?

I wanted a formal project management training.

I knew I needed a proper set of guidelines and tools under my belt.

Now being a PMP certified professional, it helps me boost my career by having something tangible that shows my experience as a project manager. It also has given me the necessarily tools for me to take right decisions based on the project situation, and on how to approach it.

I also feel comfortable walking into a project that requires a waterfall, agile, or hybrid approach.

Also read:

• How Theveline got PMP, resources, as well as twice the PMI membership fee all funded
• The complete 4-week PMP study plan (including PMP scholarship opportunity)
• Click to subscribe for free brain-frieldly PMP videos (hit Bell icon to get as I publish)

According to you, what is the one thing a PMP aspirant should have/do/use, to prepare well and pass the exam?

SIMULATORS!

I can’t stress this enough.

You MUST have at least two different simulators to prepare well.

Other than that, you need to have the correct mindset. You need to think that you will pass the exam, that’s the only thing that you really need to think about, there is no space for a negative or pessimistic mindset.

Which study resources did you use for your exam preparation, and how did they help?

I read two different exam preparation books, did two different mockup tests in an Excel file, and used two different simulators from different websites, all of these in my native language (Spanish).

Book 1 (Spanish)

• Director de Proyectos Cómo aprobar el examen PMP sin morir en el intento
• Author: Pablo Lledó

Book 2  (Spanish)

• Tool Book 2021 Keaton Training Projects Ver. 5.0
• Author: Rafael Alberto Veloza Quintero (The 2nd book is not an official published book, it’s just a workbook with a compilations / summary of the PMBOK 6th edition)

Book 3 / mockup test (English)

• Advanced Level PMP Mock Questions: PMP Certification Exam Simulator covering Predictive, Agile, and Hybrid approaches
• Author: Yassine Tounsi

Besides that, I also used 3 mockup tests written in English.

Studying in both languages helped me a lot to understand certain concepts much better, and having tests with detailed explanations to each answer was for me the best way to learn.

Use these recommended simulator to pass your PMP exam –

• Popular one by Cornelius Fichtner
• Udemy simulator updated created the new exam 
• A free simulator

What was your approach and study plan?

First, I started studying only Saturdays and Sundays, around 10 hours each day for 4 weeks.

After a month of studying, I dedicated time each day of the week to take simulator (mock tests).

I started with quick 20 questions simulations, then 50, and then 180 or 200 depending on the simulator I was using. [continue reading…]

Update: After a month of passing the exam, Theveline got a job doubling her salary, with a whopping $60K jump in salary.

Such instances are not the norm, but it is definitely possible to attract such opportunities with PMP under your belt. The salary surveys by PMI have time and again indicated a consistent increase of 16-25% on average for PMP-certified project managers.

“I applied for PMP scholarship of $1,500 and was awarded!

This ended up paying for my investment into my PMP cert and PMI membership, twice over.”

Well, that’s a neat way to deal with the financial aspects of PMP certification.

In this week’s PMP Lessons Learned interview, Theveline shares not just how to manage the financial part but more importantly, how to go about dealing with most of the issues you are likely to face on your way to PMP goal.

Theveline J. Felix is Project and Program Manager with over 6 years of experience driving unique projects within diversity, equity, & inclusion, technology, and marketing.

She is from New York City. In her free time Theveline enjoys traveling the world and listening to podcasts on pop culture, crime, and psychology, while cuddling with her kitten Harlem.

She scored Above Target across all domains, so I had to pick her brains to find out how exactly she did it.

Theveline was kind enough to share her journey, strategies, and the insights she had along the way.

It is quite specific, so you can simply pick the areas that interest you and include in the mix for your exam preparation.

Let us get started!

What made you take up PMP?

I decided to take the PMP because I knew it would grow in my career and allow me to build generational wealth and change the financial well-being of my family for the better, which is extremely important to me as a first-generation immigrant.

A close friend of mine had taken the PMP a year earlier and shared her first-hand experience with me from application to securing her first role.

With her guidance, I began to understand the landscape and market for PMPs. And, how the roles within my career journey were project management-related without the title of Project Manager.

This helped me confirm that this indeed was the direction I wanted to go for the next step of my career.

What was the core benefit did you expect from PMP certification?

I expected to enhance my skill set as an individual contributor, and better understanding of the technical aspects of project management. Also, an increase in job prospects and the salary associated with them.

Now that I’m certified, I see all the expected benefits coming into fruition.

Also read:

• How Karen got PMP scholarship (and a short list of scholarships)
• The complete 4-week PMP study plan (including PMP scholarship opportunity)
• Click to subscribe for free brain-frieldly PMP videos (hit Bell icon to get as I publish)

According to you, what is that one factor that helps every PMP aspirant pass the exam?

I’d recommend three, actually.

I have found that if you get these right, you will find it easier to get through the exam.

1. Figure out your reason for taking up PMP exam.

Let’s face it, the path to PMP goal isn’t easy or convenient.

Click to discover how to choose PMP resources based on your learning style

It’s a longer path compared to other certificate exams.

And you will face different types of challenges.

Being clear about why you want to do PMP would help you face these challenges head on.

A PMP aspirant should have an encouraging enough reason to strive for the PMP.

That reason can be building financial well-being, getting a promotion, making a career change, supporting your family, etc. but it needs to be strong enough that when the journey gets hard, you want to push through anyway because that reasoning means so much to you.

2. Make time for your study.

Even if you’re an amazing test taker, the PMP exam is not one of those tests you can just wing it on. That’ll be a waste of your time and money to do so.

In our busy lives, it can be hard to make time to study.

However, being transparent with everyone in your life, including your family and leaders at work, that you have a goal you want to reach and are devoting time to reaching that goal can help you assert boundaries that will give you the time you need to study.

3. Use other people’s first-hand experience to guide your own.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Neither, you’re in this alone.

There are so many people who have been on this journey, are on the journey, or want to take the PMP journey.

Work smarter, not harder, by using people’s experience, support, and accountability to help you reach your PMP goal.

Connect with these people by reading their first-hand accounts on Twitter and Reddit, or by putting out the ask to your network. [continue reading…]

“How did you pass PMP in just 30 days?”, I asked her.

“PMP exam preparation differs from person to person.

I was preparing for the past 8 months, but it was on and off.

My serious attempt started just a month prior to my exam.

It took me 20 days to read PMBOK.

I read PMBOK once, for concept clarity I read Rita, and watched a few online videos of Aileen.

It took 30 days of absolute focus, dedication, and hard work.

I passed PMP with all Above Target score.”

That’s how the discussion went with Kamaljyothi Katta, as I probed questions to figure out how she did it.

Kamaljyothi works as project manager at HP. She has a 12 yrs of experience in Supply Chain domain.

Having begun in the government sector, she soon moved to the private sector, working in Insurance, Investment banking, and then making the shift to Information Technology field.

She was working as Business Analyst during her preparation for the exam, and after PMP, she was promoted as Project Manager.

In this interview, Kamaljyothi shares her exact process.

I’d highly recommend make a note of the insights she shares, even one solid advice can get you over the fence easily.

What made you take up PMP?

I was seriously looking to move out of my comfort zone, as the realization dawned that I couldn’t grow in there. I’m more passionate about managing projects, so was looking for a globally recognized certificate to learn and gain credibility.

After some research into available certifications, I chose PMP for its completeness and coverage of all aspects of project management.

Now that I am PMP certified, I would like to consider other certificates, develop more skills.

Also read:

• Learn to intuitively create Process Chart under 7 minutes!
• How to Study For PMP®: Research Based Simple 3-Step Formula to Plan Under 3 Minutes
• Here’s your FREE PMP resource kit to pass PMP under 6 weeks
• Get this week’s top PMP resource discounts, offers, bonuses!

What do you expect from this certification?

The main benefit with PMP is that it helps you stand out from the crowd, makes you unique.

I have witnessed that from the moment I took up the certificate, my thought process has changed. I have begun to start thinking in a structured manner. This helps you grow within, which will help you grow professionally as well.

People look at you and your profession with respect and your opinion matters as you are considered knowledgeable.

Doors open at global level, lots of interaction, knowledge sharing, you climb the profession ladder faster, gaining the real-time experience. PMP is a magical wand if you use in the right way.

What about the study resources?

I used a combination of books, course, and mock tests.

• PMBOK guide – this is an important reference guide I’d recommend all
• Rita’s PMP Prep 9th edition – this book helped me internalize concepts that might look hard in PMBOK
• A video study course from Udemy, by Joseph Phillips.
• Mock tests (simulators) –
  • Few online free mock tests,
  • PrepCast simulator,
  • Udemy mock test, and
  • Question bank from Havel’s Learning system: 1100 practice questions, knowledge area wise.

How did you approach the exam, and what was your study plan?

[continue reading…]