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Successful completion of a project isn’t achieved overnight. It is the dedication of the entire team along with valuable inputs provided by the project manager throughout the phases of the project lifecycle. It is true that project managers are the backbone of any project; the success of any project depends largely on the smart decisions taken by the project managers. Any well-established organization cannot work smoothly without such professionals.
They hire individuals with sound knowledge of project management to navigate through clashes, bottlenecks, and catastrophes of complex projects.
Project management courses
As the quality of work is more of a concern in many organizations, it has been observed. That project managers who hold a PMP certification are being hired to take care of the most important of their projects. The Project Management Professional or the PMP certification. Is a gold standard in the field of project management and is recognized by companies across the world. In fact, people enroll in Project management courses to prepare for the PMP exam and demonstrate their skills. You would be surprised to know that companies hiring over 60% of PMP certified managers. Have improved their success rate significantly as compared to those who don’t hire PMP certified professionals.
Willing to know more about the PMP certification and how to prepare for it? Well, this article will give you all the information and help you start a promising career in project management.
What is PMP?
Administered by the renowned Project Management Institute (PMI), the PMP certification showcases your skills in understanding and managing people, processes, and business environments. A PMP certification holder is believed to be capable of working anywhere in the world, in any vertical, and with increased income potential compared to their non-certified peers. Holding this designation means that an individual can speak the global language of project management and it connects them to a worldwide community of professionals, organizations, and industry experts.
The PMP exam is set up by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) by keeping the industry standards in mind. The exam consists of 180 questions and the time allowed is 4 hours. The questions are asked in a variety of formats like matching, multiple choice, hotspot, multiple response, and fill-in-the-blank. Here are the three domains in which the PMP exam is based:
- People
- Processes
- Business environments
It is important to note that you cannot simply apply for the PMP certification exam at any time of your career. There are certain eligibility criteria that you need to fulfill before considering appearing for the PMP certification. For example, one of the requirements is to take formal PMP training of 35 hours from an accredited institute. You can go through the PMI website to understand the detailed eligibility requirements.
Preparation for the PMP Certification
Here are some of the important steps you can take to prepare for the PMP exam:
It is crucial to understand the exam syllabus given in the PMP exam content outline, important concepts covered, and collect the study material. Chalk out a study plan and start your preparation.
As the exam is largely based on the PMBOK Guide, you can make it the roadmap for your regular studies. You can dedicate one week to each knowledge area covered in the guide. Set daily and weekly targets and go through the processes covered in each knowledge area.
You can share your weekly targets with others so that they can help you stay on track. If you are a working professional, you can ask your manager to give some time for preparation.
If you are trying to prepare through a book, a number of reliable ones are available in the market. Apart from the PMBOK Guide 6th Edition, you can check out books like Agile Practice Guide by PMI, Program Management for Improved Business Results by Russ Martinelli, and The Business of Portfolio Management by Iain Fraser.
PMI
There are local PMI chapters to help you find a study group or members who are willing to guide you.
A training course is another good option to prepare for the exam. If you don’t hold a CAPM certification (which is usually the case for many participants), then 35 hours of formal project management education is, as it is, mandatory. So, it’s better to enroll in a training program offered by PMI authorized training providers and get proper guidance.
When your preparation is complete, you need to test your knowledge through an online PMP exam simulator. There are some reputed resources where you can find good mock tests on PMP. They replicate the online environment that you will face on the actual exam day and help you manage time and solve questions accordingly. After you appear for such a mock test, you can identify what knowledge areas you are good at and what sections need more revision.
Finally, take the exam and solve the questions with confidence and proper time management.
Following all these steps will lead you towards success in achieving a PMP certification. So, when are you planning to take your career ahead with this valuable credential?
