Where should I start

Submitted by bhargavcl on Tue, 06/19/2012 - 18:32

Hello All,

                 I have a lot of IT experiance as Architect/Admin and Sr Developer. Where should with Preparation for PMP Certification?

Suggest me a book or a course, or PMP for Dummies etc.

How long do you think it will be a resonable time to pass the test.

 

Thank You

Forums: 
General Discussion
  • Log in to post comments
  • 780 reads

makarandh

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 02:51

Hi

First of all, I would say that you have made a wise decision to embark on PMP journey and you boarded on the right bus (pmzilla) to complete the journey. The co-passengers are very co-operative and helpful thus you will never feel alone during the entire journey. Happy journey!

PMP certification will certainly give a different flair and edge to your profile and personality.

How you want to start and where to start or per se take off points vary from individual to individual subjected to the years of experience in the Project Management, past work experience, look ahead for future and career aspirations. Probably you may like to read through below steps to take off

1. Identify why you want to pursue for PMP? goals?

2. Cost - Benefit analysis of doing PMP 

3. Read the lessons learned from folks who has passed PMP. (Wealth of LL's on pmzilla, could of great help in steering your thoughts in right direction). My PMP LL, click here  

4. Opt for good PMP training (mandatory to become elligible for PMP Exam) 

5. PMP Application process / PMI membership. see material available on the pmzilla

6. Prepare your own study charter.

By this time you may develope sufficient vision and visibility into your PMP roadmap.  

Let us know how it goes.

- Makarand, PMP

http://mypmpll.blogspot.in

 

saket_pmp

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 06:41

1. Get 35 hours of PDU from any reputed source, I would recommend choose PMP boot camp that happens for 4 days (not 2 days). The more you interact face to face with a trained PMP instructor, the more you gain.
2. Among the PMP books you can start with Rita or Headfirst and get deep into PMBOK then. The book reading and understanding takes 2-3 months of time if you study like 2 hours daily.
3. Move to Mock test, take around 2000 test questions from good source. You can read in these forums what people have tried, what helped them to achieve their PMP. This activity takes around a month time if you can put like 2 hours daily.
4. About one month before you plan to take the PMP exam (once you are confident), enroll for PMI membership, PMP application, pay exam fee. This will give you some buffer time in case you are selected for audit.
5. Do not hurry, most of the PMP boot camp or workshop would advice you to take PMP exam in one month (even I am part of the same system). But I do not advice this as it’s a small time to get well prepared and potential for failure is higher. Keep a target for 3-4 months time, do not hurry.
 


Saket, PMP

bhargavcl

Wed, 06/20/2012 - 16:23

Thank You All for your comments. As I said I have enough of IT experiance and I would like to be a Project Manager in my Company. Certainly they force you to take PMP certification. If i Have it well in advance there is no reason for them to deny my post. Thats the reason to take PMP.

I will start with Head First PMP and then PMBOK, then i would take the Bootcamp. I guess by that time I will have a strong foundation to understand the Bootcamp. Thats what I feel. Please let me know if you all see this right.

 

Thank You

makarandh

Thu, 06/21/2012 - 05:32

 Hi

Looks like a good plan to make the beginning and good reason / mission too, to accomplish the goal. Better  part is you are reading through before the boot camp which will he certainly help you to derive more value from the training.

Though in my opinion PMBOK is at the epicenter among books available on PMP. PMBOK-4 chapters 1 to 4 (till page  69) Project Management Framework, Glossary and last three appendices, helps to set the strong context and acceleration for further reading from other sources. Again this is based on the experience which worked for me and not the defacto protocol. Feel free to have your own theme which works best for you.

You may like to consider this as a project, thus putting timelines and planning it accordingly will help.

Goals without timelimits are only wishes. All the best! 

- Makarand, PMP

My PMP LL http://mypmpll.blogspot.in