Juggling Your Job With PMP® Test Prep
Four experts offer advice on how to study for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam while still maintaining focus on your career.
5 April 2011
Anyone who has earned the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential knows that preparing for the exam is a job in itself. And that can interfere with all of the deliverables and deadlines that come with your regular job.
“The best strategy is to choose the learning method that best fits into your work schedule,” says Eric Rudolf, director, RMC Project Management, a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P) in Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA. “There are so many different options for preparing for the PMP exam. The key is to choose the one that is least disruptive to your career as a project manager.”
We asked four R.E.P.s for their advice on how project managers can study effectively for the exam, earn the credential and remain focused in their career. Here’s what they had to say:
What are some key tips for prepping for the exam?
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Stay focused. “It is a big commitment in time and effort. If you drag out your studying too much you will forget what you learned at the beginning before you get to the end,” says Patrick Weaver, PMP, managing director, Mosaic Project Services, Melbourne, Australia. “The PMP credential is a valuable qualification but it has to be earned. The largest part of your investment is the time and effort you put into studying.”
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Read current project management titles, including
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBOK® Guide). “Mark and highlight key words, terms and definitions. Try to possibly construct your own questions,” says Ondiappan “Ari” Arivazhagan, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP, CEO, International Institute of Project Management (IIPM), Chennai, India
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Keep it simple. “There are so many exam-preparation materials out there and sometimes it can be overwhelming. The key is to start with a good PMP exam prep book, and go from there,” Mr. Rudolf says. “If the concepts in the book seem obvious, you’re probably one of the lucky few who can prepare for the exam using only a book and nothing else. But if you struggle with the information, you can begin to consider options like e-learning, exam simulation software and classroom training. Don’t invest your money in a dozen different resources when one or two will do the job.”
How much time do you recommend project professionals spend preparing for the PMP exam?
“Most people need to budget a minimum of 70 hours to study. You need to read the PMBOK® Guide thoroughly, plus work through a set of properly designed exam-prep materials and practice answering questions,” Mr. Weaver says.
“This needs organization and discipline if you are working full time. Budget one or two evenings a week for around three months if you are using self-study or a distance-based course. If you do a classroom course, allow for another 30 or more hours outside of the classroom for revision and practice leading up to your exam.”
Remember that the PMP exam is not based on the PMBOK® Guide alone. It behooves you to also review the PMP credential handbook, study the Examination Specification and also to test yourself with sample questions. And keep up with current titles in project management, which PMI members can find in PMI eReads & Reference.
“Studying is a project to be managed where the goal is to learn well and to pass the exam,” adds Moises Moshinsky, PMP, Sistemica Consultores S.C., Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. “Think as if you would be preparing to run a marathon. There is no way you could devote only one month to exercise and mentally prepare to be able to run and complete the whole length satisfactorily.”
How can practitioners juggle their studies with everyday work demands?
“A big part of balancing study with work hinges on how flexible your employer is. Some are supportive of allowing students to take a few days off from work and attend a class, but some are not,” Mr. Rudolf says.
“The size of the company you work for can sometimes make a difference, too. If there are 10 or more project managers who need to be certified at the same company, it is not uncommon for the company to invite us to deliver a prep class at their location.”
What are the next steps for project managers who don’t pass the exam on the first attempt? How can they improve their study habits?
Identify what mistakes you made in the exam with the exam report,” says Mr. Arivazhagan. Use mock exams to identify the process groups where you are “below proficient,” he says, and focus your attention on those.
Mr. Arivazhagan also suggests taking multiple mock exams to condition yourself to sit through the four-hour exam comfortably. If possible, schedule your second exam within three months of your first one to help retain knowledge, he says.
Given the commitment required, what kind of career benefits can someone expect from earning the credential?
“Salary surveys regularly show that PMP-certified project managers make in excess of US$10,000 more per year than their non-certified counterparts,” Mr. Rudolf says. “The PMP credential also makes project managers more marketable, whether they are seeking advancement at their existing companies or looking for a position with a potentially new employer.”
“Every year more companies are adding the PMP credential as a requisite to be hired. Some also want you to recertify to be able to keep your position,” Mr. Moshinsky adds. “Passing the exam means that you have a common language and framework understanding to work coherently with a project management team.”
