|
In this issue... |
|
 Hello ,
This week you are in for a real treat. In this very email I will be sharing multiple ways to help you achieve your dream of becoming a PMP. First, I will share my article on how to select the online PMP exam preparation course that will work for you. We also have the regular PMP Exam tips and PMP exam sample question of the week. Don't miss another PMP Exam success story as well as new PMP Virender Rana shares his journey to the PMP Exam..
Plus, to help you achieve your dreams the cheaper way, we are offering a 15% on the PM Prepcast. But this will not last long as this offer is only for the month of November 2011. Read more details below. Enjoy!
Until Next Time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
|
7 Steps to Selecting your PMP Exam Preparation Course
|
The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a stepping stone for project managers to climb up the corporate ladder. It provides you with the most sought after appreciation and visibility within your organization. The certification enhances your chances of professional growth within the organization and opens up new avenues. It validates your skills as an efficient project management professional. It not only enhances your earning potential but also provides you with a competitive stand in the job market.
The PMP certification confirms that you have the skills necessary to execute projects on time and within budget. It is one of the most globally recognized and respected certification credentials in project management. The certification requires a rigorous and comprehensive preparation for the exam. The closer the exam gets, the more stress you will feel. Your best answer to this pressure is to be well prepared through weeks or even months of studying.
The PMP exam contains questions from all the knowledge areas of The PMBOK Guide and it can be difficult for you to work through all the material yourself. You need a PMP exam preparation course. Such a course will help you to go through the material in a structured and planned way. It will also provide focused instruction dealing with the most important topic areas and points of emphasis. This will help you face the exam confidently.
Here are the 7 steps to go through as you select the course that best suits your needs:
Step 1: Decide if you want an Online or In-Person course
PMP exam preparation courses are available both online and in-person. An in-person workshop gives you the advantage of live interaction. You'll have an in-classroom teacher and there are also the other students in the classroom to learn from.
Online classes on the other hand are convenient as you can stay at home and access all the study materials and modules at any time of the day. Some can even be downloaded to your iPod, Blackberry or other player. That way you can participate in the training as you drive to and from work every day.
Look for PMP Exam in your favorite search engine to find the most popular courses.
Step 2: Compare the Price to your Budget
Money matters to all of us and your available budget limits your options. Compare prices carefully. Many factors go into the pricing of courses such as duration of instruction and materials.
Generally speaking, online courses are less expensive than in-person ones. But don't think that a low price is reflection of quality. Complete, high-quality online courses are available for as little as $100, while in-person classes have a teacher whose salary needs to be paid. So expect to pay a lot more.
Ask your employer if they offer a scholarship option and also get in touch with your local PMI Chapter to learn if there are reduced rates for members on the courses the chapter offers.
Step 3: Select PMI Registered Education Providers only
One of the most important determining criteria is that the course must be offered to you by a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). Courses are offered by a variety of companies and the R.E.P. certification and logo ensures that the course follows PMI established quality criteria.
Step 4: Check that the Principal Instructor is PMP certified
You will greatly benefit from the course if the principal instructor is PMP certified. It ensures that the trainer has the experience of preparing for and taking the exam himself or herself. In this way, your instructor will be more able to help you clear all the road blocks in preparation for the PMP exam.
Step 5: Ensure that the course is based on the most current PMBOK Guide
You also need to make sure that the course follows the latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide). The exam is based largely on the current version of this standard.
Step 6: Ensure that you'll receive 35 Contact Hours with End of Course Assessment
One of the pre-requisites of the PMI certification is that all applicants must show at least 35 Contact Hours of project management education. Without this you will not be able to take the exam. Make sure that the courses you consider offer a certificate of completion that shows at least 35 contact hours.
PMI requires that all online course providers test your knowledge at the end of the course through an "end of course assessment". Therefore, if you select an online class and you are not tested before you receive your certificate, your certificate is worthless.
Step 7: Review these Criteria for each Course and Provider
Of the courses that you consider, take the following into consideration as well:
What is the number of past students?
- Do you receive free sample questions with the course?
- Do you receive PMP Exam tips & tricks?
- Does this provider offer any other PMP preparation materials that might be helpful to you?
- Is there an online forum where you can ask exam questions?
- What kind of technical support is available?
- And most importantly: Read the testimonials from past students and see what they have to say about the course. A good provider will offer an unmonitored, public way for students to give feedback on the materials.
By applying these 7 steps to your selection process you are a going through a structured way in your PMP Exam course selection and you'll ensure that you purchase the right online course, which best suits your needs. Once purchased, then the real work begins: Going through the materials and studying for about 8-12 weeks until you are ready.
|
|
Save up on The PM Prepcast this month!! |
|
 Great deals are coming your way starting this November
as we are offering great discounts and deals from our line up of PM
products. Each month, a featured product will be offered at a
discounted price in the form of coupon codes giving you the best value
out of your money. So start looking out and start saving!
As an introductory deal, we are offering you the PM Prepcast at 15%
off from it's original price of $99.97 starting November 1 - 30, 2011.
This allows you to save up to $15 which you can use on a rainy day. See
summary of details below:
November 2011 Discount Coupon
| Product: |
The PM PrepCast |
| Regular price: |
$99.97 |
| Discount: |
$15/ 15%
|
| Price after discount: |
$84.97 |
| Coupon validity: |
November 1 - 30, 2011 |
| Coupon code: |
Nov11 |
Redeeming this great deal is easy! First watch this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tG81gp6AuQ to learn how to use the coupon and then go to our website at www.pm-prepcast.com where
you begin by clicking on "Order" at the top. (Please note that our
coupons are only available for new purchases and cannot be applied as a
refund if you purchased earlier.)
Sign up for our free newsletter to get the latest
coupon codes, amazing deals and promos for our featured products each
month! Our coupon codes can also be seen from our site so look out for
it and don't let the opportunity pass you. Order now as this is only a
one time limited offer that you cannot get anywhere else! |
|
Dress Right for your PMP Exam
|
|
 Studying and a positive attitude is only half the battle. It is also important that you feel right on "the day". You must be comfortable and relaxed. One of the things you can do to achieve this is to dress right.
Watch this video to learn more:
http://bit.ly/eM3tL1
|
|
Sample PMP Exam Question
|
|
You are managing a construction project. There are seven civil works supervisors, one civil engineer and one project coordinator reporting to you. How many communications channels do you have in your project?
A. 10
B. 36
C. 45
D. 55
Hint: You are also a project team member.
|
|
|
Exam Tip: Prepare Mentally for the Day of the PMP Exam |
After several intense and hard weeks of study and preparations, you are now ready to take on the PMP Exam. And the mental preparation in the last 24 hours before you actually take it are just as important as the weeks of study before. You want to be well prepared, both physically and mentally, to tackle the questions and pass the exam.
And so, going into the eve of the exam, it is important that you can feel relaxed and do not worry. This will help you prepare mentally for the challenges of the next day. One of the most important techniques here is to take one, possibly even two days off from work. This way, you can focus only on your exam and not worry about any work related deadlines as well. Keep your focus!
And obviously, you also want to make sure that you get a good night's sleep. Go to bed early and avoiding things that could give you stress. Wake up early in the morning, do some light exercise just to get you warmed up and ensure that you get a good breakfast. Let my own experience be a lesson for you: avoid any food that's unfamiliar or exotic for you. You don't want to get an upset stomach during the exam like I had.
Remember, a positive attitude will help carry the day for you and help you achieve your goal of passing your PMP exam. |
|
Solution
|
|
The correct answer is: C
Reference: PMBOK4 - pg:253
Explanation: Since you are managing the project you are one of the project team members. That makes the total project team count to 10. Using the communication lines formula n(n-1)/2, you can find out that there are 45 different communication lines (channels) in your project. Choice C is the only correct answer to this question.
|
|
|
Lessons Learned from Virender Rana |
|
Yes, i knocked it down. And it all happened 3 months back when i cracked one of the most sought after examination i ever worked on.. in my entire life.
Guess what? I didn't have any idea of PMP or that sort of certification that is required for you to be a qualified PM....and guess again...you still do not officially require any PMP certification to be called as a PM. Then why did i spend over than 12 months to study for a certification that is not fundamentally a prerequisite?
A T T I T U D E....this is why I needed PMP and this is what I got after I got the PMP. My attitude, my personns for looking at a work scope totally changed...its a kind of evolution and trust me...it counts and counts a LOT. I owe a lot to my cousin bro who cracked PMP and i was told about PMP and its benefits by him. I look around PMI website and that infused a lot of energy in me and i made up my mind to carck and started this seemingly "Himalayan" journey.
Became a member of PMI..got the Bible..PMBOK 4th edition. Started reading it and STOPPED after a weak. It seemed all so dry and superficial to me. Thanks to some of the online PM groups, I got to know about a person called Cornelius...the doyen of the PM Prepcast.
Read more here...
|
|
|
|
