Any PMPs here?

[Capt Caveman]

Yes, thanks, I'm aware of that. I've never held a PM title but I have managed several projects and been a part of several more, which is what I will include on the list. The question I have is about how they count the hours. Let me give an example.

Let's say I worked on a project from 1/2003 to 12/2003. If I said I worked on that project 50% of my time (a guestimate), that would be 1000 hours. So, that would count for 1000 hours towards the 4500 hour requirement -- correct? It just seems to imprecise, as there is no way you could really be super accurate.

Correct. Note, you'll have to provide a contact that will verify this information, if you ever audited. They supposedly audit 10% of the applicants but I've never heard of anyone being audited.

 

[Merithynos]

Correct. Note, you'll have to provide a contact that will verify this information, if you ever audited. They supposedly audit 10% of the applicants but I've never heard of anyone being audited.

I have - my boss got audited when he applied, so it does happen.

fwiw - being a PM is a very high-pressure, stressful and frustrating job.

Quoted for truth. You get a lot more credit for leading projects when it isn't your "job". I am embedded in a development and support organization, supporting a manufacturing plant. When a project is successful, Operations gets the credit and the Developers get the bonuses. When things go poorly, the PM gets the shaft, and the Developers still get the bonuses. It's pretty much lose/lose.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Since you've been a PM and had some training, that's a great head-start, however, the PMBOK and PMP Exam are very specific in regards to using their terminology.

Also buy the latest copy of the PMBOK.

I would recommend taking a PMP Exam Prep class, like this one - http://www.butrain.com/share/scedesc.asp?CID=15863

I took a weeklong in class PMP Exam Bookcamp course. I found that it basically follows the standard SDLC with it's own nuances.

fwiw - being a PM is a very high-pressure, stressful and frustrating job. Personally, I'm looking to get out of it and back into Mgmt.

Thanks for the tips, these are helpful.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Thanks for the tips, these are helpful.

No problem. Also, having a technical background is a huge help as a PM. You're able to work with the developers/engineers more closely and translate requirements/questions/etc between the business users and technical folks.

On the flip side, it's also a huge help to have a functional understanding of business processes and requirements coming from the business user.

 

[Elbryn]

count me as another that has the cert. got it not quite in the same timeframe you are looking, maybe 2 years ago now.

my suggestion- go to the library and check out as many up to date materials as you can.

they're on a new pmbok version since when i took it but there's a useful page in there with the block diagram of "steps" to each phase of project management. memorize that to short term memory and write it down before you take the test. it's good for easily answering a few questions. do the same with the formulas.

remember that the test is not about real life project management but about the theory out of the pmbok.

what i found as a technology portfolio pm was that it was alot of busy work. maintaining/updating project documentation was expected but the babysitting was present also. each technical resource i would work with would have a predefined zone of things they do. anything that fell outside of the zone and lay in between two zones required babysitting to bring people together and get them to decide on who was going to "own" the problem. I existed in a weak matrix slanted towards the functional side. as such project resources also were operational resources and the inherent conflict of interest made it an interesting environment

i wouldnt stress too much on the test. raed the materials, take a boatload of sample exams. rita m's book was considered an harder test than the pmp at the time so i prepped the most with that. stick to the standard test taking techniques. rule out the stupid answers (2 typically) and if you have to guess, you increase your chances. be aware when you take the test, sometimes an answer to a question will be embedded in problem statement of another question. figure if you know 50% of answers outright, and rule out half of the answers for the ones you guess on, statistically, you'll be around 75% which will pass the test.

be wary that a PMP itself may not get you a job. you might have to go the consulting route first to build experience in PM even with management/technical experience.

if you have to go back to class for the education portion, you'll more than likely get a free copy of the pmbok. if not physical, then digital. you might even be able to download it from pmi.org once you register to the organization and pay dues.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Thanks. I ordered PMBOK and the study guide by Rita Mulcahy. It appears the test changes again at the end of August so assuming my app is accepted, I want to take it before then.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

be wary that a PMP itself may not get you a job. you might have to go the consulting route first to build experience in PM even with management/technical experience.

Thanks. Another friend had recommended Rita Mulcahy's book as well, so I ordered that and PMBOK from Amazon. I realize that the PMP may not get me another job, but I have recently seen many job postings with that as a desired certification. With my extensive IT experience and leading global projects, I am hoping that the PMP will be enough to push me over the top. And even if it doesn't, maybe I can learn some useful material to help me in my projects.

 

[Blieb]

I got my PMP just before the test changed. I was audited. It sucked, but I got it turned around in 1 day due to time crunch to take the test before it changed to 4th edition. Audit is no joke.

I have seen the Rita book and prefer the Velociteach materials - they are reasonably priced and make sense. But a lot of people swear by the Rita book.

Study your ass off and then study some more.
Read the glossary several times.
Memorize the matrix with the process areas, knowledge groups, and processes.
Memorize all of the formulas.

When you sit for the exam, write down everything you remember from the matrix and formulas.

When you review the questions, don't change anything unless you are 100% certain that the change is the right answer.

Don't take the test until you're getting 75+ on practice tests.

Don't expect anything from having a PMP, except people saying "you are a PMP?!".

My .02

 

[Capt Caveman]

I used Kim Heldman's book for studying - http://www.amazon.com/Project-Manage...tt_at_ep_dpt_6

 

[IndyColtsFan]

What did an audit entail? They called the references on your listed projects?

 

[Elbryn]

What did an audit entail? They called the references on your listed projects?

for me it was needing to get the person who i reported to for every project i listed to sign off and verify the hours. fortunately, all of mine were under my department manager and i had already run the numbers by him prior to submitting. he signed off on everything and off i went.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

for me it was needing to get the person who i reported to for every project i listed to sign off and verify the hours. fortunately, all of mine were under my department manager and i had already run the numbers by him prior to submitting. he signed off on everything and off i went.

Yeah, I am planning on showing all of my forms to the people I worked for to ensure they're OK with what I am recording.