FAQs about SHIFT's Career Advancement System "Top Gun"

“Top Gun" is an in-house career enhancement program for SHIFT Group employees.?

The Career Advancement System Top Gun was born out of the desire to provide a place for motivated employees to receive education and have it recognized fairly and be rewarded for it.?

Even now, the content of each test is constantly being improved, and new tests are being added.

Today, we will be answering some questions we often receive!

— What is TOP GUN??

It is a career enhancement program for SHIFT Group employees. If you pass the corresponding Top Gun exam, you will be assigned to the corresponding position, and if you demonstrate success in that position, you will receive a salary increase.?

Regardless of the department to which you belong or how many years you have worked, as long as you are motivated, you will be rewarded and be able to achieve career advancement and a career change.

Willing people can aim for higher positions in the fastest time possible. What is the "Top Gun" career advancement system??

For an in-depth rundown on the system, check out the article “Accelerate Your Career at SHIFT: Unveiling the "Top Gun" System.”

— Can I Take the Top Gun Exam Right After I Join the Company??

Yes! You can apply for the test as soon as you decide to take it.?

We currently conduct the test every month, but we are working on a system that allows everyone to take it anytime, any day of the year. We plan to gradually introduce the system, starting with subjects related to "test designers," which is one of the most frequently taken tests.

— How do you know which test to take??

If you are a quality assurance engineer, the typical test taken to advance your career is the "Test Designer Certification" followed by the "PMO Associate," "Test PL," and "PMO Specialist."

There is also the option of taking an ERP-related certification instead of a "PMO Specialist" to gain in-depth knowledge of core systems.?

We also recommend the "Consultant Manager" and "Consultant Senior Manager" certifications for current or aspiring consultants. These exams have a first and second stage and are more difficult.?

We recently also released an Agile-related certification test for engineers.?

Some take a wide range of exams to broaden their knowledge, so you are not tied to only taking exams that are directly on the path to your career advancement.

— What is the pass rate for each certification test, and what is the average number of times a successful candidate has taken the test??

While we cannot disclose the data for all available exams, we will use the “Test Designer Certification,” which is often taken as a first step to fast-track people`s careers, as an example.

This data is for examinees who have taken the examinations since January 2023. Around the same time, the "split examination and subject pass system "* was introduced.

*If you take the exam and pass any subjects but fail overall, you are not required to take the subjects you have passed again. You also do not need to take all subjects in one sitting.??

The "Test Designer" categories include Test Design, Excel, PowerPoint, and Generation AI Beginner, with Test Design being the most difficult. The graph above shows the number of times the test for test design was taken.?

According to this graph, 65% of the applicants passed the test by the second time, and 89% passed by the fourth time. In addition, most other subjects were passed before the test design was passed.?

According to other data, there is not much difference in the percentage of people who pass the certification test depending on whether or not they have experience. Figures show that many people pass the test after 30 hours of study through e-learning and training provided.?

As with any top gun certification, you don't have to pass it the first time. It is rare for people to pass the test on the first try, so please don't worry.?

— Will failing the test hurt my evaluation?

Even if you fail, you will not receive a negative grade in the evaluation. In fact, you may receive extra points for trying. Also, only those who pass the test will be announced within the company, and those who fail will not be publicized.?

Are career advancement and salary increase opportunities available even if I don't pass the Top Gun certification test??

You can do both, regardless of passing the Top Gun certification. It is up to you to take the test, so there is no problem even if you do not. The certifications are there for those wanting to fast-track their career and increase their breadth of knowledge.

— Is there a limit to how many times I can take the test??

No, there is no limit. You can take the test as many times as you want. The record for the number of times the "Test Designer Certification" has been taken before passing is 15 times! I remember how happy I was when I finally saw the person passing.?

It is possible to withdraw from the exam after applying or leave some of the subjects for the next exam, so please do not give up and take the exam when it is convenient for you.?

— What subjects are particularly difficult or important for improving your skills as a PM??

For example, "Basic Project Communication," one of the subjects of the "PMO Associate," is one of the most important but has the lowest pass rate.?

It is difficult to improve skills overnight through classroom learning alone. The important thing is to imagine the situation being tested and thoroughly understand the other party's point of view. It is also important to be aware of what is likely to happen in the future and think about how to avoid it.?

We have released a guide with seven hints to help you pass the certification. Please refer to it and incorporate it into your daily work.?

To give another example, many people feel that "Project Management," a common subject for "Test PL" and "PMO Specialist," is also very difficult.?

If you answer based on your experience, you may answer incorrectly by answering questions outside the scope of the question.

It is important to answer the questions with a clear understanding of what is being asked. In addition to learning through e-learning, it is a good idea to look at how PMs/PMOs work in the field and think about or ask why they do what they do.?

— What are some key points when answering questions in the certification??

In addition to the appropriateness of your answers, the reasons for your answers will also be scored. The goal of the Top Gun tests is not to give you a pass or fail grade but a way for you to acquire skills useful in practice. To do we break down the abilities required for each position into elements and create a certification that assesses these necessary skills.

For example, if the progress of a project you are participating in as a PM is behind schedule, it is not sufficient to communicate with the client by simply saying, "We will add more people."

It is important to gain their trust by providing a clear rationale, background, and explanation of how you reached this conclusion.?

By writing the reasons as much as possible in the examination, the scorer will be able to understand your thought process. They can understand that you thought of multiple possibilities and the reason behind why you decided to go with a particular choice and can give points to the part in the middle of the project.?

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