I Bombed The PMP But You Wont! Here Is What You Need To Know.

As someone who initially struggled with the PMP exam, I've transformed my experience into a resource to assist others in their PMP certification journey. Having helped over 240 individuals pass their PMP exams, I recognize the unique challenges faced, especially by transitioning military personnel and military spouses. With the PMP certification being a highly sought-after qualification in the project management industry – there are over 77,000 current job listings requiring PMP certification on Linkedin ( LinkedIn Jobs ) – it's clear why this certification is so valuable.

Understanding that the role of a Project Manager varies across industries is key. For example, a PM in a construction company will have different responsibilities compared to one in an IT tech firm. Aspiring PMs should thoroughly research potential employers, understanding their mission, vision, and the specific problems they aim to solve. Start by exploring the job market, then narrow down potential companies. Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn and Veterati for informational interviews can be invaluable in positioning yourself effectively for these roles and connecting with someone doing the job.

As you gear up for the PMP exam preparation, it's vital to develop effective study strategies and insightful observations about the exam. Through my journey, I've learned that success hinges on our exam approach. Key aspects include honing the skill to effectively eliminate incorrect answers, recognizing the frequent occurrence of situational questions, and becoming familiar with various question types, including drag-and-drop and multiple-answer formats. Integrating these techniques lays a groundwork for diving into the extensive range of resources tailored for PMP exam success. Here are some tips on how I was able to pass the exam the second time around.

Effective Study Habits & Exam Observations:

• Emphasize the 'mindset' approach to decipher correct answers.
• Develop skills to narrow down options for the majority of questions.
• Engage in extensive practice with over 1000 questions.
• Prepare for predominantly situational questions in the exam.
• Utilize tools like Rita Mulcahy's Fast-Track Exam Simulator.
• Expect a mix of question types, including drag-and-drop diagrams and multiple-answer questions.
• Focus on agile and hybrid methodologies.
• Complement study with strategic reading of PMBOK 7th and 6th Ed., YouTube, and Udemy courses.

Free Funding for PMP Exam Vouchers:

• Military COOL Program (Active Duty) https://www.cool.osd.mil/
• Onward to Opportunity (Transitioning Military, Veterans, Spouses, & Reservists) https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/o2o-admission/onward-to-opportunity-application/
• VetsinTech , (Transitioning Military, Veterans, Spouses, and Reservists) if the classes are full, please reach out to Steven Marlow for future dates https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vetsintech-project-management-professional-tickets-742579835277?aff=oddtdtcreator
• ACT Now Education 3 CERT Program (Transitioning Military, Veterans, Spouses, Reservists, and Dependents) https://actnoweducation.org/3cert?nocache=a8ekH%27&trk=public_post_comment-text

Valuable Online Free Resources

YouTube Educational Series:

• PMBOK? Guide 7th Ed Processes Explained with Ricardo Vargas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVlrxOQoSUw
• PMBOK? Guide 6th Ed Processes Explained with Ricardo Vargas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC7pN8Mjot8
• 150 PMBOK 7 Scenario-Based PMP Exam Q&A by David McLachlan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zht0-j03NfQ&t=32s
• 200 Agile Questions by David McLachlan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNIHysh2ZW4&t=3365s
• PMP - Most Important Exam Questions and Answers (2023).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9XwmbJ3EVQ
• PMP Mini Mock EXAM (Power of 3) - Test Your 70% Achievement Potential. https://youtu.be/ON7QFA0Iy2E
• PMBOK Process Flow (Flowchart) - Time-Saving Strategies https://youtu.be/tm27XnfriqQ
• Comprehensive Overview of PMBOK Guide 7th Edition with Ricardo Vargas. https://youtu.be/CK6B4E3FyIM
• 1100 Waterfall Questions by David McLachlan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIH-u81XCxM
• Extensive 2200+ PMP Exam Questions (Agile, Hybrid, PMBOK 7 & 6, Situational). https://youtu.be/CK6B4E3FyIM
• Last-Week Revision: PMP Questions for Your Exam Prep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHPD2Qt22FY
• Detailed PMBOK Process Flow for Exam Change Requests. https://youtu.be/oHJzzgyU8Sk
• Elaborate PMBOK RISK Process Flow for the PMP Exam 2022. https://youtu.be/uLS2wiI83-k
• Efficient Project CLOSEOUT PMBOK Process Flow Strategies.https://youtu.be/ykZlWuVlm-k

Study Guides and Interactive Learning Study Aids:

• PMP Aspirant ITTO Game. https://pmaspirant.com/pmp-itto-game
• PMP Aspirant Process Mapping Game. https://pmaspirant.com/project-management-process-group-and-knowledge-area-mapping-game
• Memorize the 49 Processes in Less Than 30 Minutes. https://www.examspm.com/2018/08/07/memorize-the-49-processes-pmbok-6th-edition/
• O’Reilly’s PMP Certification Crash Course by Asad Haque- DOD. https://dodmwrlibraries.org/continuing-education Create a Free O'Reilly Account

Online Paid Resources:

If you had to pay for anything, I would recommend these resources

• Rita Mulcahy's Fast-Track Test Prep Exam Simulator ($140) https://store.rmcls.com/pm-fastrack-cloud-v11-online-pmp-exam-simulation-3-month
• PMI Study Hall? ($50) https://www.pmi.org/certifications/certification-resources/pmi-study-hall

Full Courses:

• Coursera Google Project Management Certificate (Free) Create a free coursera account https://actnoweducation.org/freecoursera
• Udemy PMP Exam Prep Seminar by Joseph Phillips ($12 - $30) Create a Free Udemy Account https://www.gale.com/elearning/udemy
• Udemy PMP Certification Exam Prep Course by Andrew Ramdayal ($12 - $30) Create a Free Udemy Account https://www.gale.com/elearning/udemy

This guide aims to provide a comprehensive roadmap for PMP aspirants, highlighting the importance of tailored study resources and a strategic approach to understanding the diverse roles of Project Managers across industries.

Thank you to the ACT Now Education Bravo Cohort for helping create this article.

This is not meant to be the end-all be-all, so if anyone has a few great resources, please share them.