CAPM and Life Thereafter

The Ambition
If you need reasons why you need to qualify the exam, take your pick:
*People (read team, your boss and future employers) will take you seriously and your ambition to become a PM
*Talk about getting the right opportunity
*You will be motivated to reach out for the next goal, no matter how tough it seems
*Career gets a boost
*You look forward to advance your stand as project management subject matter expert.
*A tad bit easier to get into entry level project management job profile.

The Preparation
You register for the exam through PMI and you get hold of the PMBOK. Is that enough? Ok, so now you start reading blogs, you are well informed but you have to get through the exam.

Tricks anyone?
*You have to think very clearly, so keep your mind fresh and ready.
* The questions are not as simple as they look. There will be a trick word or underlying meaning which affects the answers. Look out for the words.
*Out of the 4 multiple choice answers, chances are 2 will be wrong. The other 2 will be almost the same; the decision you make will have to be exclusively by re-reading the question (based on 1-2 words in the question).
*Understand the concepts and why a process is executed.
*The roles of the individuals and how it affects the projects

Don’t assume you will get the PMBOK right in your first reading, you won’t. Read the book without understanding the details. Once you have finished with your first reading, try it again- more you read better you understand the picture.

Reading the PMBOK is essential no matter what other books or prep materials you follow. Try starting as early as possible. Divide your time, to read through the material at your pace, re-read it and understand. Then take a break to think over the concepts. Resume with the reading of the book and the prep materials. If you know peers who have appeared for the exam it’s a great help. Unfortunately, I am not lucky here and relying more on my guts.

The Thereafter
Ok you have guessed it- I haven’t seen the thereafter.
Remember, my exam’s on September 15! How confident am I? Not much actually I’m completely blank at this point. I don’t want to take the pressure to pass the exam. Do I want to? Desperately. I have never taken an exam so publicly in my life as this one, my results will be somehow part of the blog for the entire world to read and of course my team at work will know it as well. Embarrassing I say (if I don't make it).

Never mind is what I say to myself- its part of the journey. Whether I get it or not the fact that I took up the challenge is a boost enough. I’ll get it.

To all dreamy eyed to-be PM’s- don’t give up your dream and there’s no shame in pursuing it. Take up the challenge and once you are in it and part of it- you will get it.

(Picture: Google Images)

This is your chance

Sep 4, 2008 | 2 comments |
Elizabeth of PM4 girls, is giving away 5 copies of her book to celebrate her blog winning in the Project Management blog category. To get hold of it, all you have to do is email her. I for one, am definitely not letting this chance go wasted.

To get hold of the much coveted book, please click here.

Picture: Amazon.com

To you- dear reader

Sep 3, 2008 | 0 comments |
Dear Reader,

Thank you for the comment (given below)

Good luck on your journey to PMship. Browsing PMHUB, I cannot help but noticing that there are many acronyms, like CAPM, PMP, PMI-SP, PMI-RMP and also PgMP. Hope you can cover this acronyms for me. I do not want to ask in PMHUB since it is probably for those who are already with lots of experience in their pocket.

The credentials are for:

  • CAPM- The Certified Associate in Project Management
  • PMP- The Project Management Professional
  • PMI-SP- PMI Scheduling Professional
  • PMI-RMP -PMI Risk Management Professional
  • PgMP- Program Management Professional

Hope this is helpful.

Picture: PMI

Real Advise

Sep 2, 2008 | 0 comments |

Ok, advises are not to be wasted.

Here's one for the to -be young PMs. We are the "spring chickens" but aren't we glad to get some advise from Project Managers?

Honest Confessions


I have a few more days to get prepared for my CAPM exam. To be honest, I havent been doing much, which makes me nervous.


Long hours of work later, I haven't been studying. There are times when I have thought to postpone my exam, however I will appear for the exam no matter what.

Advantage: Since I have been studying for a while, I am hoping I can get through the exam.
Disadvantage: I perhaps need to focus a hell lot more.
Here's one mistake I made and you shoudn't. I read the PMBOK and then borrowed a preparation book for PMP from a friend of mine to get an idea. It has been going pretty well, till I saw some of the questions for CAPM through a trial version of some website and was stunned. The questions for CAPM are more of a test of your knowledge about Project Management than the indepth intricacies of it. So, finally I realised I was over-preparing for the exam.

Here's the fun part, while I am enjoying the challenge in a way, it is definietly not the wisest thing to do. So, please read up more and know about the exam before you start preparing for it.
Anyways to conclude, I am still up for the exam on September 15.
Here's something to relax your mind at work.
(Picture: Google images).

How motivated are you?

Aug 26, 2008 | 0 comments |
Since I always talk about motivation, I found this piece really interesting. I think there are times, when we really need the push to get things done. I enjoy reading these blogs for some fresh idea and even seeing how others are doing it.

I particularly liked this one which says: Make a big public commitment. Be fully committed
I got this one from my friend Leo at
Zen Habits, and I love it! He says “this will do the trick every time. Create a blog and announce to the world that you are going to achieve a certain goal by a certain date. Commit yourself to the hilt”. Thanks Leo, you have certainly motivated me Make a big public commitment. Be fully committed.

I liked the article and given the fact that your motivation level needs to be at your all time peak if you are planning to be PM. For people like me, I end up spending more time than necessary at work, to know about the processes, other projects, the roles people play, observe the mistakes and think what I could to do to save the day, if I was the PM. There are times, when I really need an overdose of inspiration to keep me going, to make that extra effort and keep the focus intact.

The toughest think is perhaps when you have co-workers who aren’t very positive or using your communication skills to get the work done without yelling. To restrain from using your power and using it wisely and not unnecessarily is hard. More you do, better you learn.

(Picture: Google Images)

So, what is Project Management?

Aug 25, 2008 | 1 comments |
So, what is Project Management? Ever seen Rachel Ray cook?

30 Minute Meals episodes start with Rachel speaking about what she will be cooking on the show (her deliverables). She talks about (her methodology) how she will start with the pasta and cook her way to the soup.

Once her plans (PM plan) are done and her time set (read 30 minutes), she breaks down her work into manageable tasks (Work break structure)- she carries her sauces and spices (tools), boils, chops and cooks (execution) her dish while keeping her spectators informed (team/stakeholders).

While cooking she verifies her recipe with the requirements she has, e.g. her in-laws like the favor of garlic but doesn’t like to bite into pieces of them. So, after flavoring the oil, she removes them carefully (she knows her clients). 30 minutes later (within time and scope) - she has served in plates and a quick tasting (testing) later, she signs off (end of project).

Now, that was PM for you. Of course in real life projects are a little more complicated than whipping up a tasty dinner! But I hope you got the idea.

So, how do you know that you have the qualities to become a Project Manager? You don’t, I didn’t know I can do it well. Perhaps I’m not even the right person to be discussing it. But what the heck- I’ll share what I have learnt.

Chances are you will flair, if you are-

  • Organized
  • Motivator
  • Creative (handling problems, communication and resources) & Analytic
  • Have the gift of the gab
  • Is calm
  • Can work under pressure
  • Responsible
  • Love new ideas/concepts (software, tools, information)
  • Unbiased leader (Read 10: Unbiased Leadership)

Most importantly you have to love your job and be confident of what you are doing, learn from your seniors and take the extra time to read up.

(Picture : Courtesy Food Network)


Thank You

Aug 19, 2008 | 1 comments |
While I try to learn something new everyday in PM, I would like to thank all my well wishers who stopped by and commented on the blog. It is more than inspirational to have PM's take the time to read my blog and leave a comment and also have it feature in theirs.

Thank you once again to all of you.


(Next article on PM made easy)

So unreal

Aug 18, 2008 | 0 comments |

OMG! Elizabeth Harrin wrote about Stepping into PM in her famous blog A Girl's Guide to Managing Projects .

I read her blog almost everyday at lunch and guess what when I opened the blog today, I couldn't belive my eyes. It's like meeting your favorite movie star. This is amazing.

So, thank you Elizabeth, really.

What have you done recently to become a PM?

Aug 16, 2008 | 2 comments |
I decided to take my exam CAPM (Certified Associate of Project Management) on September 15.

I have been thinking of taking the exam since April and have finally decided to go for it no matter what. After being approved by PMI for the exam, I paid the fees ($300) and scheduled my exam.

Here is my list of the websites that I think is quite helpful in preparing for the exam:
If you are still thinking if this is the right path for you, read Choosing the right work may not be as complicated as you think. It's a great read for everyone thinking about the next course in your life.

If you would like to know more about PM- read one my favorite bloggers Elizabeth Harrin's extract from her new book.