ExamsPM Success Story: How Yasmin Passed PMP Certification

That now. Okay, okay, so we're good. So I just wanted to say thank you again for, for being here and spending some time with me, and I'm very excited you got your PMP. Congratulations on that. Hello?

Hello, yes, I'm here.

Oh, okay, okay. Congratulations on getting your PMP. How does it, how does it feel?

Actually, it was a great feeling after like years. I didn't feel like that happy, and I'm still feeling happy actually. And I'm telling everyone I'm now a PMP certified. No, it was, it really is a great feeling.

Yes.

I thought it's, I was really stressful and was afraid. And since like, you know, last time I was studying, it was when I doing my master's back in 2007. So now it was like a bit— it's been a while since like I study and I do practice, so I was very nervous, but I finally, I got it. It was very nice feeling actually, and I feel proud of myself actually.

Yeah, no, it's a big— it's a really big deal. Some people like take their whole life to get something like this, so yeah, it's amazing.

Actually, yeah, and it took me like— I started on 10th of May, so it took me around 3 months. So I think it was good achievements also, and I was very fast to get it.

Yeah, yeah, that is very fast. So can you share a little bit about like, why did you want to take the PMP? Like, what motivated you?

Okay, actually, I was thinking of taking PMP like since 2008. I took the preparation course in Jordan, but I found that I wasn't like, still I need the experience to do the study. I was like more focused in IT and I've been like, just working for 4 years. So I felt that it will be hard for me.

Yeah.

So then I got a new job and I was like learning and doing this new job. But recently I was looking like to enhance my career, to enhance my CV. I need to develop myself. So I decided that I should like, I have also a master's degree in IT, but I felt that when I saw like job posting, they always looking for certificates like PMP or PRINCE2.

Yeah.

So I decided that now I should take some certificate to enhance my CV, to enhance my qualification. If like I'm looking for a new job, so I'll be like a good candidate for that. So I did some research, which certificate should I get? So I ended up with the PMP. I think it was, I had the experience and the qualification, like, I will, it was easy for me because I like, I had like around above 8 experience of project management. So I decided finally to do the PMP.

Yeah, yeah, very good choice. And there's a lot of companies out there that do provide PMP training. What made you choose Examspm?

Okay, so I do a second research now. What shall I do? Shall I take like a training course in Jordan, intensive one, or online course? But since I have work and I don't have like flexibility on time to go every day to course for 4 hours, Yeah. So I did some research on the internet, so I ended up with ExamMP. So I watched the webinar and it really convinced me to take their course. The webinar, yeah, because they explain everything. They explain the knowledge area, the process, how do you memorize the process, also how do you answer the questions, and also the bonuses within the course. You get like the dictionary, the 5 simulations. So it was— I felt it's really great effort. So I bought it online and started. to use it as a basic for my study. So this course.

Right. Awesome. Awesome.

Yeah. But what convinced me was the webinar, actually. Yeah.

Yeah. So you found it really helpful. The webinar was helpful.

Yeah. Yeah. Very helpful, actually.

Okay.

Very helpful and convincing because you'll see a lot of choices on the net. So— Yeah.

Yeah, for sure. I think Personally, I think Helena really brings a lot to the video, like her style. I like her style.

Yeah, also when I started using it, what I like in her course, that when you listen to the lecture, the time is very good because sometimes you feel very bored if you listen to a lecture for like more than 1 hour. But her lecture was— the maximum was 1 hour. So that's what I liked because you don't feel very bored when you listen too much. So that's— so it was very good how she managed the time for every section or every chapter. That's really—

yeah, yeah, I didn't even think about it, but for sure, yeah, those little bite-sized pieces, right?

Yeah, because sometimes you listen to— for me, I actually personally, like, I feel bored if I listen for something more than 1 hour. But for her, I think the maximum was 1 hour for each chapter and for less. And it was like very comprehensive, summarized with very clear language actually, since I'm not native English speaker. But for me, it was very, very great. The pronunciation, the language she used, it was very simple so everyone can manage to understand, especially if they are not native English speakers.

Right. Wow. But your English is very good. But it's good to know that at least like people can understand, you know, like that's really Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah, also I have one good point to add to her course. Because when I did a lot of research how to study for the PMP, so many said that you cannot like just study the PMBOK. So what I like about her course that she covered the additional information which you can find it in other reference. So it was really covered. So you don't need like to go to other reference. For me, I went to other reference just for a few additional information like formulas, other subjects, but all it was covered in her course. All the additional information you cannot find in PMBOK, so that was also a good point.

Wow, that's really good. Okay, thank you for that. So it took you about 3 months, you said. Like, uh, yeah, you have any kind of strategy or, uh, how did you, how did you plan your, your work? Like, can you share anything for people who are—

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. Actually, I, uh, we work for 5 days here in Jordan from 8 8:30 to 4.

Yeah.

So yeah, so it was in, so I started in May. So I really, so it's my advice, if you need, if you want to get your PMP, you have to commit your time and you have like to forget everything around you, anything like, so you have to focus and dedicate your time for the PMP. So for me, I dedicated the weekend, only the weekend to study from like So morning till night.

Okay. Every weekend?

Every weekend. Yeah. Yeah. Every weekend. And after work, sometimes like I study for 2 to 3 hours.

Oh, wow.

Yeah. So it was like, because I had to travel with work 2 times. So the program like was a little bit confused, but I dedicated my weekend, full weekend to study the chapters and within the course. Yeah, yeah. And I think I had to like to repeat it twice. You have to repeat or to read the PMBOK and the course, I think twice it's better, right? But for me, I did 3 times of revision.

Oh my goodness. Did you actually read the PMBOK as well?

Yeah, actually I read it. Strategy was like to, first of all, I listened to the audio chapter by chapter. So when I finished the Chapter or the section, I read it from the PIM book. So I started with the Helen course and her slides, then I read the PIM book. But because it was like for me a first experience, so I had to do all the things so I make sure that I'm confident that everything will go okay.

Yeah, no, that's amazing. That's amazing. That's a lot of dedication because I don't think I would be—

Yeah, because actually, yeah, I told you, you have to commit. Everyone was like amazed that how can you like stay and study But because I wanted to, I wanted like to, I have also, I have a good motivation that I want to enhance myself, my career. And also I wanted to pass it from the first time. And I needed like to, I need to get something above target, not only targets. So that's why it gave me like a motive to study a lot.

Wow. That's, that's really amazing.

Wow.

I'm impressed.

Thank you. And so after I actually, I read a little from other reference. you know, there are trips you find it in the book, like read a book and hit fit. So I did not— I didn't read all of the books, just like some information that I found myself maybe I need like to read a lot, like formulas, type of contract, things like that. But I didn't read the full book, so I was focusing on the slides and the PMBOK actually.

Ah yeah, okay, that makes sense. And that's good for people to know like that. Definitely possible. And, you know, with some dedication and that kind of thing, that it's very, very possible for anyone to do this.

But as I told you, the additional information you can find in Helena's slides. Like, so anything you cannot find in the PIM book, you can find it in the slides and in other references. So also it gives you a guide what it's— what there's additional information you can focus on or read a lot about it.

Exactly. How did you find the— I was just curious, how did you find the exam simulator? Did that help you a lot?

Yeah, a lot. That's— I'm coming to this point. So after my study, yeah, actually also my second advice to all participants that they have to do a lot of exam study, exam simulation. It's like, I think it's good because it will teach you a lot of things. You'll discover some areas you didn't pay attention to it. So, and also it's— you'll memorize things easily. So I did, I did all the 5 simulations. It was great. Some questions were so direct, some questions like so difficult, some questions that also you can find it in another like simulation or another reference book. So it's kind of everything actually, the simulation. I like it very much. And also it was a good number of questions, like 5,500 questions.

Yeah, yeah, I think yes, supposed to be 1,500 or something.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I know I like it because it wasn't like direct or very easy. No, it's, it's different level of question you can find in the 5 simulations.

Super, super.

Yeah.

And, and then when you got to the exam, what was that like? How was it?

Actually, it was, it was horrible for me. Actually, during, during the day, the last, like last week, I did to do practice questions. So I think I solved more than 1,500 questions.

Yeah.

So I didn't study in the last weeks, so I was focusing to do as much as I can for the practice questions.

Yeah.

So as I told you, because it was a long time since I do some exams or studying, so I was very nervous because it's 5 hours, I should be fast, I should like read the questions and looking for the keywords. So it's not easy. And I always read about the internet, it's very difficult exam, it's very difficult experience. No one, no one actually said that it will be okay. Everyone said it's very difficult, so I was very nervous.

Yes.

So the 5 minutes I was like, before I get the exam, I was like very nervous, my stomach hurting me. So when I start, it was actually— the questions were very pretty good because I didn't— they didn't bring like, for example, any formula questions. Some questions were okay, some questions were direct. And I finished like, I finished the 200 questions within 3 hours, but I left some questions for review and it took me like 1 hour to review again, maybe the unreviewed questions or to review them again.

Yes.

Yeah. So it was a strange experience, I can say, but finally I did it.

That's a good strategy. So if I understand correctly, you're going through, you're looking for keywords, you're And you're deferring some questions to be reviewed?

Yeah, although they didn't advise me not to put a lot of questions for review, but for me it was like some pretty questions to put on review. And yeah, and this is what I want to share with the other participants. So when you study the first time, the first round, when you study and when you try to answer some questions, like you will think of the question more than 2 minutes and looking, and you know how tricky question and answer in PMP. But when you do a lot of practice tests, it's like automatically you can know. It's like really automatically when you do a lot of practice questions, you know what is this question about, what he's looking for, what is the keyword for the answer, how you omit. So it's like automatically you can read it and just select the right answer. So you need to do a lot of practice questions and simulations. This is like the key point.

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Did you find yourself sometimes thinking like, When you're reading the question, oh my God, I've done this question 100 times, I know this.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, a lot of this question.

Yeah. Oh, that's good news.

Yeah, also I found something, some similar question, right here. Yeah, something similar but different, different subject, but it's similar. And you know what's, what's the answer they need, which answer you— they will need. So that's why I really am, again, I'm focusing on do a lot of practice questions.

Yeah, for sure. I agree. Yeah, that's, that's great. Okay, well, that's, that's wonderful. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with people, like some tip or anything that might be helpful?

Actually, no, my tip is that you have to commit for your time in order— if you— depends on what time you finish. I tried like to follow Helena's study within 6 weeks, but due to the work and some trouble plan with work, I didn't commit to the 6 weeks.

Okay.

So, but I tried to follow her, you know, the study plan. Like, yeah, I tried, I always follow her that when I finish something, I tick that it's done. So I follow it, but not in exact timing, not in the 6 weeks.

Right.

Yeah. And also my second tip that first of all, you have to have a strong motivation, strong commitment. Also, you have to select the right course. And if you want to buy a course to have like bonuses, to have simulation, simulation exams, simulation tests. So, and also to enjoy studying that if you— and to challenge yourself. For me, I got like 3 areas above target. So that was it because I said, no, I need to get something above target, not only target or something like that.

So that's really good. 3 areas above target. Wow, I don't think I've seen that before.

Actually, I don't know, my results were strange because I got 3 areas above target, 1 area below target, and 1 area I need improvements. But I think it's above target. At least I got above target.

So, all right, that's all right. Nothing wrong with that. Okay, great, great. Thank you so much for your time today.

You're welcome.

And this will be very helpful for people for sure. Would you be willing just to send to the support desk, just send a nice picture of yourself we could include with your answers, and then I'll just write it up and let you know when it's posted.

Okay, great. So I send it to the same email we are communicating, right?

Yeah. Yeah, if you don't mind.

No, no, actually I'm glad to. And I'm also, if anyone would like to ask me questions, I'm really here to answer any question, additional question for anyone, to share my experience. And also I would like to thank you again for your course and for— and also I forgot one more point, that your prompt-to-prompt, as when I always, I send you a lot of questions, you were very fast in responding to our questions. You also, the difference of time, so that you should add.

Oh, thank you. Yeah, I'll pat myself on the back.

I asked you a lot of questions, remember?

Thank you. That's really nice to hear. Yeah, thank you.

Yeah, and also I felt that it was like you answered me a good question and also you were like interactive and you were very, very fast. So that's a good— and when you buy the course, you have— it's a good point that someone is answering your question. Not all courses are doing that. Actually, so.

Oh wow, wow! That's that's really nice to hear. Thank you so much.

Yeah.

Awesome. Okay. Well, thank you again. And yeah, I will let you know when we post that up there, and you can take a look. And thank you. Very much appreciated.

Thank you very much. And I'll send you my picture very soon.

Okay. Thank you. Have yourself a wonderful time.

You too. Thank you very much.

Okay. Bye.

Thank you. Bye bye bye bye bye bye.