By Mike Adams, PMP®

VP Education - PMI Otowi Bridge

I took my first PMP examination in the summer of 2011. I had completed a crash course, paid for by my employer, I had studied, and I was ready. I had memorized formulae, read about processes, tools & techniques, and I was good at passing tests. Imagine my shock, when I discovered that I had failed to pass that test. I had never failed a certification test before and I experienced anger, then embarrassment, then profound disappointment. My self-confidence drained, as if someone had removed a plug from my feet and confidence poured out from me into a puddle on the floor.

How could I tell my employer? How could I face co-workers tomorrow morning? Next day people came by, smiled and asked, “how did your test go?” I thought, “why did I tell anyone about that stupid test?” My stomach coagulated into a churning mass of anxiety, and my face burned with embarrassment.

“I didn’t pass.” I said, with a pained expression. This prompted sympathetic nods, pats on the shoulder, all accompanied by, “I’m sorry. That is a tough test.” In the next weeks, I learned that historically, the PMP has a high failure rate among professional certification exams. I forged an excuse beginning with the fact that my home town had been evacuated the week after my PMP Prep Boot Camp. This was true, and it impacted my studies, but I have to own the fact that I didn’t study after returning home. In short, I did too little too late.

Next year, my manager mentioned to our group that there were open positions on the local PMI board. I asked for information and asked if a PMP is required to serve. He said I could serve, so I made myself available as the VP of Education. I was elected by a slim margin, and immediately, I was tasked with scheduling and organizing a PMP Prep course, to begin in January. It was December, and the PMP Prep is our chapter’s primary fundraiser.

In a hurry, I met with the previous office holder, gathered all the information available, and read that information. I made phone calls to find a location, confirmed availability of volunteer instructors, and sent announcements to the chamber of commerce, small businesses, personal mail lists, etc…

We didn’t have enough time to market properly, so I cancelled the course when two days before it was to begin, no one had registered. I rescheduled for the late spring, after the PMBOK 5^th edition would become official.

As the course date approached, I had only to get new curricula relevant to the 5^th edition PMBOK guide, and confirm the instructors and location. I had done most of the work already, and our second attempt was astoundingly successful. We had 30 students register, making this the most successful PMP Prep course our chapter had produced.

I went to the course every week, to ensure that instructors had what they needed, and to learn what I could in preparation for my second attempt at passing the PMP exam. I implemented quality control practices and scheduled a mandatory instructors meeting to review the results from a mid-course quality survey.

The course was a success. Several attendees have subsequently passed their PMP exams. I also passed my exam, in July. I planned to take another turn as the VP of education, and continue developing new ideas, but our past president asked me to consider running for the position of incoming president. After some consideration, I did, and was elected. I’ll be serving as the incoming president next year, and as president the following year.

I believe that volunteering for PMI helped me to pass my PMP exam by allowing me to practice skills that I don’t use in my work. I rebuilt my self-confidence, and I was able to participate in a second PMP Prep Course. This was a fantastic experience, and I look forward to many years of serving as a volunteer with PMI.