My Road to the PMP

I decided to be industrious while unemployed and obtain my PMP certification.  I figured I had the time to take a crash course, focus on studying, and then I'd take the test.  Needless to say the best laid plans often go awry.  I should start out by saying that I set out to get my PMP in April.  It is now July and I still have not achieved my certificate for no lack of trying on my part.  As this process unfolds, I am becoming more and more disillusioned with professional certifications and if it wasn't for the money I've already invested I would probably walk away.

My journey started by enrolling in a PMP exam prep course which is really a four day boot camp where they teach you how to stop thinking like a project management professional and how to spot the tricks in the test.  If you have never taken a certification test before, this course is well worth the time and investment.  The test is nothing like any standardized test you've taken before with questions asking you which answer is the least incorrect.  Huh?  The course I took provided us with a binder and instructions to read the PMBOK if you have time (that would require a much longer stint of unemployment), but to focus on the material in the binder for the test.  At the end of the course you take an in-class practice test which tells you if you are ready to go sit for the real thing.  I scored a 73% so I knew I needed to do a bit more studying, but figured I could get my practice scores up to an 85% in about a week so off I went to complete the next step.

Cost:  $1,895

The next step in the process is to fill out a lengthy application online and pay for the opportunity to schedule a test.  It took me around an hour and a half to fill out the many pages of forms and submit my application.  They ask you to document your education history, 35 hours of course work (which the boot camp course satisfies), and 4,500 hours of project management experience.  You have to detail the experience hours on a project by project basis breaking hours out into the five process areas with a description of the work you did in each area.   Needless to say a little guesstimating was called for, but I documented my experience and was ready to submit my application.  You get a bit of a discount if you become a PMI member so I went ahead and signed up for that too.

Cost:  $139 PMI membership, $405 exam fee

And then I get slapped with an audit.  I think it is a bit shady to make you pay for everything up front before telling you if you were chosen for an audit primarily because if you fail the audit, you lose most of your money and have to re-apply and pay if you want to try again.  The audit consists of getting people to vouch for your work by filling out a form, signing it, putting it into an envelope, signing the seal, and sending the whole package back to you.  I had two great people who returned their paperwork immediately, but I also had one person who just wouldn't respond.  After two months of attempting to get the last person to sign off I had to find an alternate who could vouch for my work and get them to fill out the paperwork.  In addition to my experience, I also had to provide proof that I did indeed obtain the college degree I claimed and completed the 35 hours of course work.  Like a lot of people I have no idea where my diploma is so I had to pay for a copy of my transcript to satisfy the proof of education.

Cost:  $9 school transcript

Two months after starting this process, I have finally been approved to schedule my exam.  Of course I have forgotten everything that they taught in the exam prep course so that money was wasted.  I am also outside the guarantee offered by the course so if I fail, I do not get to re-take the test for free.  Next steps are to figure out when I am going to have time to study and get the exam scheduled.   Of course, the site appears to be down this morning so I am not even able to locate a test center.  Figures.

Total Cost:  $2,448 and months of headache

Bottom line, they have me for too much money to walk away, but this entire experience has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Professional certifications are a must have when competing for jobs in Europe, but their value is debated in the Seattle tech market.  The process is geared towards PMI making money and not necessarily on improving the skills of project management professionals.  I hope to pass my test and finally get those hard fought letters after my name in the next couple of months.  It looks like actually scheduling the exam is going to be yet another man-eating pothole along the road, but I continue to push on.

Share your certification story in the comments section below.

Now What?

It's official.  I've turned in my key card, removed my work email account from my phone, and retired to the deck to enjoy a cold, but sunny afternoon.  Now what am I going to do?

I have one or two things planned to keep me busy while I look for gainful employment:

• Going to the gym at 7 AM instead of 6 AM every day (that extra hour is awesome!)
• Obtaining my PMP certification.
• Learn how to speak German.
• Get my motorcycle endorsement.
• Train for my half marathon in June.
• Train for my multiple century rides and the RSVP in August.
• Do some secret shopper work.
• Come up with ideas for greeting cards (really, I came across an open call for submission.)

That takes care of April at least.

I've had some good suggestions for how to turn my interests into a career like travel blogger, TV producer, PM for various travel networks, destination wedding planner.  The wedding planner idea does sound like fun and is right up my alley.  Anyone need a hyper-organized wedding planner who will give it to you straight about how that dress really looks on you?  Does David Tutera need a sidekick?  I'll have to look into that one a bit more.

Keep the great ideas coming and I'll try to figure out why Blogger is eating comments.

Blogger is Eating Comments

Apologies to those of you who have tried to leave me comments.  It appears all this talk of food and travel had made Blogger hungry and it is eating comments.  I'll look into this next week when I have more time, but in the meantime feel free to shoot me a direct note or pass on your wisdom through the social networks.

One Week Left

Only one week to go until I join the ranks of the unemployed and I am relieved and panicked at the same time.  I have been doing a lot of reflecting on what it is I want to do with the next phase of my life and the idea of travel continues to surface.  It is not the action of sitting on a beach that draws me, but the experiences and opportunities encountered when traveling.  I love to learn new things and constantly be challenged by ever changing scenarios.  Living in Seattle I find myself acquiring "stuff" as a substitute for having new experiences.  I have a great house and and a supportive husband, but my passion still needs to pay the mortgage.  The key will be finding the  balance.

Laying it out, here are the tools I have to work with so far:

• I love to cook, but my knife skills are "unique" at best.
• My passport is current with additional pages added just waiting for new stamps.
• I have traveled the easy way and the hard way so I have a well rounded perspective of the industry as an end user.  
• I can organize anything like nobody's business.
• I believe it is not just about the job, but about enjoying what you do. 

I'm sure my journey through this process will be an adventure and I'm not sure what will come out the other end.  That's the best part of the experience.  

If you have ideas about I would be good at or opportunities I should pursue, leave your thoughts in the comments.

I Quit My Job to Find My Passion

I have been a bit lost in terms of my career choices since we returned from sabbatical and have taken the first step to getting back on track. I am taking the leap and quitting my job without the safety net of another position waiting for me with the focus on finding a position that I am passionate about and becomes more than just another job. The trick will be how to incorporate one of my two favorite hobbies, travel or eating, into a career. I'm still working on the food angle.

My first efforts are around trying to convince Expedia to hire me, but so far no luck. I used many of their websites during our sabbatical and have first hand knowledge about the challenges and quirks of arranging travel and accommodations around the globe so I know it's a product I can be passionate about. If anyone from Expedia reads this, I am an awesome Program Manager and would love to join your team!

While I am pestering Expedia I am also planning on obtaining my PMP certification which will hopefully help my prospects in general. The ultimate goal is to live and work in Europe so it is important to find opportunities here that support that goal or luck out and find someone in Europe who is willing to hire me directly and sponsor my immigration.

I have eight more days on the job until I'm on my own to figure all of this out. Wish me luck, think happy thoughts, and most importantly keep your ears open for me.

Cycling for a Cause

On June 30th I'm riding 100 miles from Redmond to Bellingham, WA on my bicycle to raise funds and awareness for two great causes. World Bicycle Relief is a global nonprofit organization providing access to independence and livelihood through The Power of Bicycles. Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation provides Washington youth with bicycle safety and maintenance education. By supporting me you will help fund the provision of bicycles for African students in desperate need of transportation to school as well as critical bicycle safety training for Seattle-area youth.

Help me reach my fundraising goal and do your part to share The Power of Bicycles! Every donation helps.

Another crazy ride for a great cause! Thanks for your support!

http://action.worldbicyclerelief.org/page/outreach/view/redbell-100/karisredbell100

Still Getting Lost

It's been a long time since I've mused on my wanderings and general attempt at getting in shape. My fitness app has not fixed the embedded maps feature so I have not bothered to post my routes in a while. Needless to say, I am still getting lost and having a great time doing it.

Since last June I have participated in:

• Fremont 5K
• Seattle Rock and Roll Half Marathon
• Columbia City Street Scramble
• TLCC 5K
• Seattle Half Century
• Kirkland Street Scramble
• Seattle Marathon 10K
• RSVP
• Magnolia 12K
• Dawg Dash 10K
• Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half Marathon
• Polar Bear Resolution Run 5K

And various infrequent, but should have been more frequent, training runs and rides along the way.

This year I'm adding regular beatings at the local CrossFit to my routine and will resume commuting to Capitol Hill by bicycle once the sun starts coming up before my third cup of coffee. Lots of runs, scrambles, rides, and obstacle courses already planned so I'm looking forward to another active year.