I PASSED THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (PMP) CERTIFICATION EXAM ON FIRST ATTEMPT

Well, this is out of the blog theme.. it has nothing to do with travel, but I have to write it down. Keeping the excitement boiling inside me is not healthy, because it would make me look like a crazy person smiling to myself and (maybe) talking to myself.

I passed the PMP exam on the first attempt. I was among the 2 person who passed, another 10 or more candidates that share the same exam time with me have failed. I am very sorry for them, as the exam is not cheap. It's about USD555/exam. PMI is very good at making money. These poor candidates will have to forked out another USD250 ( if I am not mistaken, you can check PMI.org for more info) to sit for the exam again. But if I were them, I wont part with my money unless I am really ready for it.

It was the last day of 2014, on 31st Dec to be exact. The exam took about 4 hours straight. I went to the loo only once, for I fear that I'd waste time outside of the exam time. And yes, the clock still running even if you go out for drink or toilet break. So, the lesser time taken to leave the exam room, the better. After the 4hours time finished, we were asked to complete a questionaires on the exam centre. At that time, my heart was pounding so quick and my hands were shaking. I was informed that the exam result will be shown right after the exam. So, the waiting is killing me. Then, suddenly there was it..There was a big "CONGRATULATIONS" note on the screen. And it was then that I started smiling...

Alhamdulillah...

THE JOURNEY - 4 MONTHS PREPARATION TIME

I decided to take the PMP exam to validate myself as a certified project manager. Being one of the world-class recognition in project management, it is not easy to get certified. The exam is known for its difficulty, because almost 80% of the exam takers have failed the exam. So I attended the 5-days PMP Preparatory Exam at CADD Centre, Petaling Jaya in Sept 2014 with some of my office colleagues. Our trainer, miss Gythri was an excellent trainer. The classroom session was dry, as we have to adsorb all the theories from PMBOK. The class went on Saturdays and Sundays. Once completed the 5 days session, me my colleagues registered with PMI for the exam. We purposely selected the last day of the year in order to get the RM2,500 refunds promised by government of Malaysia.

Aahh... yes, I have to inform CADD centra that I have passed the exam to request for the refund!

What did I do to pass the exam for the first time?

1. I read PMBOK 5th edition from cover to cover. Never miss even a page!

2. I allocated minimum 1 hour study everyday. Because I have a full time job (hence cannot study at work) and a mother (hence cannot study when children are around), I woke up at 4.30am every morning to study. 

3. I used Rita's book (8th edition) to make myself understand the PMBOK further.

4. I did a lot of mock-up exam questions / sample exam questions. Some given by my trainer, but mostly from the internet. I just googled 'Free PMP exam questions PMBOK 5th', and lots of links shown.

5. Pray hard and get the blessing from my husband.. (thanks, sayang!)

But, hardwork alone will not guarantee to pass the exam. From the 4months of torturing myself with study and after sitting for the exam, below are five important tips that other PMP-inspired people out there should know :

1. Earned value is very important. Lots of questions on SPI and CPI. You have to understand it's basis and know how to put it in use.

2. Change management is very critical. You wont be able to answer it correctly if you dont understand the fundamental of change in project management. I think, more than 10 questions were about change alone!

3. You dont have to remember all the ITTO... but you have to understand the sequence and where every processes and tools are used. Rita's book is very good at giving you the understanding.

4. You must always picture yourself a project manager of a big project in a big organization. The questions will require you to answer based on that perspective. 

5. Allocate 1 min per question. Never more. If you cant answer it, mark it for review and proceed with next questions. You can go back to it later. Given time, you brain will secretly find its way to find the correct answer. You'll be able to answer it right when to review the question again later.

I hope the above will give you some ideas on the PMP exam and what to do before sitting for it. If you have questions, feel free to comment below, or email me at cutifamili@gmail.com. 

10 Fakta Luar Biasa Indonesia Yang Mendunia

Indonesia, ya itulah sebuah nama yang mencerminkan siapa kita, sebuah nama yang menjadi kebanggaan bagi kita, sebuah nama yang telah sangat mendunia, sekali lagi adalah Indonesia itulah kami. Indonesia yang merupakan negara kepulauan terbesar di dunia ini merupakan negara yang disegani oleh dunia. Setelah pada artikel sebelumnya membahas fakta menarik mengenai bahasa Indonesia di mata dunia,

Kotak hitam pesawat AirAsia sudah dijumpai

Semoga segala persoalan dapat diuraikan.

Biodata YAB Dato’ Bentara Setia Tuan Guru Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat

Jika belum mengenali siapa Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat yang sebenarnya, bolehlah ambil masa untuk membaca kisah dan biodata beliau yang agak menarik ini. Semoga menjadi manfaat buat kita semua.

Biodata YAB Dato’ Bentara Setia Tuan Guru Haji Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat 

Nama : Nik Abdul Aziz bin Nik Mat
Tarikh Lahir: 1931
Tempat lahir : Kampung Pulau Melaka,Kelantan.

Pengajian :
1-Pondok Tuan Guru Hj Abbas, Besut
2-Universiti Deoband India
3-Universiti Lahore Pakistan
4-Universiti Al Azhar
5-Sarjana Muda bahasa Arab
6-Sarjana Perundangan Islam

Tuan Guru Dato’ Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat dilahirkan dalam sebuah keluarga yang sangat kuat berpegang kepada ajaran Islam di Kampung Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu, Kelantan pada tahun 1931.

Bapanya, Haji Nik Mat bin Raja Banjar bin Raja Abdullah bin Raja Mamat merupakan keturunan Raja Jembal. Bapanya lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Tuan Guru Nik Mat Alim disebabkan beliau arif dalam ilmu-ilmu agama. Beliau terkenal di Kelantan dalam mengendalikan institusi pengajian pondok di Kampung Kedai Lalat.

Di situlah Nik Abdul Aziz mendapat pendidikan awal bersama ratusan pelajar Islam dari segenap ceruk rantau Asia Tenggara. Sejak kecil beliau mempelajari dan mendalami kitab-kitab agama yang muktabar dari Almarhum ayahandanya serta belajar menulis daripada ibunya Hajah Aminah Majid.

Sewaktu usia 9 tahun, Nik Abdul Aziz dihantar berguru dengan Tuan Guru Haji Abas Mohamad di pondok Madrasah Ittifaqiyah, Jertih, Besut, Terengganu. Tuan Guru menuntut ilmu di situ selama setahun sehingga peperangan Jepun berlaku dan pengajian dihentikan buat seketika.

Pada masa ini juga, Tuan Guru berulang alik ke Kampung Sirih, berguru dengan Tok Khurasan dan belajar dengan Tuan Guru Ali Pulau Pisang dalam mata pelajaran Nahu dan Tuan Guru Dato’ Muhamad Nur Ibrahim (bekas Mufti Kelantan) dalam pelajaran Fekah. Setelah perang tamat Tuan Guru menyambung kembali pelajaran secara formal di Ittifaqiyah.

Walaupun usia Tuan Guru masih muda tetapi beliau dapat menguasai kitab Asmuni (sebuah kitab nahu yang agak tinggi) setanding dengan murid-murid yang lebih tua.

Pada tahun 1945 beliau menyambung pelajaran di Jamek Merbawi Al-Ismaili, Kota Bharu hingga 1952. Beliau menyambung pelajaran ke Universiti Darul Ulum di Deoban, India, mendalami ilmu Fekah, Usul Fekah, Tafsir al-Qur’an, Hadis dan lain-lain.

Ketika di India beliau juga telah berguru dengan Sheik al-Hadith dan guru Tarikat yang terkemuka di India iaitu Maulana Mohamad Ahmad Al-Madani dengan mendapat ijazah. Maulana Mohamad seorang pejuang kemerdekaan India yang pertama dan pernah di penjara semasa penjajahan Inggeris.

Pada 1957 beliau menyambung pelajaran ke Pakistan dalam bidang Tafsir. Pada 1958 menyambung pelajaran di Kuliyatul Lughah di Al-Azhar, Mesir dan memperolehi ijazah sarjana muda dalam jurusan pengajian bahasa Arab kemudian menyambung pelajaran sehingga mendapat ijazah sarjana (M.A) dalam jurusan kehakiman dan perundangan Islam selama 2 tahun. Kemudian beliau mendapat diploma pendidikan di Darul Azhar dan pulang ke tanahair Februari 1962.

Perkhidmatan :
Pada 1962 beliau membuka sekolah dengan menggunakan tanah wakaf yang diberi oleh ibu saudara Hajah Kalthom iaitu Sekolah Menengah Ugama Darul Ulum, Pulau Melaka di sebelah petang dan sebelah pagi beliau berkhidmat di Sekolah Menengah Agama Tarbiatul Mardhiyah, Panchor, Kemumin. Pada sebelah malam beliau menjadi guru dan penyelia di sekolah dewasa selama 2 tahun.

Pada 1 Januari 1964 beliau meletakkan jawatan dan berkhidmat di Ma’had Muhammadi, Jalan Merbau, Kota Bharu.

Bidang Politik :
Beliau menjadi ahli PAS sejak 1967. Pada Julai 1967 hingga 1986 beliau menjadi calon PAS dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Kelantan Hilir (sekarang Pengkalan Chepa). Pada tahun 1986 beliau berpindah untuk bertanding di kerusi kawasan Parlimen Bachok dan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Semut Api hingga sekarang.

Pada 1971 beliau dilantik menjadi Ketua Dewan Ulama’ PAS Pusat hingga 1995. Kemudian dilantik Mursyidul Am PAS mengambil alih tempat yang ditinggalkan oleh Tuan Haji Yusuf Rawa.

Katakan "Kami benci hedonisme! Kami benci K-Pop!"

Katakan "Kami benci hedonisme! Kami benci K-Pop!"

K-Pop sejenis racun hedonisme yang secara halus merosakkan pemuda dan negaranya. Mari kita bersama-sama menolak sebarang hiburan yang merosak identiti sebagai muslim sejati.

“Jika kamu mahu melihat masa depan sesebuah negara, maka lihatlah pemuda-pemudinya pada hari ini.”

Azmin turun Pahang pula bantu mangsa banjir

Menteri Besar Selangor, YAB Azmin Ali ketepikan protokol dan turun sendiri memimpin operasi pembersihan pasca banjir di Pahang hari ini.

Pemimpin MCA berlakon sapu selut?

Pandai ko berlakong erk.. Patut la kalah teruk. Belajar dengan umno macam mana cara nak berlakon depan rakyat.