Project management as a sphere is pacing rapidly. According to the Project Management Institute,  by 2027 almost 90 million individuals will be in demand for new project management-oriented roles. It means that the global economy will become more project-oriented and even some traditionally not projects-oriented industries like healthcare or professional services will focus on project management roles too.

To manage projects effectively, managers have to possess a combination of certain skills, personal as well as professional. Also, managers need to have a good command of special tools. A Gantt chart is one of them. Visualization makes it an effective solution for all those who deal with projects. As a chart has a descending Work Breakdown Structure, it is easy to follow the progress of a project and be aware of upcoming events.

What advantages does a Gantt chart have?

Gantt charts successfully found their niche in project management software. Lots of project planning tools rely on this bar chart. Among them are giants like MS Project and Smartsheet, their modern and affordable competitors like GanttPRO and many others used on a daily basis in professional spheres and for personal needs. You can even build a Gantt chart in the popular and commonly known Excel, though it requires time and efforts.

Now let’s speak about the truths about Gantt charts that every project manager should know. They can bring the described advantages to almost any project and improve execution.

1. Process organization

In most cases, projects lack efficient organization as they consist of dozens of tasks and involve multiple team members. With a Gantt chart, there are more possibilities to organize an efficient work process.

To start with, it helps to define all the tasks from the very beginning and think over every assignment before a project even begins. To get a successful project, it is better to create groups of tasks and subtasks that form them. As a result, project managers get a clearly defined structure on a visually appealing Gantt chart timeline.

2. Time management and planning

As projects very often consist of dependent tasks, it gets difficult to realize how much time each assignment will take. There is no clarity on the start and end dates. Notably, this is the case of complicated projects with multiple team members.

Thanks to two axes visualization, each task in a Gantt chart has clear time and deadlines indicators. Most online Gantt chart makers allow setting start and end dates right away. In addition, they are accompanied by calendars what makes project management more productive.

In case you cannot create a chart, you can manually build a checklist following these simple steps.

3. Focus on current tasks and progress

It is crucial not to lose the project pace. Having no clues about the progress of the project and personal tasks, a team member can lose not only the status but interest as well.

With planned actions, steps, and events right in front of them on the screen, participants can keep track of tasks and current progress as well as realize how much work is expecting ahead.

4. Identification of critical points and risk management

Gantt charts help to identify possible obstacles and critical points beforehand. Thanks to a clear visualization, managers will be aware of any delayed dates or frozen progress.

Elimination of problematic issues at the early stages will prevent projects from situations that may endanger its healthy state.

5. Communication and collaboration

Projects do not exist in the vacuum. They include managers and team members. The more efficient communication and cooperation they will have, the more successful their project will be. Gantt charts allow improving those processes without the necessity to switch between different tools and sending reminders.

Moreover, these bar charts can replace constant meetings. Team members can get updates in a common workspace with tasks, dates, deadlines, dependencies, and milestones.

6. Resource management

Resources are inherent subjects in project management. A resource is not necessarily a real team member. In 2019, you will hardly find a Gantt chart maker that does not offer the resource allocation feature. It allows managers to see who is underperforming or has too many tasks and if needed, reallocate resources.

With the proper tasks assignment and resource allocation, managers increase the chances to build rocking projects.

7. Flexibility with multipurpose use

As twins’ behavioral patterns differ even if they grow up in an identical environment, there are no identical projects even if the same people plan it. There will always be unexpected situations, risks, and other unforeseen moments.

It underlines an important peculiarity of a Gantt chart – its flexibility. They are a good choice for a variety of professional spheres. Managers can use them for construction, software development, web design, retail, manufacture, education, professional services, product launch, and other spheres where it is possible to break down projects into smaller pieces. Gantt chart tools even offer ready-made templates to save time on planning.

8. Milestones

Milestones are significant events in a project that have no duration. They show and indicate that a plan has reached a certain critical event and is developing as it was planned from the very beginning.

Milestones can be:

• Start and end dates of tasks.
• Critical points.
• Other moments that are worth paying attention to.

Gantt charts are probably the most visualized ways to depict milestones and be aware of the right project development.

Managers can benefit a lot from using Gantt charts. Moreover, every single project manager can easily find other useful features and benefit from using them.

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Walking into the PMP exam room is an experience. This is the moment you’ve worked toward for months. You’ve invested years of effort in work experience, courses and exam preparation. You have even read through the PMBOK Guide more than once. After all that work, are you ready? Only you can know the answer for sure.

However, there is one secret method that the most successful PMP exam takers to pass right away. Moreover, the best part? You don’t have to create any study resources on your own – you can leverage existing resources on the marketplace. One of the best resources to use are PMP practice tests. Once you complete a course to get your contact hours, practice tests give you the chance to check whether you have knowledge gaps.

Introducing PMP Practice Tests

Reading over PMP study materials over and over again is not enough to get ready for the exam. Why? That is a passive learning method. It does have value. It is best to supplement it with active learning techniques.

According to Queen’s University, “Rather than being a passive recipient of information, the active learner puts knowledge to use.” That’s exactly what you want to do when it comes to the PMP. After all, you should aspire to both pass the exam and make progress toward your long-term goals of becoming a better project manager.

In the short term, you need the capability of applying your knowledge to the PMP exam itself. While you will not be expected to write essays, critical thinking and problem solving using project management concepts are still vital. There are even some expectations that you use math.

Are You Ready For The Exam Environment?

 

When you sit at home and study the PMBOK Guide, it’s easy to become confident. You also need to check if you can apply that knowledge in an exam setting. By using a practice test, you will test your knowledge under exam-like circumstances. Specifically, can you still apply your knowledge when you have many questions to answer in a limited time frame? The best way to find out is to use a PMP practice test and make sure to give yourself limited time.

 

Tip: If you have been out of school for some years, your test-taking skills may be getting rough. To give yourself the best chance of passing, take care of yourself by getting a full night’s sleep before the exam and avoid cramming. Regularly studying for 30-60 minutes per day over a matter of weeks is far more effective than attempting to learn everything in a weekend.

 

Which PMP Practice Test Resource Should You Use?

 

There are many PMP practice exams on the marketplace. How do you know which one to choose? There are two criteria I recommend you use.

Do They Have A Free PMP Practice Test?

Check if the provider has a free PMP practice test so that you can experiment to see if you find it helpful. The quantity and quality of the practice exam questions provided matters. Ideally, you will want to complete 200 questions on a practice test. Why 200? That’s the current number of questions you can expect to see on the PMP exam. Regarding quality, keep track of whether or not the exam questions covers all of the knowledge areas in the PMBOK Guide.

What PMP Study Preparation Products Do They Offer?

A single free PMP practice test will probably not be enough to guarantee your success. That’s why I recommend looking for a provider that can provide a complete solution – a study course, practice questions and more. Is it possible to use study resources from multiple providers and still succeed? Sure. The only challenge is that you will be switching back and forth between different instructional methods which means your productivity will suffer.

What To Do If You Have Poor PMP Practice Test Results?

Here’s the harsh reality: you might fail the first PMP practice test you choose.
Before you give, keep the following points in mind. Studying for the PMP certification exam requires careful preparation. You need to get used to the types of questions that are used. You also need to master quite a few different formulas. Many experienced project managers struggle with the exam because it is different from the ways projects are managed at their organization.

Fortunately, you have some options to recover from failing a practice test. Let’s get started:

 

• Pre-Application. If you took the practice test to see how you would perform in the exam, congratulations! You have used the practice test to detect gaps in your knowledge, and you can prepare accordingly. If you scored under 50%, I recommend giving yourself three to four months to study assuming you have about 5 hours of weekly study time. If you scored higher than that level on the practice test, you could consider a more aggressive schedule. Just remember to keep in mind your other responsibilities as you plan your exam study schedule.
• 45-90 Days From Exam Date. As a general rule, I recommend achieving 80% or higher on a practice test as a measure of your readiness. If you are still scoring before that level, you have two options. You can either double your study efforts or reschedule the exam to a later date so that you have more time to study. In some cases, you may want to consider taking a vacation day off from work to further your studies.
• 45 Days Or Less. At this point, you have probably been studying for some weeks or months already. For the areas where you have weakest scores, some targeted memorization work may be your best bet. If you are not a natural numbers person, you may find it helpful to memorize the formulas and other numeric data points.

The solution you choose will depend on your level of motivation and how much time you have left to study for the exam. If you have more than 30 days from your exam, stay the course by working on the knowledge areas you find most difficult.

 

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You know you need the PMP certification training to get that next promotion at work. However, finding the time to study isn’t easy. Then you have to face the question of which resources to leverage. Let’s cut through the complexity by looking at a few simple ways to get PMP certified faster.

1) Know Your Why For PMP Certification

Take 5 minutes to journal about why you want to pursue this certification. Is it a prerequisite for your career goals? Do you want to fill in gaps in your knowledge? Take your time here – knowing your why is essential to staying motivated during your studies. Here are some popular reasons for taking the PMP:

• Career Advancement. As the PMP becomes a standard requirement, you may hit the ceiling on your career goals unless you earn the PMP certification.
• Increase Your Confidence. You probably have a few techniques you use to stay organized on your projects. However, personal organization tips and tricks are not enough to manage large projects. To operate at that scale, the tools and methods covered in the PMP certification will help.
• Maintain Competitiveness. If you skip investing in your career, you put yourself at a disadvantage. As the PMP becomes more popular in project management, it may not be optional.

Your Action Step: Take 5 minutes and write down 3-5 reasons why you are interested in earning the PMP certification.

2) Know The PMI Requirements Before You Apply

Do you know why the PMP certification is so widely respected in the market? It is challenging to obtain, and it requires considered work experience hours. Before we go any further, take the time to check if you are eligible for the certification.

Note: The PMP certification is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). If you have a question on whether you are eligible, it is best to contact PMI directly.

• Work Experience. The amount of work experience required for the PMP depends on whether you have a degree. Take note that the application will ask for a detailed breakdown of your experience hours (4500-7500 hours) and contact information for references. Remember that PMI can audit your application and request proof from your references.
• Project Management Training. You must complete an accepted project management training course. Fortunately, there are many options available including intense weekend courses and online self-study courses.
• Application. You need to complete the PMP application. Once it is approved, you will have the option to schedule your PMP exam date.
• Exam. PMP certification exams are multiple choice tests based on the PMBOK Guide and other resources. The good news? Most major cities have several testing centers so you can choose a time that suits your schedule.

3) Leverage A Proven Study System

What was the last exam that you studied for and passed? If you are taking the PMP exam, your university years are probably a distant memory. With your career advancement goals on the line, do yourself a favor: use a proven study system. You could ask your coworkers for recommendations, but they may have taken the exam years ago in a classroom. Instead, I recommend looking for online options that fit with your schedule.

When you select a PMP certification training resource, look for the following features:

• Practice Exam Questions. Reading PMP exam books is helpful. How do you know if you are truly learning what you read? The only way to tell is to take a practice exam. The best PMP certification training providers include practice questions so you can evaluate your knowledge.
• Contact Hours. Under current PMI requirements, you must complete a certain amount of “contact hours” to be eligible to take the exam. Make sure the resource you choose fulfills this requirement.
• Case Studies. If you’re like me, you can only read the PMBOK Guide so much before you ask “how does this work in practice?” That’s why I recommend looking for industry case studies in your certification training.
• Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). This special status quickly tells you whether or not a training provider has registered with PMI. If a PMP certification training has this status, it is a good sign you are working with a reliable provider.
• Training Format. In essence, you have two ways to take PMP training: online or in a classroom. I used both methods when I earned my PMP certification. If I had to do it all over again with limited resources, I would focus on an online course option.

4) Discuss Your Plans With Your Manager

If you have been following along so far, you have already made some substantial progress toward earning your PMP certification. Now it is time to reach out to your stakeholders at work. To keep this simple, let’s focus on your manager. I recommend scheduling a one on one meeting with your manager to discuss your PMP goals. Ask for their advice and support in pursuing your studies.

Note: If your organization tends to fund professional development, ask your manager for funding before you pay for anything.

5) Connect With Your PMI Chapter

Studying by yourself is critical to PMP certification success. To reinforce your learning, connecting with others is helpful. If your area has a PMI chapter, I recommend joining and asking about PMP study groups. Joining an in-person study group is an excellent way to grow your network while you learn.

Resource: Visit this webpage for a list of PMI local chapters to find one located near you.

6) Commit To A Study Schedule

In my first job, I used to try to squeeze professional development into my work day. When 4 pm arrived, I would open my materials and start studying. As you might guess, this studying approach was slow and didn’t work well. That’s why I recommend you commit to a study schedule. Skip TV twice per week or cut back on a volunteer role to give yourself the study time you need.

7) Leverage Deadlines By Scheduling Your Exam Date

Until you have a specific PMP certification exam date, your study efforts will be unfocused. That’s why I recommend scheduling your exam date as soon as you can. To the degree possible, schedule your exam to avoid known holiday plans, work busy periods and so forth. Once you have a date in mind, build a high-level schedule to organize your studies.

Here is a sample three month study schedule that assumes you have about 5-10 hours per week to study:

• Month 1. Complete your contact hours course. Read through the PMBOK Guide.
• Month 2. Complete two or more practice exams. Focus your studies on areas where you have low scores. Attend one study group session.
• Month 3. Write up your notes using The Feynman Technique for areas where you need to sharpen your understanding. Take more practice questions. Visit the exam location a few days in advance to confirm you know how to get there.

 

 

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Project managers are known for their love of achievement and organization. Many project managers fail to plan one of the most important projects in their life: their project management career. That’s a huge mistake because most of us spend more of our waking hours at work than we do at home.

Jeff Allen, PMP Shares His Perspective On Earning The PMP Certification

Find out how to make the most of that time by using these four strategies to develop your career goals.

1) Search Within Your Past Job Experiences To Inform Your Next Step

Review your past job experiences and your goals to find your next step. This strategy is especially powerful once you have a few years of work experience.

Example: You loved the experience of mentoring new hires and selling the vision of new projects to management. You also have a goal to increase your income. One career path to combine these goals and strengths: start your own business focused on coaching and consulting.

Use these reflection questions:

• What frustrated you the most about the organization’s culture (e.g., work from home, limited professional development budgets)?
• What projects were you most proud of in this role and why?
• How did you feel about the job on Sunday nights? If you were inconsistent low spirits every Sunday night, that’s a warning sign you’re in the wrong job.

If you find yourself liking the fundamental nature of the work (e.g., leading technology projects) but disliking the organization, it is time to look at making a change.

2) Look At The Marketplace (Not Just The Job Boards)

Your needs and interests matter but they are not the whole story when it comes to careers. As you plan the next step to grow your project management career, there are a few considerations you need to keep in mind.

• Look At Promotion Notices. Does your company post promotion announcements to an internal website? If so, take the time to read through those notices. Specifically, look for patterns on who is promoted. For example, if you have your heart set on an executive role, you might notice that most executives have a master’s degree like an MBA and have a variety of different roles in their work history. You can then model those patterns in your career.
• Check In With Your Network. The majority of the best, highly paid jobs and business opportunities come through your network. Unfortunately, you are probably neglecting your contacts. To gain insight from your network, set up coffee meetings with two to four people you already know. The purpose is simple: ask them for their perspective on what skills and capabilities are in demand. You will receive the best insights if you focus your efforts on managers who have made or participated in a hiring decision in the past twelve months.

If your market research tells you that certifications and credentials are critical, we’ll show you how to take the next step.

3) Enhance Your Career With Project Management Certifications

When you earn a high-value certification like the Project Management Professional (PMP), you will experience a few benefits. You will start to have greater confidence in your decisions because you can use a proven methodology. Further, Project Management Institute research suggests professionals with PMI certifications tend to earn more than those who lack the certification.

If you want to earn a certification, use the following steps to get started.

• Choose Your Certification. While the PMP is the most project management certification, it is not the only option on the market. If you already have the PMP, you might consider pursuing another certification like the Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP).
• Check Your Eligibility. Before you get too excited about opening new doors in your career, you need to do your research. Visit the certification organization (e.g., PMI) website and review the eligibility requirements. You may require a specific combination of professional work experience, training and exam results to obtain a certification.
• Set Your Budget and Schedule. Once you find a relevant certification that you are qualified for, it is time to set your budget and schedule. For the PMP, I recommend setting your schedule as 12 months or less. The budget you use will depend on your circumstances, but you can probably earn the certification for less than $1,000.
• Seek Out Support. There are two places you can seek support. First, ask your manager if you can apply for funding for certification expenses and time to study. Second, ask for your family’s support and understanding as you take the time to study for the exam.

Now you might be asking yourself “how am I supposed to find time for all this when I already have a day job?” Let’s cover that challenge in the next section.

4) Start A 10% Personal Project To Get Growing

10 percent is all you need to make serious progress in your project management career. 10% of what? Let’s unpack the concept.

For the sake of discussion, assume you work a 40 hour work week. If you extend that workweek by 10% (i.e., add four hours), you will be able to make progress without driving yourself crazy.

Assuming you work a 9-5 schedule, here are a few ways you can add 4 hours to your program.

• The Morning Warrior. Set aside 1 hour in the morning on Monday-Thursday and work on your career. This approach works well if you are studying for a certification.
• The Networking Strategist. Start scheduling two lunches and a few coffee meetings each week to grow your network. For the best results, include existing contacts and people you want to meet.
• Leverage The Weekend. If your workweek is too chaotic, look at your weekends differently. When I studied for the PMP exam, I set aside time on weekend mornings to do practice PMP exams. The strategy worked well for me because it gave me uninterrupted time to do full practice exams.

Resource: Interested in starting your own project management business on the side? Check out The 10% Entrepreneur by Patrick McGinnis for advice on how to apply the 10% concept to starting a business.

Are four hours per week enough to achieve all of your career goals? Only you can tell for sure. If you want to make progress faster, you may need to set aside more time. This approach will be enough to get you going.

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Note: This is a sponsored post relating to the CompTIA Security+ certification. While I haven’t earned this certification myself, the cybersecurity industry is growing rapidly and it is worthwhile to learn more about the industry.

What is CompTIA Security+?

CompTIA Security+ is a well-known certification that is provided to individuals who possess the baseline skills required to perform some of the core security functions. The certificate is ideal for individuals who want to pursue a career in IT security. Some of the key highlights related to the CompTIA Security+ credential are the following:

• There is no other certification in the market that asks the candidates performance-based questions in the exam. The test for the certification checks practical skills which may be needed to solve different IT related problems.
• The certification pays attention to the latest techniques and trends in risk management, intrusion detection, threat management, and risk mitigation.
• It also focuses on the job roles of Junior IT Auditors, Security Administrators, Systems Administrators, and Network Administrators.

Exam details of CompTIA Security+

If you are an IT professional, then CompTIA Security+ is one of the first certifications that you should get to enhance your career. The certificate encompasses all the main aspects of theory and practice which are mandatory for any kind of cybersecurity role. It also provides a springboard to cybersecurity jobs which are of an intermediate level in nature. The main aim of the certification is to teach individuals how to solve various security problems skillfully. The CompTIA Security+ certification is ISO compliant and is a genuine credential which many IT professionals have already earned.

Seven tips to prepare for the CompTIA Security+ exam

CompTIA Security+ is an acclaimed certification which is awarded to you once you clear an exam comprising of multiple-choice questions. There are many people who fail to clear this exam just because they take it too casually. To pass this certification test, you need to work hard. There are many ways through which you can prepare for the exam, and some of them have been discussed in the following sections:

1. Purchase a study guide

If you want to successfully pass the CompTIA Security+ exam, then you need to get your hands on a proper study guide. There are many professional study guides that are available in the market. Apart from different bookstores, you can also purchase or find them online. The majority of popular online bookstores like Amazon.com have many study guides available. This guide may seem like an expensive option for sure, but if you are really serious about securing high marks, then you need to purchase a study guide at the earliest.

2. Assessment

The first thing that you need to do after purchasing a study guide is to attempt to pass an assessment exam which is usually given at the beginning of such books. There are many practice test questions in the assessment which you can solve. It is recommended that you should not mark the book while answering the questions, it is better that you should write the answers on the piece of paper. Writing the answers on the piece of paper will help you in solving the questions again after a few days. If you wish you can purchase the practice test questions online as well.

3. Discount voucher

It is highly recommended that once you are done with the assessment test, you schedule your exam for the next 30 days. Various websites offer discount vouchers which will give you a 10% discount on any CompTIA tests. Such vouchers are not always available, so if you stumble upon one, take full advantage of it.

4. Studies

You need to study hard if you want to get this certification. Ideally, you should go through half a chapter in 4 days. Once you have read a chapter, it is recommended that you go through the review topics as well. After reviewing, you should solve at least 100 practice questions from the chapter which you have studied from websites like ExamCollection.com – CompTIA Security+ Certification Practice Test Questions Exam Dumps – SY0-501. Once you are done with the practice questions, take some to go through the explanation. You should not solve the questions just for the sake of it – ensure that your answers are not coincidental; you should know why an answer is correct or why it is not.

5. Review

Once you have studied the new material for four continuous days, dedicate at least one day for the review. If you have the time, then read the reviews of all the chapters which you have studied. Solve once again all the practice questions which you have solved previously. If you want to know more about a certain topic, then for this you can go through different blogs that are available on the Internet. Once you have revised appropriately, study the new material for the next four days.

6. Practice test

At the end of your guidebook, there must be a final screening test available which should help you prepare for the final exam. The purpose of this test is to provide you with real experience, so you need to try solving it.

7. Take the final exam

Now you are well prepared for the exam, and it is the right time for you to get the CompTIA Security+ certification. If you strictly follow the steps mentioned above, there is no force on earth which can stop you from clearing this test. Of course, initially the preparation will be a little painful for you, and sometimes you may need to forget about your recreational activities in order to study properly, but, as always, if you want to achieve something, sacrifices must be made. Once you start practicing, you will have to fight off discrepancies and disturbances. But soon you will enjoy solving difficult questions and will be ultimately prepared for the final exam. But be that it is a good option to seek some mentoring from a person who has already gained the CompTIA Security+ certificate.

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