Hello, I’m Natarshia, a advertising supervisor with a front-row view of learners in our group and their journey to changing into licensed. However I’m additionally a lifelong learner myself. As I work towards my Undertaking Administration Skilled (PMP) Certification, I’m studying that planning and organizing are important when beginning a undertaking.
Then I had a thought: Why not use these undertaking administration expertise to plan a certification journey? “The Undertaking Administration Method to Certification” certain does have a pleasant ring to it.
Getting a certification takes plenty of dedication, lengthy hours, sacrifice, and examine preparation! The identical is true once you’re managing a undertaking. On my journey, I’ve discovered concerning the 5 levels of undertaking administration: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and management, and at last, closure. Making use of these ideas helps section the work, create a examine timeline, map progress, and construct confidence to satisfy objectives.
As a result of they’ve labored so nicely for me, I feel they might additionally give you the results you want. Let’s take a better have a look at the 5 steps you possibly can take to plan your Cisco certification journey like a undertaking supervisor!
Step 1: Initiation
Earlier than you begin your journey, you could first outline your objective; your anchor of motivation for once you get distracted. Lists have all the time helped me keep centered.
Make a listing of the explanations you need to get licensed. I’m a visible particular person, so I write them out and put up them on the wall. My causes are advancing my profession, rising my wage, and gaining credibility within the business. I additionally created a storyline from my record.
My story went like this:
I’ve rather a lot to supply and may in all probability do extra with my pure expertise and skill. I plan tasks all day lengthy anyway. Would certification increase my credibility? The analysis I’ve learn says hiring managers usually tend to rent and promote individuals from inside after they maintain certifications. It may imply a rise in my wage, and this degree of accreditation is a monumental achievement.
When you want slightly push to get began in your record, ask your self: why certify? What are you able to acquire from being licensed? Perhaps somebody impressed you and now you need to develop into the following certification success story. Analysis doable job roles, take into account the market demand and the place there’s alternative. For instance, cybersecurity is without doubt one of the fastest-growing fields. If it piques your curiosity and also you need to pursue a job in safety, reply the decision to certification. You may also discover out extra about profession paths you possibly can take, what has labored for others, and study extra about every Cisco certification from the Cisco Studying Community Group.
Along with your objective outlined, you can begin planning your objectives.
Step 2: Planning
I’d by no means begin planning a highway journey with no map and an itinerary of important sightseeing locations. Likewise, you can also make an action-item roadmap for examination subjects once you create your certification plan. Suppose you’re learning for the CCNA Cisco certification: yow will discover the CCNA examination subjects on the Cisco Studying Community and obtain a examine plan worksheet.
Tasks may be overwhelming. The Undertaking Administration Course of Chart* reveals 5 phases and 49 processes to observe as you examine for the PMP. Every has its personal set of inputs, instruments, methods, and outputs (ITTOs). Sounds overwhelming, proper?
However you possibly can break down these processes into smaller items to make them extra attainable. For instance, a Undertaking Administration work breakdown schedule (WBS) is a visible, hierarchical, and deliverable-oriented deconstruction of a undertaking.* A useful diagram instrument for undertaking managers, this step-by-step strategy enables you to map out one thing enormous into smaller, bite-sized duties.
The principle steps in a WBS embody defining the undertaking, setting boundaries, figuring out deliverables and crew members, and charting undertaking actions over time. To simplify, let’s take the primary CCNA examination subject and break down the primary topic class into sub-subjects primarily based on the educational map. You may do that for every subject for the examination:
Now take the examination subjects and do the identical factor, including an estimated timeline for every field. You understand your self higher than anybody else, and you realize which ideas will take longer to soak up. However take warning! An extended timeline isn’t all the time higher. Stretching issues out too lengthy can result in procrastination.
💡 Tip: Save time in your CCNA certification examine plan with this CCNA Examination Matter Research Software. (It’s free!)
Step 3: Execution
The execution section forces you to set a deadline to finish your certification after which transfer towards milestones all through the plan. Primarily based in your timelines in your WBS, maintain adjusting till you’re comfy and your undertaking appears achievable. Then go forward and begin, attempting to remain as near your timeline as doable.
The WBS blocks signify your milestones. Cross them off as you full them. Asana is a wonderful instrument for planning and constructing your certification technique.
Step 4: Monitoring and Management
This section means you possibly can modify alongside the best way as you measure your efficiency and set targets. Make sure that to maintain your examine enjoyable and interesting by mixing up your supplies. Use assets reminiscent of Cisco Press books, coaching movies, podcasts, and Prep webinars, and bear in mind to make the most of your community! Ask questions from the specialists within the Cisco Studying Community Group boards.
Step 5: Closure
Simply once you thought you have been accomplished, you continue to must gauge your data. An examination assessment instrument like Examination Overview: CCNA is a good way to try this. You may also hone your expertise with Cisco apply checks, Cisco Studying Labs, and community simulation and virtualization instruments like Cisco Modeling Labs.
Congratulations! Lastly, you possibly can end what you began and take the examination to satisfy your aim!
Following these steps to plan your certification journey like a undertaking supervisor may seem to be rather a lot to swallow. However if you happen to take small bites, plan your journey, and arrange your time and assets, you’ll be amazed at how a lot you possibly can accomplish. I do know I used to be.
Thanks for studying! I hope you discovered this weblog useful. I’d love to listen to what you consider my undertaking administration strategy to planning a certification journey. You probably have different strategies that give you the results you want, let’s hear ’em. Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!
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Associated: Keep within the loop on each blueprint replace and revision. Learn: “Certification Roadmaps: A Holistic View to Plan Your Certification Journey.” Learn now.
*https://www.projectmanager.com/guides/work-breakdown-structure**https://www.forbes.com/advisor/enterprise/what-is-work-breakdown-structure/
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