The  book that I used was "Head First PMP" written by Jenifer Greene, and Andrew Stellman, published by O’REILLY.  To get the PMP certification you are required to take 35 hours of training.  For my 35 hours of training I took the "Preparing for the Project Management Professional/Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam" course at AlphawareTraining Centers here in Houston, Texas.  It is also worthwhile to join an online PMP Exam forum so that you can get help while you are preparing for the exam.  I joined the PMPExamForum Yahoo group.  I used the following files from this forum:  Total Point of Assumption,  Net Present Value,  and Memory Aids for PMP Exam (this sheet is out of date though, so be careful if you use it.)  For my practice tests.  I used the MeasureUp.com PMP practice test, and the one in the back of "Preparing for the Project Management Professional/Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam" course book, and the free one on the Head First web site.  They were all very good.  Another tool I found helpful was the lamented sheet of all the processes and ITTO’s organized by Knowledge Groups.  This is made by PM Passport International.  I purchased it from Amazon.com.

Study Process:

My study process was to first take the 35 hour course and then read the Head First book beginning to end and then the PMBOK guide beginning to end.  Then I took the MeasureUp practice exam.  I reviewed the incorrect answers to see what knowledge areas I was weakest in.  I then I read those knowledge areas again in the Head First book and the "Preparing for the Project Management Professional/Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam" course book.  Then I took the MeasureUp practice exam again and repeated the process.  I kept doing this until I go a score of 90.  Then I switched to the test in the back of the "Preparing for the Project Management Professional/Certified Associate in Project Management Certification Exam" course book and repeated the process with it.  Then when I got 90 on that I switched to the Head First PMP practice exam and repeated the process with it.  I took about 2 weeks to prepare for the exam.  I studied day and night. 

Taking the Exam:

The test is 4 hours long.  It took me about 3 and a half hours to complete it.  I did not even take a rest room break for the entire 4 hours.  Before the test starts you go through a 15 minute online tutorial that explains how to navigate through the test.  I finished this in about 5 minutes.  I then spent the remainder of that time writing down all the formulas on the scratch paper that the testing center gives you.  Having this handy during the test helped me do EVM problems quicker.  During the test you are able to mark questions for review.  I spent the last half hour of the test going over the questions I had marked for review.  I only changed 2 answers.  After the test there was an online survey to complete.  Then after the survey is complete your test result is displayed on the screen.  It shows your overall score and then your score in each process group.  I passed all but one process group.  I passed the exam on my first attempt.  I am so glad that this is over. 

Lessons Learned:

The hardest questions are the ones where they give you a scenario and then give you 4 answers to choose from and all 4 answers are right but you have to pick the one that is most correct.  Also, be careful of the questions that have answers where each answer (A, B, C, or D) is a list.  Make sure that each item in the list is correct.  If even just 1 item in that list is wrong then that whole answer is wrong so don’t select it.

http://www.jdapsi.com/Candidate/Houston-IT-Salary-Survey/2010

http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/psftent.html

Presenter:

John Weston from MicroSoft and the Dallas branch of AITP
jweston@microsoft.com
blogs.tech.net.com/jweston

MicroSoft sent out a memo that everyone needs to get off of XP.  MicroSoft fears that China will attack XP machines the same way they attacked Google last week.

He gave out free 90 evaluation disks of Windows 7 Enterprize 32 bit.

Windows 7 Tips

1. Windows 7 boots faster and shuts down than XP.
2. Windows 7 has smaller/fewer requirements than XP and runs faster.
3. The tasks on the task bar can be rearranged by dragging them with the mouse.
4. He talked about the Bit Locker security tool.
5. PSR.EXE is tool that is designed for use when trouble shooting remotely by screen capturing and then mailing the screen shots to a technician. This tool is also great for creating documentation.
6. Use Windows EZ Transfer tool to move everthing from XP to 7.
7. Click on the Start button and then type the name of the application to launch it.
8. Click on a Window and shake the window to minimize all other applications.
9. Right clicking on a task in the task bar brings up a list of recently open documents.
10. Don’t run any Reg Cleaners in Windows 7. The registry in Windows 7 is now virtual.
11. The trouble shooting tool in Windows 7 is much improved.
12. Windows 7 comes with almost all the device drivers you could want. If one is missing you can get it via Windows Update.
13. Memory sticks can just be pulled out of the USB without having to be ejected by the operating system.
14. VPN is much improved and more automatic in Windows you don’t have to login. Anytime you are on the Internet you are automatically VPN. This makes it easier on IT departments to push out updates.

Windows Short Cuts:

{Windows} + {plus Sign} = Zoom
{Windows} + {P} = Projector

Which version of PeopleSoft HCMS are you using?

older than 8.0 0% (0 votes)

8.0 3% (1 votes)

8.1 0% (0 votes)

8.2 0% (0 votes)

8.3 6% (2 votes)

8.4 0% (0 votes)

8.5 0% (0 votes)

8.6 0% (0 votes)

8.7 3% (1 votes)

8.8 9% (3 votes)

8.9 43% (15 votes)

9.0 34% (12 votes)

9.1 3% (1 votes)



Lunch Provided.
Registration required.

Phone: 832.300.2880
Registration Link:

http://www.total-tec.com/EventRegistration.aspx

PeopleSoft HCM 9.1

Oracle HCM Road Map

If you know of any others please let me know and I will add them to the list.