I have as of today watched the first 36 episodes of the PMPrepCast (the video podcast helping me for the PMP exam). The nice green color represents finished episodes, and though it might not be easy to see, it also states that I have successfully managed to keep my deadline of watching all the episodes on the first page in August. Phew! Just made it.
36 down, 81 to go! 
Here’s a friday treat for all the gamers out there, well and everyone else btw. Enjoy!
ESI International has started a scholarship fond aimed at unemployed Project Managers in the EES countries. The fund contains over 3 million Swedish crowns and applications are to be sent in between 1st of September until December 31 (or until the fund is emptied).
The aim of the scholarship is to cover the larger part of the cost for up to 3 educational courses for the successfull candidates, thus improving their chances to receive employment.
More information can be found at the Swedish PMI Chapter, and at the ESI webpage. (Unfortunately all the information is in Swedish, but I will try to dig up some english pages)
Ok, so I have decided to pass the PMP exam. Easy? Not exactly. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions to be answered over a 4 hour period. The topics covers a wide range of subjects from the PMBok Guide (shown to the left below), i.e the Project Management Framework in use here. The book itself is, sorry to say it, a snooze. There is no way any sane person can honestly say that they have read it from cover to cover without their eyes drooping. This is a wellknown fact within the pmp community. Instead, the PmBok Guide should be seen as a reference book which you continuously come back to during your studies.
Hence, I need to look elsewhere for material which will make me PMP-exam ready. I have settled for three additional study resources:
* ”The PMP Exam – How to Pass on your first Try” - by Andy Crowe. The book is really intuitive and easy to read and understand. The author guides you through the heavy material and gives valuable tips for the actual exam. I can higly recommend it! It also comes with a 2 week trial for a website which offers online preparation exams.
* ”The PMPrepCast” - by Cornelius Fichtner. This is a Video Podcast with over 30 hours of material. For me this is a lifesaver on my 3 hour daily commute. I have to date gone through almost 30 episodes and can only give it two thumbs up! Cornelius also hosts a very popular Project Management Podcast which also is very educational for Project Management Professionals.
* ”PMP Exam Prep” – by Rita Mulcahy. I haven’t bought this book yet, but from what others have said, this is also a must have when it comes to the preparation materials. I will have to get back to you on that one. But I intend to order it any day now from Amazon.
The PMP Exam requires a lot of studying…During the spring of this year, I was trying to figure out the best way for me to further enhance my Project Management skills. I knew that I had a solid base with both educational experience from the university as well as having worked as a Project Manager in the past. However, during a conversation with my elder brother (also a Project Manager) I learned of something called the PMP certification. The Project Management Professional certification is a credential given by the Project Management Institute, PMI, to skilled professionals in the field of Project Management.
My brother had then just recently passed his PMP exam and highly recommended this certification. It would both give me a deep understanding of a commonly used Project Management framework as well as function as an official statement of my knowledge level. Said and done, I did some research of my own and came to the conclusion that the PMP certification was my next goal in my professional development. Just before the summer I obtained all of the material that I will need, and two weeks ago I started my journey towards my PMP exam. It will take a couple of months, and a lot of hard work. But I am determined to succeed and will of course discuss my progress (or lack thereof) here on TechGirl. Wish me luck!
As the keen reader might have seen, the updates on the blog have been somewhat scarce. This is not due to lack of inspiration but on the fact that I am doing a lot of ”behind-the-scenes” work. All these things will be implemented after the summer, such as:
* Moving the blog to WordPress, which in turns mean that I need to master it first and make the necessary technical preparations.
* The move also brings with it the creation of a new theme and design, hence my CSS skills needs to be brushed up.
* The design-phase also involves my Twitter-account since I am somewhat allergic to the default alternatives.
* The presentation of a fun and exciting, secret project which I hope will take this blog to the next level.
* And not the least, reading up on other blogs and getting the necessary inspiration for finding topics to blog about for years to come
On top of this I am working full time, writing on my thesis, planning for my upcoming PMP studies, having a social life and waiting eagerly for the 15th of July when I go on vacation. So check back in August when TechGirl will start again! Have a nice summer!
Our summerhouse in southern Sweden, my favourite place in the world.
Where you will be able to find me….
Sunday June 7th will probably be remembered as the day when the young population of Sweden clearly demonstrated that it is possible to make a political difference. Sunday June 7th was the day for the election to the Swedish representation in the EU parliament. The widely debated Pirate Party scored a whooping 7.1% in their first election ever which some claim may be a heads up for the election for the Swedish government in 2010.
What I feel is most interesting about this is the fact that the party has done what other parties have failed in the past: to mobilize the young generation who has a lacking interest in the politics which governs our lives. Say what you will about one-question political parties, their ability (or lack thereof) to actually be able to lead the country if they make it into the swedish government. They have awakened the realization that if you believe in something, and actually vote, you can make a difference. That my friends I believe is the most important lesson of all.
Swedish Pirate Party headed to European Parliament [eng]
The Swedish Pirate Party – official webpage [eng]
Sometimes it’s really handy to work in the IT-business. Like today, when a cold has kidnapped my voice and given me a cough and runny nose. I don’t have time to be sick. There’s tons of stuff at work that needs to be done. So what do I do? I curl up into my bed, armed with hot tea and my laptop. Telephone-conferences, e-mail and instant messaging served as my tools for the day. Perhaps this strategy would not be effective in the long run, but on occasion it serves its purpose, like today:
1) I did not have to take out a sick-day
2) I also did not spread my germs to my friendly colleauges at work
3) I got the chance to go through that ”to do”-list which normally has a tendency to get ignored in favour of more accute work.
Now, as my working-day is officially over I will continue recooperating from the couch watching re-runs of the ”West Wing”.
If you work in the IT-industry ”Integration” is one of those buzzwords you just can’t avoid running into. Intregration can however be found in nature as well. Look at this tree just outside my office which takes this aspect to a whole different level And yes, it is one tree with two different flowers. It’s somekind of gardener-trick. Pretty cool ey?
Life without technology
Thumbnailtsting Life without technology Thumbnailtsting
