Hi, I’m Natarshia, a advertising and marketing supervisor with a front-row view of learners in our neighborhood and their journey to turning into licensed. But I’m additionally a lifelong learner myself. As I work towards my Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, I’m studying that planning and organizing are important when beginning a venture.
Then I had a thought: Why not use these venture administration expertise to plan a certification journey? “The Project Management Approach to Certification” certain does have a pleasant ring to it.
Getting a certification takes lots of dedication, lengthy hours, sacrifice, and research preparation! The identical is true once you’re managing a venture. On my journey, I’ve discovered concerning the 5 levels of venture administration: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and management, and at last, closure. Applying these ideas helps phase the work, create a research timeline, map progress, and construct confidence to satisfy objectives.
Because they’ve labored so properly for me, I feel they may additionally be just right for you. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the 5 steps you may take to plan your Cisco certification journey like a venture supervisor!
Step 1: Initiation
Before you begin your journey, you should first outline your goal; your anchor of motivation for once you get distracted. Lists have all the time helped me keep targeted.
Make an inventory of the explanations you need to get licensed. I’m a visible individual, so I write them out and submit them on the wall. My causes are advancing my profession, growing my wage, and gaining credibility within the business. I additionally created a storyline from my checklist.
My story went like this:
I’ve lots to supply and might in all probability do extra with my pure expertise and talent. I plan initiatives all day lengthy anyway. Would certification enhance my credibility? The analysis I’ve learn says hiring managers usually tend to rent and promote folks from inside once they maintain certifications. It may imply a rise in my wage, and this stage of accreditation is a monumental achievement.
If you want a bit of push to get began on your checklist, ask your self: why certify? What are you able to acquire from being licensed? Maybe somebody impressed you and now you need to turn into the subsequent certification success story. Research potential job roles, contemplate the market demand and the place there’s alternative. For instance, cybersecurity is among 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 discover out extra about profession paths you may take, what has labored for others, and study extra about every Cisco certification from the Cisco Learning Network Community.
With your goal outlined, you can begin planning your objectives.
Step 2: Planning
I’d by no means begin planning a street journey and not using a map and an itinerary of important sightseeing locations. Likewise, you may make an action-item roadmap for examination subjects once you create your certification plan. Suppose you’re finding out for the CCNA Cisco certification: you will discover the CCNA examination subjects on the Cisco Learning Network and obtain a research plan worksheet.
Projects may be overwhelming. The Project Management Process Chart* exhibits 5 phases and 49 processes to comply with as you research for the PMP. Each has its personal set of inputs, instruments, strategies, and outputs (ITTOs). Sounds overwhelming, proper?
But you may break down these processes into smaller items to make them extra attainable. For instance, a Project Management work breakdown schedule (WBS) is a visible, hierarchical, and deliverable-oriented deconstruction of a venture.* A useful diagram device for venture managers, this step-by-step strategy helps you to map out one thing enormous into smaller, bite-sized duties.
The primary steps in a WBS embody defining the venture, setting boundaries, figuring out deliverables and group members, and charting venture 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 know your self higher than anybody else, and you understand which ideas will take longer to soak up. But 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 research plan with this CCNA Exam Topic Study Tool. (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. Based in your timelines in your WBS, maintain adjusting till you’re snug and your venture appears achievable. Then go forward and begin, attempting to remain as near your timeline as potential.
The WBS blocks symbolize your milestones. Cross them off as you full them. Asana is a wonderful device for planning and constructing your certification technique.
Step 4: Monitoring and Control
This section means you may regulate alongside the way in which as you measure your efficiency and set targets. Make certain to maintain your research enjoyable and interesting by mixing up your supplies. Use assets similar to Cisco Press books, coaching movies, podcasts, and Prep webinars, and bear in mind to reap the benefits of your community! Ask questions from the specialists within the Cisco Learning Network Community boards.
Step 5: Closure
Just once you thought you had been completed, you continue to must gauge your data. An examination evaluation device like Exam Review: CCNA is a good way to do this. You may hone your expertise with Cisco observe checks, Cisco Learning Labs, and community simulation and virtualization instruments like Cisco Modeling Labs.
Congratulations! Finally, you may end what you began and take the examination to satisfy your objective!
Following these steps to plan your certification journey like a venture supervisor would possibly appear to be lots to swallow. But in case you take small bites, plan your journey, and arrange your time and assets, you’ll be amazed at how a lot you may 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 concentrate on my venture administration strategy to planning a certification journey. If you could have different strategies that be just right for you, let’s hear ’em. Share your ideas within the feedback under!
Join the Cisco Learning Network in the present day at no cost.
Follow Cisco Learning & Certifications
Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
Use #CiscoCert to affix the dialog.
Related: Stay within the loop on each blueprint replace and revision. Read: “Certification Roadmaps: A Holistic View to Plan Your Certification Journey.” Read now.
*https://www.projectmanager.com/guides/work-breakdown-structure
**https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/what-is-work-breakdown-structure/
Share: