PEF offers window of opportunity for project
management professionals aspiring for a PMP
certification. By Umer Nangiana
Skill improvement is the most-desired and a never-ending process in the contemporary competitive job market. Only going up a skill level ensures you go up the ladder. In today’s fast-changing world, most skilled work is being carried out in ‘projects’ thus making project management a highly desired skill to possess.
Recognising the need and acknowledging the demands, a fraternity of professionals, Pakistan Engineers Forum (PEF), established in 1997, recently stepped forward to provide support and guidance to aspiring project managers in obtaining a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the renowned Project Management Institute (PMI).
Organising a workshop at a local hotel, the PEF provided professionals at different skill levels seeking a step up in their respective careers with an orientation about all that is required for taking a PMP examination in order to earn a PMI certification.
Following on its commitment towards regularly organising technical seminars, catering to the educational and vocational needs of professional community, the PEF invited experts from the field to answer aspiring project managers questions about the certification, its demands and the ways to acquire it.
“The excitement and support for this event is inspiring, and we couldn’t be more pleased with how many delegates have come together to make it a successful event,” said Muhammad Riaz, Vice President, PEF.
The event that attracted a good number of men and women from different professions, seeking a career in project management, was an opportunity to learn the best approaches towards gaining a PMP certification.
“It was a complete walk-through of a proven approach to achieve the PMP credentials presented by PEF Executive Committee (EXCOM) members,” said a PEF statement released after the event.
Salman Hassan Qaiser, President of CompuLogic Standard Solutions, was invited to speak at the occasion as guest speaker. Having expertise in Business Analysis and Project Management, Qaiser is a certified PMP and Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) with more than 11 years of professional experience.
He along with two other experts in the field, Faisal Khan, a PEF EXCOM member and Shakil Zahid, a PEF member, helped moderate the sessions at the workshop and answered the delegates’questions besides providing them with clarifications on a number of ambiguities.
The entire workshop was conducted by PMP certified professionals from PEF. The delegates learned, in addition to the basic and advanced information on PMP, all the sine qua non for taking the exam. They were also provided with all the study material at the workshop.
The session kicked off with a presentation which provided participants with comprehensive information on how to get PMP Certification in a step-by-step process. An overview on PMI, its key functions, the membership benefits, and means of getting involved with PMI was also presented to the participating delegates.
They were later divided into working groups tasked with listing benefits for any professional in gaining as prestigious a certification as PMP. The delegates were introduced to a number of resources to prepare for PMP exam besides an on-screen demonstration of certain tools that could be handy. To make the entire activity more interactive and fun, the participants were rewarded with give-aways for their participation in the exercises.
Qaiser, the guest speaker, also presented his paper on the contrast between a project manager and a business analyst’s role. The paper was also provided in a handout to all the participants for establishing better understanding of the topic.
Muhammad Azimuddin, another PEF EXCOM member, presented ‘An Introduction to Project Management’ based on PMBOK Guide where participants were educated on basic concepts of project management and minimum requirements for taking the PMP Exam.
“The success of this event illustrates just how many professionals understand the importance of achieving excellence through continued education and achieving recognised certifications in the area of their expertise. It is a healthy sign for the professional community,” said the PEF in its post-event statement.
In the end, the PEF Vice President thanked the guest speaker, event sponsors and all the participants besides PEF EXCOM members for “a great show of teamwork.”
