Issue Two - June 2002
Cheetah News is a monthly newsletter designed to bring you up-to-date information on programs, new Cheetah Learning Centers, PMI® updates, special events, and other pertinent information on Project Management. We hope you find this a valuable resource for information on Project Management. Check back monthly for news, updates, and tips of the trade!
Top Stories
Future
Student takes on Federal Government in attempts to hold President Bush to his
promise to aid dislocated workers
Two unemployed project managers from
Seattle, Washington took it upon themselves to get Cheetah Learning certified to
provide Accelerated PMP® training through the new federal Workforce Initiation
Act (WIA). It took a couple months and numerous forms - but they
have their entire course fee, and their exam fee covered by the federal funds
promised to dislocated workers. If you are unemployed - you can
pursue course funding through this avenue. Contact your unemployment
office to get the ball rolling. Cheetah Learning has to qualify on a
county by county basis in most states so we only pursue in regions where we have
students who are interested.
Cheetah Learning featured on
the Business of Success Radio Program
Cheetah Learning was selected by the
Business of Success syndicated radio program because they are the fastest
growing Project Management learning company in the US. Key players
in Cheetah Learning are the featured speakers for the next six weeks and will be
discussing various Project Management tools for success and how their
accelerated teaching methods are life changing. This show is
heard in over 40 US Markets and on the internet. You can hear the show on
the internet live on Sunday morning 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Pacific Standard time at
www.businesstalkradio.net
and the name of the show is Business of Success.
If you'd like to ask questions on this live show - the call in phone number is 877-266-7469.
Separating the Wheat from the
Chafe - how to figure out which PMP® Program is right for you?
90% passing rate! 85%
pass rate! Learn in 30% less time! 300 more questions than our
competitors! Attend our seminar and receive our 2000 questions study guide,
video series and three additional Project Management publications of your
choice! Clutter, clutter, clutter!
With over 600 Registered PMI® Education Providers and at least 50 providers offering some type of PMP® Exam Prep Training, it’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed by all the hype regarding Project Management training seminars and publications. While most of us want to be the best we can be and excel in our chosen profession, sometimes we can easily be talked into purchasing services or items we really don’t need. Buyer beware!
Walter Urban of Urban Dynamics - a market research firm, recently did an analysis of all the options available for PMP® Exam Prep. He found over 50 providers! Many Universities and PMI® Chapters also offer programs intermittently throughout the year bringing the number of programs into the hundreds. With this many choices, how are people supposed to make a quick and accurate decision on the best way for them to go?
The first step anyone who is pursuing the PMP® has to do is to determine what it is they need. Not all approaches are right for everyone. There are four crucial factors you need to assess about yourself before you start evaluating PMP® exam prep programs:
1. How much time can you realistically dedicate to studying for this exam?
2. What are the benefits for you becoming a PMP® (or penalties for not becoming a PMP®) and how long can you wait to reap the benefits or avoid the penalties?
3. How motivated are you to study, concentrate & focus on your own for an extended period of time to prepare for this exam?
4. When was the last time you were in a stressful exam type setting where your ability to do well was directly related to your ability to stay calm and focused?
Once you know your own needs, then you can start to see which provider best meets your requirements. Find out:
1. If they take you through to the exam with their approach or if you have to dedicate more time studying on your own afterwards. Walter found that only a few providers programs took people through to the exam. All of these programs are either done exclusively in-house or are 8 week or longer programs on the internet.
2. If they stand behind their program and offer a guarantee that you'll pass. Walter did not find many programs that would offer this because they don't stick with you until you take the exam therefore cannot verify how well you are studying.
3. How they document their pass rate. Walter found many providers could not offer hard data about their pass rates. If passing is important to you and you're relying on their pass rate to make a decision, find out how they document it.
In closing, nothing replaces common sense when purchasing training or publications from anyone. If you are questioning the validity of a product or service, call the provider and ask for references from past students or customers. If they are registered PMI® providers following proper procedures, they should have this information.
Feature PMP® of the month
Each month Cheetah News features a newly certified PMP®, who shares his or her ideas, insight, and experience with potential PMP®s considering certification.
Teri Burley, PMP
Teri Burley
Burley was attracted to the accelerated approach offered by Cheetah Learning for a variety of reasons. "In college, I had the time and focus to study for exams in an organized manner," Burley states. "Now, working 60 + hours a week, along with two small children and a busy schedule with volunteer activities, it is not possible to set a study schedule that will let me understand the PMBOK® the way I should in order to be successful on the PMP® test. After researching other study methods available, I chose the Cheetah Learning program to offer me the necessary structure, materials, and support."
Burley
found the methodology used by Cheetah Learning helpful, and was also impressed
by the guarantee that Cheetah Learning gives. "The organization of the
materials and the tricks learned in the class were very different but very helpful. The approach
of getting you out of the work environment and the commitment of putting your life on hold for a
week to dedicate 100% to the Cheetah program was
attractive," Burley said. "Also, the guarantee was my contingency plan. Just in case the
methods of study prescribed got diluted by real life, the Cheetah Learning Program offered me a safety net-- another chance to take the test without any risk." Beating
the Summer "heat" - getting the PMP® in the summer gives you a leg
up on the competition. What we
are suggesting is utilizing the traditional summer slowdown as a time to
obtain your PMP® certification. The summer months provide a golden
opportunity to obtain your certification while most aren’t even thinking
about it. In fact, it is a great time to obtain your PMP® while visiting some
exciting summer destinations like NYC, Seattle, San
Francisco, Calgary, Atlanta
and Washington, D.C. to name just a few. Even
more exciting is the opportunity to get your company to pay for your PMP® and
then extend your stay into a short summer get away while at one of those
attractive locations! In the
end, it’s all about enhancing your career. So even if you choose to pay
for your own training seminar and certification at any one of these exciting
locations, it’s all about career and salary enhancement. So use
this summer to join an elite group of 45,000 Project Managers who have
chosen to stand out among the crowd and obtain their Project Management
Professional status. Most importantly, choose a Cheetah Learning PMP® Exam
Prep Seminar and you are guaranteed to obtain your PMP® in just five days! Sign up
for a Cheetah Learning Accelerated PMP® Program today and make this summers
vacation the most profitable summer vacation you ever had!
For reading this far in the newsletter, use the
By setting a personal goal for herself, and taking the steps to achieve her
goal, Burley's advise to other potential PMP®s is to "Just do it! I am very pleased that I had set my personal goal to complete the PMP® in
2002. I wanted to be successful in
completing this goal, so I went directly to the best source of preparation, which
for me was the Cheetah Program. It was
well worth the investment if you look at the time you have to invest to learn
the materials and successfully complete the testing process.
The professional approach, as well as the wisdom, experience, and guidance
provided by the Cheetah staff, could not be replicated in a study group or other test
prep method."
Teri Burley currently works for an outsourcing leader in state and local
governments, and currently manages a large Information Systems team in
Southern California as an Executive Account Manager for a large city.
For most of us
summer is a time for vacations, company picnics, student interns, long hot
days at the office and wondering when your next job opportunity will come
along. For others it’s the perfect time to get a jump on the
competition and make that career advancement happen!
- June 24, 2002 Seattle
- July 08, 2002 San Diego
- July 08, 2002 Boston
- July 15, 2002 Denver
- July 15, 2002 Cuyahoga Falls
- July 15, 2002 Detroit
- July 22, 2002 Vancouver
- August 5, 2002 Washington DC
- August 12, 2002 St. Louis
- August 12, 2002 Boston
- August 12, 2002 Toronto
- August 12, 2002 Atlanta
- August 19, 2002 Detroit
- August 19, 2002 San Francisco
- August 26, 2002 Cuyahoga Falls
- August 26/, 2002 Chicago
- August 26, 2002 NYC
Go to the website now - http://www.cheetahlearning.com - this is a limited time offer and the code will be active for only the next seven days. You can only use one promotional offer per course.