I Passed My SAFE 5.0 Scrum Master Certification Exam!

 

                Hey everybody! I passed my SAFE 5.0 Scrum Master certification exam retake on Memorial Day! I was so happy that this was over because it was a much harder retake exam than I expected.

I scored a measly 13% on my experiencing program increment (PI) section the first time so I spent a lot of time reading that. I also researched the swim lane, product owner, product management, DevOps CALMR and wrote down the Agile Manifesto every single day to retain that information. And STILL it was hard!

                As an economics major, Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Project Management Professional (PMP), I will tell you that SAFe is NOT an entry-level scrum certification. I would recommend that you take the CSM first and work in a SAFe environment. If you cannot do those things, I would recommend taking an introductory SAFe course first to learn the concepts independent of the pressure to pass the exam!

                I am very happy to end the month of May on a very high note. I went from having a very weird interview with a lady who had a major attitude, was all over the place but peaked my interest combining lean with project management to my learning that this combination was scaled agile framework (SAFE) to finding a 50% off exam prep course on Eventbrite to failing my first time to earning this SAFe Scrum Master certification!

SAFE 5.0 - Day 4

 

                I took the official Scrum Master certification exam Thursday morning right after midnight and failed scoring 31/45. It stung because I had scored 82% on the official practice test. I also scored a measly 13% on the Experiencing the PI Planning section which I felt did me in. I knew that I was in trouble off the bat when the first question was talking about program board and a swimlane (which I associated with business analysis but later learned that Kanban also used swimlanes.).

                Failing was the best thing that ever happened to me because I got to take all of my feedback and experiences to the instructor. He answered all of my questions, learned about the new score reporting structure and went through the official practice exam again pointing out the trick words. Had I taken the certification exam either during or after the fourth day of class, I would not had been able to have access to the instructor. It would had been anti-climatic. However, by learning from my mistakes it helped matters. I see myself passing the SAFe Scrum Master retake this weekend.

                On a much happier note, my attending this week’s scaled agile training helped me during my scholarship interview. Thursday I had a scholarship interview to win money to sit for the Certified Scrum Product Owner training. Before this scaled agile training, I thought that the Product Owner role only existed in traditional scrum. However, now I learned that the Product Owner existed in scaled agile too. I felt that from the interviewer’s body language that I won the scholarship.

SAFE 5.0 - Day 3

 

                Once again, I am having issues. This time Windows 10 is kicking out my wi-fi forcing me to constantly restart my computer. Next I have to find instructions to do an online repair of my Microsoft 365 because (you’ve guessed it!), Windows 10 has messed that up too. However, it is day 3 of my SAFe Scrum Master training and you WILL get this story!

                Okay so I ask the instructor if the certification exam was an open book or closed book exam. When he says closed book exam, out of nowhere the same person who texted the group that it was an open book texted saying that ‘This is my fourth exam prep course. No one is monitoring your camera or you work’. Um, that can have your certification exam snatched and banned by the accreditation body. Some people are just lazy I tell you! Anyway, I am very happy that I have stayed consistently throughout the whole thing because I am ready to pass my exam tomorrow night!

I have even taken the practice exam furnished by Scaled Agile. I have to give a course review where I detail the whole Scaled Agile meetup out of nowhere and not being able to log back in because the instructor is hosting another Zoom meeting escapades. After completing the course survey, I take the practice exam scoring 82%. This fuels my fire to pass my exam tomorrow night.

                I admit that during the second half of class, I have skimmed through some things (I know that the Dot review will NOT be on the exam!). However, I have learned how to save the Zoom meting chat. I have saved them on my red laptop so I will transfer these chat transcripts via email. My goal is to be SAFe Scrum master certified by Thursday. Not even the instructor saying that the actual exam is harder than the practice exam scares me. I have been preparing for this moment for over 2 weeks! I am getting my certification!

SAFE 5. 0 - Day 2

 

Once again I am dogged with tech problems. This time it was on my older silver laptop. My Windows 10 license was at the ‘end of life’ and Microsoft would no longer support so I had to do an update. No problem, I thought. I would just do the update now and get it over with.

Wrong!

                I started the update at 2:45pm. I napped awaking at 5pm and it was only up 78%. My training started at 6pm where it (finally!) got to 100%. But once again, had I relied on the laptop, I would had been late for class. So I started my training on the red laptop. Sheesh! I just wanted one day with any tech issues.

                Today I started off mentioning that I put two questions on the collaborate Kanban board regarding the role of the scrum master regarding the backlog and program increment. The instructor said that these were good questions (I try!).

                In the second hour, the instructor ends the Zoom meeting. The entire class tries getting in after the break and we all receive a message saying that the ‘host is in another Zoom meeting’. This is the second day and as many disruptions. I’ve honestly never seen anything like this before. The instructor uses his Zoom meeting room for 5011 purposes besides SAFe exam training.

                Also unfortunately, there are some technical difficulties not just with me but everyone today. I hope that Al Gore’s Internet does not fail us tomorrow on day 3!

SAFE 5.0 - Day 1

                 I am chronicling my SAFE (scaled framework) training here because I chronicled my Certified Scrum Master (CSM) training adventure here. In 2016, it was in person. In 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic, I am online. This does not mean that there aren’t any less plot twists.

Scaled agile framework (SAFE 5.0) is a type of agile project management. I am learning this because during an interview the interviewer mentioned lean and merging the scrum master with the product owner. I thought that was weird even though I knew some lean principles due to my statistics background. I later researched lean + scrum finding scaled agile.

                I started looking on Eventbrite (this site saved my bacon with finding an affordable certified scrum master exam prep course. You can check out the March2016 series here.). I found a course that’s 50% off and purchased it. I could save money and advance my career. I was game!

                I completed the pre-course content going through all of the courses. I also watched a lot of YouTube videos because scaled agile calling it iteration instead of sprints and saying that the agile team is scrum master and product owner vs. the scrum team which is scrum master and the developers threw me for a loop. I also managed to find some practice exams on Udemy and online because I wanted to know what the questions looked like before the exam.

 

Day 1

                I was back to my older computer because my newer one Internet (Chrome, Edge and Firefox) sporadically went out. Also I had to do was connect my Logictech webcam and BOOM I was back in business. Now this laptop wanted to act up 5 minutes before the start of class (I was not surprised!) so I ended up 10 minutes late.

                We spent the first hour introducing ourselves and doing some games. Then at the end of the second hour out of nowhere the instructor invited us to his scaled agile virtual meetup. I was like ‘plot twist!’. Though my doing the pre-course content saved me, I would admit that had I not taken the initiative to read the material beforehand, I would had been lost, frustrated and failed the exam at this stage (but I am passing my scrum master exam). At least he lets us leave early today. 

Scrum Journal : Day 5

Thursday, March 24, 2016, I awoke at 6am because I had the routine down pat. I nearly forgot my laptop so I had to return after getting to the basement level. At least I wasn’t on the metro. I still managed to board the earlier orange line train to Vienna station. Creating a buffer was essential since this was the metro. I transferred to the 2B and this time remembered to pull the bell in the right spot to avoid walking over the bridge. I was the fourth person there. I just prayed that there was over with so that I could take the test and pass it.

                The instructor started discussing technical debt which was because of my questions. I was validated because I did not think that I was learning a whole lot the day before. However, I did admit that doing the user stories, spring and product backlog activities taught me something. I would give the training that. During the morning break, I crossed the bridge to the PNC to get Uber driver tip money. During lunch, I dined on Uncle Julio’s patio (I fell for the trip of eating all of the chips and salsa. I filled up so much that I couldn’t finish the fajitas. Hey, I was starving. That chocolate bar wasn’t enough.).

                I returned to training still nursing a headache with no Aleve. I managed to survive more tangents and rumblings. I went to use the bathroom and boom I was shut out of the ScrumAlliance CSM exam page. That poor website said that it was busy. I packed my stuff, ordered an Uber and went on my way. Or so I thought…The Uber driver missed the Vienna exit. He asked me. I told her that I lived in DC. I did not know anything about Virginia. We managed to get to Dunn Loring metro. I did not recognize this Dunn Loring. I stopped going there ever since the silver line opened because it had Tysons Corner stops. A Smashburger franchise was built where the old parking lot was. It looked like all of those other planning communities for middle-middle class people (You would not find a Smashburger or other franchises in DuPont so that was a couple rungs below but still). I boarded the orange line returning home. I dropped my bags, reconfigured my laptop and took the test.

                My test was harder than the questions that my classmates received. Immediately I started surfing the Internet for scrum help. I found two sites which helped. Also I grabbed the Scrum Guide. It was written by scrum’s cofounders so I knew that I was good. I scored 94.3% (33/35) passing the exam. Immediately I photographed my certificate posting it on Instagram. I tried uploading it to LinkedIn, but the photo was upside down. Therefore, I found my digital camera in my black oversized Kate Spade purse and re-photographed it. LinkedIn liked that one. Afterward, I typed my CSM announcement posting it on my site. I then copied that to Medium.

                I thought that passing the CSM would be different, at least dinner. In my mind, I thought I would be dining at Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons. I dined at Morton’s steakhouse right after passing the PMP. Nope! Combined the headache, the misfit Uber driver and the ScrumAlliance’s crashed website, I settled for a frozen macaroni and cheese dinner from CVS. Hey, at least I was certified! No one can take CSM away from me! My biggest epiphany was my emotional intelligence. I did not flip out against the Uber driver. I just got home and carried on. I did not let that affect my certification exam performance. Now that was maturity!

I fulfilled this week’s goal of earning my CSM because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired in my job search. Immediately after passing, I created a scrum job alert. There were no less than 20-25 jobs. Also I emailed the three LinkedIn connections who helped me privately and highlighted their names publicly on my LinkedIn status. Giving credit and being gracious were essential. I changed my LinkedIn profile uploading my certificate and adding it to my certifications list. It was like Christmas and I was opening up a present. After 5 days, I was finally certified! Next I told my career coach because we had to start working on integrating this new certification into my personal brand. We had work to do. I had to write a new story.

Finally, I email someone who had impacted me. I was telling him that dipping into a specific fund felt like lack. He said to view this as a business investment since I filed my LLC. That CC Pace training cost $1295. I viewed it as an investment instead of a cost. I started this Sunday sick and tired of being sick and tired. Five days later, I was now a certified Scrum Master. That was an investment indeed!

I Passed my Professional Management Professional (PMP) Certification Exam Today!

            I passed my PMP certification today!  I scored moderately proficient in all processing groups.  It felt great because I want to pass the first time. I never forgot the feeling when I failed my CAPM certification exam in 2011.  I took at least one practice exam per week, wrote down all of the project management process, and keep at it. 

            I will rest for about 2-3 weeks until I decide my PMI-ACP timetable.  I am looking forward to taking the online agile seminar to receive the personal development units to sit for this new exam. 

One-Third of 2013 Is Gone. Now What?

The best news of today: I’ve stepped out on faith submitting my PMP.  I thank God that I had the presence of mind to keep my old 2011 PMP application with all of the old reference names and numbers in it else I’d be scrambling.  I pray that PMI approves it either Friday or Monday because I want to board the United plane for Cleveland knowing that I’m approved.  I arrive at this decision because 1/3 of this year is gone and I need to do something; therefore, I apply to sit for the PMP certification exam.  Now it becomes real.  I’ve put it all on the line!

            Earlier this morning I gave our secretary my updated PMP verification spreadsheet because this is what the instructor has used in his course.  Her thanking me makes me realize how much I’ve done on my own.  While she is sitting in a classroom learning from an instructor first, I jumped feet first into the online ed2go project management courses. I took every one then enrolled in the USDA Graduate School PMP exam prep twice in order to pass the CAPM. Now I’ve re-enrolled in the PMP Certification 1 and 2 courses to prepare for the exam. Furthermore, I’ve developed my own certification project summary form streamlining the process.  I’m adamant about making a way out of no way because I won’t be denied anything just because I haven’t tried.

I’m not stopping at PMP either because I’ve been studying for the Project Management Institute- Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification test for over one year. I work in disaster management. Agile fits perfectly. I have the Rita Mulachy (RMC) ACP study guide, Fast track software, and several other practice exams.  After resting from the PMP a wee bit, I’ll restart studying for the PMI-ACP by accumulating the 21 credit hours needed to apply for certification.  Since (PMI) is keeping the fourth PMBOK for this test, that’s an added incentive because I don’t have to master the fifth edition. Another bonus is that no one in workplace has PMI-ACP.  The one who does is a contractor and not in the applicant pool. Since this certification is less than 2 years old, I can position myself to be the subject matter expert. I think that I can complete this certification before October 1^st.

Finally, I’m considering the business analysis certification because it’s an up-and-coming certification and I possess over 10 years’ experience.  Since it’s gaining currency, I might as well, earn it in order to enhance my competitive advantage. I know that I will complete this around February 2014.