Here is what I learned:
- Start again: This wasn’t the first time I’d decided to prepare for a certification. Somehow, none of my previous attempts lasted long enough to reach the end goal. Despite those earlier setbacks, I knew I had to start again—and see if this time would be different.
- Acknowledge the excuses, but don’t give in: I had plenty of excuses, from “I’m too old for this” to “I’m not a developer” to “I don’t really need this.” The fear of failure was always lurking. This time, instead of fighting the excuses and fear, I acknowledged them— and decided to move forward anyway.
- Find your why: For years, certifications were just a nice-to-have for me. The desire was there, but my reason wasn’t compelling enough. This time, at my current career stage, I felt stuck in my learning and growth. I needed to prove to myself that I could take on something challenging — something I hadn’t done in a long time — and succeed, while learning something new along the way.
- Start small: Instead of aiming for a complex certification right out of the gate, I started with the easiest one. I chose something that only took a few weeks of preparation —something where I had a reasonable chance of success.
- Set yourself up for success: To believe I could do it, I needed a win. Choosing an easier certification even though it wasn’t my ultimate goal helped set me up for success. Passing that first exam gave me a sense of joy and achievement I hadn’t felt in a long time. It helped me believe I could do it, and take the next step.
- Schedule it: I knew I would never “have” the time unless I “created” it. So, I scheduled time in my calendar to prepare for the exam: smaller, manageable chunks during the weekdays, and slightly larger blocks on weekends. If something urgent came up, I’d move the calendar block to another slot. Time was still a constraint, so I spread my preparation over several weeks to a few months, but I mostly honored the schedule.
- Progress on the process: The friction wasn’t just from the exam prep. It came from the whole process — getting a voucher, registering for the exam, and handling the logistics of an online proctored exam. So, on some days, I would just take one step forward in the process. I would just create a login on the exam portal, or fill out the form to request a voucher. Every step forward, no matter how small, counted.
- Adapt learning to your style: I talked with others about their preparation methods. I tried a few, but they didn’t work for me. So, I went back to what worked for me as a student: going through sample questions, diving deep into the topics, and taking extensive notes to review later. I repeated the process until I started getting most of the questions right.
Looking back, I realize that the biggest hurdle wasn’t the material or the exams. It was my own mindset. Once I stopped letting my fear or excuses dictate my actions, and started taking small, consistent steps, things began to shift. Four certifications later, I’m not just more qualified, I’m more confident in my ability to learn and grow, no matter where I am in my career.
If you’re on the fence about starting something new, especially something that feels out of reach, my advice is simple: start small, take consistent steps and keep moving forward. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
(Article originally published at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-0-4-how-i-broke-barrier-earned-my-technical-neha-verma-7afnc/ )
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