When moving on to the Chartered exam route, it can become more difficult to maintain our motivation and momentum. Nikita Phillips, Candidate Support & Business Development Adviser, provides three tips to help with this.
During my R0 exams, I found maintaining momentum was surprisingly easy for me. I set a goal of completing one exam every three months and made sure not to take more than a few days off between each exam.
However, when I started my Chartered journey, it became much more challenging. The Advanced Exams only sit every six months, which increases the risk of becoming complacent and losing the drive to keep going.
Another factor is the freedom of choice with your advanced exams, which can be overwhelming for some individuals.
So, to help you stay on track towards achieving Chartered, here are 3 of our top tips for maintaining your exam momentum.
1. Understanding your why
When I have conversations with candidates about their exam journey, I always like to ask them why they want to be Chartered and what motivates them. It’s important to have a meaningful reason for taking on these exams, as it can help you stay motivated during times when your motivation is low.
One suggestion is to create a vision board or some sort of documentation that outlines your path to becoming Chartered or achieving Fellowship. This will help you remember why this goal is important to you and can serve as a source of inspiration when you’re studying for your exams.
It may seem strange, but as a learning and development provider, there are times when we advise people that Chartered may not be the right path for them. This is because, based on our conversations, they may be pursuing Chartered status “just for the sake of it” and don’t really have a strong interest in it one way or another.
Being in this situation can make it extremely challenging to stay motivated because you don’t have a genuine passion for the end goal.
By the way, it’s perfectly okay if Chartered or achieving fellowship isn’t for you. It’s not compulsory and it’s important to think carefully about your motivations before you embark on this journey.
2. Develop your Resilience
Resilience is the ability to bounce back when faced with challenges, and it is a skill that can be learned and improved upon. If you encounter setbacks, it is crucial to develop this resilience. Without it, it may be tempting to give up and abandon your journey halfway.
Some ways in which you can develop your resilience are:
- Recognise your strengths and abilities – instead of allowing negative thoughts to consume you, replace them with positive affirmations. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your loved ones. Replace “I can’t do this” with “I have the capability to do this.”
- Surround yourself with mentors – having a strong support system enables you to openly discuss your concerns and emotions, while also finding solutions to your problems together.
- Practice self-compassion – make it a priority to take time for self-care and treat yourself with kindness. Remember that making mistakes is a natural part of being human, and setbacks provide opportunities for growth. Reflect on the progress you have already made on your journey and use that as motivation to keep moving forward.
3. Little wins
I can’t wait to reach Chartered! Once I achieve Chartered, I’ve already planned to book a weekend getaway to celebrate. However, that goal still feels quite distant.
That’s why, after successfully passing each exam, I make sure to reward myself with a little treat. It’s crucial to acknowledge and celebrate these smaller victories because they ultimately lead to the big win in the end!
So, let’s make a list of the exams you’ll be taking and also jot down some ideas for treats you can indulge in after each milestone.
And of course, don’t forget to plan a grand treat at the end to honour all the hard work you’ve put in!
Bespoke Training Solutions have been supporting regulated exams for 20 years this year! Known as ‘the exam experts’ within the industry, BTS provide support for the CII regulated exams by way of study guides, e-learning resources, and workshops for the full R0 suite and many AF and J0 units.
Visit https://www.bespoketrainingsolutions.com and check out the brand-new Careers Zone for study plans, answers to exam FAQs and lots more to support your journey.
