You’ve just finished your bachelor’s degree or perhaps wrapped up the thesis for your chosen course
. After graduation, you almost immediately got a full-time job to sustain your needs. However, you still have a board exam to take, and you can’t quit your job just to have more time to prepare for it.
If this scenario sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone. For many people like you, waiting to pass the board exam or civil service exam before getting a job is simply not an option. However, this doesn’t mean you have to compromise your chances of passing. But what can you do if your job is eating up so much of your time?
Here are some of the best exam preparation tips that can help you pass despite working full-time:
1. Ask to work remotely
If there is a chance that your employer will allow you to work from home, there’s no harm in asking. Working from home eliminates your daily commute, which can help free up more time for studying. Moreover, it also makes it easier to utilize your free time during work hours to work on your review materials. You can also use it to browse the master or doctor of business administration online courses that you can pursue once you passed the board.
2. Study for shorter periods
When you’re working a full-time job, it is often impossible to find time in between your schedule to devote hours of studying. As a result, you keep waiting and waiting for a free afternoon or a day off to catch up on your review. However, the truth is that you do have free time in your schedule, albeit only for short study sessions.
Even if it’s only for twenty minutes, open a review book and absorb as much knowledge as you can in that time span. You can also do this during gaps in your day wherein you’re not really doing anything, such as during commutes or waiting for people to arrive for a meeting.
3. Study smarter
The board exam date is fast approaching and you still haven’t made a good dent in your study outline. If you’re already pressed for time as it is, it may be time to switch study tactics. For instance, instead of reading a paragraph and highlighting the most important parts to review later, try scanning through the paragraph and writing down important phrases or keywords on a piece of paper. Writing down things help you remember them easier, which can be a more effective and faster way to study.
4. Get a study partner
Having a good study partner can help increase your chances of passing the board exam. A study partner can test your knowledge by quizzing you, help you with topics you’re confused about, and motivate you to study even when you’re tired from your job. However, be sure that whoever you choose to be your study partner understands that you have a full-time job, and thus won’t mind adjusting to your schedule.
5. Try to get some time off
If there is no conflict of interest, it’s a good idea to ask your boss for some time off to prepare for the exam. Explain to them what the exam is and how important it is to you. And if passing the exam will improve your credentials as an employee, explain to them what you can offer to the company with that kind of licensure or certification.
Perhaps you can get at least two weeks off, which should be more than enough time to go through a good chunk of your review materials. But if you can get more time off, the better. So, don’t be afraid to ask. The worst that can happen is that your boss will say no. But even then, it may be worth it to ask again later on.
6. Don’t forget to rest
Working yourself to the bone will do more harm than good, even if you’re doing so for the sake of passing a board exam. That said, don’t forget to get as much sleep as you can afford every night, but try to aim for seven to eight hours. When you’re not sleeping, it’s also important to do activities that can relieve your mind from all the stresses of studying, such as exercising, meditating, conversing with a loved one, or engaging in a hobby.
Preparing for a board exam while working a full-time job is definitely not easy. In fact, it may even be one of the hardest things you will ever do in your career. However, it is also far from impossible, and with these strategies, you can go into that exam room fully prepared despite your busy schedule.
