Take a charter or fly solo?
One of the first big decisions (following the obviously pivotal decision to take the PHR or SPHR exam in the first place) is the question of whether to join a study group or to prepare alone. Personally, I prefer to move at my own pace, spending more time on the areas where I am weak (benefits & unions), and less time on the areas that I already know pretty well (employment law & organizational theory). Also, by studying alone I avoid the tangents inevitable in group study; someone always takes the discussion off topic. Usually it’s me.
Group-study has its advantages, too. For me, the biggest benefits would be the mutual support (you know, the therapeutic aspect) and the structured schedule. There are a variety of types of group-study: paid instructor-led courses, free SHRM-chapter-sponsored classes, peer-based study groups, and more. I will delve deeper into these at another time. Today, I will discuss the pros and cons of self-study versus group-study.
Benefits of group-study:
- Instructor’s experience in preparing others for the HRCI exams
- Instructor’s knowledge or expertise that may go beyond your own
- Support from other group members
- Group members’ knowledge and experience
- An externally-imposed study schedule
Benefits of self-study:
- Lower cost (unless it’s a free study group and shared materials)
- Self-imposed study schedule to fit your situation
- More focus on needed areas
- No travel required
March 19th, 2011 at 1:24 am
I’ve worked in HR for the past several years. I have not taken any HR courses in school or had any formal instruction on the basics or laws of HR. Is taking courses on the fundamentals of HR recommended prior to studying for the PHR exam and if so, what type of classes would you suggest taking? My co-workers took courses for a Professional Certificate in HR Management prior to studying for their PHR. Can one learn all that is needed from the PHR study material without taking courses? Thank you!