Don’t look for zebras
There is an old axiom that states, “When you hear hoof beats, don’t look for zebras.” Sometimes the answer may be as simple and straightforward as it seems. Don’t talk yourself out of a correct answer by assuming that it must be a trick question.
A number of years ago, I met a woman who had twice failed the SPHR exam. She was a veteran HR professional, the type everyone else went to for advice and explanation. She really knew her stuff. But she could not pass that darn test. I attempted to diagnose the problem by giving her a practice test and having her describe her process of choosing an alternative. Here was her problem: over-analysis. She could not accept that a question was that easy, that straightforward. There must be a trick in there somewhere. She literally talked herself out of the right answer by reading all sorts of things into the questions.
Some questions on the PHR and SPHR exams really are easy. Cinchy. A piece of cake. A snap. Duck soup. Don’t make them harder by looking for zebras.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
This happens with me all the time. I used to over complicate by over analysing the question every time. I failed my SPHR first time and now preparing for the second attempt . I hope this time i would succeed… Thanks a ton for ur tip… i really value them.
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