HRCP Blog

We’re off for New Orleans to attend the 2009 SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by and visit us at booth #2329.

I’m not sure my decompression is complete, but I’m ready to begin sharing my thoughts regarding my recent experience taking the SPHR exam.

Have you ever watched or participated in a sporting event where the teams were so evenly matched it seemed the final outcome was determined not by the players in the game, but due to a call made by the officials? It’s absolutely unfair. But unfortunately, it’s part of the game. Referees and umpires are (for the most part) human and are subject to the limitations of human perception and, sadly, even to bias. That is why in order to win a game, a team must play well enough to beat their opponent and well enough to overcome any potentially adverse decisions by the officials.

I think there is a similar situation with the PHR and SPHR exams. The HR certification exam item writers are (for the most part) human and are subject to all manner of weaknesses and bias. The questions on the exams are imperfect. Some are more imperfect that others. Many of the questions are straightforward and easy to answer if you know the HR body of knowledge. Some questions are ambiguous and confusing, even if you know HR inside out and backward. You could make a valid argument in favor of all four of the alternatives, or you could make a case that none of them is true. It was frustrating for me as a test-taker, but it’s even more perplexing to me as one who is trying to help other HR professionals pass the exam. I can teach how to accurately calculate overtime, and I can describe the systems model of training and development, but how do I help people prepare for the bewildering ambiguity?

I don’t know. Yet.

But what I can say right now is that those taking the PHR and SPHR exams must know the HR body of knowledge well enough to nail the straightforward questions and not leave the outcome of the exam to be determined by how well they fair on the more imperfect questions.

Whew! I passed the SPHR exam today. Again. As I’ve previously mentioned, I take the HR certification exam every three years to re-certify.

And I’m never taking it again. Ever.*

That exam is a ridiculously frustrating, stress-inducing monster. A man exiting the testing center told the center supervisor, “You should have a decompression chamber here for people finishing their tests.” I agreed. This was my sixth time taking (and sixth time passing, I might add) the HR certification exam, and the experience does not become more pleasant with the repetition.

I’m planning to go knock the stuffing out of a few softballs tonight. That should help relieve some stress.

And after I’ve decompressed a bit, I’ll provide more thoughts on my experience.

——
*I really will be taking the exam again in three years. But right now, I’m not going to let myself think about it.