HRCP Blog

The HR QuikStudy Flash Cards are, indeed, sold separately (for just $25). Also, each of the six units of the Human Resource Certification Preparation Program can be purchased individually.

No, we don’t. We sell materials for the PHR and SPHR exams. The HR Certification Institute has been offering the GPHR exam for almost five years, and to this point the level of interest in the global exam has not been high enough to justify the amount of work it would take to produce materials for GPHR preparation materials. We re-evaluate every year, and at a future date we may begin producing GPHR materials. For the time being, however, we will continue to focus on updating and improving the Human Resource Certification Preparation Program for PHR and SPHR exam preparation.

1. Please be reassured that failing the PHR or SPHR exam does not mean that you are not competent at your job. It is not a reflection of your intelligence. It should not be a determinant of your self-worth. Passing or failing the HR certification exam is more about test-taking skills than it is about HR skills.
2. Decide whether it is worth it for you to re-take the exam. Maybe it’s not. You have now been through the preparation and the test-taking experience. Are you prepared to face that again? If so, read on.
3. Learn from your results. The detailed results provided by HRCI can help you identify areas where you may be weak. Be sure to put extra emphasis on those areas as you study.
4. Beef up your study materials. Were the topics included on the exam adequately covered in the study materials you used? You might consider obtaining more or better study aids.
5. Scrutinize your own preparation. Were you sufficiently diligent in your study? Did you put in the time and effort to learn the HR body of knowledge?
6. Work on improving your test-taking skills. Find as many quality practice questions as you can and practice, practice, practice.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. For many people, the decision comes down to time and/or money, but there are other things to consider. Here’s some of the benefits of each:

Benefits of group-study:

• Generally the instructor will have had experience preparing others for the HRCI exams.
• The instructor’s knowledge or expertise may exceed my own in some areas.
• Other group members may have knowledge or expertise that may exceed my own.
• Group members can provide support and encouragement to each other.
• The externally-imposed study schedule might help keep me on track better than my own schedule.

Benefits of self-study:

• Self-study will almost always cost less than group study (unless it’s a free study group and materials are shared).
• I can create a study schedule to fit my situation rather than have a schedule imposed on me.
• I can spend more time focusing on the areas where I am weak and less on the areas I already know well.
• Instead of spending time traveling to a group class, I can study.

We had a great trip to New Orleans. It is always fun to talk with human resource people from across the country and from around the world. While attendance was down significantly this year at the SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition, we still were able to talk with many people getting ready to take the PHR and SPHR exams. We answer a lot of questions at these events. I’ve made a list of the top ten questions we heard this year at the conference:

1. What is difference between the HRCP Program and the SHRM Learning System?
2. Is it better to take a PHR/SPHR prep class or study on my own?
3. I failed the certification exam; what do I do now?
4. Does HRCP sell materials for the GPHR exam?
5. Are the HR QuikStudy Flash Cards sold separately?
6. Is it true that soon students won’t be able to sit for the PHR exam?
7. Where were you when I was studying for the HR certification exam?
8. Did you pay them to say that?
9. Do you have materials specifically for the SPHR exam?
10. How often do you update the HRCP Program?

My next 10 blog entries will be devoted to responding to these questions.

That should keep me busy for the rest of the summer.

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.

The May-June 2009 HRCI test window opened today to cloudy skies and light rain. (At least where I am.) Three years ago I took the SPHR exam on the last day of June, the final day of the testing period. I won’t be able to procrastinate this year because I’ll be at the SHRM conference in New Orleans on the last day of June, working at the HRCP booth (booth #2329–come see us!)

I’ve scheduled my exam for later this month so I can take the exam before the kids are out of school for the summer. And so I can just be done with it. Mostly so I can just be done with it.

I haven’t started studying yet. Sigh. Why do I do this every three years?

I really must be nuts.

If anyone knows what looks good on a resume it’s a human resource manager. As evidenced by our brisk sales so far this quarter, many HR managers are trying to enhance their resumes by becoming certified. They understand what a tight labor market means for job seekers. You’ve got to find ways to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. PHR and SPHR certification can do that.

Interestingly, some of the organizations that use our materials for their study groups have had lower enrollments this go around, but our sales to individuals using the HRCP Program for self-study are up dramatically. It appears that many HR professionals are looking for an economical way to prepare for the PHR and SPHR exams. The HRCP Program is comprehensive, up-to-date, and perhaps most important in these tough economic times, it is affordable.

And to make it even a little more affordable, we’re offering a discount for readers of the HRCP Blog. Order before April 15, 2009, and use the discount code BUILDRESUME for $30 off the price of the complete HRCP Program.

Two years ago today I began the HRCP blog. In my first blog entry, I mentioned that I have taken the HR certification exam five times. Soon it will be six. That’s right, I’ll be taking the SPHR exam again during the May-June 2009 test window. I’m among the tiny one-percent of certified HR professionals who choose to re-certify by examination every three years. It’s crazy, I know, but how better could I assess the adequacy of our materials in preparing people for the PHR and SPHR exams?

I haven’t started studying yet. I always say to myself, “This time I’m not going to study; I’ll just walk in there and see how it goes.” But ultimately I decide that I don’t want to take any chances. What if I didn’t pass? How embarrassing would that be? And now that I’ve mentioned it here, it increases the pressure by a factor of ten. Yep, I’ll study. And I’ll let you know how it’s going. I’ll share any ideas and insights that hit me along the way.

If you’re contemplating human resource certification, please come and join me in the journey.

We have a number of HR associations, employers’ associations, colleges, and universities who have adopted the HRCP Program for their PHR and SPHR exam preparation courses. We love to hear of their success.

Congratulations to the Capital Region Human Resource Association in Albany, New York: 25 of 27 participants in their HR certification prep course passed the exam during the December 2008-January 2009 test window. That’s a 93% pass rate!

Way to go!