My preparation for PHR

Does it feel good to have “PHR” added to your title…um…ya!! The bigger question though is “Was it easy?” – NOPE!!!

Before talking about my experience, an important thing to note is – there is no ONE BEST WAY to pass the test – what helps is thorough knowledge on the subject. The first time I heard of the PHR certification, I thought, well…I have a Masters and some experience in HR, so this should be easy – Quite the opposite!

Important things to know about the test:

1.     Do not underestimate the test – it definitely may be motivating to say “Oh! It’s easy!” which for some may be true – but I did not find it easy. Then again, do not let it intimidate you – others have done it, you can too :)

2.     GLOSSARY – very very very important!! Not just to understand the concept, but also to understand what the context of a question is.

3.     Every question must be dealt with an empty mind, in that the “best” answer should be chosen only from the options given – let’s say the question is on the 1^st priority of OSHA inspection; knowledge on the subject tells us that the 1^st priority is imminent danger, but the options only have Catastrophes, Complaints and Follow-ups; we would have to forget about imminent danger and pick catastrophes.

4.     Some say that you should look at the questions first and only after understanding it look at the answers. This definitely is a good option, but there is no hard and fast rules on how to answer questions – the best way is to take as many practice tests as possible and find out what works for you. For me, I had to read the question once, read the answers and then read the question again with the context in mind.

5.     SHRM gives all the material you need to study for the test, but the actual test questions are prepared by HRCI. So make sure you take the online practice tests that HRCI provides. They have 2 tests for $70 (and one for $35). Now I know $70 is expensive – but it is totally worth it. My recommendation would be to take the first test atleast 4 weeks before the actual test and the second one 2 weeks before the actual test. The two weeks in between give enough time to work on problem areas.

There is quite a lot of material out there to read and learn from – SHRM learning system, Anne Bogardus, Tata McGraw Hill, Flashcards, iPhone/Android Apps etc. From what I understood, SHRM learning system and Anne Bogardus seem to be the better ones. I personally used Anne Bogardus and did not really feel the need to buy the SHRM Learning System. It doesn’t really matter where you study from, what matters is “HOW”.

In my first attempt, I studied (only) Anne Bogardus thoroughly – I did! – every word and every page. I was a part of an online study group, which was very helpful – we discussed doubts, questions and various perspectives. However, my result was a score of 491 – I failed by 9 points. I felt scared to go into it a second time – mostly because of how much the exam and other resources cost – but it had to be done. I came across this 8-week course being conducted by Dallas HR and joined it. The sessions were alright – more than anything, they give you an idea of “how” to prepare and some extra material to refer to – and most helpful was the study group that formed from it. I personally learn better in groups, so it worked out for me pretty well. :)

The big change in my game second time around was really understanding what I was reading. This helped me understand how the modules are interlinked – helped in understanding HR as a whole and not looking at the modules as independent functions. Any word I came across that I did not understand, I googled it – Case studies, examples, definitions – anything and everything. Research was my best friend – and I cannot stress on it enough. Referring to different sources about a topic made it easier to understand and remember it. Honestly, it took atleast 3 – 4 months of serious studying to be ready for the test; which obviously differs from person to person. I started studying in the first week of February taking one week per module (6 in all). The Dallas HR sessions started late Feb – but since I had done some modules by then, I was prepared – got most of my doubts cleared. My test date was May 24^th – giving me a good 15 weeks to study. So I pretty much split them up as follows:

Week 1 – 6 – study all modules

Week 7 – 10 – revisited modules, memorized various acts and court cases

Week 11 – 15 – do as many practice tests as possible

And no…I did not put in 13 – 14 hrs / day…I only studied for a maximum of 8 hrs a day – but I kept talking to myself all day about what I learnt and also kept discussing different topics with my husband to get another perspective.

It is always helpful to make your own flashcards. There is an app on iPhone/iPad called Flashcard Brain – it has almost the entire glossary of SHRM – quite a helpful app. I cannot emphasize enough on how important glossary is – knowing every word by heart is extremely important and helpful in the test.

To sum up, the method you follow to study/prepare for the test is important – the best method is the one that is most comfortable to you! Take your time to find which one it is.

GOOD LUCK!!! :D