HR Review HR Certification Exam Blog

The Biggest Apple News Since iPad2 And What HR Has To Do With It

Amy Letke — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:34:00 GMT

Last week, Apple announced some very big news. No, they weren’t releasing an iPad4 or an iPhone17.

Steve Jobs resigned as Apple’s CEO. For those who don’t know much about Jobs, he is the mastermind who brought us the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Just think where the world would be without him? We would still be using slow-moving virus-prone PCs (oh, wait I’m using one right now), listening to music through portable CD players, making calls through a Zack Morris-sized cell phone and reading hard copies of newspapers and magazines. Blasphemy!

Jobs isn’t exactly abandoning the company; he will now serve as the board chairman (a position that didn’t exist before he asked to step into).

But with Jobs’ resignation comes emotional unrest and weeks of soul-searching for Apple’s 49,000 employees who’ve stood behind Jobs since the beginning of time (or at least Apple’s time).

Apple employees have to decide exactly where their loyalties lie. Employees have to ask themselves, “Was I working for Apple or for Jobs?” If the answer is Jobs, they will wonder if Apple will be the same place without him.

Although, Jobs resignation was years in the making (he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004 and has since taken three medical leaves in the last seven years), it will still resonate with Apple workers. Apple has a history of high job satisfaction among employees. How can the company keep this up? It's up to the HR department of course!

As HR Professionals at HRReview, we understand the effects of leadership change on organizations. We know the best way to survive a resignation like Jobs is to be proactive, not reactive. Exactly how can a company do this?

Every company (big or small) needs to have a succession plan in place.

Succession planning tied to employee development and career planning is becoming more strategic for today’s organizations. Businesses need to realize that succession planning in an ongoing, dynamic process, not a static objective.

What is Succession Planning? Managing key personnel transitions for maximum continuity of operations, retention of “institutional knowledge," and minimum disruption.

In the past, succession planning typically targeted only key leader positions. But in today’s organizations it is important to include key positions in a variety of job categories.

Here are our Top Reasons for Succession Planning:

Help individuals realize their career plans within the organization
Tap the potential for intellectual capitol in the organization
Encourage the advancement of diverse groups
Improve employee’s ability to respond to changing environmental demands
Improve employee morale
Cope with effects of voluntary separation programs

Now that we’ve showed you how important succession planning is to an organization, we bet you’re wondering: How exactly do I implement succession planning?

Have no fear, HRReview is here to solve even the toughest of HR problems.

Recommended Steps to Take:

Have a plan. Before planning the succession of key personnel, you need to know where you want to go. Define your company’s mission, vision, values, goals and objectives.
Evaluate your current situation. See that your current business processes and organizational focus are aligned with your vision and plan. But remember to stay flexible and plan for change!
Identify key positions. Prepare a list of all the positions for which succession plans are necessary or helpful. For each key position develop lists of skills & abilities, required knowledge, and attitudes. These lists will help your narrow down your internal talent pool in the next step.
Identify internal talent. Assess your internal talent pool first and identify your high-potential employees. Look at the history of your hires and promotions and see if you can identify natural career development paths. Can you alter the structure to create paths?
Document! Document! Document! Documentation of policy, procedures, plans, activities etc. is the best way to capture and preserve the “institutional knowledge” that will be lost when key people depart. Make documents and procedures available to the people who replace those who depart.

Adopting a succession planning strategy allows organizations to identify critical jobs, potential successors and skills gaps while providing employees with insight into available career goals. This integrated approach optimizes the benefits for employees, management and the organization as a whole.

Now, back to Apple. It seems that they successfully implemented succession planning. Tim Cook stepped into the role as Apple’s new CEO, per Jobs’ recommendation. (Cook’s been filling in for Jobs since January).

Only time will tell how Cook will transition into the position. Profiles of Cook and Jobs reveal that the two men are very different. Cook is soft-spoken, low-key while Jobs is sarcastic, fearsome, and has a larger-than-life personality.

But when looking into succession planning, it is not necessary that the predecessor and successor be the exact person. Sometimes, change is good. Cook needs to be humble enough realize that he cannot replace Jobs, but strong enough to promote his own visions for the future of the company.

To say the least, Cook has a lot to live up to. Apple is one of the most profitable companies the world has ever seen! No pressure or anything.

But succession planning isn’t just for billion dollar companies, it even more important to have a succession plan in place in small companies who can really feel the aftermath of a resignation of a top position.

How has your company implemented succession planning? Have you ever been in a situation where you wished you had succession planning? Let us know in the comments below.

Need help with your succession planning? The HR Professionals at Integrity HR are here to help! We help HR professionals implement successful succession planning! Contact us today!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/72926/The-Biggest-Apple-News-Since-iPad2-And-What-HR-Has-To-Do-With-It

Get Successful PHR/SPHR/GPHR Test Taking Tips!

Amy Letke — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:53:00 GMT

HRReview wants YOU to pass the PHR/SPHR/GPHR exam. And we want to give you all the tools to be able to do just that.

In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the most successful test taking tips. I know how stressful studying for a big exam can be; I’ve taken these exams. Now, I’m giving you the tips that helped me and many other professionals pass the exams.

Continue reading for our Successful Test Taking Tips, but click HERE if you are quickly approaching exam day and watch our video on “Three Key Strategies To Get Your Brain in The Game On Test Day.”

Without further ado, here are our Successful Test Taking Tips:

BUDGET your study time; make sure you have plenty of time to study so you are well prepared for the exam. Create a “study calendar” and plan backward several weeks to begin your study schedule. Be diligent!

REVIEW the outlines, and HRReview WORKBOOK exams – whether you access our FREE exams or purchase our WORKBOOK and access to nearly a thousand practice questions. Go over sample test questions along with the answers several times. It is important that you are used to the style of questions that could be asked, and that you train your brain to read questions carefully. Practice makes perfect, right?

MEMORIZE. Some exam questions could require memorization of certain topics. Study the laws and terminology so it is familiar to you. The HRReview QuickReview CD and Audio Flashcards are tools to help you with this, and they come with the HRReview WORKBOOK automatically with your order. If you order the GPHR material, you get a similar package as well. Study them diligently; understand the various laws and their names/acronyms, as well as all terminology in the outlines. Find ways to memorize terms so that they can be easily recalled.

PARTICIPATE. Consider participating in the free HRReview one-hour “coaching” session shortly before the exam window. Information about registering for the session is also in the letter you received with your order from HRReview, or contact one of the authors to participate.

THINK. A few days before the exam, stop taking practice exams. Review your study materials including the WORKBOOK outlines, Appendix, and CD and Audio Flashcards.Then, think of practical HR applications. Ask yourself questions and work through all possibilities. For example, “An employee is about to have her first child and asks if she is eligible for family and medical leave”; or “You just found out that the company health insurance premiums will go up by 25% next year and management asks you to investigate alternatives.” As an HR professional, what would you have to consider, and what steps would you take?

SLEEP. Don’t pull an “all-nighter” cramming the evening before the exam. The day before should be a final review of your notes, study materials and WORKBOOK Appendix. Try to eat a normal dinner, and get a good night’s rest. It will help you be better prepared, and your brain will process much more effectively when well nourished with sleep and food.

Lastly, be CONFIDENT. If you follow these tips, you will do great. Believe in yourself and you will succeed.

Now that you’re all ready for exam day, sign up here to watch our free video on “Three Key Strategies To Get Your Brain in The Game On Test Day.” Good luck!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/71817/Get-Successful-PHR-SPHR-GPHR-Test-Taking-Tips

Viva Las Vegas! HR Review Takes the High Road

Amy Letke — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:45:00 GMT

We just got back from the SHRM National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Yes, Las Vegas. For those of you who took time away from the slot machines to visit our booth, we want to say THANK YOU! We had a great time!

Although the motto is “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” we want to share with you some secrets we brought back from our trip.

We showed the casino-goers who stopped by our booth just how important it is to have credibility in the HR world. Building your credibility is important because it will help you move higher up in the business world and make more money. Who doesn’t want that, right?

Here are our three tips to help you build credibility:

Be consistent. It is always better to show, not tell. Show you company that you work hard by consistently improving and succeeding. Set high standards for yourself in your business and never let them get out of sight.
Be an expert. If you want to succeed, you need to be an expert in your field. You can do this by being PHR, SPHR, and GPHR certified. Our tools at HR Review help you study for the PHR, SPHR and GPHR exams so that you can be a certified HR expert. Check out our workbook and videos to learn more. Show people outside of the HR world how smart and talented you are by getting you PHR, SPHR, or GPHR certification.
Build relationships. Develop relationships and partnerships with others in the business world. This will not only give you connections, but it will help you see how others have become successful. You learn from your partnerships and become a stronger personally and professionally.

Also, if you’re looking to find even more Top Secrets to Success on Exam Day, then look out for a free informational video on how you can “get your brain in the game” and improve your chances for passing coming soon!

Now we know some of you weren’t fortunate enough to visit us Las Vegas, so we hope that these tips will help in your career and also help you pass the PHR, SPHR or GPHR exam!

Let HR Review help you get prepared for your next exam!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/68800/Viva-Las-Vegas-HR-Review-Takes-the-High-Road

SHRM Conference - a great gift for human resources pro's

Amy Letke — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:38:00 GMT

Dear HR Friends,

This year, as every year we'll be exhibiting at the SHRM National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from Sunday, June 26- Tuesday June 28. Cool, right? As a special gift to you, we're giving away FREE EXHIBIT HALL PASSES!

Yes, that's right, FREE! These are an incredible opportunity if you're taking a spouse or guest to the event, or if you just want to find yourself in Las Vegas and want to check out what's happening at the conference. Plus, HR Review is going to show you the latest and greatest HR Certification Programs! We've got something for everyone - PHR takers, SPHR takers and even GPHR programs!

So click here to gain access - we only have a limited number of passes! So be sure to get them fast! And come visit us at BOOTH NUMBER 1424! So if you can't use this, then please forward to a friend! We hope to see you and please stop by and see us! And of course - tell your Company, HR Chapter, or Friends about HRReview programs - we want to help as many people PASS their certification exam in 2011!

Come to the SHRM Conference and learn lots about human resources! Then visit us in booth 1424!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/65291/SHRM-Conference-a-great-gift-for-human-resources-pro-s

HR Review Announces Dates for Chicago HR Certification Study Classes

Amy Letke — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 15:33:00 GMT

The phones at HR Review are ringing off the hook about when HR Review will be holding it's HR Certification courses in Chicago this spring. We love getting your calls, but we also know you'd probably rather read it on our website, so here you go.

HR Review will be hosting three separate live classes in Chicago this year, starting in April.

Coming up this spring, we'll be hosting:

The famous Start Smart Course - Spring 2011, which is a full-fledged HR Certification Exam study course taught over the course of several weeks meant for those taking the PHR and SPHR certification exams. This course will ensure the student has a great start with their HR Certification Exam studying, and will uncover any holes they may have in their knowledge as test time approaches.
The Last Minute Course - Spring 2011, which is a three day intensive course geared towards those who are taking the PHR or SPHR exam and desire additional study time in the few weeks before their exam period. This course will quickly hammer home the concepts needed to pass the PHR or SPHR exam and will alert the student of weak areas on which to focus just before the exam.
The GPHR Go Global Course - Spring 2011, which is a new course for 2011, teaches material that will be tested on the GPHR Certification Exam, which is growing rapidly in popularity.

Each course will be taught by a Certified HR Professional who has sat for the exact exam you will be preparing for.

We'll have more coming your way in the next couple of weeks. We hope to see you there! Click any of the links below for additional information.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/60352/HR-Review-Announces-Dates-for-Chicago-HR-Certification-Study-Classes

Announcing the GPHR Certification Preparation Go Global Course

Amy Letke — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:29:00 GMT

It's not very often that we use our blog as a medium to announce or promote a product, BUT odds are if you clicked through to read this article, you're going to be VERY interested in what it has to say.

So listen up.

G-P-H-R

Those four letters mean Global Professional in Human Resources.

Those four letters mean that your Human Resources expertise is not only instantly recognizable in a small area of the world, but throughout the entire developed globe.

Unfortunately, there are very few quality study resources out there when it comes to GPHR Certification Preparation.

This is one of the reasons that are just barely over 1,000 people in the entire world who hold a GPHR certification. It's the goal of HR Review to significantly increase that number.

That's why we are excited to announce that we are releasing our "Go Global" GPHR Certification Preparation Course to the public. Previously this course was only available by invitation.

This course is being offered starting on March 31st as a six session webinar series designed to thoroughly prepare the individual for the difficult GPHR exam.

It will be fully facilitated by one of the Co-Founder's of HR Review who holds an SPHR Certification as well as a GPHR Certification, something that only 700 people in the world have accomplished.

Participants will finish the Go Global GPHR Certification Preparation Course with an excellent understanding of GPHR exam material as well as a great idea of where they need to focus their study efforts moving forward towards their exam.

Here is what you can expect with the Go Global course.

Top quality GPHR exam preparation from GPHR Certified professionals who have already taken and passed the exam
Six one hour GPHR exam preparation sessions delivered via webinar in order to accomodate students all over the globe
Recorded webinars for those who are unable to attend live sessions, as well as for those who want to re-review the materials
Participation in the class will include a textbook, workbook, and bonus audio review course
A price set at an extremely cost effective level that any HR Professional will be able to afford

The opportunity to get in on this class will only come once. You won't want to miss this chance to become globally recognized as a GPHR Certified Human Resources Professional.

For Additional Details Go Here Now

To Your Global Success, We'll See You on the Inside!

HR Review

(image provided by freedigitalphotos.net)

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/59801/Announcing-the-GPHR-Certification-Preparation-Go-Global-Course

How to Prepare for Your PHR or SPHR Exam

Cody Wheeler — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Another HR Certification Exam season has passed and the world now has many newly Certified HR Professionals.

Congratulations to everyone out there who has received your HR Certification, PHRs, SPHRs, and GPHRs alike. This is a great achievement and you should be very proud.

To those of you who were unsuccessful with receiving your certifications or have not yet taken the PHR or SPHR exam, you have some studying to do, and now is the time to start for those who will be successful in receiving their HR Certifications this Spring.

So how should you prepare for your upcoming exam?

Start Studying Early – Around 45% of those who take the PHR or SPHR exam each year fail to achieve passing scores. Not surprisingly, one of the biggest culprits of this is because people simply don’t prepare far enough in advance.

Many think because they have experience in the field that they don’t need to study. This is definitely not the case. Even with a fair amount of experience, the HR Certification Exams are very specific in the way they are formatted. The six areas of the HRCI body of knowledge are quite comprehensive as well.

In order to be successful, you need to ensure that you allow yourself plenty of time to cover all of these areas thoroughly, as well as learn how the test is formatted.

It’s true that some people will need more studying than others, but ask anyone who has had to re-take the exam before passing. It is far better to err on the side of too much studying than too little. Getting started early is the key here.

Get a Comprehensive Study Solution – Many candidates try to piece together a study solution by purchasing several different forms of study material, reviewing textbooks, and scouring the web for anything they can find.

This might work for some people, but for most this isn’t going to provide enough firepower to cover all of the areas of the HRCI body of knowledge, and it certainly isn’t going to prepare you for the format of the exam.

These study programs may be somewhat costly, but don’t think of it as an expense. Think of it as an investment in your future. The opportunities that will come your way when you receive your PHR or SPHR will easily pay for the small investment you have to make to secure a comprehensive study solution. Passing the first time is a lot less expensive than a re-take.

Take a Class – Many local chapters, universities, and professional organizations offer HR Certification Exam preparation classes which yield extremely high success rates. In fact - The course offered at the Integrity HR facility in Louisville, KY currently holds a 100% pass rate for three years running.

Most often, seats in courses such as these are quite reasonably priced and can be expensed as training. You also get access to already Certified HR Professionals as well as materials that have been proven to work time and time again that you often get to keep as a part of your entry fee.

The bottom line is this. There is no magic pill to take to pass the PHR or SPHR exam. You just need to make sure to adequately prepare with trusted resources and you’ll be fine!

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This article is a guest post by the blogging team at Integrity HR, an HR Consulting and Outsourcing organization based in Louisville, KY.

Many readers of the HR Review blog may also wish to view the Integrity HR blog at http://integrityhr.com/blog as it has recently experienced rapid growth, offers thought-provoking and helpful articles any business professional can put to use, and is published on a weekly basis.

If HR is a big part of your life, we highly recommend signing up for their weekly blog and monthly newsletter.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/59503/How-to-Prepare-for-Your-PHR-or-SPHR-Exam

How to Be the Master of Your HR Certification Exam Day

Amy Letke — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:12:00 GMT

We already talked about avoiding stress while you're studying for your HR Certification exam, and especially on exam day, but to add to that, we'd like to give you a few more exam taking tips to help you perform at your best on your HR Certification Exam.

By now you've studied enough, and you probably don't want to see another practice question in your life, so these are tips to help your prepare your body and your mind for the trials it is about to undergo when you take your exam.

Your physiological state can mean the difference between success and failure, so take these tips very seriously. Whether you're taking the PHR, SPHR, or GPHR, these tips will help you to perform at your best.

Don't Forget to Sleep - Unless you practice being superhuman, cognitive abilities start to diminish when the body gets less than 7 hours of sleep per night on average. This means your ability to store and recall memories decreases as sleep decreases.

Many candidates think the more time they study the better they will be able to do on their exam. So what do they do?

They get up early and stay up late trying to get in extra study time. Makes sense, right? Well this can often backfire. Lack of sleep leads to the inability to store and recall memories. This means that extra hour you spent studying is wasted because your cognitive abilities are not at optimal levels.

Sleep is not only important on the night before your exam, but throughout your studying. If you're tired, get some rest.

Eat a Good Breakfast - On exam day you'll want to be sure your body is fueled to perform for a long period of time. This means you want to eat foods that are high in protein and complex carbs that will take your body longer to metabolize. This will give your body long-lasting energy.

Foods like bananas, oranges, yogurt, oatmeal, raisin bran, eggs, granola, etc. will provide your body with these much-needed nutrients.

Take a Snack of Your Own- Your HR Certification Exam is going to be lengthy and strenuous. You'll burn through energy quickly and may risk crashing if you don't get enough nutrients to fuel your body.

Check with your exam facility to see if they'll allow you to bring a healthy snack such as an apple or granola bar. If not, just have your snack 30 minutes or so before your exam to ensure you are fueled.

This way you won't be dependent on vending machines that often house sugary foods that promote hyperactivity and nerves.

Stay Confident - You've studied. You've pre-tested. You've prepared very thoroughly. Be confident and tell yourself that you'll do great. If you question yourself, you'll fall into a self-fulfilling prophecy of doubt.

Stay confident to ensure your best performance.

Skip a Question If You Get Stumped - This is an obvious tip, but too many people don't take it to heart and end up rushing to finish because they spend too much time stewing over a few questions.

If you're one of those meticulous people who has to figure something out before moving on, well, check that habit at the door. It'll do more harm than good here.

You may get stumped on a few questions. If you do, skip them and come back. Odds are a refreshed mind when revisiting the question will bring the answer to you much easier than if you were to continue to stew. You'll also increase your stress levels of you continue to fret.

Dress Comfortably (and remember to layer) - You're not going to work. You're taking a difficult exam. Wear something that is going to allow you to move and stretch if you need to. Think roomy, soft, comfortable clothes.

Additionally, be sure to wear a few layers. It's no secret that testing centers are often kept a bit chilly. But if you wear one huge layer that you can't remove you'll be in a tough position if the room is warm for some reason.

Allow yourself room to keep your layers to stay warm, or shed some if you need to cool down.

Be sure to choose and lay out your clothes the night before so you won't have to worry about it on your exam day. This is a great stress reducing practice.

Scout Your Exam Facility - There's nothing worse than getting lost on exam day. It adds to your already skyrocketing stress levels.

To avoid a situation where you're scurrying to find where you're supposed to go, scout your testing center a few days in advance.

Find the easiest route and nail down your parking spot. Find the exact door you're supposed to go into and ask an attendant how long the check-in process takes. Also have them show you where the nearest restroom facilities are so you won't have to worry about that either.

The less you can worry about on exam day, the better.

Remember to Breathe and Relax - I always find it interesting to go into a testing center and look around to see who were the most relaxed people there. And by relaxed I don't mean sleepy. I mean calm of mind and body.

It almost never fails that these people are some of the first ones finished with their exams.

Could it be that these people have prepared better? Probably. But that means they're much more relaxed because they have less to worry about.

Are you starting to see a trend here? Relaxation and reduction of stress is a huge key to settling in and performing well.

If you find yourself starting to panic or get stressed out, just give yourself a quick timeout. Take a few deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will slow your heartrate and allow you to relax.

What Did You Learn?

Preparing your brain for your HR Certification Exam is not only a matter of studying the right material properly. It's also a matter of keeping your body in a state that will allow you to perform at optimum levels.

Follow the above tips and you'll be that much more prepared to nail your upcoming HR Certification exam.

Be sure to let us know when you pass your HR Certification exam!

(images provided by freedigitalphotos.net)

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/57623/How-to-Be-the-Master-of-Your-HR-Certification-Exam-Day

How to Nail Your Upcoming HR Certification Exam

Amy Letke — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:45:00 GMT

By now a few of you out there have already taken your HR Certification Exam and we've already been getting many excited reports of newly certified HR Professionals.

Congratulations to those folks.

But for the rest of you out there who have yet to take your exam, this article will provide you with a bit of advice that many people often forget when it gets down to crunch time.

Being an advocate of academia and higher education I know how stressful studying for a big exam can be, and I've also gone through my share of all-nighters.

I even did pretty well on most of my exams, but looking back on things now, I always found that the ones I overprepared for were the ones on which I normally performed the worst.

How Stress Can Impact Your Memory

Past studies have shown, and even more so recently, that stress has a significant effect on the hippocampus region of the brain, which is essentially responsible for all things related to memory.

This means, simply enough, that the more stress a person is under the more difficult it is for them to form new memories and retreive existing memories.

This is a large part of the reason why "stressing out" and "pulling all-nighters" to prepare for an upcoming exam can be detrimental to performance.

Less is more, in this case.

You will not store memories as well when you are stressed, so you're really just wasting time if you try to study when you're overwhelmed. The minute you start feeling over-stressed, take a short break and come back to it only when you feel refreshed enough to begin studying again.

Don't ever allow yourself to get to the point where you need to pull an all-nighter to get ready in the first place.

Don't "cram" on test day. Stress leading up to an exam can cause you to be unable to retreive memories. It's ok to review notes quickly to get a refresher, but try to avoid any kind of studying binge on the day of your test.

You need to be completely relaxed and calm for optimal performance. If you can help it, avoid any sort of stressful situations. Take the day off work (and life) if you can. The more relaxed you are while you are taking your exam, the better you will be able to retreive your memories.

Now of course all of the relaxation in the world won't save you if you haven't studied well enough, so make sure you're sticking to a study schedule that allows you to get everything in while still remaining relaxed.

Last, but definitely not least, here is a bit of encouragement for those of you out there who have yet to take your exam.

Emails From Newly Certified HR Professionals

Here are a couple of emails we've gotten just recently. These were all received in just the past week.

"I thought u should know I just took my phr cert exam and I passed. Thanks for all your help in my prep!"

"Just wanted to let you know that I took my PHR exam on Friday and PASSED on the first try ! Thank you so much for the wonderful materials provided in the two courses that I took, I don’t think the exam would have been so easy without the CD’s and workbooks."

"I passed!... Even w/my MSHR the prep course helped significantly. Thanks!"

Take these in as confidence that you can do it too.

Stay relaxed, study, and you'll be fine. Good luck everyone!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/56457/How-to-Nail-Your-Upcoming-HR-Certification-Exam

Your Top HR Certification Questions Answered

Amy Letke — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:28:00 GMT

Note: This blog post is time sensitive and is written as of November 4, 2010.

Ok, so here's the deal. Every year about this time we get FLOODED with emails and phone calls from people wondering what to do about getting their HR Certification. Many of you are probably asking those same questions right now so we're going to answer them for you up front so you can stop wondering and start taking action.

Do I Still Have Time to Sign Up?
Can I Really Pass the Exam?
How Do I Sign Up?
Is It Worth It?
What Do I Need to Study?

Here are the answers.

Yes, you still have time to sign up - The testing Window starts December 1st and goes through January 31st. Go to HRCI.org and get signed up for a later test date, grab your study materials (we've made it really easy for you) and its off to the races for you. You'll be fine if you start right now.

Yes, you can really do it - We've heard hundreds of success stories since we've been offering HR Certification Exam prep products. Our customers are living proof that if you put in the time you can change your life. Stop doubting yourself. You can do it!

How do I sign up? - Head on over to hrci.org to sign up. In fact here's a link for you. Sign up for your HR Certification Exam.

You'll find all the info you need on their site. Give them a call if you have questions about eligibility, etc. They've updated the site this year to make the process pretty painless.

Is an HR Certification worth it? - You be the judge - The cost of the exam is a bit of an investment, but it's an investment in the best thing you can invest in, yourself. The fact is, the cost isn't going to change, and if it does, it will only go up.

In reality this cost pales in comparison to the stature you will have once you receive your certification. The average Human Resources Director in the US brings home $146,000 annually and needless to say you'll have a much larger chance at landing the jobs that will get you to this point with a a certification.

Here's what to study - The HRCI specifies a certain body of knowledge for HR Certification. Check out this page to see what you need to study. We developed the HR Review Workbook to be a solution for the PHR and SPHR exam with everything you need to train your brain to pass.

Once you get signed up come back to this blog post and get your materials ordered. You've only got until Nov 12 and the seats usually fill up before then, so don't wait another day! Get signed up and Secure your study materials now.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/54462/Your-Top-HR-Certification-Questions-Answered

Human Resources Accounting | Was Your Answer Correct?

Amy Letke — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:03:00 GMT

A couple of days ago we asked you a question about the use of a balance sheet in an organization. If you missed the question post we had some info in there regarding registration for the HR Certification Exams as well so you may want to check that out if you missed it.

You can check that out here.

The question was.

The Balance Sheet of an Organization Represents What?

A.) The financial position of the organization
B.) The financial position and level of revenue of the organization
C.) An explanation of revenues, expenses, and profits over time
D.) The gross profit of the organization

The Correct Answer is A.

Here is the explanation.

The balance sheet represents the financial position of the organization - where we are today. B is incorrect because the level of revenue is not shown on the balance sheet. This would be shown on the Income Statement. Answer C is actually the definition of an income statement. Gross profit is the difference between the Cost of Goods Sold and Sales without factoring in any other expenses such as taxes, etc.

Exam Power Tip: While Human Resources is not heavy on accounting it is still very important to know accounting terminology on the exam. The exam focuses not only on HR, but also on the candidate's understanding of other business functions. This is due to HR evolving into more of a strategic role within the landscape of business today.

As a reminder there is still time to register for the HR Certification Exam as a late registrant, but not long. Get registered for your HR Certification Exam now and then come back to grab your practice materials.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/53207/Human-Resources-Accounting-Was-Your-Answer-Correct

Exam Practice Question | Human Resource Accounting

Amy Letke — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:50:00 GMT

For the last couple of weeks we've been urging you to check your eligibility for the hr certification exams and get registered before the early registration deadline hits.

The early registration deadline has passed, however you can still register for the HR Certification Exams for another few weeks. Get registered now if you're not already, and pick up your practice material in our store. Otherwise you're going to be under the new HR Certification eligibility requirements for 2011.

Hopefully you've got all of that taken care of. With that said, here's another practice question that deals with Human Resource Accounting.

The Balance Sheet of an Organization Represents What?

Toss us your answer in the comments below with your explanation. We'll post the correct answer later this week.

Until then, keep studying. If you need practice materials check out the updated 2010-2011 PHR/SPHR HR Review Workbook.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/53202/Exam-Practice-Question-Human-Resource-Accounting

How to Register for the HR Certification Exams

Amy Letke — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:39:00 GMT

A common question we get at our offices is How to Register for the HR Certification Exams. By the end of this article you'll know everything you need to know to do so.

The first thing you'll need to know is if you are in fact eligible to sit for the HR Certification Exam of your choosing whether it be the PHR, SPHR, or GPHR. Many folks would like to get their HR Certification, but either do not have enough experience in the industry to do so or do not have a matching job title. On the other hand, many folks are already qualified, but do not know it.

This is where things get a little sticky until the eligibility requirements change in 2011. Currently the HR Certification Exam Requirements are fairly lenient. However, they're going to be changing to a tiered system after the winter 2010-2011 testing window that requires a greater amount of experience and focuses heavily on education. We posted a blog article a few days back about that. If you missed that one you can read it here.

HR Certification Exam Eligibility Requirements

Once you have determined that you are eligible to register for the HR Certification exam of your choosing you will need to visit the Human Resource Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.

There you will find information on How to Apply for an HR Certification Exam including applying online, applying by mail, what to do after you apply, accomodation requests, and mailing forms.

We recommend the online registration process. It is by far the quickest and easiest route. You'll follow these 5 steps.

Create an HRCI Account - Odds are you don't have an HRCI account if you're reading this article. If you do, skip this step and just login to your account. If not you will need to follow the directions here --> Create an HRCI account
Fill out and Submit the Online Application - Make sure to double check all of your information. If something is entered incorrectly you risk not being able to test.
Print the Summary Page - Make sure you print this, or save it somewhere to print later. You'll need to 12 digit ID to log back into the HRCI website.
Receive Your Eligibility Email - This can sometimes take a couple of days to process. You'll get this after the HRCI has reviewed your credentials and received your exam fee (read about HRCI exam registration fees here) payment in full.

Make sure you submit all necessary documentation and information and fill out all of the necessary fields with your application. Otherwise you risk ineligibility.
Receive Eligibility and Schedule Your Exam - This step is very important. You still have to schedule your exam once you have registered to take it. You can schedule your exam on the Prometric website by visiting www.prometric.com/hrci or by calling (800) 467-9582.

Make sure you have all of your registration information available when you are scheduling your exam.

As a final bit of advice REGISTER AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. The number of individuals who can take an HR Certification Exam each year is finite. If you wait until the deadline you may not be able to register.

Additionally there are extra fees for registering past the early registration deadline. You can read about the 2010 HR Certification Exam Registration Deadline here.

Good luck with your eligibility and if you have any questions be sure to Contact Us.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/52871/How-to-Register-for-the-HR-Certification-Exams

HR Certification Exam Registration Deadline Approaching

Amy Letke — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:15:00 GMT

This week we wanted to make sure that everyone is aware that the PHR, SPHR, and GPHR HR Certification Exam Registration Deadline is creeping up on us. The deadline for registration for all three exams is October 8th, in just two weeks from the posting of this article.

You can find additional information about the HR Certification Exam Registration Deadline as well as fees for the PHR, SPHR and GPHR HR Certification Exams on the HRCI website.

You can still register after October 8th, but the registration fee will be significantly higher for the late registration period. If you plan on taking an HR Certification Exam this winter, which we highly recommend due to the new HR Certification Eligibility requirements increasing the difficulty to receive a certification (please see our previous blog post for details), be sure to get registered now to avoid incurring a late registration fee.

If you want your HR Certification mark your calendar to get registered before October 8th and then make sure to visit the HR Review Store for your PHR, SPHR, or GPHR HR Certification Study Materials.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/52174/HR-Certification-Exam-Registration-Deadline-Approaching

New HR Certification Eligibility Requirements Around the Corner

Amy Letke — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:49:00 GMT

The below information is as of September 16, 2010 and is time sensitive.

It's good to see everyone so engaged with the blog and answering the practice questions we have been putting out from our study materials in the last few weeks. If you're a new subscriber and missed any of the questions and answers you can always go to the main HR Review Practice Exam Blog Homepage and see every post.

It's great to see so many readers who are excited about learning and working towards their goal to become a Certified HR Professional.

This week we're going to take a break from the practice exam questions to make sure everyone is fully aware of the new eligibility requirments coming for 2011. This is a very important change for the HR Industry.

Currently the eligibility requirements to become a Certified HR Professional are fairly lenient, however in 2011, these requirements are becoming a bit more difficult. The upcoming testing period starting in December 2010 is THE LAST CHANCE to test under these eligibility requirements. Starting in May 2011, obtaining an HR Certification will become much more difficult.

Current HR Certification Requirments (expiring after December 2010 testing period)

Here are the current requirements according to the Human Resources Certification Institute. For all three certifications, the PHR, SPHR and GPHR, to be eligible for certification you must have two years of professional (exempt-level) HR work experience. Your work experience must have come in a position matching one of the position codes listed on this page.

If you plan to practice in California you must have an active PHR or SPHR Certification.

Student requirements for HR Certification are a bit different and can be found on the HRCI website.

New HR Certification Requirments for 2011

The new eligibility requirements starting in May 2011 are much different and much more difficult.

For a PHR Certification

1 year of demonstrated professional HR experience with a Master’s degree or higher
2 years of demonstrated professional HR experience with a Bachelor’s degree
4 years of demonstrated professional HR experience with less than a Bachelor’s degree

For an SPHR Certification

4 years of demonstrated professional HR experience with a Master’s degree or higher
5 years of demonstrated professional HR experience with a Bachelor’s degree
7 years of demonstrated professional HR experience with less than a Bachelor’s degree

For a GPHR Certification

2 years of demonstrated global professional HR experience with a Master’s degree or higher
3 years of demonstrated professional HR experience (with 2 of the 3 being global HR experience) with a Bachelor’s degree
4 years of demonstrated professional HR experience (with 2 of the 4 being global HR experience) with less than a Bachelor’s degree

(information provided by HRCI.org)

So What Does This Mean For You?

As you can see by the requirements, essentially the HRCI is putting a much higher emphasis on formal education. In every category it will require much more experience to achieve an HR Certification if you do not have a college degree.

Additionally, instead of the same level of experience as a requirement for each of the three designations, they are now separated. For example, an SPHR will require 5 years of experience with a bachelor's degree while a PHR would only require 2 at the same level of education, making an SPHR designation much more prestigious than it is now.

Get In Now

The basic message here is this. If you qualify for a Professional HR Certification and you want to set yourself apart from the rest, GET IN NOW. You still have time to get in on the December 2010 testing session if you have not yet registered. If you wait until next year, you may not qualify, and your life could be much different by the time that you do.

Go here to learn about How to register for HR Certification

Once again, this is THE LAST time the HRCI will offer this set of eligibility requirements. Get in now if you haven't already. Once you're registered, Contact Us to get your study materials.

(image provided by freedigitalphotos.net)

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/51714/New-HR-Certification-Eligibility-Requirements-Around-the-Corner

Human Resource Branding | Was Your Answer Correct?

Amy Letke — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:56:00 GMT

Great job on this one everyone. We had a lot of feedback and quite a few pageviews on the human resource branding question that we posted this week. If you missed that post you may want to read it. We gave a valuable bit of advice on top of asking the question. You can find it here.

Human Resource Branding Practice Question

Earlier this week we asked of you:

Human Resource Branding is MOST used for which of the following?

A.) Demonstrating "best practices" in the organization.
B.) Recruiting high caliber candidates to the organization.
C.) Creating a culture inside the organization.
D.) Being more involved in marketing.

The correct answer is: B - Recruiting high caliber candidates to the organization. Here is the explanation. Make sure to read and fully understand why this is the correct answer so you can commit it to memory.

Human Resource branding is a technique that many HR departments are using to attract new talent to the organization. Branding has long been used by marketing departments for product differentiation from the competition. Now, HR branding is used in a similar fashion to attract new talent by branding an organization to differentiate it from competing employers.

Just as a reminder to everyone out there who is preparing or thinking about an HR Certification Exam, it is now a week into September. Make sure you are registered with the HRCI for your exam and make sure you secure your study materials soon. Those tests have a way of sneaking up on you.

Great work this week everyone. Until next week!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/51202/Human-Resource-Branding-Was-Your-Answer-Correct

Human Resource Branding | HR Certification Practice Exam Question

Amy Letke — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:47:00 GMT

Alright. For the last couple of weeks we've been talking about the law making process. If you missed those two posts you can go back and see them by clicking on the main HR Review Blog Homepage.

Today we're going to switch gears a little bit and talk about Human Resource Branding. This is an interesting technique which has many uses, but before we post the question we'd like to say one thing.

We've gotten a lot of answers to our past couple of posts, however not all of them have been correct. Make sure to check back each week when we post the answer to see if yours was correct.

Even if you didn't post in the comments we want to make sure you are challenging yourself to answer each question and explaining it to yourself each time, especially as test time draws closer. Now is the time to start studying if you haven't already.

Here is today's question about Human Resource Branding:

Human Resource Branding is MOST used for which of the following?:

Remember to think about the question thoroughly before you choose your answer. Make sure you can explain your choice and have a good understanding of WHY your answer is correct. We'll post the correct answer later this week. Be on the lookout.

Remember you may Contact Us at any time for further assistance towards your HR Certification. We're here to help.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/51200/Human-Resource-Branding-HR-Certification-Practice-Exam-Question

Presidential Legislation Approval - Was Your Answer Correct?

Amy Letke — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:07:00 GMT

Welcome back to the HR Review HR Certification Practice Exam Blog. Thanks for all of the comments and participation. We've got more names each week in our prize drawing pool. Remember to answer the questions if you want your name to be entered.

Yesterday we asked:

If the President receives a bill from the House of Representatives and the Senate for his approval and does nothing with it:

a.) It automatically becomes a law
b.) The legislation dies
c.) Depends on whether the House and Senate are in session
d.) It is a "pocket veto"

And the answer is: C

Here is the explanation:

The President either signs the bill into law, or if opposed, vetoes it. If no action is taken for ten days (remember that) while Congress is in session, it will automatically become law. If Congress has adjourned its second session and the President takes no action, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation dies, although it may be reintroduced in the next session.

Hopefully you got the right answer. This question is an example of how closely you must read each question. Note that this question pertains to a specific situation which is dependent on the House or Senate being in session.

How are you doing so far? If we can help clarify be sure to ask questions in the comments section. Until next time!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/50758/Presidential-Legislation-Approval-Was-Your-Answer-Correct

HR Review Practice Exam Question - The Law Making Process

Amy Letke — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:42:00 GMT

Last week we launched the new HR Review Practice Test Question portion of our blog by posing a basic question about the law making process. A handful of visitors were brave enough to post their answers and a couple even got it right. Congrats to those who did. Let's see if you can get this week's question.

By the way if you didn't get a chance to participate in last week's blog you can find that here (no peeking at the answer until you've thought about it in detail!)

The Law Making Process

This week's question follows the same sort of theme, but goes a little bit deeper. Let's see how you do. The answer might surprise you:

If the President receives a bill from the House of Representatives and the Senate for his approval and does nothing with it:

a.) It automatically becomes a law
b.) The legislation dies
c.) Depends on whether the House and Senate are in session
d.) It is a "pocket veto"

Think about it and post your answer with your explanation in the comments section. Remember, we're watching for comments. If you think you know the answer make sure to chime in.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/50691/HR-Review-Practice-Exam-Question-The-Law-Making-Process

The Law Making Process - And The Answer Is...?

Amy Letke — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:15:00 GMT

First we want to say thanks to everyone who participated in the comments. The more you participate, the better you will learn. We are happy to see so many people who are passionate about HR and who are serious about passing their exams.

Earlier in the week we asked:

Please choose the correct answer. The steps involved with passing new laws begin with:

a. Placing a bill on a committee agenda
b. Referring the bill to a subcommittee
c. Examining the bill for its likelihood of passing
d. Debating the merits of the bill on the House or Senate floor

If you chose A. Placing a bill on a committee agenda, then you are correct. The following explanation describes the law making process. Please be sure to read the explanations and commit them to memory. They may help you with other questions on the exam.

Persons outside of Congress may draft a bill, but only members of Congress may introduce the legislation. The bill is introduced and placed on a committee's agenda. The committee examines the bill and its' likelihood of passage is then determined.

The bill may then be referred to a sub-committee for additional study or hearings. Once the bill is returned to the committee, a written report is published, and the full chamber (House or Senate) then debate and vote on the bill. If the bill is passed, it is referred to the other chamber where the same process of committee and floor action reoccurs.

Great job with all of the comments and discussion this week. Keep studying everyone. Upcoming we will continue to examine the law making process, a vital part of the HR certification exams.

Until next week!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/50162/The-Law-Making-Process-And-The-Answer-Is

The Law Making Process - PHR, SPHR, GPHR Practice Exam Blog Launch

Amy Letke — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:15:00 GMT

So here it is. The day has come. This is the official launch of the all new theme for the HR Review Blog. If you did not get a chance to read the email we sent out it will work like this. At the beginning of each week we will post at least one question, possibly more, from our HR Review PHR, SPHR, GPHR Exam Home Study Materials.

We will then allow readers time to think about the answer, ask questions and discuss. Most questions will be multiple choice so we encourage readers think about the answer before looking at the possible choices. We will then post the answer with an explanation later in the week after the discussion.

We highly encourage participation and discussion of the questions. This is proven to enhance the learning process. To encourage this, periodically we will draw for some sort of prize, whether it be a discount on our materials, free materials, or perhaps even some cool new gizmo. Each comment with a valid email address will be thrown in the proverbial hat.

We hope this will at least keep studying on your mind each week. These are the exact types of questions you will see on the exams so be sure to pay attention. There are many types of questions on the exams. We'll start off with a basic one. Remember to comment if you think you know the correct answer.

Let's see how you do!

The Law Making Process

Please choose the correct answer. The steps involved with passing new laws begin with:

a. Placing a bill on a committee agenda
b. Referring the bill to a subcommittee
c. Examining the bill for its likelihood of passing
d. Debating the merits of the bill on the House or Senate floor

If you think you know the answer make sure you back it up with a few sentence explanation in the comments section. We will post the correct answer with the explanation in a couple of days.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/50161/The-Law-Making-Process-PHR-SPHR-GPHR-Practice-Exam-Blog-Launch

Getting Your HR Certification - Four Steps to Choosing Your Training

Amy Letke — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:45:00 GMT

It's no secret that workplaces have been pretty hectic the past couple of years. Many employers have been forced to "cut the fat" out of their organizations and only keep their most valuable employees. Unfortunately this has meant the dreaded axe for a lot of would be HR Professionals.

If you were one of the unlucky you obviously want to avoid this in the future, and you obviously want to get back into the workplace as quickly as possible. If you have been lucky enough to stick around, well, the dust isn't clear just yet so do everything you can to improve yourself.

As an aspiring HR Professional, there is one very obvious choice to increasing your credibility substantially beyond a college education.

It might sound biased coming from the blog of an HR Certification training organization, but that's ok. We believe in our mission 100% and we want our readers to succeed. We truly believe an HR Certification is the best way to not only get that instant credibility that you need to be designated as a valuable employee, but also many other benefits to your career as well.

In the world of human resources surprisingly more than 108,000 HR professionals have already earned HR Certification! Earning the PHR, SPHR, or GPHR credentials demonstrates to your organization that you commit to a higher standard.

When you become HR Certified you:

1. Show that you know the most current principles and core practices of HR management

2. Become more marketable when competing for top HR positions

3. Raise your professional confidence among your staff and your peers

4. Demonstrate your commitment to ongoing HR education

5. Immediately become recognized as an expert

From an employer point of view, when you insist on certification for your HR staff, you help to ensure updated HR programs and policies in your organization. You set a standard of a staff that is committed to excellence, education, and ongoing professionalism in Human Resources. And most importantly, you get a staff that knows how to take your HR department to the next level.

It's true. Getting certified can be tough. But it should be tough. That makes it that much more powerful for those who are HR Certified. When preparing for your HR Certification Exam it is important to evaluate programs to help you in passing the difficult questions you’ll be asked on the PHR, SPHR or GPHR exams.

After registering to take one of the exams at www.hrci.org, you’ll need to select a system to help you review all the areas that will be covered on an exam, and to practice your “know how” so you’ll be ready come exam day.

Of course we believe 100% in our products, but don't take our word for it. We want you to make your own decision about your HR training needs.

Here’s what to look for in a system to help you prepare for your HR Certification Exam:

1. A system that has a lot of sample exam quality questions so you can practice selecting the “best” answer from the group

2. A system that has a means for measuring your progress, so you know exactly what you need work on, so you’re better prepared exam day

3. A solution for adult learners – Since you’re taking an exam for HR professionals, you’ll want a system that is designed to help you pass the exam, not just teach you HR. This is where many training programs fall short.

4. A solution that offers solid adult learning principles to reinforce learning – for example, reading works, writing answers, listening to materials, then taking practice exams are all examples of how you utilize more senses to help your better retain information

Again, we want you to make your own decision, but we would like you to try out some of our free practice exams (see the buttons on the sidebar to the right). There's no obligation at all. Just give em a shot. There are a couple of buttons to the right of the blog - one for PHR and one for SPHR.

Remember, the key to finding the right solution is determining first what your needs are, then carefully selecting the tool that is right for you.

If you're serious about your HR career, take our advice and get certified. It can only make things better for you.

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/49076/Getting-Your-HR-Certification-Four-Steps-to-Choosing-Your-Training

PHR / SPHR Pass Fail Rates - Free PHR or SPHR Practice Exam

Amy Letke — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:21:00 GMT

PHR and SPHR Pass/Fail Rates:

Each year thousands of potential Certified HR Professionals sit for their PHR certification exams. Unfortunately in 2009, according to the Human Resources Certification Institute, 41% of them failed to make the cut.

Compare this to the 48% who fail to make the cut on the SPHR exam. That's a pretty big chunk for both. Nearly half of all individuals who take these exams fail. Why? Because they wait too long to prepare or they don't adequately challenge themselves prior to the exam.

A PHR or SPHR Certification designates you as a professional by definition, gives you immediate and unmatched credibility, and puts you an in exclusive bunch of individuals. There are many benefits to becoming a Certified HR Professional, and for that reason the exams are designed to be difficult. Proper preparation is necessary if you are serious about passing.

To illustrate, pass rates have declined each year since 2001 going from nearly 70% to 58% in 2009 for the PHR, and nearly 60% down to 52% for the SPHR.

Fortunately, if you're reading this article you're in the right place to drastically increase your chances of success. You can avoid being in this group by preparing thoroughly with our interactive online tests and our study guide and workbook. Our chapter members have cited up to 90% success rates on their certification exams.

If you can't get to a PHR or SPHR prep class we have materials that we have developed and revised over the years that will help you prepare for your exam.

We have a couple of free online resources for you as well if you're not ready to start your studying just yet. You can take free a PHR practice exam here, or a free SPHR practice exam here. Sign up for either of those and we'll send you some more test taking tips with our email follow-up series.

Staring soon, we'll be posting practice questions, study tips, and much much more on this blog to help you prepare for your PHR or SPHR exam. Be on the lookout!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/46293/PHR-SPHR-Pass-Fail-Rates-Free-PHR-or-SPHR-Practice-Exam

Secrets for "Crunch Time" in preparing to pass the PHR or SPHR

Amy Letke — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:49:00 GMT

Time is ticking away, and only a few weeks to take your PHR or SPHR exam. Some people are studying like crazy (which they should be) and others are stressed out knowing the test date is looming. What's the best way to get ready, knowing your deadline is near? Here's a few quick tips to help you keep on track:

1. Remember, the exam is only multiple choice - no written answers. Work on focusing how to answer a 4 choice question. Eliminate the two wrong answers, and identify the others that may be possible. This will help you gain confidence and focus in answering questions.

2. Don't forget to review terminology. If you've been in HR a long time or not, the exam will have some terminology that is and is not familiar. Be sure to have some means to review terms currently in use either by means of a manual or study materials.

3. Review the HRCI body of knowledge. This is important because they'll tell you what is being tested - if you've missed an area or are uncertain about a topic, this can help you refocus.

4. Try not to cram at the last minute. Both the PHR and SPHR are designed to assesss knowledge based on real word experience - so if you're late on studying, focus on the areas where you're most unfamiliar.

5. Take practice tests - whether they're free or not, practice, practice, practice. This will get you in the groove for exam day!

Yes, the window for taking the PHR or SPHR will close in a few short weeks - so keep the ball in motion, stay focused, and work those exams to help you achieve great results!

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/33804/Secrets-for-Crunch-Time-in-preparing-to-pass-the-PHR-or-SPHR

Online PHR and SPHR Practice Exams - 5 Tips to Improve Your Chances

Amy Letke — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:58:00 GMT

You're studying like crazy because the exam window is open! Yes, many of you have registered to take the PHR or SPHR, and most likely will wait until January to take it. But before you go to your exam site, be sure to do the following:

1. Take online practice tests to help you with multiple choice tests. You can take the HRReview online practice test by clicking on the link or on the picture above. If you haven't taken a college entrance exam lately, it would be a good idea to regain the knack of how to select from 4 choices, oftentimes when more that one answer can be correct.

2. Be prepared exam day with a valid drivers license, taking minimal items to the test site. Just last year, I had a student show up to take the PHR, only to find her drivers license had expired. Needless to say, she had to get an updated license prior to be admitted to the test site. A delay you may not be able to afford!

3. Be sure to get a good nights rest the evening before the exam. This is an athletic feat - taking the PHR, SPHR or GPHR - so treat it like an athletic event! Eat those carbs, get some good exercise and most importantly rest well. You'll have a short 4 hours to demonstrate expertise - so be on top of your game!

4. Take 15 minutes before the exam as quiet, meditation time. How many days do we run from one thing to the next, barely focusing on what's next or what we just did? Get to the exam site early, "get in the zone" and you'll have your mind ready to conquer the questions!

5. Once taking the test, resist the temptation to question yourself and change answers. Many times your first instinct is your best. You'll have the opportunity to flag answers you're not sure about, but resist the temptation to go back and review all of them, as many times it will be a mistake to make changes. Trust yourself, and only review/change answers where you were completely stumped.

Practice these 5 tips and you'll be better prepared to pass the PHR, SPHR or GPHR exam! Good luck!

Amy Letke, SPHR - Co-Founder

amy@hrreview.com

www.hrreview.com

http://www.hrreview.com/our-blog/bid/31878/Online-PHR-and-SPHR-Practice-Exams-5-Tips-to-Improve-Your-Chances