The best advice I can give to HR professionals preparing for their PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, and/or SHRM-SCP is you must dedicate the time and put in the effort. The reason these exams have low pass rates is that many do not make preparation for their HR certification exam a priority for at least 10 to 12 weeks. Dedicate plenty of time each week for working with your learning resources – studying and reviewing, as well as taking as many practice exams as you can! Discuss topics with fellow HR professionals. There is no better place to discuss those concepts, processes, theories, strategies, systems, etc. than in our Facebook community! Pick a topic and start a discussion – get engagement flowing on the topic to spice it up and break it down to the essential characteristics, keywords, advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons, etc. Be sure to hashtag it based on the topic, i.e., #compstrategies for ease of search in the group. For example, create a post starting off with something like, “let’s discuss the different types of compensation systems, organizational structures or HR structures, leadership theories, motivational theories, etc. You can share your post anonymously if you prefer. You can encourage engagement with your post by sharing your knowledge on the topic and asking others to work together to gather a deeper level of understanding – learn how many of these concepts are connected across HR functions. In this case, you could describe the different types of compensation strategies/systems, their advantages, disadvantages, and any special characteristics that could make a particular comp strategy most advantageous, considering an organization’s business needs and goals.

Preparation and hard work will put you in the best position for success. They don’t guarantee success, but without them, your chances of succeeding are slim to none.

Only you know how much earning that credential means to you. It IS within your reach. Claiming it is just a matter of working for it!

This is our safe place (Click to join) to talk about it, work through it, and seek clarification, support, guidance, and motivation.

Inhale confidence. Exhale doubt. You’ve got this!

~V