HR Certification

15 Strategies for Passing the SPHRPamela J. Green, MBA, SPHR, ACC

Meet Your Facilitator

Pamela J Green, MBA, SPHR, ACC:

• entrepreneur

• keynote speaker

• author

• career and executive coach

• …with more than 25 years of business leadership

experience.

Believes: Certification demonstrates that you are serious

about your profession and are committed to staying current

to prove it!

Which Certification to

Take?Look at which ones will offer the greatest long-term

professional value, consider those your employer

recognizes and values most for the role you are in.

Remember, certification is no guarantee of results,

those are up to you.

IS HR Certification REALLY

Necessary?

YESCertified professionals with experience hold higher level positions and are more likely to be in charge of the department.

Regardless of the type, certification is seen by employers as the most valuable and most effective way of developing one’s career.

Source: research by HRCI

Certification distinguishes those who might be viewed as “committed” to the profession from those just passing through.

HR’s Rapid ChangesEmployers Want to Know:

That your HR knowledge is current.

You are consistently in touch with what is relevant to the business.

Your skills stay sharp.

Their HR teams are viewed as credible.

That they are exposed to new ideas.

They have a competitive advantage.

Without Certification…

There is no guarantee that an HR

professional is even trying to

remain current and relevant with

the rapid changes affecting the

business.

$1M Question:Should an HR Executive Be Certified?

Only if they want to set an example for those that

follow.

Only if they want to be viewed as taking the

profession seriously.

Only if they want to ensure their teams are

viewed as credible with current and relevant

information.

Only if they want to build a reputation for

excellence.

SPHR Pre-Exam Tips

#1

DON’T take the SPHR until you have had the experience.

(This is an experience based earned

certification. You can’t pass this one based

solely on memorizing key concepts.)

#2

Do Your Homework on

the Exam. (HRCI has plenty of information, read it!)

#3

Know Your Test

Taking Abilities

and Adjust Your

Study Habits

Accordingly.

#4

Give Yourself Time to Study and

Prepare.

End of year is a bad time for me, so I took the entire

first half of the following year to study and prepare!

What about you?

#5

Develop a Study Plan and Stick To It!

Invite family and friends to hold you

accountable.

#6

Get a recently certified exam partner to quiz

you with real life examples. It helps with retention and

application of information.

#7

Try using multiple study methods and

resources (flash cards, practice exams,

group, individual, etc.). If you’re looking for a supplement to

Learning System, I love the Human Resource Management book by Mathis and Jackson. Rent it from

Amazon for less than $20!

#8

Gain insights from

professionals who

have recently

taken the exam.

Learn how to block distractions during your study time. It will help

during test taking.

Testing Day Tips

#1 Eat, arrive early,

relax.

#2

Take your time.

Read and re-

read the

question but

don’t overthink it.

#3Anticipate the

answer.

#4

Think STRATEGIC

(There will always be at least two good answers.

Which is better?)

#5

If you struggle,

ask yourself,

“what am I being

tested on?”

#6

Answer the

questions you

know, come

back to the

others.

A Different Certification for

HRYou may have noticed that I have added some credentials to

my name, ACC, which stands for Accredited Certified Coach.

Why did I do this?

• To diversify my skillset.

• Create career options if in transition.

• For global branding and career opportunities.

• Improve professional value and competitive stance.

You can too. Learn more by visiting

www.thehrcoachinginstitute.com

Ask me anything…

Pam@thehrcoachinginstitute.com

www.thehrcoachinginstitute.com

202-293-4965

Thank You!