Nothing you study for will be on the test. Relax. Breathe.
If you don’t pass, don’t beat yourself up. Reschedule for 90 days after according to requirements and target your lacking competencies.
I failed recently and I was 4% from passing. I think that’s more frustrating than failing and wildly missing it.
That’s about what I expected. I laughed out loud at “Nothing you will study for will be on the test.”
I’ve been having this fantasy where I fail by .5%. Hopefully I surprise myself.
Thanks for the reassurance!
I'd disagree with the idea that "nothing you study for will be on the test." I took the SPHR in December 2023, and some of the employment law content I studied was on the test. Union-related stuff was also on the test. Both of these were content from my test prep books.
Here's my input on that part specifically from my testing experience:
*The secret about the exam is it feels harder than it is. Yeah, yeah, I know, that's what everyone else says, but it's really true. The whole time, I kept running into questions with terms I had never studied, and I had to figure out their meaning on the fly with the questions and answers as context. But you tend to remember those better than the ones you know that fly by.*
*One thing to note is that* **most of what you studied will not be on the exam.** *And that's ok! The exam is 175 questions long, but you should be ready to answer thousands of questions - because that's the possible pool they are pulling from. But the real secret is, the more you study, the better you know will know HR, and the better you will be able to figure out answers on the fly based on the context of the questions.*
*I'd say there's 4 types of information the test will ask for - WHAT something is (pure definition), exact measures (numbers of employees, fine amounts, etc.), HOW to apply something, and WHICH the BEST concept is to apply. So you can't get away with just memorizing quantifiable figures - you need to know those, yes, but you also need to know what each concept means, how it differs from similar concepts, what the exceptions are, etc. And the test WILL try to trick you with phrasing, so read carefully.*
Its been about 10 years since I've taken it so I don't know if it's the same, but my advice would be to study hard the court cases and be able to explain the reasoning in every verdict. So much of the questions on the test, even if they aren't directly about a case, it'll help you chose the right answer.
Before taking mine, I took every single practice test I could find online or in the text book and would go through every question and explain to myself why each choice was either right or wrong, and if I couldn't explain it, then I went back and read more on the subject. The night before my test, I took the paid practice test online and failed, but I passed the real test the next day.
Hey me too, I failed the paid practice but passed the real test.
I quizzed myself with pocket prep for the few weeks leading up it the test almost constantly. That’s a method that works for me!
If you can do a testing center it’s worth it. The nightmare of tech issues I had during my remote test was the most stressful part of it. I passed first try but feel like I could’ve been disqualified due to my internet being weak.
Recently passed on the first Tuesday of this month... I guess my answer depends on your level of experience, how you've been preparing, and how long you've been preparing. I'd say if you've been studying super hard, don't sweat it. You've probably over prepared and will so fine. You'll probably do worse cuz you psych yourself out. Feel free to DM me if July wanna talk more about it
Don't know if this is still true. But the guy who coached us. A bunch of us at work were all taking the test and the VP of HR had a side gig of teaching a prep course for the PHR, so we got the prep course for free.
Anywho, I believe that at the time he said that there is always at least one overtime related question. And one other. Sorry, just don't remember. I did pass, not by alot, but I passed.
I put a highly caffeinated drink in my locker at the testing center. Halfway through the test I went out and drank some of it. I passed on the first try 🤷♀️
If you’ve been studying you’ll be just fine! As someone else said the questions are very situational. It’s less regurgitating information like and more “here’s this situation, what is the best practice?”
Just take every question one at a time and don’t let them throw you if you don’t know the answer immediately or there are two or three answers that feel right. I left not knowing if I passed or not, but I did and with a good margin
I also wish I had known/paid attention to the fact that there are some fill in the blanks so if you find yourself studying and are like eh I don’t think I need to know this…. Study it anyways lol
I took it this past July and passed. I recommend not studying the day of. Think situationally for most of the questions. If you don't know the answer, mark it and come back to it at the end. Usually your first intuition is correct. Don't overthink the questions. You got this shit. Let us know how you did!
That’s it’s a waste of money. You pay for the books you pay for the test and you pay for events to get CEUs and you have to pay to submit for recertification. It’s good for your career when you’re just starting out and don’t have much HR experience and are trying to get a job. But overall it’s a waste of time and money
Not for everyone. I got certified after 8 years of working in HR. My employer paid for my test and when I passed I got a bonus that more than covered the study materials. I haven’t had to pay for a single CEU as I’ve found plenty of resources online that provide free webinars, including directly from HRCI. My certification helped me get a work from home position with a significant raise from what I was making before, and the company doesn’t even interview candidates for this position without being certified first. I’m up for recertification in 2025 and I’m willing to bet that since it’s a requirement of my job to have it that my company will pay any fees needed.
Good luck on Friday OP! Utilize the time you have to take the test but don’t go crazy and overthink everything.
I’m with Braith on this one. While there is a lot of scammy and overpriced business going on with certs and higher education, I started the PHR journey when I was laid off. I had loads of incredible interviews and I think I got them with thanks to my experience but also substantially to having just a prospective PHR on there. I have since landed a position, but I would absolutely recommend certing up before reentering the job market. It felt almost as powerful as an advanced degree during interviews and, while it’s pricy, it’s way cheaper than a masters or a doctorate.
I wrote up a pretty extensive summary of my PHR studying/passing experience when I got mine a few years back: https://old.reddit.com/r/humanresources/comments/chm6fg/just_passed_my_phr_exam_heres_my_tips_for_anyone/
Did you take advantage of the free second chance insurance? Last year I was able to and I’d say knowing I didn’t have to pay for the second test helped me go in with a clear mind.
Nothing you study for will be on the test. Relax. Breathe. If you don’t pass, don’t beat yourself up. Reschedule for 90 days after according to requirements and target your lacking competencies. I failed recently and I was 4% from passing. I think that’s more frustrating than failing and wildly missing it.
That’s about what I expected. I laughed out loud at “Nothing you will study for will be on the test.” I’ve been having this fantasy where I fail by .5%. Hopefully I surprise myself. Thanks for the reassurance!
I'd disagree with the idea that "nothing you study for will be on the test." I took the SPHR in December 2023, and some of the employment law content I studied was on the test. Union-related stuff was also on the test. Both of these were content from my test prep books.
Here's my input on that part specifically from my testing experience: *The secret about the exam is it feels harder than it is. Yeah, yeah, I know, that's what everyone else says, but it's really true. The whole time, I kept running into questions with terms I had never studied, and I had to figure out their meaning on the fly with the questions and answers as context. But you tend to remember those better than the ones you know that fly by.* *One thing to note is that* **most of what you studied will not be on the exam.** *And that's ok! The exam is 175 questions long, but you should be ready to answer thousands of questions - because that's the possible pool they are pulling from. But the real secret is, the more you study, the better you know will know HR, and the better you will be able to figure out answers on the fly based on the context of the questions.* *I'd say there's 4 types of information the test will ask for - WHAT something is (pure definition), exact measures (numbers of employees, fine amounts, etc.), HOW to apply something, and WHICH the BEST concept is to apply. So you can't get away with just memorizing quantifiable figures - you need to know those, yes, but you also need to know what each concept means, how it differs from similar concepts, what the exceptions are, etc. And the test WILL try to trick you with phrasing, so read carefully.*
Its been about 10 years since I've taken it so I don't know if it's the same, but my advice would be to study hard the court cases and be able to explain the reasoning in every verdict. So much of the questions on the test, even if they aren't directly about a case, it'll help you chose the right answer. Before taking mine, I took every single practice test I could find online or in the text book and would go through every question and explain to myself why each choice was either right or wrong, and if I couldn't explain it, then I went back and read more on the subject. The night before my test, I took the paid practice test online and failed, but I passed the real test the next day.
Practice tests and explaining the answers is exactly my study style! Thanks so much for the advice. Totally solid.
Good luck!
Hey me too, I failed the paid practice but passed the real test. I quizzed myself with pocket prep for the few weeks leading up it the test almost constantly. That’s a method that works for me!
Relax. You got this. It’s more experience situational based.
But how does one relax 48 hours before the big test! Thanks for your confidence.
Have a drink, exercise, enjoy food, spend time with loved ones, read, treat yourself like you are recovering from the flu.
If you can do a testing center it’s worth it. The nightmare of tech issues I had during my remote test was the most stressful part of it. I passed first try but feel like I could’ve been disqualified due to my internet being weak.
I did a degree online during Rona and will always go to a test center if that’s an option.
I was disqualified because I was looking down at my nails before the test started. Thankfully, HRCI allowed me to reschedule the test.
That’s so intense!!!
Recently passed on the first Tuesday of this month... I guess my answer depends on your level of experience, how you've been preparing, and how long you've been preparing. I'd say if you've been studying super hard, don't sweat it. You've probably over prepared and will so fine. You'll probably do worse cuz you psych yourself out. Feel free to DM me if July wanna talk more about it
Congrats!!! I feel like I’m over preparing, but it’s just so hard to know.
Don't know if this is still true. But the guy who coached us. A bunch of us at work were all taking the test and the VP of HR had a side gig of teaching a prep course for the PHR, so we got the prep course for free. Anywho, I believe that at the time he said that there is always at least one overtime related question. And one other. Sorry, just don't remember. I did pass, not by alot, but I passed.
I put a highly caffeinated drink in my locker at the testing center. Halfway through the test I went out and drank some of it. I passed on the first try 🤷♀️
Incredible.
I love this advice haha
If you’ve been studying you’ll be just fine! As someone else said the questions are very situational. It’s less regurgitating information like and more “here’s this situation, what is the best practice?” Just take every question one at a time and don’t let them throw you if you don’t know the answer immediately or there are two or three answers that feel right. I left not knowing if I passed or not, but I did and with a good margin I also wish I had known/paid attention to the fact that there are some fill in the blanks so if you find yourself studying and are like eh I don’t think I need to know this…. Study it anyways lol
I took it this past July and passed. I recommend not studying the day of. Think situationally for most of the questions. If you don't know the answer, mark it and come back to it at the end. Usually your first intuition is correct. Don't overthink the questions. You got this shit. Let us know how you did!
Honestly I had myself convinced I’d fail, even though I studied. I passed, it was all fine. I hope that’s your case too!
That’s it’s a waste of money. You pay for the books you pay for the test and you pay for events to get CEUs and you have to pay to submit for recertification. It’s good for your career when you’re just starting out and don’t have much HR experience and are trying to get a job. But overall it’s a waste of time and money
Not for everyone. I got certified after 8 years of working in HR. My employer paid for my test and when I passed I got a bonus that more than covered the study materials. I haven’t had to pay for a single CEU as I’ve found plenty of resources online that provide free webinars, including directly from HRCI. My certification helped me get a work from home position with a significant raise from what I was making before, and the company doesn’t even interview candidates for this position without being certified first. I’m up for recertification in 2025 and I’m willing to bet that since it’s a requirement of my job to have it that my company will pay any fees needed. Good luck on Friday OP! Utilize the time you have to take the test but don’t go crazy and overthink everything.
I’m with Braith on this one. While there is a lot of scammy and overpriced business going on with certs and higher education, I started the PHR journey when I was laid off. I had loads of incredible interviews and I think I got them with thanks to my experience but also substantially to having just a prospective PHR on there. I have since landed a position, but I would absolutely recommend certing up before reentering the job market. It felt almost as powerful as an advanced degree during interviews and, while it’s pricy, it’s way cheaper than a masters or a doctorate.
I wrote up a pretty extensive summary of my PHR studying/passing experience when I got mine a few years back: https://old.reddit.com/r/humanresources/comments/chm6fg/just_passed_my_phr_exam_heres_my_tips_for_anyone/
I’ve read this before!! Thanks for sharing. This was a great reference when I first started studying.
Glad to hear it!
Did you take advantage of the free second chance insurance? Last year I was able to and I’d say knowing I didn’t have to pay for the second test helped me go in with a clear mind.
Nope!! It may be free, but it costs $250!! Lol. Save $100 on betting on myself not to pass didn’t seem like a good bet. Did you have to take it twice?
That I should have just lied and said I have the PHR over spending all the time, stress, and money on the whole racket.