THE A-Z OF HOW I PASSED THE SHRM EXAM: Tips from a newly certified HR professional!

Summary

In this HR exam prep session, Angela Murray interviews Andrea Zaharin, a newly credentialed SHRM-CP professional, who shares her journey to success. Andrea discusses the resources she used to prepare, such as the 'All-in-One' book by Dory Wier and situational judgment practice. She talks about the challenges of scheduling and testing, her decision to take the exam at a proctoring center, and the positive impact the SHRM-CP has had on her career. The session also features a fun quiz to test Andrea’s retention of HR knowledge and ends with a discussion of the 'purple squirrel' HR jargon.

Takeaways

• 😀 Study consistency is key: Andrea recommends studying every day for at least one hour to ensure you're absorbing the content effectively.
• 😀 The SHRM exam requires a significant time commitment: Andrea advises starting early and dedicating time to fully commit to studying.
• 😀 Understanding the SHRM best practices is crucial: HR professionals must separate real-world practices from SHRM's idealized framework.
• 😀 Resource selection matters: Dory Wier's 'All-in-One' book and Angela's own resources are recommended for exam prep.
• 😀 Field questions in the SHRM exam can be tricky: Andrea notes how some questions are worded in a way that might make it hard to choose the right answer.
• 😀 The testing environment can be intense: Andrea describes how strict security and preparation are at the testing centers.
• 😀 The value of situational judgment: Angela's situational judgment class was pivotal in Andrea's preparation and helped her think critically about scenarios.
• 😀 Prepare for the emotional side of the exam: Andrea admits that she was nervous but learned to manage her anxiety before and during the exam.
• 😀 SHRM's theoretical approach versus real-world challenges: The SHRM exam assumes unlimited resources, which differs from the realities many HR professionals face in smaller or resource-limited organizations.
• 😀 Networking can help: Although the SHRM framework discourages hiring based on personal connections, Andrea's success was partially due to networking, especially after her certification.

Q & A

What is the primary resource Angela recommends for SHRM exam preparation?

Angela recommends the 'All-in-One' book by Dory Wier, specifically the second edition, as a strong resource for those not using the SHRM Learning Management System.

Why is the second edition of the 'All-in-One' book recommended over the first edition?

The second edition of the 'All-in-One' book contains updated content and better alignment with the exam, making it more relevant for SHRM exam preparation.

What is a key challenge Andrea faced while preparing for the SHRM exam?

Andrea struggled with missing the exam registration deadline due to not realizing that there were specific testing windows and deadlines for signing up.

How did Andrea ultimately choose where to take her SHRM exam?

Andrea chose to take the SHRM exam at a proctoring center after hearing about potential issues with remote testing, such as long delays and strict testing rules.

What was Andrea’s most memorable moment during her SHRM exam experience?

Andrea’s most memorable moment was seeing the 'pass' message on the screen after completing the exam, which was a huge relief after all the hard work.

What advice does Andrea give to new SHRM exam candidates regarding study time?

Andrea recommends studying every day, at least one hour, and advises against overloading oneself with too much information at once. It's important to break the material down into manageable sections.

What is the 'situational judgment' concept that Angela teaches in her class, and why is it important for the SHRM exam?

Situational judgment involves analyzing a scenario, identifying key details, and applying the correct HR practices based on SHRM’s best practices. It helps candidates understand how to handle real-world HR issues in line with SHRM standards.

What was Andrea’s biggest takeaway from the SHRM exam preparation process?

Andrea's biggest takeaway was that the SHRM exam requires a mindset shift, as it focuses on best practices rather than the real-world practices she was used to in her current job.

What is the 'purple squirrel' in HR jargon?

The 'purple squirrel' refers to a highly idealized job candidate who meets all the specific qualifications and experience a hiring manager is looking for. It's rare, just like an actual purple squirrel.

How did Andrea's SHRM certification impact her career?

After obtaining her SHRM certification, Andrea gained more confidence in her career and was recruited for a new job, where her certification made her stand out to an HR executive.