PHR / SPHR Professional in Human Resources Certification Study Guide [Paperback]

Just took the PHR exam yesterday and passed, due in LARGE part to this book.

I have approx 15 years of progressive HR experience, but as everyone says - dont rely on what YOUR company does...it may not be the right thing.

This book was extremely helpful in preparing me for the questions on the PHR exam. I used solely this book, but also took as many free practice tests I could find. I agree that a few quiz questions had 2 correct answers (whoops!), I found the same thing. I also agree that some concepts are vaguely mentioned (or quizzed upon) that havent yet been explained or introduced - but that's not a deal breaker. What would have made this book better is to include a grid of important law cases by the significant HR outcome as a result - which case brought about the concept of Disparate Impact, for example. They are mentioned throughout the book and in date order at the end, but by HR concept would be more useful.

As a tip to PHR candidates...take lots of practice tests (free is good), they WILL help, particularly those on the strategichrinc website - which I found to be most useful. I also purhased the 2 pratice exams on the HRCI website - and have so-so reviews on those. While they were helpful in showing me how questions on the test would be structured, they do not tell you which questions you got wrong or why the answer is what it is - doesnt help you learn at all. Also, about 5 questions were duplicated between tests - another disappointment, and of course if you got them wrong on one test, you didnt know it and probably got them wrong on the second one.

Back to this book...and my studying techniques...
I read each chapter, using my highlighter as I went along, then took the chapter quiz and the strategichrinc test (tip: print out the questions/answers and take it on paper or enter info on spreadsheet) for that chapter until I got through the entire book - then did it all over again, reading just the highlighted things.

For any practice test I took, if there was a concept not listed in this book (and there were only a small amount), I would google that concept and print it out and stick it in the book where it corresponded with the Bogardus material. I also printed out questions/answers for individual questions I didnt know and stuck those in the book too. I tagged pages/concepts in the book that I felt I really needed to focus on and went back through those again and again until I felt I had a better handle on them.

In all, I couldnt even tell you how many hours I studied...but it was a LOT. Pretty much 2 months worth of studying for hours every day with the exception of 2 weeks during the holidays/vacation. By the time the test came around, I was DONE studying and ready for it to be over. There's no way I could have done the recommended 3 months worth - that said, I probably did 3 months worth in 2 months! :)

For SPHR candidates: While this book was really great for the PHR exam, I'm not sure I would want to rely on this book alone for the SPHR which is more strategic in nature.

In preparation for the SPHR exam, 3 co-workers and myself held study groups using the SHRM LS for 6 months prior to testing. The closer it got to the test date, the more nervous I got. I ended up purchasing this book about a month before the test and I am so glad that I did! This helps explain the HR processes through case study and the practice questions in this book are much closer to the actual test than SHRM LS. However, I still found myself feeling unprepared for the test. The actual test questions are nothing like anything we practiced in the SHRM LS (for 6 months nonetheless) and I felt sure that I had failed. Alas, I did pass (BTW, two of us passed and 2 of us didn't) and I feel that most of the credit should be given to this book (I was the only one to use this book).

If I had to do it again, knowing what I do now, I would just purchase this book and read it cover to cover and take all the test questions. That's it. The SHRM LS just had me studying and memorizing the wrong things. I was overwhelmed and had a constant feeling of "How am I going to remember all of these laws, amendments, case law, etc.?". Well, my advise is DON'T STRESS. Read this book, understand how things apply in the case study and you should be good to go.

GOOD LUCK!

I work full time as a HR Generalist, spend 9 to 10 hr each work day at the office and commute 4 hours to and from work. It was very hard to find time to study. I read the review on Amazon.com and purchased two books for my PHR/SPHR prep. After six months of study, mostly during the weekend, put in about total of 90 to 100 hours intermittently over 6 months stretch, I passed the exam the first time on 1-28-2011.
One of the books I purchased was Ann Bogardus'"PHR/SPHR Study Guide". I repeatedly studied it and followed the instructions on how to best study for the exam. Did lots of research on subjects or concepts I was not familiar with. I must say Ann's book is the best prep book on market. But you have to honestly study it thoroughly.
The other book I purchased is not even worth mentioning. Too much mistakes through the book.

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