Customer Reviews

PHR / SPHR Professional in Human Resources Certification Study Guide

5 star:		(27)
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3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
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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.

I took the PHR exam yesterday and passed. I have to give this book 100% credit in preparing me for the exam. I have worked in the HR field for about 5 years and decided only a couple of months ago to take the PHR exam. I bought this book because of the reviews here, and I could not afford the SHRM learning system.

I started studying two weeks before the exam, and read the entire book front to back. I highlighted the important concepts in each chapter and then went back the day before the exam and read through my highlighted concepts. This book also comes with a CD that has a practice test, flash cards and mini quizzes. I only took the practice test twice to see which areas I needed to focus on, never touched the flash cards.

I had a lot of knowledge of most of the concepts from work experience. But I was very nervous and felt only somewhat prepared because according to the HRCI website, there was only a 58% pass rate for this exam.

It took 3 1/2 hours to complete the exam and most of the questions were related to three topics: Title VII, Affirmative Action and Employee training and development. There were A LOT of questions on employee training and development. Hardly any questions on NLRA which surprised me.

I have to say that this book totally prepared me and helped me pass this test. When I was leaving the exam room, another test taker who did not pass told me she bought the SHRM learning system, spent a lot of money and it did not prepare her what-so-ever.

Even someone who has miminal HR work experience will be totally prepared with this book. You cannot go wrong. You have to read it thoroughly, however, to gain the most benefit.

I took the PHR last week and passed. I self-studed and relied primarily on PHR Exam Prep by Cathy Lee Gibson and then reviewed my weaker areas by reading specific chapters of PHR/SPHR Professional in Human Resources Certification Study Guide by Anne M. Bogardus.

I actually bought Bogardus' book first but found that it was written in a very boring manner. I was not particularly impressed with the format and chapter organization. Then I bought Gibson's book and was much more satisifed all around.

However, I do think that Bogardus book provides good material. I used this as a secondary source. The book also comes with a great CD that provides practice exam questions.

Good luck! I studied a solid 4 months.... they recommend at least 3 months of prep work.

I used this book to study for the SPHR exam and found it to be very helpful. I have 9 years of HR experience, but in limited areas (non-profit, community mental health center with less than 50 employees) with degrees in psychology and business administration. The book very plainly spells out the SPHR bodies of knowledge and was a good way to prepare for this exam. Using this book in conjunction with the SPHR prep tests from CertGear (strongly recommend you use this, as well) helped me to pass the SPHR on my first try. What wasn't covered in the book was covered in CertGear. I would highly recommend the use of these two products as part of a comprehensive study program.

I could not afford the SHRM Learning System and was on a real time crunch to take my exam. I took the test on January 28, 2011 as it was the last day of eligibility as a recent graduate. I studied all day and night for about a week and passed! This book is very informative and easy to read. Although the questions may not be in the exaxt format as the actual test the content is there. I also purchased the HRCI learning guide which really offered little help and a practice test off of certgear.com . . . These test are awesome and I wish I would have started them earlier but all in all if you are tight on cash and time read this book, do all the practive test, and if possible use the certgear practice test.

I used this book as my primary resource to study for the PHR, and I passed on the first try. My one complaint is not so much with this book, but with the PHR exam in general. They REALLY try to be confusing. So the questions on the test will look nothing at all like what you see in the book. I don't think I would of passed had I not bought some practice tests from certgear.com.

I purchased this book 2 weeks before I was scheduled to take my exam. If it had not been for this book and the flashcards and practice tests provided, I would not have passed. The information contained in the book and flashcards/tests was exactly the material that was covered on the SPHR exam. I also had the SHRM study system but I stopped using it and only used this book. The CD Rom that comes with this book contains the entire book on PDF. I loaded it on my e-reader and was able to study while at various events and practices with my kids.

I highly recommend this study guide. I took my test on 1/30/11 and passed on my first try. My background is in employee benefits and not the other areas of HR. This book made all the difference.

I bought this and the phr/sphr practice test books to be included in my sphr certification preparation. It was a waste of money as far as I am concerned. I had to get the SHRM learning system and this almost contradicted some of the material I learned. My very first complaint is the way it is set up. There is a lot of talk about what this person's interpretation of the test is. That wasn't helpful. The 2nd big one is the questions offer an option of d) all of the above. The test doesn't have one of those questions among the 225 on the test. Not any of the tests. So that is deceiving and a lazy way to have 4 choices on the tests in the book.

Take it for what it is worth. I am more than willing to sell my used copy if someone is interested. The disk that comes with it is nice to have to use at home or work while preparing.