Ugh.

NeedCoffee

I'm studying for my PHR exam, which is Monday.

I just wanted to share my general level of disgust and exhaustion with you.

That's all, children. Now back to work.

allsteaks

Yeah, you'll do great!!! Frank and I passed the SPHR so you can handle the PHR!!

ACU Frank

If you think you're disgusted now, wait until you ace the exam and look back at all the worrying you did for nothing.

ray a

[i]I just wanted to share my general level of disgust and exhaustion with you.[/i]

I'm trying to understand that sentence. If I read it correctly, Coffee is saying she is digusted with us and it exhausts her.

NaeNae55

Even if you are disgusted with us and exhausted about it, I am sending you all the good luck I can muster...not that you'll need it. I am sure you will ace it.


Nae

allsteaks

It could be that the studying has enlightened her as what HR professionals should sound and act like, and none of us fit the profile. Thus the disgust and exhaustion is understandable. This explanation has now caused a state of depression........
okay back to normalcy.

joannie

Good luck, Sarah. I know you'll do well.

HRQ

Other than Ray, Paul, Dutch, the still-absent-Larry, and also Frank and Steaks, what else disgusted and exhausted you?

My assistant and I are about to sign up for a class held every Saturday morning for 12 weeks, to take the exam. Is it worth our time? Except for some on-the-job training in the mid-late 90's, most of my HR education comes from Google and the Forum.

NeedCoffee

Geez Louise. No, I am not disgusted with YOU, I am SHARING my feelings WITH YOU. Well now I'm just sad and misunderstood. Alas. Evidently my grammar isn't up to par.

Paul in Cannon Beach

Dont worry, coffee, grammar isn't on the test. You'll do fine if you have done your prep. Our instructor kep telling us "Think about the "shrm" answer, not necessarily the real world answer"... That was actually helpful.

They also say go with your FIRST response usually. If you overthink it, you can sometimes change a right answer to a wrong answer.

Let us know when you pass the exam and go order yourself 1,000 new business cards with your fancy initials after your name.

Then, ask for a raise!

HRQ

Ignore Ray. He knew what you meant. So did the rest of us. x:-)

What part of the prep is disgusting you? I really do want to know if this is worth my time. Seems like it will be.

NeedCoffee

I really do feel that it's worth the time - I have learned things while studying that I was doing wrong or worse, not doing at all! It also helps reinforce that you really do know what you're doing. I feel much more confident in my abilities because of this thing...if only I could apply this diligence to an exercise program......:-?

Anyways.

I started studying for this baby back in October. My flashcard stack is gigantic and still growing. I listen to CDs during my commute of study materials. I have taken every practice test I can get my hands on....it gets disgusting because you're so immersed in studies that EVERYTHING reminds you of the material. I was in the grocery store the other day my checker's name was Erica - all I could see was ERISA.....and then proceeded to go through defined contribution plans in my head. Or a news story regarding union support will trigger you to quiz yourself on union shop vs closed shop vs agency shop.....it never ends.

I will keep you guys posted...the test is Monday, and I'm not planning on going anywhere near my computer or office until Tuesday.

HRQ

Erica, Erisa, Hippo, Hipaa... x:-) I can see how you would feel like you just can't escape work.

I really am interested to hear how you do!

cnghr

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 01-24-08 AT 08:07PM (CST)[/font][br][br]I had the same problem when I took a Human Resources Management course one semester a couple of years ago. I was working in HR all day and studying for hours every evening and suddenly it seemed like everything triggered thoughts of something having to do with HR! I was so relieved when that class was over. I did learn a lot but I found the studying much more mentally exhausting than actually working in HR any day.

allsteaks

I've been at out of town at meetings the last three days and am glad things on the forum haven't progressed!! Hey Coffee, we know you love us just like your brothers and sisters; ones you don't tell other people about, but nonetheless family.
I was disgusted with the studying because while some of it is very informative a lot of it is not relevant to the real world for HR, at least at the practitioner level. Maybe Corp. types can philosophy but where the rubber meets the road, knowledge and street smarts rule! But that stuff ain't in no textbook!!
You'll do great!
Q - If you're going to take the certification you have to prepare with the material either from a class or the learning system. You won't pass using your wits, as great and sharp as they are. So take the class and take study notes.

HRQ

My assistant and I are taking a 12 week class on Saturday mornings. I hate how often I find things that I "didn't know that I didn't know." Hoping this will help...

NeedCoffee

Thanks for the support guys! And yes, you are all brothers and sisters - the kind you refer to at family dinners as the "black sheep" but you love none the less! After all, most family dinners require pants to be worn....guess you're SOL.

ACU Frank

The toughest part of using the "SHRM Learning System" was reading answers to test questions that obviously had no basis in reality. You eventually have to develop a mentality of "Okay, whatever you say" to get past them. Again, I think the actual exam (at least the version I got) was way too heavy on expatriate/repatriate, balanced scorecard, and union issues. Especially considering I am in a non-union industry, have never dealt with expatriates, and am totally unbalanced.

HRQ

NeedCoffee, some of us pretend to have manners when the situation calls for it. Frank might even put some kind of garment on his bottom half. They may be pink long underwear like BJ on M.A.S.H., but at least he's covered up. x:D Just remember to put MD in Ray's wine glass even though everyone else is drinking merlot. Use the red kind of MD and nobody will ever know.

I looked through the agenda for the training class and a lot of the info is "hmmm, interesting, but I won't really need that here" but a lot of it should also be helpful. Besides, you never know if you'll need that stuff in the future.

Good luck tomorrow. We will be thinking of you! Come back on Tuesday and tell us how it went.

allsteaks

Frank's description is spot-on. When taking the exam you really have to remember what the book says, not what makes sense. As long as you think academically and not practically, you'll do great.
Q - When you start the class let us know how many times you say "Yeah but in the real world..." to the instructor.

HRQ

I will start a tally sheet and keep you posted.

NeedCoffee

NeedCoffee, PHR. 'Nuff said.

ray a

Congratulations!!!!

allsteaks

CONGRATULATIONS!!! What is your opinion of the exam now? Did it make any real world sense or was it all the book info?

NeedCoffee

I really thought that the exam was pretty well constructed. Whereas a lot of the studying was on things that I will rarely, if ever use, the test focused on real application of the information. In fact, some of the practice tests and quizzes I did were harder than the actual exam.

I am SOOOO glad it is over, although I think it gave me a pinched nerve in my neck...I am in PAIN! So actually, the test was a real "pain in the neck!"

HRQ

Good for you!

My classes start this Saturday.

NaeNae55

Woo-hoo! Congrats!

allsteaks

Not to belabors this, but now that you breezed through the PHR, do you wish you would have gone for the SPHR instead?

NeedCoffee

Yes I do - I think half the frustration I had with this test was the fact that they wanted more informational data rather than application. I do much better stating how I would solve a situation than I do stating what motivational theories were at play.

I think I'm going to give myself a little break, but I can guarantee you it won't be long before I go for the SPHR!

joannie

Good job, Sarah!

ACU Frank

Congrats! Now you get to dive into the seedier side... the HRCI "recertification" process!