PHR/SPHR Exam For Dummies with Online Practice, 2nd Edition (2021)

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PHR®/SPHR® Exam For Dummies®, 2nd Edition with Online
Practice
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ
07030-5774, www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2021 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
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PHR®/SPHR® Exam For
Dummies® with Online Practice
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to
www.dummies.com and search for “PHR/SPHR
Exam For Dummies cheat sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with the PHR/SPHR Exam
Chapter 1: Introducing the PHR/SPHR Exam: Just the
Basics, Please
Summarizing the Certification Process
PHR or SPHR: Which Exam Is Right for You
Applying for Your Exam
Knowing What to Expect on the Exams
Preparing to Tackle the Exam
Tackling the 24 Hours before, during, and after the Exam

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Examining the Core Subject Areas on the Exam
Remembering the Core Knowledge Requirements
Understanding That You Can’t Be Taught the Exam
Chapter 2: Preparing for the Exam
Considering Exam Weights by Functional Area
Practicing for Results
Building a Study Plan Strategy
Employing the Principles: Going Deeper
Considering a Study Group: Yes or No?
Asking Your Employer to Pay for Certification
Using the Internet for Additional Resources
Applying Core Knowledge
Chapter 3: Identifying the Question Types and
Strategizing to Answer Them
Having a Plan to Answer the Questions
Interpreting the Content While Conquering the Form
Recognizing Special Circumstances
Chapter 4: Surviving Test Day
Leading Up: The Days before the Test
The Time Is Here: Exam Day
Remembering the ABCs of Exam Day
After the Test: What to Expect
Part 2: Managing the Basics: Pre-Test Fundamentals
Chapter 5: Career Day: Life of a Certified HR
Professional
Tracking Trends in Human Resources
Using the Statistics
Applying Your Knowledge on the Job
Chapter 6: Examining HRCI’s Glossary of Terms
Deciding How to Study
The Terms
Part 3: The Ins and Outs of the PHR Exam

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Chapter 7: The Key to Success: PHR 01 Business
Management
Eyeing the Exam Objectives
Focusing on What You Need to Know about Business Management
HRCI’s Code of Ethical and Professional Responsibility
Risk Management
Managing Data
Chapter 8: Finding Resources: PHR 02 Talent
Planning and Acquisition
Noting What’s Important about Talent Planning and Acquisition
Recognizing What Subjects to Study
Looking at the Life Cycle of the Employee
Creating a Recruiting Process
Selecting the Right Employees
Comparing Orientation to Onboarding
Recognizing Common Reports and Tools
Chapter 9: Sharpening Your Tools: PHR 03 Learning
and Development
Identifying What’s Essential About Learning and Development
Examining What You Need to Know for the Exam Regarding
Learning and Development
Chapter 10: Paying Your Dues: PHR 04 Total Rewards
Identifying the Exam Objectives for Total Rewards
Tackling the Key Points about Total Rewards
Selecting and Communicating Employee Benefits
Taking Advantage of Common Reports and Tools
Chapter 11: Connecting the Dots: PHR 05 Employee
and Labor Relations
Navigating Employee & Labor Relations
Focusing on What the Exam Covers in ELR
Using Policies and Procedures to Communicate
Part 4: Digging into the SPHR Exam

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Chapter 12: Building the Frame: SPHR 01 Leadership
and Strategy
Leadership & Strategy Exam Objectives
Directing Leadership and Strategy Initiatives
The Essence of Strategy
Managing Risk
Designing Interventions
Managing Change Strategies
Delivering through Technology
Chapter 13: Bridging the Gap: SPHR 02 Talent
Planning and Acquisition
Preparing for Talent Planning and Acquisition
Digging Deeper into the Exam Objectives
Workforce Planning
Overseeing the Staffing Function
Integrating New Talent
Engaging Employees
Termination in the Context of Talent Planning
Chapter 14: Shaping the Resources: SPHR 03
Learning and Development
Examining What You Need to Know for the Exam
Analyzing Business Needs
Activating Training Systems
Using Learning and Development for Retention
Chapter 15: Harnessing the Value: SPHR 04 Total
Rewards
Total Rewards Exam Objectives
Breaking Down the Content
Creating the Framework
Chapter 16: Building Relationships: SPHR 05
Employee Relations and Engagement
Charting Exam Content

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Making the Case for Engagement
Part 5: Employing Your Knowledge: Practice Exams
Chapter 17: Facing the Challenge: PHR Practice Exam
Answer Sheet for PHR Practice Exam
Chapter 18: Answers and Explanations to PHR
Practice Exam
Answer Key for Practice Exam I
Chapter 19: Using Your Skill Set: SPHR Practice
Exam
Answer Sheet for SPHR Practice Exam
Chapter 20: Answers and Explanations to SPHR
Practice Exam
Answer Key for Practice Exam I
Part 6: The Part of Tens
Chapter 21: Ten PHR/SPHR Exam Pitfalls and How to
Avoid Them
Sitting for the Wrong Exam
Underestimating Exam Preparation Time
Unlearning State-Specific Applications
Getting Tripped Up: The Perils of Overthinking
Playing the Guessing Game
Trusting Your Instinct
Changing Answers
Focusing Too Much on the Clock
Managing Distractions
Avoiding Mind Tricks
Chapter 22: Ten (or So) Study Tips for the Exam
Bodies of Knowledge
Being Organized and Planning
Using Outlines
Going Online
Interviewing Subject-Matter Experts

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Presenting Unfamiliar Exam Objectives
Comparing HR Best Practices to Your Work Experience
Discerning Action Objectives from Knowledge Objectives
Spacing Practice for Success
Knowing Where to Focus When Studying Labor Laws
Appendix: Federal Employment Law
Index
About the Author
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 1
TABLE 1-1 Figuring Out Which Exam Is Right
TABLE 1-2 Ideal Traits for PHR and SPHR Candidates
Chapter 2
TABLE 2-1 PHR Exam Weights
TABLE 2-2 SPHR Exam Weights
Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 Acceptable versus Unacceptable Name Variance
Chapter 8
TABLE 8-1 Time-of-Hire Application of Labor Law
TABLE 8-2 The Difference between Orientation and Onboarding
Chapter 9
TABLE 9-1 Remembering Why When Determining Training Needs
Chapter 14
TABLE 14-1 Talent Summary
Chapter 15
TABLE 15-1 2019 BLS Data on Employee Benefits, Private Industry

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Appendix
TABLE A-1 Test Preparation Sample
TABLE A-2 Important Employment Laws and Bureaus
TABLE A-3 Laws Sorted by Employer Size
List of Illustrations
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The journey from hazard assessment to training the workforce.
FIGURE 2-2: A sample safety training matrix.
Chapter 7
FIGURE 7-1: The HRIS.
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: The recruiting process.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: Forced distribution.
FIGURE 9-2: The Kirkpatrick model.
FIGURE 9-3: An example flowchart.
Chapter 22
FIGURE 22-1: An example of a mind map to use for studying.

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Introduction
I wrote this book for all the HR professionals who are intent on leaving no
stone unturned on their quest for the PHR or SPHR designation. It rounds
out the edges of the preparation process, seeking to keep you on track and
focused on the steps necessary to pass.
PHR/SPHR Exam For Dummies, 2nd Edition, also is a reminder that it’s
not about what you know at this stage in the process, but rather what you
don’t know that requires your full attention.
This book is for the tenacious and the curious and the self-deprecating,
possibly because I find humility an attractive trait in individuals getting
ready for a tough test. Those traits can keep your mind open and your eyes
alert. Resolute curiosity can force you to grab a thread and follow it all the
way to the end, which is the absolute best way to master and apply the
information that you’re about to discover while getting ready for these
exams.
About This Book
The focus of PHR/SPHR Exam For Dummies is to orient you, the
experienced HR professional, to the task at hand: getting ready to become
professionally certified. With pass rates low and nerves high, this
guidebook takes you on your preparation journey, serving as a resource to
get you organized and introduce you to key elements of these tests. In no
other preparation resource will you find
An advanced discussion of the exam content outlines and their
importance
A review of how the knowledge and objectives work together
Information on how to use the internet to enhance your efforts
A study of the HR Certification Institute’s (HRCI) website
(www.hrci.org) and the exam content outline for content markers

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Furthermore, adult learners tend to do better when they understand how
information applies to them. In this case, taking a 50,000-foot view of key
exam concepts and exam preparation activities allows you to take control
of the exam prep process. As with anything worth doing, a haphazard,
unstructured approach to preparation won’t serve a positive outcome. Just
as a true career isn’t an accident, neither is successful certification — it
takes both planning and strategic execution.
The primary purpose of your exam preparation activities is to successfully
pass a fairly difficult test. For this reason, I include two sample tests in
this book — one for the PHR and one for the SPHR. These exams are
similar to the one that you’ll see on test day — 175 questions directly
related to the exam content outlines. Although I provide bubble sheets for
easy use, also consider putting your answers on a blank piece of paper so
you can use the tests again.
Foolish Assumptions
Assumptions are simply things that I think I already know about you that
guided my decisions on what to include in this book. For the PHR and
SPHR exams, they are as follows:
You’re an experienced HR professional. Because exam eligibility is
based on years of practical experience, even with a bit of education, I
know that you know the basics of HR.
You’re preparing for an exam, not looking for HR in a jar. This book
is about what you need to do to prepare to take a test about HR. It
doesn’t teach you all you need to know about the field of human
resources. In fact, the purpose of this book is to guide you to multiple
resources for exam preparation.
You have a baseline knowledge of business and management
principles. Corporate America, small businesses, and nonprofits all
have shared HR and business needs. I assume that you’re a working
professional in one of these categories and understand business terms
such as strategy and organizational structure.

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You know how to conduct internet research. So much of what you
need to pass the tests can be found online, and I encourage you
throughout the book to do so.
Probably the most impressive assumption I make about you is that you’re
self-motivated, driven, and determined. Successful performers aren’t
generally satisfied with the status quo. If you’re reaching out to take one
of these tests, you’re among those individuals who demand more out of
themselves and by extension, your preparation resources. For this reason
in this book, I recommend adding study time, admonish you to take an
expanded view of a topic, and encourage you to create other dimensions to
the content. You must find it and touch it and interpret it yourself to fully
grasp the nuances of the exam content. This process requires that you take
control of your study time and resources. Leaving it to a single author or
only your past work experience isn’t enough to get you through. I need
you to tap into that drive and commit to doing what it takes to pass the
first time around, or at least be a heck of a lot better for it after the process.
Icons Used in This Book
Consistent with the For Dummies series is the use of special icons. They
serve as markers for information that may be of increased importance or
interesting. I incorporate the following icons:
In general, I use this icon when you have a special opportunity to
apply a behavior in its easiest form. In most cases, a tip can save you
both time and energy, building upon the experience of those
individuals who have gone before you.
I use this icon to reinforce an important principle. Pay attention to
this information because it’s important.

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This icon directs you to some examples of the types of questions
that appear on the PHR and SPHR exams. It also gives you examples
of how the content may be represented in the workplace.
The information flagged by this icon may trip you up. The
warning may be due to a topic’s complexity, level of difficulty, or
commonly reported mistakes.
Beyond This Book
In addition to the content of this book, you can view some related material
online, including additional information about each exam. You can access
a free Cheat Sheet at dummies.com. Just type “PHR/SPHR Exam For
Dummies cheat sheet” in the search box.
An added feature to the online content is two additional exams to support
your learning. Taking multiple practice exams is an absolute must as you
get ready for several reasons:
The exam level of difficulty requires that you’re familiar with question
phrasing and multiple-choice setup. Keep in mind that these questions,
also called items, can be highly situational. Taking practice exams can
remove that element of surprise.
Answer distractors are common obstacles to a passing score. My
online practice exams help condition your brain to recognize and
eliminate the obvious wrong answers, increasing your chance of
making a correct selection.
The online practice tests include a description of the right and wrong
answers, which makes the practice exams extremely valuable, because
they’re much more than another bank of questions. Taking these
exams also helps you master content.

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The general recommendation is that you can’t take too many practice
assessments, and this book plus the online content is an excellent place to
start. To gain access to additional tests and practice online, all you have to
do is register. Just follow these simple steps:
1. Register your book or e-book at Dummies.com to get your PIN. Go to
www.dummies.com/go/getaccess.
2. Select your product from the drop-down list on that page.
3. Follow the prompts to validate your product, and then check your
email for a confirmation message that includes your PIN and
instructions for logging in.
If you do not receive this email within two hours, please check
your spam folder before contacting us through our Technical Support
website at http://support.wiley.com or by phone at 877-762-2974.
Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the practice material as
often as you want — simply log in with the username and password you
created during your initial login. No need to enter the access code a
second time.
Where to Go from Here
One of the reasons why preparing for this exam has been reported to be
difficult is the sheer volume of reading that is required. This book can help
a bit with all that reading. This book is modular in that you don’t have to
read it in order from cover to cover. Feel free to pick and choose the bits
that you think will serve you best.
I wrote it so that you can pick any chapter and begin reading. To the
ordered mind, doing so may be an unusual prospect, so go ahead and
proceed in chapter order — the content will bear up to the pressure. For
those of you who are only interested in certain exam elements, you have
come to the right place. Feel free to bounce around or even begin at the

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end by starting with a practice exam to simply see how you fare. That may
highlight for you a correct starting point for your unique preparation
needs.
If you need some help in finding somewhere to begin, scan the table of
contents or the index, find a few topics that interest you, and jump in.
Regardless of where you begin, the absolute first and most important step
is to build a study plan. This book is full of useful tips and information to
fill in the blanks of a plan, so maximize your investment by taking heed
and writing down your plans. What gets measured gets done, so
strengthen your odds by getting organized.

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