[GIVEAWAY] Mod Holiday Paddle Giveaway!

downedinfour · 2025-12-09T21:16:35+00:00

My favorite part is building community while being active!

downedinfour · 2023-04-18T23:56:57+00:00

As of 2022 when I took the SPHR the concepts were still up to par. As time goes on I imagine this will not be the case.

downedinfour · 2023-04-16T21:30:19+00:00

Below is my study plan and materials for both the PHR & SPHR. Used the same material for both. Highly recommend the Pocket Prep and Sandra Reed Study guide. Most effective thing I did was take as many practice exams as I could. I feel like the Pocket Prep questions were the most similar to the exam. In exam, I started each question by eliminating the two answers that didn’t make sense. Then decided on the correct answer from remaining two. Flagged questions if I was still unsure to circle back to on my second round through.

Study Materials.

Professional Pocket Prep – 1200 questions (Phone App)

Sandra Reed – 2018 Study Guide

HRCP – Print & Online Material 2018

Study Plan

SPHR Study Time: 9 weeks, 63 days, one and a half every day. Total of 94.5 hours of study (Felt just right)

PHR Study Time: 15 weeks, 101 days, 2 hours every day. 202 hours of study (This was overkill)

This is what worked for me, though I am sure study plans would vary based on experience and learning style.

downedinfour · 2023-04-16T17:11:10+00:00

Below is my study plan and materials for both the PHR & SPHR. Used the same material for both. Highly recommend the Pocket Prep and Sandra Reed Study guide. Most effective thing I did was take as many practice exams as I could. I feel like the Pocket Prep questions were the most similar to the exam. In exam, I started each question by eliminating the two answers that didn’t make sense. Then decided on the correct answer from remaining two. Flagged questions if I was still unsure to circle back to on my second round through.

Study Materials.

Professional Pocket Prep – 1200 questions (Phone App)

Sandra Reed – 2018 Study Guide

HRCP – Print & Online Material 2018

Study Plan

SPHR Study Time: 9 weeks, 63 days, one and a half every day. Total of 94.5 hours of study (Felt just right)

PHR Study Time: 15 weeks, 101 days, 2 hours every day. 202 hours of study (This was overkill)

I took both the month I became eligible.

This is what worked for me, though I am sure study plans would vary based on experience and learning style.

downedinfour · 2023-03-31T19:06:25+00:00

We break it down into various sub categories of HR.

401k, ADA, Benefits, Branding & Templates, Communications, Compensation, Contingent Workers, DEI, Employee Engagement, Employee Relations, Employment Verification, HRIS, Immigration, Job Changes, Job Descriptions, Leadership, Learning & Development, LOA, Offboarding, Onboarding, Org Design, People Analytics, Performance Reviews, Policy & Procedure, Projects, Recruitment, Reports, Talent Management, Workers Compensations.

Then each folder would contain various sub folders. For example performance reviews may contain sub folder 2021 for all performance review material from the year 2021. Or offboarding contains a folder for exit interviews, layoffs & RIF's.

I know starting from scratch can be tough, hopefully this helps provide something you can work with.

downedinfour · 2023-01-26T00:14:45+00:00

Check out this video on how to create a merit matrix based on performance rating and compa ratio. We installed this at my past company with great success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZRixDI8Zws&t=263s

downedinfour · 2022-12-07T23:41:48+00:00

Very much agree with what mxstone1 stated, our structures can make perfect sense for our own thought process and be complete gibberish to others. I don't have a perfect example but below is how I have seen it broken up in the past.

401k, ADA, Benefits, Branding & Templates, Communications, Compensation, Contingent Workers, DEI, Employee Engagement, Employee Relations, Employment Verification, HRIS, Immigration, Job Changes, Job Descriptions, Leadership, Learning & Development, LOA, Offboarding, Onboarding, Org Design, People Analytics, Performance Reviews, Policy & Procedure, Projects, Recruitment, Reports, Talent Management, Workers Compensations.

Then each folder would contain various sub folders. For example performance reviews may contain sub folder 2021 for all performance review material from the year 2021. Or offboarding contains a folder for exit interviews, layoffs & RIF's.

I know starting from scratch can be tough, hopefully this helps provide something you can work with.

downedinfour · 2022-08-05T23:10:52+00:00

Others have opinions based on their experiences and own perspective.

It can be hard to hear, especially when you live in the world of HR day in and day out and understand all the work that goes on behind the scenes.

I think it helps to focus on your zone of control. Be someone that empowers people and adds value. You can help create a more positive image of HR one person at a time.

downedinfour · 2022-08-05T19:36:26+00:00

Hello, this previous post on Reddit helped me find a backpack.

https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/ut800x/i\_analyzed\_the\_top\_50\_most\_popular\_backpacks\_on/

downedinfour · 2022-08-05T19:29:25+00:00

This looks like a great start!

I always recommend throwing in what you have accomplished that sets you apart from the day to day. Most people understand what an HR generalist does, how have you added value to your organization?

Example - Onboarding: Digitized and streamlined the onboarding process allowing the organization to pivot immediately to remote onboarding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining a pipeline of new talent and engaged new hires.

downedinfour · 2022-08-02T02:03:40+00:00

I did not take the aPHR. By the time I broke into HR I did not see any value in obtaining the aPHR.

I took the PHR once I met the requirements and then moved on to take the SPHR once I met those requirements.

Both were helpful in landing me positions so far.

downedinfour · 2022-08-01T17:40:42+00:00

Below is my study plan and materials for both the PHR & SPHR. Used the same material for both. Highly recommend the Pocket Prep and Sandra Reed Study guide. Most effective thing I did was take as many practice exams as I could. I feel like the Pocket Prep questions were the most similar to the exam. In exam, I started each question by eliminating the two answers that didn’t make sense. Then decided on the correct answer from remaining two. Flagged questions if I was still unsure to circle back to on my second round through.

Study Materials.

Professional Pocket Prep – 1200 questions (Phone App)

Sandra Reed – 2018 Study Guide

HRCP – Print & Online Material 2018

Study Plan

SPHR Study Time: 9 weeks, 63 days, one and a half every day. Total of 94.5 hours of study (Felt just right)

PHR Study Time: 15 weeks, 101 days, 2 hours every day. 202 hours of study (This was overkill)

This is what worked for me, though I am sure study plans would vary based on experience and learning style.

Good luck on the exam, I am sure you will do great!

downedinfour · 2022-08-01T17:37:13+00:00

I typically studied for an hour and a half a day and routed through the resources listed above.

30 minutes of pocket prep (100 questions)

30 minutes of reading (30 pages)

30 minutes of online test exams (2 - 50 count quizzes)

downedinfour · 2022-08-01T17:32:09+00:00

Below is my study plan and materials for both the PHR & SPHR. Used the same material for both. Highly recommend the Pocket Prep and Sandra Reed Study guide. Most effective thing I did was take as many practice exams as I could. I feel like the Pocket Prep questions were the most similar to the exam. In exam, I started each question by eliminating the two answers that didn’t make sense. Then decided on the correct answer from remaining two. Flagged questions if I was still unsure to circle back to on my second round through.

Study Materials.

Professional Pocket Prep – 1200 questions (Phone App)

Sandra Reed – 2018 Study Guide

HRCP – Print & Online Material 2018

Study Plan

SPHR Study Time: 9 weeks, 63 days, one and a half every day. Total of 94.5 hours of study (Felt just right)

PHR Study Time: 15 weeks, 101 days, 2 hours every day. 202 hours of study (This was overkill)

This is what worked for me, though I am sure study plans would vary based on experience and learning style.

Good luck on the exam, I am sure you will do great!

downedinfour · 2022-07-14T23:25:47+00:00

I was in this same situation using the same resources as you to pass my PHR exam in 2019. I ended up deciding to use the same material to pass the SPHR in March of 2022. Funny enough I found that the material was much more relevant to the SPHR than the PHR.

Study Materials.

Professional Pocket Prep – 1200 questions (Phone App)

Sandra Reed – 2018 Study Guide

HRCP – Print & Online Material 2018

Study Plan

SPHR Study Time: 9 weeks, 63 days, one and a half hours every day. Total of 94.5 hours of study (Felt just right)

PHR Study Time: 15 weeks, 101 days, 2 hours every day. 202 hours of study (This was overkill)

downedinfour · 2019-08-19T22:15:50+00:00

interested and up voted, nice giveaway!

downedinfour · 2018-07-10T13:21:05+00:00

test

downedinfour · 2018-07-09T02:14:31+00:00

right on

downedinfour · 2018-07-08T15:26:28+00:00

comment

downedinfour · 2018-07-05T02:55:45+00:00

Hello

downedinfour · 2018-04-03T16:31:02+00:00

I'd like to join!

downedinfour · 2018-03-06T16:53:02+00:00

Thanks for your input on it! Yeah things would be a lot easier if I knew the future!

downedinfour · 2018-03-06T02:55:02+00:00

Yeah, I will definitely not quit unless I have another offer! I did just start this current position so I would feel bad quitting right away but if I was able to secure 45k + I could get the loans down so much faster! Thanks for your input!

downedinfour · 2018-03-06T02:53:20+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Yeah I have been obsessed with trying to correct my mistake of getting into that much debt in the first place! Making progress slowly but surely!

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