Despite being firmly entrenched in a global pandemic that has altered the landscape of academia across the nation, the Strategic Human Resource Management Center is still finding a way to offer unique enrichment opportunities and professional development for its students. One of these came in the form of a presentation with associated Q & A from Olivia Liu, a second-year MBA student who successfully prepped for and passed her Society of Human Resource Management, Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) Exam. Congratulations Olivia!
For a little bit of background, the Society of Human Resource Management offers both SHRM-CP (discussed above), and the SHRM-SCP, which is the Senior Certified Professional. They outline eligibility requirements for those having completed less than a bachelor’s degree, having a bachelor’s degree, and those with a graduate degree. Eligibility is based on a combination of education, time in an HR role, and an hours component. Olivia highlighted that the basis for the SHRM credentials is the Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK), which is a combination of technical and behavioral competencies.
As for the exam itself, it is a computer-based examination with a four-hour testing window. There are 160 total questions, with 95 of them being knowledge items, and the other 65 consisting of situational judgment ones. For the past three years, the pass rate has hovered between 66-71%.
A key takeaway from her presentation is the importance of preparation! Individuals interested in taking the exam should look to take practice assessments, work on sample questions/scenarios, and study any relevant information that may be pertinent to the exam. Preparation not only helps one to build knowledge but helps in developing a familiarity and comfortability with the test. As with other standardized tests (i.e. GMAT, GRE, etc.), this can sometimes be just as important, and greatly help to improve/increase scores.
Those who participated in the presentation had the benefit of reviewing several practice scenarios, which strengthened the above-mentioned need to work on practice assessments! While Olivia discussed average preparation time, it is important to do what is best for you. Utilize your study materials and take the time that you need to prepare for the exam. It is important not to focus on the amount of time that you prepare but on the quality of the preparation. There is no “one size fits all” way to prepare for the exam.
Overall, Olivia gave an insightful and informative presentation on her journey to earning her SHRM-CP. For those looking to take the exam, this is another great item to add to one’s resume in today’s competitive environment. Adding a professional certification to relevant job experience and education is another way to help separate oneself among other applicants. For those on the fence about taking the exam, take it! (Current students can talk with Linda Barrett to confirm eligibility.) Also, be sure to congratulate Olivia on her outstanding accomplishment!
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