Chapter 1
Introduction

“You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.”

Carl Jung

Welcome to The Big Book of HR Practice Questions! Your decision to invest in your professional development speaks volumes about your commitment to excellence and your dedication to advancing in the field of human resources (HR).

As the opening quote suggests, the process of preparing to sit for a certification exam requires taking action. It is not enough to simply think about or say that you want to accomplish something. True mastery of any topic requires work, patience, consistency, and access to resources that support a successful outcome. This book is designed to be a functional practice question guide for exams offered by the Human Resource Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management.

• The Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI): The Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) is an organization that offers certifications for HR professionals, validating their expertise and competency in various HR domains. Through rigorous examination and ongoing professional development, HRCI aims to elevate standards in the HR industry and empower professionals to advance their careers. This book is mapped to HRCI's exam content outlines for four exams:
  • Professional in Human Resources (PHR): The PHR certification caters to HR professionals who possess one to four years of experience in executing programs with a tactical/logistical focus, highlighting their operational duties within the organization's HR department.
  • Professional in Human Resources, international (PHRi): The PHRi certification is tailored for HR practitioners situated in a single international setting (non U.S.-based company), affirming their professional-level proficiency, knowledge, and skills to advance their careers in HR. Through the PHRi, individuals showcase their expertise in universally recognized technical and operational HR principles within an international context.
  • Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR): The SPHR credential targets senior HR leaders in the United States with four years or more experience in strategizing rather than executing HR policies. SPHR professionals typically oversee HR department objectives and strategize and implement business plans and technology, all while comprehending the broader HR requirements of the organization.
  • Senior Professional in Human Resources, international (SPHRi): The SPHRi certification is tailored for HR leaders located outside of the United States, acknowledging their senior-level competency in generally accepted HR principles encompassing strategy, policy development, and service delivery within a single international setting.
• The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a professional association dedicated to advancing the HR profession by providing resources, training, and networking opportunities to its members. Through advocacy, research, and education, SHRM strives to empower HR professionals worldwide to become strategic partners in their organizations' success. They have developed an exam Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BASK) for two exams that this practice guide is mapped to:
  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP): An individual pursuing an SHRM-CP certification typically engages in HR or HR-related tasks or is aspiring toward a career in HR, with a focus on operational responsibilities. It's advisable for candidates to possess a basic understanding of HR concepts as they prepare for the certification.
  • SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP): The SHRM-SCP certification is designed for individuals who have a minimum of three years of experience in executing strategic-level HR or HR-related responsibilities. Alternatively, it's also suitable for SHRM-CP holders who have maintained their certification for at least three years and are either currently working in or transitioning into strategic-level roles within the HR domain.

What sets this book apart is its practical approach. Each question is carefully crafted to mirror real-world scenarios and challenges encountered in a typical day in HR. Each question is also designed to get you familiar with how the questions are presented on the HRCI and SHRM exams. By engaging with the questions in this book, you'll not only test your understanding of key concepts but also hone your ability to critically think through situations, make informed decisions, and apply your work experience to find the correct answers.

Many athletes are familiar with the age-old adage, “Practice makes perfect.” Yet, imagine a professional golfer heading to the driving range, swinging away for hours with the wrong form and the wrong club, and lacking the proper mindset. That practice might end up engraining the wrong techniques rather than properly refining the skills necessary for success.

This same principle applies to exam preparation! It's not just about practice; it's about perfect practice. To stack the odds in your favor, you need the right tools and resources for effective performance, and that's where this book comes in. It's designed to be an important resource in your preparation cache.

Success when facing a difficult exam requires planning and effort, not unlike when preparing for a marathon, embarking on a job search, or taking on new responsibilities at work. It will take perseverance and a commitment to yourself. The journey begins by understanding your own motivation.

Know Your Why

Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to travel in space, a physician, an engineer, and a passionate advocate for STEM education and exploration. From an early age, Dr. Jemison was captivated by the mysteries of the universe. This curiosity fueled her passion for science and drove her to pursue studies in chemical engineering and medicine. This led her to apply to NASA's astronaut program, despite facing barriers as a woman and African American. Jemison's personal “why” was rooted in a deep-seated desire to understand and explore the cosmos, propelling her to space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. A true space pioneer and role model, Jemison's story reminds us that overcoming internal and external barriers to success requires a whole lot of guts, planning, and perseverance.

Why are you taking a professional certification exam? The answer to the question “why” serves decision-making, drives behaviors, and satisfies in a way experts call intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal desire or drive to engage in an activity or pursue a goal solely for the enjoyment, satisfaction, or inherent interest it brings. This type of motivation often leads to higher levels of engagement, persistence, and creativity in tasks or goals pursued. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being motivated by external factors either; in fact, for some, the idea of recognition or monetary rewards is a key driver. When pursuing successful HR certification, it is useful to understand your own intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, such as the following:

• Self-investment: People often take professional certification exams to invest in themselves, aiming to boost their skills and knowledge for personal and professional development.
• Pay increase: Getting certified can help bump up your earnings by more than 25%. This is accomplished by showing employers and clients that you've got the expertise and competencies they're looking for, which can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries.
• Role-modeling: When you become certified, you're not just doing it for yourself; you're also setting an example for others around you, inspiring them and encouraging them to keep pushing forward in their own careers.
• Excellence: Sitting down for a professional certification exam isn't just about passing a test; it's about showing your commitment to being the best in your field, demonstrating your dedication and staying on top of industry trends and standards.

This process is tough, and at times it might even be stressful. Knowing your why is your benchmark, the place that tethers you to the reasons you get up early to study, stay up late making flashcards, and watch MBA-level videos while on the treadmill. A quick mindset shift can help when those study days seem long. As Simon Sinek said, “Working hard for something we don't care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.”

The Exam Content

The profession of human resources has a framework from which university courses are taught, research is conducted, and best practices are formed. This framework is built around the human resource body of knowledge (HRBoK), and exam content often reflects these guidelines. While each exam has its own functional area categories, there are core knowledge and competency themes that are covered across all of the HRCI and SHRM exams. This book includes exam questions in the following HR domains:

• U.S. Labor Laws (covered in Chapter 2): Regulations governing employment practices and worker rights in the United States
• Business Management and Strategy (covered in Chapter 3): Developing and implementing plans to achieve organizational goals and maintain...