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In order to stay competitive in the modern business world, you need to have the qualifications that set you apart. Just having barebones requirements is no longer enough.
Instead, you need to go beyond yourself and show potential employers that you are the best candidate for the job and that you will achieve the greatest success in the position. A good way to do this is to obtain a human resources certification.
Hiring managers prefer candidates with a human resources certification background and basic knowledge. As competition in HR work intensifies, certification will help you stand out from others.
If you need more evidence about why HR certification is important, how to obtain certification, and some long-term strategies, please continue reading our complete guide on HR certification.
Why is human resource certification so important
Human resource certification is becoming more and more important. A study conducted by Payscale in 2018 found that more than 34% of HR professionals have at least one HR certificate.
Therefore, one of the reasons that certification is a smart move is to make yourself a competitive candidate for human resources work and promotion. This is especially true when you climb the human resources ladder. You want to achieve higher achievements in your human resources career, the more important it is for you to obtain certification.
The same Payscale study found that 35.5% of HR managers are certified, and 51.5% of HR vice presidents are certified. Only 13.2% of HR administrators have at least one certificate, so if this is your starting or next goal, then certification is not that important. However, as your career continues to develop, you will find that the knowledge and credibility attached to the certification will be a major benefit.
As mentioned above, certification is a way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Some job descriptions say that having certifications is an “imposed”, but they are usually not required. Certification shows recruiters that continuing education in your industry is important to you and that you may become a reliable long-term employee. This helps a lot in recruitment.
No company is willing to hire someone who will switch to another company after only a few months.The cost of recruiting and onboarding new employees is high, and the HR team spends more time determining which candidate will be more meaningful This It’s best not to make a hiring decision in a hurry.
Human resource certification is a way to quickly recruit company professionals, allowing you to see yourself beyond yourself.
In addition, according to The Balance Careers, Professionals with certification are more likely to be promoted Than those who don’t. Its research shows that 63% of HR employees are certified, while only 34% of HR employees are not certified. This is because the human resources certificate shows that you have the skills and knowledge to advance in your career.
Finally, when you need to negotiate a higher salary, HR certification will come in handy. Whether you are starting a new job or want a raise in your current position, certification will help you increase the likelihood of a raise because it gives you influence.
Quick tips for improving HR certification today
Spend more time using the software
HR certification is a great way to expand your understanding of HR technology (including HR software). Therefore, before in-depth understanding of your certification, you’d better be familiar with the use of HR software.
There are various HR tools for you to choose, and which is the most effective depends on your specific needs.
However, the most effective HR tool is BambooHRThe management software is used and trusted by more than 19,000 customers, including major companies such as Postmates, Grammarly, and ZipRecruiter.
Why is this software so popular? There are several different reasons.
First of all, it is simple and easy to use, which is always a benefit for software.You don’t want to spend and also Spend a lot of time to get familiar with HR software such as BambooHR. Then, it no longer becomes effective.
If you work with teams with different user rights levels, you will like the features provided by BambooHR. Employees can easily access the information and functions they need without having to view and access content higher than their salary levels.
Some of the main ways BambooHR helps the HR team are to simplify employee data and create reports, simplify the recruitment process through excellent ATS, onboarding assistance, time tracking, PTO and payroll.
Bamboo HR offers two different packages for the company: the Essentials package and the Advantage plan.
BambooHR will not publicly list its pricing.To determine the rate that suits your company and needs, please fill in Online form for free quotation.
Schedule the test as early as possible
Once you are ready to take the exam, it is best to schedule the exam immediately. You do not need to take the exam immediately, but you want to schedule the exam time so that you have the appropriate time to study (varies from person to person).
Wait too long to schedule your test and you may run the risk of not getting the time you want or having to do your best to take it elsewhere. By arranging as early as possible, you can better control the test time and location, and reduce the pressure of handling outside the actual test.
Know how long you need to prepare and whether you work best in the morning, afternoon or evening, and plan your time accordingly.
Understand the structure of the exam
The layout of the HR certification exam is different from other standardized exams you may have taken in the past. Therefore, you must spend time learning the structure so that you are satisfied with this particular test.
The company you choose to take the exam should provide you with information about the content of the exam, so as not to be completely unexpected.
For example, one of the top certifications is through HRCI, they provide you with the structure of the exam hereGenerally, the exam includes:
- Traditional multiple choice questions, there are four answer choices
- Multiple choice with two or more correct answers
- fill in the blank
- Drag and drop
- Scenes
Most testing companies also provide study materials or practice tests, and you should definitely use them during your studies.
Create a study plan
Doing well in this test requires learning. This is not a test that you can “do whatever you want” and expect to do well. Since your current work may be very busy, it is very likely that you do not have a very open study schedule.
This is why the study plan is so important. It helps ensure that you free up time to study and schedule goal-driven learning courses within a week.
Set aside a specific time period each week to allow yourself a quiet study time. Use study guides, mock tests, and exam review materials to determine where you need to spend your study time. Although finding a lot of time to learn can be challenging, it is necessary. If you do not study well or well enough, you may fail the exam, have to pay more and spend more time preparing for the retake.
Long-term strategy for human resource certification
Focusing on the short-term skills of your HR certification is important, but you also want to understand the long-term strategies that will help you over time.
You want to take full advantage of this certification, so please consider what we share below to get the most out of it.
Plan your career goals
Look at where you are in your career now and what level you want to reach in two, five and ten years.
Things don’t always go according to plan, but knowing who you want to be is essential for setting career goals.
If you start at the bottom of the human resources ladder now, you may not need to obtain a human resources certification. However, if you are ready to advance and make yourself a more competitive candidate for a higher position, now is the time to continue your certification. As your career progresses, please consider which additional certifications will help you move to the next step and gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
Understand the differences between certifications
The two most popular HR certifications are PHR certification and SPHR certification.
Remember, these are not the only two certifications Human Resources Department, An independent non-profit organization, is a leading certification and learning organization in the field of human resources. Other certifications they provide include Assistant Professionals in Human Resources (aPHR), Assistant Professionals in International Human Resources (aPHRi), International Professionals in Human Resources (PHRi), Senior Professionals in International Human Resources (SPHRi) and Global Human Resources Professionals ( GPHR)).
Below, I will detail the two main certifications offered.
PHR (Professional Human Resources)
PHR certification shows that you have technical knowledge of human resource management, including US laws and regulations.
This certification is suitable for people who have professional human resources work experience and are responsible for focusing on the human resources department instead of the entire company.
The qualification requirements for PHR certification require you to meet one of the following conditions:
- At least one year of professional work experience in human resources positions, master’s degree or above
- At least two years of work experience, bachelor degree or above
- At least four years of experience and a high school diploma or higher
The exam focuses on employee and labor relations, business management, talent planning and acquisition, learning and development, etc. The test time is two hours, including 90 grading questions and 25 pre-examination questions. The application fee to take the exam is US$100, while the exam itself is US$395.
SPHR (Senior Human Resources Professional)
This certification is for HR professionals who want to become HR leaders. It shows that you understand human resource strategy and policy making, which makes you a good person who participates in and is responsible for making human resource policies; you are more than just implementing it.
The eligibility requirements for SPHR certification require you to meet one of the following conditions:
- At least four years of professional-level human resources position experience and a master’s degree or higher
- At least five years of experience and a bachelor’s degree or higher
- At least seven years of experience and a high school diploma or higher
Although the exam covers many of the same overall topics as PHR, it also focuses a large part on leadership and strategy. The test time is two and a half hours, including 115 scoring questions and 25 pre-examination questions. The application fee to take the exam is US$100, while the exam itself is US$495.
Both certifications require 60 recertification credits every three years to maintain your valid certification. For SPHR, 15 of these recertification credits must be within the scope of business management and strategy.
Next step
After obtaining the HR certification, you will find that HR software becomes more important in your work. There are some good choices for HR tools, but we have some favorite tools to help you work more easily.
View all our top picks The best HR software.
You may also find that you don’t have time to do everything and want to outsource some of your HR tasks. There are outsourcing services that can help you complete your work.To help you choose the most suitable product for you, please check our Top HR outsourcing services Articles and supporting information.
This article was written by Daily Eggspert today.
