If you’ve worked in HR, you know that there are plenty of certifications you can get, and lots of them. It can be confusing, however, to figure out what certifications you need to focus on. Some of these are more directly related to employment, like those that come with a degree in Human Resources or with an HRachelors degree. Other certifications, like those from HR Analytics, may be important, too, but may not directly pertain to employment. Still others are more generic in nature, like those that can certify a certain way of doing business or a certain level of knowledge about your company’s structure and processes. A good training program will offer you the opportunity to choose which certification courses you need to focus on.
There are four major certification exams that you can take to improve your skills in this field. The first two are much like what you’d find in your typical high school: they test basic knowledge of general HR management principles. The exams for these two certifications, “The Human Resource Information Specialist (HRIS) Certificate” and “Certificate in Applied Research Methodology (CARM)” are available through many schools and programs. You’ll find that the phr certifications from HRci that are listed above are just the tip of the iceberg, because you can take additional exams that focus on specific areas. For example, there are the exams for those who are certified in performance appraisal (which employers often require of those working in this position), in management practice (for those who work with management executives), and others.
The phr certification from HRci gives you the chance to develop a new competency model that you can apply to current situations and future situations. For example, if you’ve been in this job for a few years and you’re not satisfied with your skills-not sure how you can grow in this career-you can take a phr exam for growth potential. By developing a new competency, you show employers that you have the knowledge and skills to lead change and make necessary adjustments. You can even take a phr exam for a specific area of human resources management (for example, performance management or hiring practices) so that you show you have knowledge of new methods that are relevant to HR management.
On the flip side, if you were a senior HR manager who’d achieved a for certification, it could be that you had a lot of growth potential. So you might take another hack certification exam to see if your knowledge and skills in human resource management have grown. What I mean is that the phr certification from HRci shows you that you’ve grown as an expert in this field over the last few years and that you know more than most HR managers do about organizing a company and getting people to do their work. This doesn’t mean you should ignore the needs of others in the workplace. You just have to get a better grasp on how to lead them and manage the group more effectively.
With any of the certifications from HRci, you also have the added benefit of being seen as a qualified professional in HR management. Many hiring committees look at the certifications on an applicant’s resume as one way to determine whether or not to hire them. Getting the phr certification from HRci can help you get ahead of the pack, particularly because the phr certifications from HRci are generally industry-related and relate to areas that are important to HR professionals (which HR managers usually are not versed in). It gives you an excellent opportunity to prove that you know the ins and outs of a particular industry and that you have new competency to add to your CV.
The truth is, the majority of people who look at your resume for a job want to know how much you’ve grown since you first got your jobs. The certification exams from HRci give you an excellent chance to show them that you’ve learned new things and increased your skill set in this area over the past few years. Exactly how much you learn matters here, and you don’t necessarily need to get the phr certifications from HRci to show this. Some of the most impressive certifications from HRci do come from its sister companies. For example, its HIC/HIBCS (Human Resource Compliance Management System) exams target specific competencies that managers in various departments will need to understand if they’re going to make the correct decisions when it comes to labor relations, benefits, productivity and employee safety and health.
So yes, phr certification exams from HRci can help you show your new competence in labor relations management, but you’ll also need to work on it if you want to build a career in this field. You may have some great ideas on how to improve your performance, but your competency model may be completely wrong. That’s why it’s so important to work on your exams, read books about the subject, and take online training. The truth is, phr certification exams from HRci can be the first step towards building a successful career in labor relations, but you need to ensure that you do everything possible to secure your certificate.
