Hi Everyone! I’m torn between which HR certification to pursue (SHRM-SCP or SPHR). Which one would you recommend and why?
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I’ve been in meetings where leadership said they wanted honest employee feedback, then became visibly uncomfortable when they actually received it. HR often encourages openness while quietly managing reactions behind the scenes. Do organizations really want honest feedback, or just positive feedback?
I recently submitted a candidate that was qualified for a role. The HM looked at the video and passed on her before I even submitted the info. I asked why she said nothing just move on. The candidate asks why she wasn’t moving forward and feedback listing her qualifications vs the job description. I agree go back because I want to know what I’m missing in efforts to submit proper prospects. I was told we don’t have to give a reason and she didn’t fit the culture but don’t tell her that. 😔
Is anyone else concerned about job applications asking for your Social Security number upfront before an interview or offer? With identity theft and fraud being so common, it feels like this information should only be requested during hiring paperwork after an offer is made. Curious how others handle this.
I’ve been debating the same thing and found this article to be very helpful. Skip to, “Which certification is better?” https://upstarthr.com/shrm-scp-vs-sphr-which-senior-hr-certification-makes-more-sense
Great article. I think we all grapple with the certification question and I agree that it depends. I do think the PHR/SPHR is good for compliance issues while the SHRM-SCP is good for HR leadership and gives you access many resources in the industry. To further complicate matters, I think the WorldAtWork certificates provide technical knowledge in specialized areas such as compensation and benefits. I have all three. But, recertification can be challenging!
I just obtained my SPHR certification in June after researching and debating the same thing. I ultimately decided to pursue the SPHR because it's more established (it's been around 40+ years, vs. the SHRM-SCP which has only been around for 5 years) and had a slightly lower pass rate (the latest quote I received was 50% for SPHR vs. 55% for SHRM-SCP, though these rates may have changed since January). Due to those factors and some others, it seemed slightly more prestigious. However, I don't really think you can go wrong with either one. From what I could tell, it seemed unlikely that having the "wrong" certification would prevent you from getting a job, clients, etc. Hope this helps!
HRCI for sure. SHRM only recently joined the certification business and gave me a SHRM CP for nothing, just because I was already PHR certified. I didn't earn it, it was given to me.