Local HR Professionals Excel in National Certification Exam
UM prep class aids north Mississippi companies and employees.
OXFORD, Miss.— Human resource professionals in north Mississippi are increasing their knowledge and skills to help employers after participating in the Society of Human Resources Learning System professional development course offered at the University of Mississippi.
"Going through this course helped me to better understand my job and do it in the best way possible," said Mallory House of Hernando.
House works with payroll, insurance, worker's compensation and various other HR tasks for the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors' office. She passed her SHRM Certified Professional Exam in June.
"I think the class not only prepared me to take the certification exam, but it also prepared me for the day-to-day issues and challenges that will come up in my work," House said.
The SHRM exam prep course that House completed last spring is enrolling participants for the fall 2018 group that will be offered on Tuesday evenings, Sept. 11 through Dec. 11, on the Oxford campus.
Taught by local human resource manager Christopher Byrd, the course not only prepares human resource professionals to take the SHRM-Certified Professional or SHRM-Senior Certified Professional Exams, but it also helps participants strengthen their understanding of core behavior and competencies that will help increase productivity in the workplace.
"Pursuing a nationally recognized certification in HR is one of the best ways to show you care about your career, your employees and your organization," Byrd said.
Dylan Wilmoth is an operations leader with Human Technologies Inc. in Oxford. He completed the course and passed his SHRM exam in the spring of 2017.
"Anyone who is managing people or working in the HR field needs this course," Wilmoth said. "Participating in this program has given me the knowledge to bridge the gap between what employees want and what the employer needs.
"After earning this certification, I have the knowledge I need to be an advocate for employees while still helping my company meet its goals."
The SHRM organization has been active in the human resources community for seven decades and has more than 285,000 members worldwide.
"There has been a great success rate for enrollees in the SHRM certification course offered at Ole Miss," said Mary Leach, UM director of professional development and lifelong learning. "These short workshops and courses are ideal for those who want to gain current and relevant knowledge to impact their job immediately."
The registration fee for the course is $1,099 for non-SHRM members and $999 for members. Special discounts are available for Ole Miss alumni. Many businesses and organizations are offering educational tuition benefits for employees interested in completing the prep course.
Admission to the university is not required for this noncredit course.
For more information and to register, visit http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/SHRM or contact Griffin Stroup at 662-915-3121.