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SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP Exam Prep

Maren Bunch
  • 5.0 (1)
  • COURSES

SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP Exam Prep is a structured, exam-aligned audio study companion designed for professionals preparing for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certification exams. This podcast follows the SHRM Body of Applied Skills & Knowledge (BASK) and the SHRM Learning System, delivering calm, focused explanations of both behavioral competencies and HR knowledge domains tested on the exam. Across a comprehensive episode series, listeners will review leadership judgment, ethical decision-making, business acumen, employee relations, talent management, organizational effectiveness, and workplace risk—along with targeted guidance for navigating situational judgment questions (SJQs) and knowledge-based items. Episodes are designed to reinforce how SHRM evaluates applied judgment, not memorization, helping candidates think the way the exam expects. This podcast is AI-narrated and is intended as a supplemental study tool, not a replacement for official SHRM materials. It is designed for on-the-go listening—during commutes, workouts, or review sessions—to reinforce concepts, improve exam reasoning, and support seasonal exam preparation. All content aligns with SHRM’s published exam framework and is best used alongside the official SHRM Learning System and study resources.

  1. 12/22/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Section 3: Ep 23 - Workplace (Risk Management)

    This episode breaks down workplace risk management as a core leadership and governance responsibility—not just an HR or administrative function. You’ll learn how organizations manage people-related risk by understanding employment law at a deeper level, including common exposure areas like misclassification, inconsistent treatment, and cumulative liability over time. The discussion also highlights why workplace safety and strong compliance frameworks are essential for reducing operational risk and avoiding costly regulatory penalties. Rather than reacting to problems after they escalate, the episode explains how proactive systems, clear standards, and consistent enforcement help organizations stay protected. A key focus is placed on litigation prevention, showing how thorough documentation and fair, consistent application of policies often determine whether an organization can successfully defend itself when challenges arise. The episode concludes by explaining what true audit readiness looks like in practice—standardized oversight, reliable records, and continuous monitoring rather than last-minute fixes. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or developing senior-level judgment, this episode helps you understand how effective risk management keeps organizations legally defensible, operationally stable, and prepared for scrutiny at any time.

    46 min

  2. 12/22/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Section 3: Ep 24 - Workplace (Technology & HR Systems)

    This episode takes a practical look at HR technology as a core part of organizational governance and risk management—not just another digital tool. You’ll learn why selecting an HRIS should be driven by compliance requirements, data accuracy, and long-term scalability, and how poor system choices can quietly create serious legal exposure. The discussion also breaks down the growing use of AI and automation in HR, explaining why these tools require careful oversight to avoid amplifying bias or mishandling sensitive employee data. Rather than focusing on innovation for its own sake, the episode emphasizes responsible use, transparency, and ethical decision-making as essential to maintaining employee trust and avoiding regulatory scrutiny. A key theme throughout the episode is change adoption. Even the most sophisticated systems fail when employees and leaders don’t fully use them, often leading to workarounds and shadow processes that increase risk instead of reducing it. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or developing senior-level HR judgment, this episode helps you understand how well-governed HR technology can protect organizations—or expose them—depending on how it’s designed, implemented, and adopted.

    32 min

  3. 12/22/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Section 3: Ep 25 - Workplace (Corporate Social Responsibility)

    This episode reframes Corporate Social Responsibility as a core governance and risk-management function—not a branding or marketing exercise. Instead of focusing on surface-level initiatives, the discussion explains how ESG principles help organizations identify non-financial risks while maintaining regulatory alignment and long-term investor confidence. You’ll learn why internal employer practices and clearly measured sustainability goals form the real foundation of corporate credibility. The episode also explores how community engagement and reputation management must be intentionally woven into everyday operations, rather than treated as add-ons, to avoid reputational harm. A central theme throughout the episode is alignment—specifically, the gap that can form between what organizations publicly claim to value and how they actually behave. This episode breaks down why legitimacy is built through consistent actions over time, not statements or campaigns. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or developing executive-level judgment, this episode helps you understand how authentic corporate responsibility protects trust, reduces risk, and strengthens organizational resilience.

    43 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Section 4: Ep 26 - Integrated Case Scenarios

    This episode serves as a capstone for advanced HR decision-making, focusing on how to approach complex workplace scenarios that don’t have clear or easy answers. Rather than testing isolated knowledge, it walks through how experienced HR professionals are expected to integrate multiple competencies at once when making judgment calls. You’ll learn how to navigate ambiguous situations by balancing people concerns, business priorities, and legal risk—without defaulting to emotionally satisfying but strategically weak decisions. The episode explains why strong responses emphasize procedural fairness, long-term organizational stability, and defensible reasoning over quick fixes. A key focus is placed on understanding how situational judgment questions are evaluated, helping you recognize patterns in high-scoring answers and avoid common traps. By breaking down executive-level reasoning, this episode prepares you to think beyond individual cases and consider broader organizational impact. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or sharpening senior-level judgment, this episode helps you transition from tactical problem-solving to governance-focused leadership and risk mitigation.

    37 min

  5. 12/22/2025

    Section 4: Ep 27 - Common SHRM Exam Traps

    This episode breaks down the most common judgment mistakes that keep capable HR professionals from passing SHRM certification exams. Instead of testing what you know, these exams are designed to evaluate how you think—and this episode explains where candidates often go wrong. You’ll learn why relying too heavily on legalistic or punitive responses can backfire, even when those answers seem technically correct. The discussion emphasizes the importance of stakeholder collaboration, understanding organizational culture, and resisting the urge to act unilaterally when complex issues arise. A key focus is on shifting from tactical, short-term problem solving to long-term systems thinking. The episode explains what exam writers are really looking for: decisions that balance compliance with business needs while reducing future risk. Whether you’re studying for the SHRM exam or refining your professional judgment, this episode helps you adopt an executive-level mindset—one that prioritizes strategic leadership, operational effectiveness, and defensible decision-making.

    45 min

  6. 12/22/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Section 4: Ep 28 - Final Exam Strategy & Test-Day Readiness

    This episode focuses on the final piece of exam success: how you think and execute under pressure on test day. Rather than emphasizing memorization, it shifts attention to executive-level decision-making, time management, and maintaining judgment quality throughout the exam. You’ll learn why most candidates struggle not because they lack knowledge, but because cognitive fatigue and poor pacing quietly undermine their performance. The episode walks through how adopting a senior leadership mindset helps you navigate intentional ambiguity and choose answers that protect long-term organizational stability. A key part of the discussion covers practical strategies for educated guessing and mental resets, so one difficult question doesn’t throw off your focus or confidence. By treating the exam as a risk-management simulation instead of a trivia test, this episode helps you stay disciplined, calm, and strategically grounded from the first question to the last. Whether you’re days away from testing or fine-tuning your approach, this episode is designed to help you perform at your highest level when it matters most.

    33 min

  7. 12/21/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Section 3: Ep 14 - People (Talent Acquisition)

    This episode provides an in-depth, application-focused review of talent acquisition as defined by the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BASK). Rather than treating hiring as an administrative task, the discussion frames talent acquisition as a long-term business function that must align closely with organizational strategy and risk management. Key topics include workforce planning, the use of valid and unbiased selection methods, and strategies for reducing unconscious bias to support equitable hiring outcomes. The episode also explores employer branding as a strategic asset and reinforces the importance of legal compliance throughout the recruitment and selection process. Designed for professionals preparing for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams, this episode emphasizes judgment, consistency, and strategic decision-making—helping listeners think like organizational leaders rather than transactional recruiters.

    44 min

  8. 12/21/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Section 3: Ep 15 - People (Learning & Development)

    In this episode, we break down how modern Learning and Development has evolved from simple training programs into a core driver of organizational capability. You’ll learn how effective L&D strategies are built by aligning learning initiatives directly with business goals and closing real competency gaps—not just delivering content. We explore adult learning principles and why practical, problem-centered learning embedded into daily work consistently outperforms traditional classroom-style training. The episode also clarifies the critical difference between upskilling employees for success in their current roles and reskilling them for entirely new career paths, especially as organizations adapt to change. You’ll hear how leadership development and succession planning work together to reduce organizational risk, using structured approaches like stretch assignments, mentorship, and objective talent assessments such as the 9-box grid. Finally, we explain how to measure learning impact using the Kirkpatrick Model—moving beyond attendance and satisfaction scores to real behavior change and measurable business outcomes. This episode is essential for understanding how Learning and Development supports long-term strategy, leadership continuity, and workforce readiness in today’s organizations.

    40 min
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About

SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP Exam Prep is a structured, exam-aligned audio study companion designed for professionals preparing for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certification exams. This podcast follows the SHRM Body of Applied Skills & Knowledge (BASK) and the SHRM Learning System, delivering calm, focused explanations of both behavioral competencies and HR knowledge domains tested on the exam. Across a comprehensive episode series, listeners will review leadership judgment, ethical decision-making, business acumen, employee relations, talent management, organizational effectiveness, and workplace risk—along with targeted guidance for navigating situational judgment questions (SJQs) and knowledge-based items. Episodes are designed to reinforce how SHRM evaluates applied judgment, not memorization, helping candidates think the way the exam expects. This podcast is AI-narrated and is intended as a supplemental study tool, not a replacement for official SHRM materials. It is designed for on-the-go listening—during commutes, workouts, or review sessions—to reinforce concepts, improve exam reasoning, and support seasonal exam preparation. All content aligns with SHRM’s published exam framework and is best used alongside the official SHRM Learning System and study resources.

Information

  • Creator
    Maren Bunch
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    28
  • Provider
    Maren Bunch