Review of Instant Trainer (Paperback)

The first time someone has to train coworkers, there are lots of questions about how to do it."How should I handle stage fright?""How can I jazz up a dry topic?""If only there were an advice columnist who could help me out."With this book, there areadvice columnists for new trainers:Leslie Charles and ChrisClarke-Epstein.

Part I, only 35 pages long, is titled "What EveryFirst-Time Trainer Needs to Know (Critical Factors That Can Make or BreakYou!)."This section is a crash course on how adults learn.

PartII, titled "Questions and Answers on Training Basics," is 186pages of pure experience-sharing.The question/answer format makes foreasy reading--the questions are a paragraph long, and the answers areconcise but information-packed.This format has another advantage:when anew trainer wants information on a specific subject ("Is there somestrategy for using humour in training?"), he or she need only read oneor two pages on that specific question, then get on with the job ofpreparing for the training.The well-done index makes it simple to findthe topics quickly.

The appendices are a gold mine for someone new totraining. They include resource lists andcontact information, an excellent bibliography, and even sample evaluationforms.

This book is usable, readable, and the content is dead-on.Whennon-trainers or new trainers ask me for a resource, this is the first bookI suggest.

Product Description
HereOs the first book to show todayOs first-time trainers how to prepare, deliver, evaluate, and fine-tune presentations that will keep trainees riveted and leave them smarter and more capable. Designed to transform readers into skilled instructors in as little time as possible, no matter what size group or what kind of subject matter they address, it combines the coauthorsO 35 years of training experience. Highlighted by a casual and informative question-and-answer format, The Instant Trainer offers a bounty of practical, easy-to-absorb tips, techniques, and strategies that help novice trainers deal with an extraordinary range of issues N from overcoming stage fright to energizing apathetic audiences to reaching diverse group members. Featuring checklists, sample forms, and lists of essential training resources, The Instant Trainer is so complete it even provides a coauthor hotline if readers have specific questions that are not answered in the book! Thorough, quick, and easy to read, this book is a rich resource of ideas, techniques, and practical tips on how to teach others what you know.

From the Back Cover
"Since youOre so good at this, I want you to put on a series of training sessions to teach the others!" You can panic when you hear this from the boss, or you can grab The Instant Trainer . Designed to transform you into a skilled instructor in as little time as possible, no matter what size group or what kind of subject matter you cover, this savvy guide is a rich resource of ideas, techniques, and practical tips on how to teach others what you know. Written by two seasoned trainers and facilitators who love their craft and share their enthusiasm, The Instant Trainer will teach you how to prepare, deliver, evaluate, and fine-tune presentations that keep trainees riveted and leave them smarter and more capable. The book will help you deal with a staggering range of issues facing the first-time trainer, including: How do I overcome stage fright? How do I break the ice? What support materials work best? How do I get shy people to participate? How can I use todayOs technologies?What if my trainees are apathetic? When do I use humor?How do I reach diverse group members? And many more!Featuring checklists, sample forms, and lists of essential training resources, The Instant Trainer is so complete it even provides a co-author hotline if you have a question thatOs not answered in the book! Whether you are a new trainer or an in-house topic expert who is unexpectedly "invited" to share your knowledge and expertise, this book is the perfect short course on classroom skills.

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Review of PHR / SPHR: Professional in Human Resources Certification Study Guide (Paperback)

I just took the SPHR exam this morning (and passed), but I have to give this book a mixed review. It is essentially a general introduction to HR and its various specialities - what you might expect to find in a college-level "Intro to HR" textbook, with a chapter that explains the SPHR / HRCI, etc. In the author's defense, that is all she claims the book to be. The problem is, if you are seriously contemplating taking the SPHR exam, you are probably beyond needing a introduction to the field. In my opinion and experience, in order to pass the exam, you need to take practice tests. This book does come with a CD that contains flashcards and 4 practice tests (2 for PHR and 2 for SPHR), but they are only 55 questions each and thus a bit too narrow to really prepare you for the 225 question exam. I found the practice test available from certgear.com to be an excellent resource (best $60 I ever spent) and an excellent tool to combine with this book - just don't count on this book alone. Again, the author says pretty much the same thing - this book is an HR reference and introduction to the SPHR exam, not a "test prep" system. HJC

Product Description
More than 80,000 HR professionals having earned the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, and another 20,000 are expected to take the exam in 2009. This complete update of the bestselling guide to HR certification contains additional coverage of new HR policies and standards, as well as updated practice exam questions and real world scenarios. Key topics include strategic management, workforce planning and employment, compensation and benefits, employee and labor relations, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The CD-ROM contains four bonus exams (two each for PHR and SPHR) as well as flashcards and an electronic book.

From the Back Cover

Completely Revised and Enhanced for the 2009 Exams

Validate your experience and skills as an HR professional with the industry-standard PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certifications from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI®). The latest edition of this top-selling guide offers expert coverage of key exam topics, updated review questions to test your exam preparation, and numerous real-world examples.

Practical and comprehensive coverage of strategic management, workforce planning and employment, total rewards, employee and labor relations, and more

• Full coverage of all test specifications in a systematic approach, so you can be confident you're getting the instruction you need for the exams

• Real-world scenarios that put what you've learned in the context of actual job roles

• Challenging review questions in each chapter to prepare you for

• exam day

• Exam Essentials, a key feature that identifies critical areas you must master before taking the exam

• A handy tear card that maps every test specification to the corresponding chapter in the book, so you can track your exam prep

Look inside for complete coverage of all exam objectives.

NOTE: This study guide and/or materials are not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated in any way with the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). PHR, SPHR, GPHR, and HRCI are trademarks or registered marks of HRCI. SHRM is a registered mark of the Society for Human Resource Management.

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