Why Note Taking Matters for SHRM Preparation
The SHRM Learning System and other preparation materials contain hundreds of pages of dense HR content. Simply reading through this material is a passive activity that leads to minimal retention. Effective note taking transforms passive reading into active learning by forcing you to process, organize, and synthesize information as you encounter it.
Research shows that the act of writing notes (not just highlighting or underlining) significantly improves comprehension and long term memory. For SHRM exam candidates, good notes also serve as a personalized study resource that is more efficient to review than the original material.
The Cornell Note Taking Method for SHRM Study
How It Works
The Cornell Method divides your page into three sections: a narrow left column for cues and questions, a wider right column for notes, and a summary section at the bottom. This structure is particularly well suited to SHRM preparation because it naturally creates review materials and promotes active recall.
Applying It to SHRM Content
When studying a topic like "Employee Engagement and Retention," your Cornell notes might look like this:
- Left column (cues): Key terms and questions such as "What drives employee engagement?" and "How to measure retention?" and "Exit interview best practices"
- Right column (notes): Detailed notes on engagement drivers, retention metrics, turnover calculations, stay interview techniques, and exit interview protocols
- Bottom summary: A two to three sentence summary of the main takeaways and how they connect to the broader SHRM competency framework
During review, cover the right column and use the left column cues to test your recall. This turns your notes into a built in active recall tool.
Mind Mapping for SHRM Concepts
When to Use Mind Maps
Mind mapping is especially effective for visualizing relationships between SHRM concepts. The SHRM BoCK is highly interconnected: talent acquisition connects to workforce planning, which connects to organizational strategy, which connects to change management. A mind map captures these relationships in a way that linear notes cannot.
Creating SHRM Mind Maps
Start with a central concept and branch outward. For example, place "Total Rewards" at the center and create branches for compensation, benefits, work life balance, recognition programs, and career development. Under each branch, add sub-branches for specific topics, key laws, and practical examples.
Use colors to distinguish different BoCK domains and add icons or symbols for concepts that are frequently tested. The visual nature of mind maps makes them excellent quick review tools in the final weeks before the exam.
The Outline Method for Structured Content
For content that is naturally hierarchical, such as employment law or HR processes, the outline method provides clear organization. Use numbered or bulleted lists with multiple levels of indentation to show how topics relate to each other.
For example, when studying the Family and Medical Leave Act:
- FMLA Overview
- Employer coverage: 50 or more employees within 75 miles
- Employee eligibility: 12 months of service, 1,250 hours worked
- Leave entitlement: 12 weeks in a 12 month period
- Qualifying reasons: serious health condition, birth or adoption, military caregiver
- Key provisions: job protection, benefits continuation, intermittent leave
Concept Comparison Charts
Many SHRM exam questions test your ability to distinguish between similar concepts. Create comparison charts that highlight the differences between commonly confused topics:
- Disparate treatment vs. disparate impact
- Exempt vs. nonexempt employees
- FMLA vs. ADA accommodation requirements
- Mediation vs. arbitration
- Voluntary vs. involuntary turnover
- Coaching vs. mentoring vs. counseling
For each comparison, create a simple table with columns for each concept and rows for key characteristics. These charts become invaluable study tools for quick review before the exam.
Digital vs. Handwritten Notes
Research suggests that handwriting notes leads to better comprehension and retention than typing, primarily because writing by hand is slower, which forces you to process and paraphrase rather than transcribing verbatim. However, digital notes offer advantages in organization, searchability, and portability.
Consider a hybrid approach: take handwritten notes during your initial study sessions to maximize learning, then transfer key concepts to a digital tool for organized review. Apps like Notion, OneNote, or Evernote allow you to organize notes by BoCK domain, add tags, and search across all your study materials.
The Summary Sheet Strategy
As you work through the SHRM material, maintain a running summary sheet for each knowledge domain. This sheet should contain only the most critical concepts, definitions, and frameworks, condensed to one to two pages per domain. By the time you finish your initial study, these summary sheets become your go-to review resource.
The process of deciding what belongs on the summary sheet is itself a valuable learning exercise. It forces you to evaluate the relative importance of different concepts and identify the core ideas that tie each domain together.
Making Your Notes Work for You
The best note taking method is the one you will actually use for review. Schedule regular note review sessions into your study plan. Do not let your notes become a one time exercise. They should be living documents that you revisit, refine, and use for active recall throughout your preparation.