Sometimes, writing your human resources resume can feel like a punishment. But our carefully assembled guide will make the process flow as smooth as butter. So, dive in and discover all the best tips, detailed examples, and resume samples. Let’s make your resume one to remember!
Keep on reading and learn all about:
- Selecting an adequate format for your HR resume
- Making your HR professional summary stand out
- The most effective skill-set to put on your human resources CV
- Creating a job-winning work experience section for your HR resume
- Making your HR education section shine with academic achievements
- Including suitable extra sections in your human resources CV
- Accessing top resources for job-seeking human resources professionals
1. Select an adequate format for your HR resume
As an HR job applicant, you certainly know how important it is to make your CV easy to read and easy to navigate for a hiring manager.
If you want to prevent your resume from ending up in the “reject pile”, follow these handy formatting tips, and make your CV clean looking.
- Opt for a two-column layout. With your contact details, skills, and any extra sections featuring in the left column, your right side can be dedicated to segments such as professional profile, work experience and education.
- Make your resume more scannable through listing your work history and education in a reverse-chronological order. Start with the most recent role, and use bullet points avoiding large blocks of text.
- Employ negative space between individual sections granting your resume breathing room.
- Avoid flashy images and stylish fonts. If you opt for graphic elements, make sure they work as focal points leading a hiring manager’s eye to the desired section.
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2. Make your HR professional summary stand out
A successful professional summary should be:
- Relevant to the job position you are applying for
- Captivating
- Concise
- Achievement-focused
Make your professional profile 3-5 lines long, projecting your best accomplishments and brilliant HR skills.
Human resources professional profile example
Self-driven, detail-oriented human resources professional with 4+ years of experience developing and enhancing employee onboarding and orientation processes. Successfully collaborated with all departments to create a 100% virtual onboarding for new hires. An outstanding problem solver with an eagerness to learn. Excellent communicator and effective team leader who thrives in a deadline driven environment. Able to manage both internal and external relationships with appropriate sense of urgency and courtesy.
3. The most effective skill-set to put on your human resources CV
Not anyone could be in charge of filling positions, handing walking papers, looking after employee benefits and managing confidential data.
Interpersonal skills, outstanding communication, teamwork and patience are just a few of many skills you’ll need to equip yourself with in order to fulfil your role.
Customize your skill-set effectively to the job posting you are interested in, and impress your potential employer.
The best human resources soft skills for your resume
- Customer service skills
- Teamwork
- Outstanding spoken and written communication skills
- Responsibility
- Flexibility
- Confidentiality
- Diplomacy
- Patience
- Decision making
- Problem solving
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Organization
- Time management
Effective hard skills to put on your human resources CV
- Payroll systems
- Candidate assessment
- Compensation and benefits
- Talent acquisition techniques
- HRIS (Superior proficiency)
- MS Office (Superior proficiency)
4. Create a job-winning work experience section for your HR resume
It often happens that a promising employee is overlooked by a hiring manager due to an underperforming work experience resume section.
Don’t let that happen, and have the recruiter see what you are — a top-notch professional who will contribute to the success of their company.
- Always tailor your work history to what is expected from you in a specific job posting.
- Avoid large chunks of text, and use bullet lists instead. Keep the number of points moderately low.
- Mention only the most relevant achievements and quantify them whenever you can.
- Use powerful language.
HR work experience section example
Mark & Benson
Human Resources Assistant
2015–2018
- Developed an onboarding and orientation process, and successfully collaborated with all departments to create a 100% virtual onboarding for new hires.
- Coordinated employee benefits and served as the first point of contact for all benefits related inquiries.
- Developed 7+ recognition programs.
- Effectively coordinated 19 events and assisted the Marketing department with 10+ large-scale campaigns.
- Served as the first point of contact for all HR-related queries.
5. Make your HR education section shine with academic achievements
When it comes to listing your education, it’s a real plum to have a bachelor's degree in business, human resources, or a related field.
However, even if you have not received formal education in the field, you can still use your academic achievements, relevant coursework or areas of interests to make your resume shine.
Listing education in an HR resume
University of Europe
MA in Psychology
2010–2015
- Excelled in Diversity and Multiculturalism
- Thesis: Methods of Data Collection,
- Relevant Coursework: COgnitive Psychology, Statistics, Organizational Behavior, Motivation, Conflict Management and Negotiation
6. Include suitable extra sections in your human resources CV
Passions, activities, interests, learning experiences — you can leverage any of these to showcase your related competencies.
Having learned a foreign language, for instance, can perfectly convey your ability to communicate effectively.
Pick relevant additional sections that can convey your exceptional HR skills:
- Language skills
- Certifications
- Qualifications
- Volunteering activities
- Testimonials from employees
- Training
- Conference
- Awards
- Projects
- Accomplishments
- Interests
Listing additional sections in your HR resume
Volunteering Activities
- Member / Volunteer, Junior League of Colorado Springs, January 2019
- Board Secretary, Colorado Springs Society of Human Resource Management
Certificates
- Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR), HR Certification Institute, March 2019
- Veterans at Work Certificate, SHRM Foundation, May 2020
Language Skills
- French, B2 Certificate
- German, Fluent
7. Top resources for job-seeking human resources professionals
Having a top-notch resume is all well and good, but it's only useful if you find a job posting worth applying for. If you need some help with your job hunt, you can start with the following:
- Industry-specific job boards: The Internet is full of job boards that cater specifically to people working in HR. For example, try HR Jobs, PM Jobs, iHireHR, or HR Chief.
- General job boards: Job boards with broad focus, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and SimplyHired, are also great sources of work opportunities.
- HR agencies: You can also search through websites of HR agencies like Robert Half, HR Recruit, or Ashdown Group.
- Professional associations: Apart from offering job listings, associations like the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the European Association for People Management (EAPM), or the Australian HR Institute (AHRI), can give you access to networking opportunities, specialized publications, latest industry news, and training.
- LinkedIn: You can use LinkedIn’s job search feature to find HR roles tailored to your skills and experience. And, networking with other HR professionals on this platform can also uncover unadvertised opportunities.
- Continuous learning: If you want to enhance your knowledge (and employability), try enrolling in HR courses and certifications. Besides professional associations, online platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning are great for finding the course that fits your career goals.
Remember, that success in the HR field is not just about finding the right opportunity; it's also about continuous professional development, networking, and having a standout resume. And when it comes to your resume writing, you can start right now!
Human Resources Resume FAQ
What’s the ideal length of an HR resume?
The golden rule is: your resume should be one page long. But, at the end of the day, it's all about relevance. So, if you're an experienced professional with 10+ years of HR practice, your resume can span two pages. But no more!
How can I stand out from the competition?
Always personalize your resume! Each role requires different skills and experiences. So, you always have to tailor your resume to reflect these unique needs. Another way is by showcasing the results of your past work in measurable metrics. Use numbers when possible. For example: “Increased retention rates by 20%.”
What are common mistakes to avoid in an HR resume?
When it comes to troubleshooting, beware of these mistakes: Grammatical errors, typos, incomplete or misspelled contact information, NOT tailoring your resume to each job posting, presenting your past job description without naming your accomplishment and results.
What’s the best way to utilize keywords in my resume?
Strategically place essential keywords throughout different resume sections (resume summary, skills, education, and work experience). Go back to your job posting and find which keywords (single words or phrases) are suitable. This process will make your resume pass the ATS. But, be careful not to overstuff your resume.
What if I don’t meet every single job requirement?
Don't give up just yet! If you excel in most areas but are, for example, a bit less experienced in one or two aspects, you may still be a competitive candidate. You can use your cover letter to explain why you're a good fit overall, and show willingness to learn and adapt, as well as your enthusiasm and passion for the role.