Human Resources (HR) Resume Examples to Inspire You
The first step to landing a job is creating a remarkable HR resume. So, we prepared several human resources examples. After all, you will have rough examiners: HR managers, HR coordinators, or even the HR director.
These HR resume examples and hints will help you ace your resume and land a job interview for your desired company.
HR Resume Examples that Win Job Interviews
After many years of going through resumes, I found that the most effective resumes are composed in the following structure:
- Contact information
- Academic background
- Profile Statement
- Relevant Skills
- Professional Experience
To help you build your champion HR resume, I will review each section with examples for inspiration. Let’s dive in:
Contact Information
The first component of your resume is no secret. You should include your contact information at the top of the page, emphasizing your name but making sure that this section doesn’t take up too much space.
You should include:
- full name
- current address
- phone number
- professional email
Example of the Contact Information Section:
Academic Background
The second section of your resume should highlight your education.
Most human resources jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, business administration, or a related field. Some intermediate and senior positions require a master’s degree.
I’ve seen a few people try to stand out in this section by adding coursework and projects they worked on in college. But keep it simple.
The reality is that recruiters want to know whether your human resources knowledge started with a solid foundation. You should include:
- Educational institution name
- Degree or program
- Field of study
- Years of completion
Wondering about the GPA?
It is a good idea to include it if you are applying for an entry-level position with a GPA higher than 3.5.
Example of the Academic Background Section:
Profile Statement
This section summarizes your strongest points for the job in a couple of sentences.
If you can convince the hiring manager that you are a good fit with the profile statement, there is a good chance that these seconds will be extended to a more careful read.
A great profile statement includes a mix of the following points:
- A concise description of your human resources work history.
Example: Human Resources manager and SHRM-CP with 4 years of experience in the technology industry.
- Results in the human resources industry backed by numbers.
Example: Increased employee retention rate at Front Inc. by 25% and decreased cost-per-hire by 17%.
- Proof that you understand what it takes to thrive in the role.
Example: Seeking to increase employee satisfaction and training engagement at Slack.
The idea is to make it easy for the recruiter to picture you succeeding in the position.
A good signal of proof is to get an HR certification for your resume. You can check out the HR Certifications we offer at HR.University.
Example of the Profile Statement Section:
Relevant Skills
The secret of this section is focusing on quality over quantity. Recruiters won’t go over a long list of skills, searching for the right ones.
To catch the recruiters’ eyes, you must list the most relevant skills for the job. The best way to do that is by looking at the job description and finding out what skills are necessary to succeed in the human resources position that you are applying for.
Some job postings include a “required skills” section, which helps you understand what particular qualifications to showcase on your human resources resume.
Once you find out what skills are crucial for the job, make sure to make them as specific as possible. For example, instead of adding “communication skills,” you can add “conflict management” as a skill.
Tailoring your skills to the job you are trying to land will help your resume stand out from the other candidates’.
Every human resources specialist needs a mix of soft skills and hard skills, with an emphasis in a specific area of HR. These are some skills necessary to thrive in most HR jobs in a variety of industries:
Soft Skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Conflict management
- Ability to have difficult conversations
- Leadership acumen
- Ethics acumen
- Organizational abilities
- Employee relations
- Decision-making
- Employee development
- Performance management
Hard Skills
- ATS and CRM software
- Online sourcing
- Salary administration
- HR Software (HRIS)
- Contract negotiations
- Talent acquisition
- Screening
- Scheduling
- Background Checks
- Affirmative action
- Benefits administration
- Compliance
- Data analysis
- Employee evaluations
- FMLA
Entry-level applicants tend to have more soft skills showcased on their resumes since they have not had the chance to learn many HR-related hard skills yet.
If you are applying for an upper-level position, you should explore the hard skills more in-depth.
Examples of the Skills Section:
The resume format above shows the expertise level for each skill, which helps the recruiter to understand how far your capabilities in each area go.
The resume sample below would suit an applicant for a human resources generalist position that focuses on compensation and benefits.
The last example below includes many soft skills that would be best for a human resources entry-level position.
Professional Experience
This is the most critical section of your resume.
If your profile statement and skills catch the hiring manager’s attention, they will want to look for proof.
And your professional experience is what will assure them that you can thrive in the role.
The key to mastering this resume section is to include concrete results or examples of how HR supports employees.
Saying “Managed training programs” differs from saying “Managed training programs that contributed to a 26% increase in employee retention rates.”
The second option not only shows that you are result-driven but also makes the recruiter want to hear more about how you accomplished that—which means securing an interview.
Another critical aspect to remember is to make this section relevant to the job you are applying for, just like you did in the skills section.
You don’t have to include all the responsibilities that you had in your previous jobs. Instead, only the meaningful ones should be added to the HR job at stake.
Each bullet point should increase the recruiters’ confidence that you are the right person for the job.
These are some of the job responsibilities that human resources recruiters will look for underneath your previous job titles:
- Developed training materials and improved employee performance by X %
- Managed staffing processes for X departments, from resume and cover letter screening to new hires onboarding
- Oversaw compliance with labor laws and employment laws
- Created a compensation strategy based on market research and surveys
- Investigated and managed employee conflicts and brought up solutions daily
- Provided project management support to organize employee engagement survey action planning, talent reviews, and manager capability development programs
- Generated data to base decisions, which led to a decrease in employee turnover rate by X %
- Managed paid leaves, employee visa sponsorship, terminations, accommodation requests, and other administrative HR programs
- Utilized the HRIS and other tools as necessary to provide, track, and maintain data
- Planned events and implemented programs that increased employee engagement by X %
- Conducted initial orientation to newly hired employees, which increased onboarding satisfaction by X %
Keep in mind that recruiters’ expectations of your previous experience vary depending on the HR department you’re applying to.
For example, suppose you are applying for an HR Assistant position in a recruiting human resources department. In that case, you won’t be expected to have years of experience developing training materials, planning events, and managing compensation. However, if you are applying for an HR Generalist or HR Manager position, you will be expected to have a background in managing HR processes.
Example of the Professional Experience Section:
Use These Human Resources Resume Examples to Win an Interview
If you want to build a successful career in human resource management, you must start by being a master resume builder.
Many resume templates are available online, but if you want to stand out, you must customize your HR resume to the position you are applying for. To impress your potential employer, make sure to follow these tactics:
- Find a few main keywords in the job posting and use them in your resume’s skills and experience sections.
- Use measurable results when describing your work experience.
- Organize your resume in reverse chronological order, listing the most recent and relevant facts first.
- Keep the composition simple and easy to read.
- Write a compelling human resources profile statement or resume objective
- Save your resume as a PDF to ensure its structure will remain the same on your recruiter’s computer.
These strategies will put you ahead in the resume-building game.
Good luck!
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about human resources resume examples:
What are the key components to include in a human resources resume?
When crafting a human resources resume, it’s essential to highlight your experience within HR departments. This includes detailing your roles in various HR functions, such as recruitment, employee relations, and HR support for employees. Mentioning specific accomplishments, such as enhancing employee assistance programs or leading a project as part of an HR team, can showcase your impact on HR management. Additionally, including any leadership roles, like your experience as a chief human resources officer, can demonstrate your readiness for senior positions.
How can I tailor my resume for a position in the HR department?
To tailor your resume for a role in the HR department, first research the job’s specific requirements. Emphasize your experience in relevant HR departments and align your skills with the organization’s needs. Highlight any HR support roles you’ve held, detailing how you’ve contributed to employee assistance programs or streamlined HR processes. Using keywords from the job description, such as HR professionals or HR management, will help your resume stand out to hiring managers and applicant tracking systems.
What skills are most valued in HR professionals?
HR professionals are valued for their strong communication and interpersonal skills, which are crucial for effectively managing relationships within the HR department. Additionally, expertise in HR management and conflict resolution and knowledge of employee assistance programs are highly regarded. Technical skills, such as proficiency in HR software and data analysis, can further enhance your appeal. Including these skills on your resume, mainly those relevant to specific HR roles, can make a significant difference in capturing the attention of recruiters.
How important is it to include certifications on an HR resume?
Including certifications on your HR resume enhances your credibility as a candidate. Credentials such as HR.University or SHRM-CP demonstrates a commitment to professional development and a solid understanding of HR practices. For HR departments looking for qualified HR professionals, these certifications provide reassurance of your knowledge and skills. Moreover, if you aspire to positions like chief human resources officer, showcasing advanced certifications can help distinguish you from other candidates and position you as a leader in HR management.
Should I include volunteer experience related to HR on my resume?
Including HR-related volunteer experience on your resume can be a valuable addition, especially if you’re early in your career or looking to pivot into HR roles. Volunteer work that involves HR support for employees or organizing employee assistance programs demonstrates your commitment to the field and showcases relevant skills. Make sure to describe your responsibilities and any accomplishments that reflect your understanding of HR practices. This can help strengthen your candidacy and provide evidence of your dedication to human resources, even if it was outside a formal employment context.
If you are new to Human Resources and are looking to break into a HR role, we recommend taking our HR Certification Courses, where you will learn how to build your skillset in human resources, build your human resources network, craft a great HR resume, and create a successful job search strategy.
