How to Write an HR Executive Resume
Are you looking for HR executive jobs? Have you created a perfect resume for landing your dream HR executive job?
Suppose you want a well-paid HR executive job that offers job satisfaction and career growth potential. In that case, you need to have an expertly written resume that demonstrates your value to employers. Even if you focus on your proficiency in HR functions, employee relations, or the hiring process, it might not be enough to get your resume noticed by the employers.
But what’s wrong?
Because writing an HR executive resume is a challenging task that requires in-depth knowledge of the HR field and excellent writing skills.
No matter how much experience you have, you need to figure out the right way to create your resume to grab the attention of employers and get them to call you for an interview. To write an impressive HR executive resume, you need to learn about the best approaches to resume writing and follow some essential tips. HR executive resume guides can be really helpful in this case.
This article constitutes the best practices and examples for writing a professional HR executive resume. You can create an outstanding resume with the help of this guide. Here are the things that we are going to cover in this article:
- What skills and competencies do you need to add to your resume
- How to write your experience to make it look more impactful
- Tips for writing a perfect HR executive resume
How to Write an HR Executive Resume?
When you begin writing your HR executive resume, keep in mind to state everything clearly. Write each sentence concisely without any ambiguity. Like you write a job description, resume writing also requires you to be precise and brief.
Your resume must be error-free. Grammatical mistakes and punctuation errors can cause your resume to be rejected by employers. A resume enables employers to learn about your qualifications and experiences, but it will not create a good first impression if it has any typos or errors.
To make your resume effective, you need to know the expectations of employers. They have no interest in learning about your hobbies or your journey to reach where you are now. They want to know about your professional experiences and skills to help them in their business.
Many candidates waste their time and resume space by including the following things in their HR executive resume:
- Solving complicated issues in the workplace
- Coordinating with different departments
- Working with employees
- Coordinating with business leaders
- Conducting performance reviews
- Excellent communication skills
They make your resume dull and unprofessional as they are either irrelevant or too general, as almost every candidate has included them on their resume. To make a difference, you need to be specific.
If your resume has nothing special to offer, hiring managers will not bother to read it thoroughly. It would be nothing but a piece of trash that would end up in the bin.
So, what do you need to do to make your resume enticing? Here are some unique aspects that you can add to your resume:
- Understanding of human resources management
- Knowledge of employee recruitment process
- Knowledge of talent acquisition
- Expertise in formulating HR policies
- Designing training programs
- Experience in using different HR software
- Expertise in conducting performance reviews
- Familiarity with various employee engagement programs
- Success in reducing employee turnover
- Administering employee compensation and benefits
- Expertise in creating and implementing new HR policies
When creating your resume, focus on highlighting your unique strengths and competencies that can benefit the employer’s company.
What is The Best HR Executive Resume Format?
While you focus on other aspects of your resume, you shouldn’t overlook the resume format. The resume format is as important as the resume itself.
Your resume must be appealing and eye-friendly. If it’s not, employers will not bother to read it. The format you choose will determine how a hiring manager will perceive your resume. Following are the three popular formats that you can utilize to make a difference in your resume:
Reverse Chronological Resume
It is the most common and widely used resume format. You need to write your recent experiences first in this format, followed by the older ones. This format is suitable for candidates with a steady work history.
Functional Resume
This format is also known as a skill-based resume. In this format, you focus on your skills and competencies rather than your work history. It is an excellent format for candidates with gaps in their employment history. This format is also an outstanding choice if you lack enough experience or have just started your career.
Combination Resume
As the name suggests, this format is a combination of both chronological and functional resumes. In this format, you can write your work history as well as your skills and accomplishments. It is an excellent format for candidates who have a steady work history.
ATS Compliance
Sorting hundreds of resumes is a time-consuming task for hiring managers. To make this work more accessible, many companies employ (ATS) Applicant Tracking Systems. This software scans resumes and selects those that contain certain keywords.
To make your resume ATS-friendly, you need to include the right keywords. The best way to find the right keywords is to look at the job description and figure out the required skills and qualifications. Include these keywords in your resume to make it ATS-compliant. Adding relevant keywords like human resources, benefits administration, employee development, personnel records, and performance management can boost your resume.
What Sections Should You Include in Your HR Executive Resume?
Adding sections to your resume can make it look more impressive and professional. The following sections will enhance the overall look of your resume:
HR Executive Professional Header
This section comprises your full name, professional title, contact information, location, and email address.
While writing location, don’t add your house number or street address. You only need to write your city and country on your resume.
Adding links to your social media profiles is also a great idea.
HR Executive Professional Work History
It is where you can make a difference and stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Write your work history in reverse chronology. Start with your recent experiences and make your way back. It will help the hiring manager understand your growth over the years.
Include the company’s name, your job title, and dates of employment in this section. Mention your key responsibilities and accomplishments under each job title. You can add them in bullet points to make it easy for the hiring manager to go through the resume.
When writing about your work history, you don’t need to mention your entire career journey. Only include the relevant experiences to the job you are applying for.
For example, if you are applying for an HR executive position, you don’t need to mention your experience as a cashier ten years ago.
Mentioning irrelevant experience will only make your resume look cluttered and confusing. It could be a negative point against you, and the hiring manager might not even bother reading your resume.
You need to list down your recent work. If your recent job is not relevant to the position you are applying for, leave it out.
Only mention your experiences from the last 5 to 10 years. Anything beyond that is not necessary. You must focus on the following things while writing this section:
- Write your designation
- What were your achievements in that role?
- When did you join and leave the company?
- What were your key responsibilities?
- Do you have working experience in the area you are applying for?
Accurately mentioning these things can increase your chances of getting a phone call from the recruiters. The last one is of utmost importance as it will show the hiring managers that you have experience in the field and are a good fit for the job.
Here is the way to write your experience:
Junior HR Executive Resume Experience Examples
Junior HR professionals usually lack experience. You might have started your career one or two years back, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have anything to write on your resume.
If you are a junior HR executive and don’t have much experience to write about, don’t worry. You can still make your resume look impressive by including your internships, volunteer work, and coursework.
You can also include the projects you have worked on and the accomplishments you have made in your previous roles. Highlight your skills and qualifications relevant to the job.
Here are a few things that you can add to your work history to grab the attention of the employers:
- Conflicts you have resolved
- Policy changes you have implemented
- Onboarding processes you have streamlined
- Recruitment drives you have conducted
- Training programs you have organized
- Software and tools you have used for human resource management
Hiring managers are always looking for human resource professionals who can make a difference in a short duration. Adding your accomplishments also shows them that you are eager to move forward and face new challenges.
Senior HR Executive Resume Experience Examples
Senior HR executives have years of experience in the human resource field. They have worked their way up to higher posts and have gained a lot of knowledge and expertise over the years.
Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while writing your experience as a senior HR executive:
- Don’t list down all your accomplishments
- Keep the work history relevant to the job post you are applying for
- Make it ATS compliant by adding relevant keywords to your resume from the job description
When writing your experience as a senior HR executive, you need to focus on your significant accomplishments and the projects you have completed. Don’t put all your work history on the resume.
Writing your entire work history will take up a lot of space on the resume and make it look boring. Mention only your recent experience that can help the employers learn how you can add value to their organization.
Alter your resume and cover letter for each job to make it look relevant. You can add the following things to your resume to make it more appealing:
- How have you helped the organization achieve its goals?
- What are the changes you have made in the company’s recruitment process?
- What new policies have you introduced in the organization?
- Impact of your policies on the overall performance of the company
- What training programs have you organized for the employees?
- Your competency in business administration
- How you have streamlined HR operations
Listing HR Executive Resume Skills
No matter how much experience you have, you can’t get the job if your resume doesn’t reflect the required skills for the position.
When listing your skills on a resume, don’t just add the skills you think are important. Read the job description carefully and look for the required skills for the job post.
Focus on technical skills as well as soft skills to make your resume look well-rounded. Here is a list of some vital skills that employers often look for in an HR executive resume:
- Performance management
- Employee relations management
- Talent management
- Compensation and benefits
- Policy implementation
- Recruitment
- Onboarding
- Training and development
- Communication
Listing HR Executive Education
Your qualification is another vital factor that can help you get the job. Employers often prefer candidates who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in human resource management, finance, business administration, or related fields
Add your complete educational details to the resume. Don’t forget to include the name of the institute and the year of passing. If you have a degree not related to the job, you can leave it out.
For example, if you have a bachelor’s degree in English literature and you are applying for an HR executive job, there’s no need to mention your degree in the resume.
Write about a degree or coursework that can help you in the job. For example, if you are applying for an HR executive job that requires knowledge of payroll and benefits, Writing about a degree in business administration can increase your chances of getting a job.
Listing HR Executive Certifications
HR certifications are an excellent way to showcase your skills and expertise. If you have any HR certification, don’t forget to add it to your resume.
Hiring managers often prefer candidates who have HR certifications from well-renowned institutes. Certificates show the employers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge for the job. It also shows that you are committed to your work and are always looking forward to upgrading your knowledge.
If you don’t have a certificate, you can get one. A plethora of HR certifications are available, so choose the one that can assist you in getting the job you want. Here are some popular HR certifications that are often required for an HR executive position:
- SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
- SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)
- Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
- Certificate Human Resource Management by The York University
- Human Resources Certification Program by The Cornell University
Listing HR Executive Achievements
Your achievement is a vital factor that sets you apart from other candidates. This section allows you to showcase your successes and accomplishments. You can show the employers what impact you have made in your previous roles.
Your accomplishments and successes show the employers that you are an asset to the company. It also helps them understand how you can benefit their company.
When writing about your achievements, use numbers and data to back up your claims. Adding figures and data make your claims more credible.
Here are some examples of achievements that you can include in your resume:
- Successfully reduced employee turnover by 25%.
- Implemented a new performance management system that improved employee productivity by 10%.
- Recruited 100 new employees.
- Developed and implemented a new training program that increased employee satisfaction by 15%.
Listing Languages
Most recruiters want you to be adept in only English, but if you know more than one language, don’t forget to add it to your resume.
Proficiency in more than one language is an asset for HR executives. A candidate who is adept in multiple languages can better communicate with employees from different cultural backgrounds.
Your linguistic skills can help you build better relationships with employees and improve communication within the company. It also shows that a human resources professional can better convey the new company policies, business strategies, and HR initiatives to employees.
When listing languages on your resume, mention the level of proficiency. List languages that you truly know. Do not list languages that you have just started learning.
HR Executive Resume Example
Writing an HR executive resume from the beginning is a daunting task for most job seekers. You need to consider various aspects, including the format, the quality of content, and relevant keywords.
To help you write an outstanding resume, here is an HR executive resume example that you can use as a template.
Avoid using lengthy paragraphs to describe your work experience. Use bullet points to highlight your key responsibilities and accomplishments. Don’t waste your time writing about your hobbies and interests. Stick to the relevant skills and expertise that can help an organization.
HR Executive Job Application Experience
You may have created a stunning HR executive resume and applied for multiple jobs but get not a single call.
“Is there any problem with my resume?” You may wonder.
It is a common situation, and numerous candidates face the same problem. Regardless of how excellent your degree is, how many certificates you have, how many skills you possess, and how good your experience is, you will not get an interview call if your resume doesn’t meet the job requirements.
A single resume is not enough to apply for all the jobs you come across. You need to change your resume according to the requirements of each job application.
Tailoring your resume means changing the content and format of your resume to match the job requirements. This way, you can highlight the relevant skills and experience that the employers are looking for.
When applying for a job, take the time to read the job description and requirements carefully. Ensure that your resume contains all the necessary information that the employer is looking for.
Suppose you have created 20 resumes for 20 different job posts as HR executives.
- 12 employers might reject your resume.
- 8 employers choose you for the first-round interview.
- 3 employers invite you to the final-round interview.
- 1 employer offers you the job.
Job hunting is a numbers game. The more job applications you submit, the higher your chances of getting hired. So, don’t get discouraged if you don’t get a call from the first few employers. Customize your resume for new jobs and keep applying, and you will eventually find the right job for you.
How Many Pages Should Your HR Executive Resume Be?
Your HR executive resume must be concise and to the point. A lengthy resume will only bore the recruiters, and they might not even read it till the end.
An ideal resume should be 1 to 2 pages long. If you have more than 10 years of work experience, your resume can be two pages long. If you have less work experience, your resume should be 1 page long.
Employers sorting through hundreds of resumes don’t have enough time to read a lengthy resume. Keep your resume concise and straightforward to assist the employer’s shortlisting process.
Where Can You Apply with Your HR Executive Resume?
Once you have written your resume, the next step is to find job openings that match your qualifications. You can apply at several places, including online job boards, company websites, and job fairs. You can go for staffing agencies that deal with HR positions.
Following are some popular sites for job seekers:
Following are some tips to help you write an outstanding HR executive resume:
Write a unique cover letter for each job post
Each job has unique requirements, and employers are looking for candidates who can meet those requirements. So, don’t just copy and paste your old cover letter. Write a new cover letter that is tailored to each job.
Proofread your resume before submission
Use spell check and grammar check to avoid any mistakes in your resume. Even a single mistake can cost you your dream job. Make sure that your resume is error-free before you submit it. Get someone else to review your resume as well.
Update your resume for each job post
Keep your resume updated with your latest qualifications, work experience, and skills. You can apply for jobs with confidence, knowing that your resume contains all the relevant information.
Use bullet points and short sentences
Use bullet points and short sentences to make your resume easy to read. This way, the recruiters can quickly scan through your resume and extract vital information.
Keep your resume simple and professional
Avoid using fancy fonts and images in your resume. Stick to a simple and professional layout. Use a font that is easy to read and leave enough white space on the page.
HR Specialist Resume Don’ts
Following are the things you should avoid doing in your HR executive resume:
Using a generic resume
Avoid using a single resume for every job application. As mentioned earlier, each job is unique, and you need to customize your resume to match the job requirements.
Adding unnecessary information to your resume
Your personal information is a vital part of your resume, but there is no need to include every detail. Including unnecessary information, like your age, marital status, or hobbies, will only take up valuable space on your resume.
Including your picture
In most cases, it is not necessary to include your picture in your resume. Most employers consider it unprofessional. Don’t add your picture to your resume until the employer asks for it.
Making your resume too long
As mentioned earlier, your resume should be 1 to 2 pages long. If it is lengthy, the recruiters might not even read it until the end. So, keep everything simple and concise.
Including false information in your resume
Never include false information in your resume. Employers will verify the information you have included in your resume and find out if you have lied about your skills or experience. So add only accurate information to your resume.
Takeaways and Conclusions
In this article, we have gone through the important features of an HR executive resume and tips to write an outstanding resume. Following are the key points of our discussion:
- Keep everything concise and relevant
- Make sure to add recent experience
- Update your resume regularly
- Proofread your resume before submission
Though creating a resume is a puzzling task, you can create a stunning resume once you get the hang of it.
With these tips, you can create an HR executive resume to help you land your dream job. So keep this guide in your mind and start writing your resume.
If you are new to Human Resources and are looking to break into an 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 an excellent HR resume, and create a successful job search strategy.
