Human Resources Resume Template Example

Your human resources (HR) resume should demonstrate past success with all facets of employee engagement. No matter the industry, potential employers must be confident you can help them maintain a positive workplace culture. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide expert tips to help you write a resume that translates your ability to bridge the gap between employees and management.

How To Write a Human Resources Resume

Make the resume writing process a little easier by using a professional premade template. Your HR resume should include these sections:

  • Contact information
  • Profile
  • Key skills
  • Professional experience
  • Education and certifications

Contact information

Make it easy for potential employers to contact you for interviews, follow-up questions, or job offers by placing your contact information at the top of your resume. List your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile.

Example

Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio

Profile

The goal of a resume profile is to immediately establish credibility with potential employers. It should provide a snapshot of your HR career so far and what exactly makes you qualified for the job. Start with your job title and years of experience, then touch on any industry expertise you may have that aligns with the organization’s HR needs.

Example

Results-driven and Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)-certified HR professional with more than eight years of experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, and HR strategy development. Proven track record of implementing HR best practices to drive organizational growth and employee satisfaction. Adept at fostering a positive work culture and facilitating talent development.

Key skills

As someone familiar with the hiring process, you know potential employers are looking for candidates who meet specific skill criteria. Creating a section to highlight these abilities will show that you have the necessary skills to ensure a well-functioning workforce. As you put together the list of your key skills, align it with the requirements of each HR role you apply for.

Common hard and soft skills for human resources professionals

Hard Skills Soft Skills
Benefits administration Active listening
Compensation analysis Communication
Employee onboarding Conflict resolution
Labor relations Cultural sensitivity
Legal compliance Decision-making
Payroll processing Emotional intelligence
Performance management Empathy
Talent acquisition Leadership
Training and development Negotiation
Workplace investigations Teamwork

Resume writer’s tip: Use strong action verbs

Action verbs convey a sense of proactivity, showing potential employers you can take the initiative. Instead of simply telling what you did, these powerful words convey the results you achieved and how you actively contributed to the team. Consider using the verbs below to start each bullet point within the professional experience section of your HR resume:

Action Verbs
Advised Conducted
Coordinated Developed
Directed Implemented
Mediated Monitored
Negotiated Planned
Resolved Streamlined
Trained Updated
Utilized  

Professional experience

The professional experience section of your resume should provide a comprehensive overview of your previous roles. Detail past responsibilities and show you can collaborate with cross-functional teams to support company objectives. If you’ve participated in HR projects or achieved impressive results, explain your involvement and use numbers to give value to outcomes.

Example

HR Manager, Infusion Solutions, Baltimore, MD
January 2021 – present

  • Develop, implement, and enforce HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations
  • Manage all aspects of recruitment, hiring, and onboarding across multiple offices
  • Trained six managers in the last three years on performance management techniques to improve employee productivity
  • Resolved 18 employee relations issues in 2023
  • Oversee and recommend changes to employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and leave policies
  • Achieved a 20% reduction in time-to-hire by implementing streamlined recruitment processes

HR Generalist, Visser Technical Center, Baltimore, MD
October 2015 – December 2020

  • Collaborated with the HR team to ensure uniform interpretation and application of policies and procedures
  • Managed and maintained at least 2,000 physical and digital employee records
  • Supported the onboarding process for new employees, including paperwork and E-Verify authorization tracking
  • Organized and executed 12 employee events, staying well within budget
  • Generated weekly and monthly employee reports, facilitating data-driven decision-making
  • Achieved a 98% accuracy rate in Systems Applications and Products (SAP) data entry for maintenance, new hires, terminations, and salary changes

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

In a competitive job market, quantifying your professional experience section helps you stand out. Using numbers to describe your achievements allows employers to compare your performance with their expectations. For example, if they’re seeking an HR professional who can reduce recruitment costs, seeing an example where you did that in the past makes a stronger case for your candidacy.

Do
  • “Resolved 18 employee relations issues in 2023.”
Don’t
  • “Overseeing and managing various employee problems and conflicts within the organization.”

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

The job outlook for HR specialists and managers is bright, with a faster-than-average growth rate predicted for the next 10 years. Although demand will be on the rise, competition will be tight for the most lucrative HR positions. The best approach is to tailor your resume to directly relate to the specific job, making it easier for the hiring manager to see your suitability for the role.

To tailor your resume, read the job description to identify exact requirements. Highlight the key skills, qualifications, and specific HR responsibilities mentioned in the job posting. Familiarize yourself with the company’s culture, values, and mission. Then, align your resume accordingly, including keywords throughout each section.

What if you don’t have experience?

While you may not have direct HR experience, your resume can still convey an enthusiasm for the field. Focus on demonstrating your potential as an entry-level HR professional, leveraging transferable skills and related experiences. Hiring managers will value abilities like communication, leadership, attention to detail, and organization. Include any part-time jobs, internships, or volunteer work where you developed these skills.

If you’ve earned a degree or taken coursework relevant to HR management, you can use this to your advantage. Mention any class projects that involved related topics or tasks. Explain your role and contributions to these projects, emphasizing your practical understanding of HR concepts.

Education and certifications

For most HR roles, a bachelor’s degree is the typical requirement. Specify your degree, major, university name, and graduation date. You can also mention workshops, seminars, or conferences you’ve attended to stay updated on HR trends and best practices. If you’ve pursued certifications from reputable organizations like SHRM, be sure to include them as well.

Example

Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Business Administration, September 2011 – May 2015
Towson University, Towson, MD

Certifications

  • Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), WorldatWork, 2022
  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), SHRM, 2019

Human Resources Resume Template Text Example

Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio

Profile

Results-driven and SHRM-certified HR professional with over eight years of experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, and HR strategy development. Proven track record of implementing HR best practices to drive organizational growth and employee satisfaction. Adept at fostering a positive work culture and facilitating talent development.

Key Skills

  • Freshteam applicant tracking systems (ATS)
  • Negotiation
  • Payroll processing
  • Talent acquisition
  • Team building

Professional Experience

HR Manager, Infusion Solutions, Baltimore, MD
January 2021 – present

  • Develop, implement, and enforce HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations
  • Manage all aspects of recruitment, hiring, and onboarding across multiple offices
  • Trained six managers in the last three years on performance management techniques to improve employee productivity
  • Resolved 18 employee relations issues in 2023
  • Oversee and recommend changes to employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and leave policies
  • Achieved a 20% reduction in time-to-hire by implementing streamlined recruitment processes

HR Generalist, Visser Technical Center, Baltimore, MD
October 2015 – December 2020

  • Collaborated with the HR team to ensure uniform interpretation and application of policies and procedures
  • Managed and maintained at least 2,000 physical and digital employee records
  • Supported the onboarding process for new employees, including paperwork and E-Verify authorization tracking
  • Organized and executed 12 employee events, staying well within budget
  • Generated weekly and monthly employee reports, facilitating data-driven decision-making
  • Achieved a 98% accuracy rate in SAP data entry for maintenance, new hires, terminations, and salary changes

Education

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Business Administration, September 2011 – May 2015
Towson University, Towson, MD

Certifications

  • Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), WorldatWork, 2022
  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), SHRM, 2019
Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.

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