HR Business Partner Resume: Samples, Summary & Skills

If being an HRBP is like a game of chess, taking care of your resume is the first step in setting up the game board.

Do it wrong, and the recruiter will get an unfair advantage. Do it right, and you’ll be in pole position to win it all.

In a moment, I’ll show you how to get your HR business partner resume polished and ready to get recruiters excited.

This guide will show you: 

• An HR business partner resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write an HR business partner resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on an HR business partner resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for an HR business partner to get any job you want.

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Interested in other human resources jobs? Take a look at some of these:

• Human Resources Resume Examples
• Recruiter Resume Examples
• HR Director Resume Examples
• HR Manager Resume Examples
• HR Coordinator Resume Examples
• Recruiting Coordinator Resume Examples
• HR Generalist Resume Examples
• HR Assistant Resume Examples
• Entry Level Human Resources Resume Examples
• Resume Examples for All Jobs

Sample HR Business Partner Resume

Now, let’s check out how you can write your own HR business partner resume:

1. Begin by Choosing the Right HR Business Partner Resume Format

HR business partners work with company leadership to align HR strategies with the organization’s goals. They identify HR needs and opportunities, analyze data, and develop and implement HR policies. A good HRBP resume shows experience in such areas and the ability to select the right HR initiatives.

The biggest mistake you can make as an HRBP is failing to understand the business you want to support.

The first assignment to take care of is your HRBP resume. In case you’re not aware of what a resume should look like, here are some tips:

• Include your contact information in the resume header.
• Choose a suitable layout for your resume, such as the reverse-chronological format, which highlights your most relevant skills and experience.
• Organize your resume into separate sections, highlighting different aspects of your background and skills.
• Ensure that your resume is well-designed, with an easy-to-read resume font and ample white space for clarity and readability.
• Save your resume in PDF to avoid any compatibility issues.

Pro Tip: Consider the length of your resume. HR Business Partners should aim for a one-page resume unless you have extensive experience, in which case a two-page resume may be acceptable.

2. Write an HR Business Partner Resume Summary or Objective

Recruiters will be keen on learning about your experience.

But—

Arguably, even more importantly, you must display it correctly.

Do that through a resume profile. Its primary purpose is two-fold:

1. Present your years of experience in a fast and convincing manner.
2. Provide an attention-grabbing breakdown that effectively summarizes your strengths and achievements.

HR specialists and recruiters don’t read resumes in full.

So, by putting your resume introduction at the top, you make their lives way easier, increasing your chances of getting into the later stages of recruitment.

Craft a resume summary if you have 2 or more years of experience in this role. Give them a highlight reel of your brightest achievements, and use solid and positive adjectives to describe yourself.

If you’re still climbing the ladder or have only assumed more junior HR positions, the resume objective is your best friend. Mention your ambition to keep growing alongside the company, and posit any transferable skills to help you align their strategies as their newest HRBP.

Pro Tip: Some people find it easier to write this section last, so feel free to focus on the other parts of your resume first.

3. Describe Your Work Experience as an HR Business Partner

A well-crafted work experience section is crucial for securing any HR role.

While an excellent HRBP can increase employee retention, companies need someone who can align their business objectives with their management and employee strategies, and you need to show that ability.

Here’s how you can do that in your work experience section:

• Start with your most recent role and work backwards in time from there.
• Include your previous job titles and the name and location of each company you worked for.
• Tailor your descriptions to demonstrate your experience in addressing challenges similar to those faced by the company you are applying to.
• Write 4-6 resume bullet points that describe your relevant experience, starting each description with action verbs to emphasize your impact.
• Employee engagement is a crucial metric for HR business partners, so mention some related accomplishments.

Pro Tip: Be specific with your job titles. If the job advertisement specifies a concrete role, such as “Senior HR Manager” or “HR Business Partner”, ensure your job title reflects that on your resume.

4. Polish the Education Section on Your HR Business Partner Resume

For an HR business partner role, your employer typically requires a bachelor's degree in a related field.

So, the education section is unskippable, even if it won’t ever be the brightest-shining gem on any resume.

Stating only the basic information like graduation date, school name, and degree is acceptable for senior HRBPs. Think 5+ years in the role.

But, to improve your resume as a more junior HRBP, you’ll want to add some extra puzzle pieces to paint a more coherent picture here:

• Relevant coursework
• Your GPA
• Academic scholarships
• Club memberships
• Extracurricular activities
• Honors on your degree

Read more: Listing Minors and Majors on a Resume: How-To Guide with Examples

Creating a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide and use content from Certified Professional Resume Writers to have a resume ready in minutes.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

5. Include the Right HR Business Partner Skills on Your Resume

If you're an HR Business Partner rockstar, you're well-versed in quickly navigating complex HR issues.

But have you thought about how to bring that up on your resume?

It isn’t as simple as typing “HRBP skills” into Google and gleefully copy-pasting what you *think* the correct answers are.

Do this instead:

• Create a comprehensive list of your soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills.
• Check the company's job description and website for resume keywords to better understand the skills they value most.
• Select 5 to 10 relevant skills that you have to list on your resume.

Below is a list of relevant skills for any HRBP:

Best HR Business Partner Skills for a Resume

• Emotional Intelligence
• ATS Tools
• HRIS Software (Oracle HCM, Workday, ADP Workforce Now)
• LMS Platforms
• Communication Skills
• Conflict Resolution
• Recruitment
• Onboarding
• Performance Management
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Labor Relations
• Employee Benefits & Compensation
• Talent Acquisition
• HR Analytics
• Compliance & Regulations
• Employee Engagement
• Leadership Development
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management
• Organizational Design
• Project Management
• Coaching & Mentoring

Pro Tip: New York has the highest demand for HR business partners, so consider relocation to boost your career prospects.

6. Include Additional Sections on Your HR Business Partner Resume

Imagine applying to work for Airbus or Capgemini and being the only candidate who can speak fluent French. That's the kind of difference-maker you want to be.

Language skills can often come through to save the day on a resume, but they’re not the only potential ace up your sleeve.

These could also include:

• Certifications and licenses you hold
• Volunteer work you've participated in
• Additional activities outside of work
• Special projects you've led
• Awards obtained for HR excellence

These extra touches could easily make you stand out like an HR pro.

But stay focused and avoid big resume blunders, like those in our article What Should Not Be Included in a Resume? [15+ Things].

7. Write a Cover Letter to Include With Your HR Business Partner Resume

A cover letter is definitely in your future.

Recruiters will not give your resume a second of their time if no cover letter is attached.

Reconsidering your options? Good.

Here’s how to write a cover letter for an HRBP job:

• Find out to whom you’re going to be sending the application. Do it by Googling or even getting in touch directly.
• Once you have the name, use it when addressing your cover letter.
• Captivate your audience with an illustrious cover letter opening. You want to come out swinging, so aside from mentioning how you found out about the opening, cleverly link it to a strength of yours.
• Emphasize what you would be bringing to the table instead of focusing on what you want to get on your end.
• A proper cover letter ending would involve setting expectations high with an exciting call to action and a suggested interview date.

Read more: How to Sell Yourself on a Cover Letter

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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What did you think of my HR business partner resume sample and guide? You may have some of your tips to share. Be sure to comment and let me know if I missed anything!

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Sources

• Zippia, "Human resources business partner demographics"
• University of California, Berkeley, "Transferable skills library: Conflict management"