Best Human Resources (HR) Resume Examples for 2024

You know everything about the employment process. You've read through tons of resumes. But what about a human resources resume for yourself?

Impressing hiring managers can be tricky. But give me 7 minutes, and you'll learn how to write a job-winning HR resume. See great resume for Human Resources examples, and best templates. Read a guide that will make all the other HR specialists want to hire you for their team. 

This guide will show you:

• A Human Resource resume example better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write an  HR resume that gets more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a Human Resources manager resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for Human Resources to get any position you want.

Here's a sample resume for a Human Resources specialist made using our resume builder.

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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Want to focus on seeking out talent as good as you? Switch over to:

• Entry Level Human Resources Resume
• HR Assistant Resume
• HR Coordinator Resume
• HR Director Resume
• HR Generalist Resume
• HR Manager Resume
• HR Specialist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Recruiting Coordinator Resume
• Professional Resume Examples

Human Resurces Resume Example

1

Choose the Best Format for Your Human Resources Resume

The first step in creating your amazing Human Resources resume sample is formatting. That’s how you make it readable. That’s how you make the reader read through it fast and painlessly. And that’s pretty important, as your recruiter will look at your document for about 7 seconds.

So, how can you ace your HR resume sample from the very beginning?

• Divide your resume into categories and sections. Boost the readability of your entire Human Resources resume by creating the following structure:
  • Header (with your name, position, phone number, and e-mail address)
  • Human Resources Resume Summary Statement or Career Objective
  • Work Experience Section
  • Education Section HR Skills. The resume you write will pop with them!
  • Additional sections (your certifications you received, languages you speak, conferences you attended, etc.)
• Start with the best resume format for HR: reverse-chronological.
• Use simple, clear fonts for your resume. Make everything eye-friendly, with big headings and strategic white space.
• Choose a proper name for the resume. If you have any Human Resources experience, you know well that it's as important as a great format of your file!
• Show you understand the hiring process by saving your HR resume as a PDF. Human Resources resume PDFs preserve their structure. Other formats can look great on your machine, then take a sick day in transit.

Pro Tip: Modern PDFs are machine-readable. Still, some Applicant Tracking Systems trip on them. Check the job offer to make sure it won't reject an HR resume PDF.

You can interview other options for your HR resume format, too! See this guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]

There's a list of Human Resources resumes on your hiring manager's desk. At the top, it says, “Interview These Candidates.” Below are ten names. Yours is #1. That's exactly where your resume for HR jobs must take you.

You won't do it by listing every detail from your past. That would bore the executive into skipping your resume. Instead, you have to shine with your work experience. Here’s how you can describe it on your HR specialist resume:

• Tailor your resume to the job description. That’s how you demonstrate you’re the perfect fit for this very job.
• Mention your accomplishments, not your HR duties. This is precisely how you send a message that all your duties have been done excellently!
• Add some resume action words. That’s how you can easily demonstrate your achievements and experience.
• Quantify your achievements and experience, as it shows specifically what you’ve done for past employers.

Here's how that professional Human Resources manager resume job description might look:

Human Resources Resume Examples [Job Description]

Impressive. It doesn't just say, “Responsible for.” It says, “Very responsible.” And those numbers work well, as they show specific achievements.

It blows away the next Human Resources resume sample.

This example, on the other hand, seems like it was copied from the requirements for the candidate. So no good at all.

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, our professional resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

But what if you don't have tons of achievements and amazing experience to wow your recruiters with? There's a way you can still win that job! 

How to Write an Entry Level Human Resources Resume with No Experience

If you've never worked in HR, that doesn't mean you have zero Human Resources experience. This is true even if you only write a Human Resources internship resume.

Think about past non-HR jobs. Have you performed any administrative functions? Assisted with training and development? Facilitated recruitment or onboarding? Have you helped with the administration of benefits, leave, or compensation?

After all, what is Human Resources experience? It's handling all those duties. You can list them on an HR resume for freshers, even without the official title.

Check out these two Human Resources resume examples to see how it's done:

Not a lot of experience in HR per se, but still an impressive experience that can be transferred to the HR job you're after.

No HR experience and nothing that shows you'll do a great job, except the promise? That's not how you get an interview!

Wondering how to get Human Resource experience like the candidate from the first example? Work an admin job for a few months and take some HR responsibility.

Even a stint as an HR assistant or intern can move an HR resume into the winner's circle. Or try small projects like hiring temp staff for a local music festival.

Pro Tip: It's a lot easier to get a low-glamor job at a temp or staffing agency. They're not pretty, but you don't have to stay long. Plus, they'll get that “HR“ title on your resume.

Want your Human Resources resume to work overtime? See this guide: “How to Put Achievements on a Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples)”

According to the study, the employment rate for the candidates with a bachelor's or higher degree is higher than for those with lower education and it ecquals 86%. It's also higher for candidates with some years of college (75%) than for those who completed high school (68%) and those who had not completed it (53%). Make sure your recruiter knows exactly what's your education level!

Follow these resume tips and add your:

• College Name and Location
• Years in School
• Degree

But did you match your education bullet points to the HR job description? Check out these two functional HR resume samples:

Education on a Human Resources Resume

No questions asked, the reader knows exactly what school the candidate writes about. And those achievements make it stand out even more!

OK, so we know that this candidate attended Penn State. When? Was there a graduation already? Any achievements? It's all a mystery to us. So why bother wasting time on that during an interview, since we know that the first candidate is way more impressive already?

Pro Tip: Should you add your GPA to a resume for Human Resources? If it's impressive and/or recent, it's pertinent. Otherwise, leave it out.

Want your Human Resources resume education section to get attention like a bonus check? See our guide: “How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]”

Whether you're about to write an HR manager resume skills section or an HR specialist resume skills section, you need a specific set of skills that will make you a great candidate for the Human Resources team.

How to write a perfect Human Resources resume skills section?

• Create a master list of your key skills. Think about what skills you have. From those, you will later select what skills to put on a resume.
• Choose the most relevant skills for the opening. Have another look at the job ad and select those skills that can be mirrored in the previous sections. But—don't just pick the skills from the job offer or it might look like pandering. Add a few extra core competencies to your professional HR resume.
• Don't forget about both your soft skills and your hard skills. 

Now let's have a look at some skills you might want to consider adding to your HR resume sample:

Essential HR Resume Skills

• Emotional Intelligence
• Recruiting
• Affirmative Action
• Effective Communication
• Onboarding
• Benefits Administration
• Collaboration Skills
• Employee Relations
• Compliance
• Ethics
• Screening
• Data Analysis
• Decision-Making
• Scheduling
• Employee Engagement
• Organization Skills
• Social Media
• Evaluations
• Listening Skills
• HR Software (HRIS)
• Health Plans
• Problem-Solving
• Performance Management
• Job Description
• Compassion
• Background Checks
• FMLA
• Interpersonal Skills

You know what skills you might want to add. You know how to do it. Now let's have a look at these two HR resume examples:

That's a win. Put on your “I'm a perfectionist” t-shirt, because you're getting the job.

But don't use a skills list like this:

That applicant is barely treading water in the applicant pool.

It's time for the additional section of your Human Resources resume. And it's a great place to show anything that you think might boost your chances of landing that HR position you're after!

Let's see what can you list in the extra section of your resume for Human Resources:

Human Resources “Other” Sections on a Resume Examples

Additional Activities

• Volunteered to handle temp staffing for a local youth group.
• Assisted with interviewing event staff for an annual music festival.
• Offered consulting services to train a small nonprofit in performance reviews.

Certifications

• SHRM-CP HR Generalist Certification
• Yellow Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma
• Associate Professional in Human Resources™ (APHR™)
• Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®)
• Global Professional in Human Resources® (GPHR®)

Publications

• Article on employee engagement published in HR Bartender.
• Interviewed by the HR Capitalist podcast about recruiting techniques.

Conferences

• SHRM Conference 2017
• Northeast Shingo Prize Conference 2017

Accolades

• Received two commendations from employers.
• Voted best co-worker by employees at Maxiva, Inc.

Even if you're writing a Human Resources director, an additional section can work magic, as it shows you have some extra things that boost your value to the employer. And what boosts your value boosts your chances of getting hired!

Not sure what to put in the “other” sections on a resume for Human Resources? See our guide: “+20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)”

You know managers don't spend much time reading the average resume. A well-written summary of qualifications can stretch the brief glimpse at your document into a slow, careful read. 

Which is which?

• A resume summary shows this is not your first time herding cats. Use it if you've got lots of HR experience.
• A resume objective works if you're still halfway through HR for Dummies. Use it if you're just getting your feet wet.

They are both placed at the top of your human resources resume, but we encourage you to write them last. It's just easier, once you've got an entire resume written.

Let's see some examples of Human Resources summaries and objectives:

HR Resume Summary Example

That's not exactly grounds for a pink slip. But it doesn't warrant the interview, either. Why not? It's as generic as a name tag that says, “Person.”

But what if you're just breaking into HR? Do you have to start out in the mailroom?

Absolutely not.

How to Write an Entry-Level Resume Objective 

If you're new to Human Resources, have a look at these two entry-level Human Resources assistant resume samples.

Human Resources Resume Objective Example

 See those action words? And skills that make a great HR specialist? That's how you do it! But how did an entry-level resume for an HR manager get such impressive accomplishments? By thinking hard about past non-HR positions.

That's just a dull objective, and it tells you nothing about the candidate. So perhaps a hiring manager should move on with the resumes? 

Pro Tip: Resist the rookie mistake of trying to cram everything into your human resource resume objectives or summaries. One or two impressive facts is enough (you might even consider writing a resume headline, instead).

For more tips on how to write a great HR resume objective or resume summary, see these guides: How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See and +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them on Your Resume (Tips)

You don't ask yourself “Do I need a cover letter?” if you work in the HR. You might already know that 83% of recruiters claim having a good cover letter is a must.

Don't make a generic Human Resources cover letter. You know, the kind you'd hate to read.

Instead, make it a tantalizing sales pitch for your great resume for HR. Here's how:

• Format your cover letter properly and have it consistent with your resume template. That's how you get remembered, and that's how you show your attention to detail.
• Grab your reader's attention from the very first sentence of your cover letter. Show you are passionate, skilled and that you have some impressive achievements.
• Keep the right length of your cover letter. One page should do the trick.
• Write a perfect ending to your cover letter. Finishing with a “PS” and an additional achievement can work magic on all HR resumes. 

Pro Tip: Didn't hear back? Follow up on that Human Resources cover letter! The exec might have hired another candidate, but she might have just forgotten about your perfect HR resume.

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:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Need more tips to boost your HR cover letter's morale? See our guide: “How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]“

Even with good Human Resources resume templates in hand, making your own version is tough. To do it right, follow these strategies:

• Start with the job offer. Highlight all the HR duties, responsibilities, skills, and qualities you see.
• Prove you've got those HR superpowers in your resume bullet points. Show measurable evidence in your experience and education sections.
• Use “other” sections to fit you to the job like shrink wrap. Include awards, publications, conferences, and commendations.

Do you have questions on how to write a great resume for Human Resources? Not sure how to describe your skills or achievements on an entry-level HR resume? Give us a shout in the comments! We love to help!

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Sources

• https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=561
• https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/are-cover-letters-important-83-of-recruiters-say-yes