Tips for Writing an Impactful HR Resume

Key takeaways

A well-written human resources resume highlights your skills and helps hiring managers envision how you could contribute to organizational success. 

• An impactful HR resume includes a summary statement or career objective, a list of your HR-specific skills, and information on your work experience, education, and certifications.

• Developing an HR resume can help you land an entry-level job, such as an HR assistant, HR representative, or HR administrator.

• You can incorporate relevant keywords, including those found in the job listing, into your resume to help navigate applicant tracking systems.

Learn more about how to develop your HR resume, including what sections to include and how to effectively use keywords. If you’re ready to build your skills, consider enrolling in the University of Minnesota’s Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization. You’ll have the chance to learn about the best practices for hiring and rewarding employees and managing employee performance in as little as two months. By the end, you’ll have developed in-depth knowledge that will benefit you in your HR career.

Careers and job titles for an HR resume

Human resources is a division of work that assists companies in adapting to the ever-evolving business climate. Positions often span many responsibilities, such as:

• Training

• Handling worker compensation

• Maintaining a healthy work environment

• Recruiting employees

When creating an HR resume, it is important to consider the careers and job titles you might want to apply for. 

What are some common entry-level HR roles?

Common entry-level jobs for this field include HR assistant, HR representative, and HR administrator. These positions focus on assisting managers and directors in managing business objectives and serve as learning experiences for the vast and diverse subdivisions of the HR department. 

How to write an HR resume 

While no exact formula ensures a perfect HR resume, following a few strategic guidelines and tips can help you stand out from other employees. Attention to detail and clarity are essential for a good HR resume. Accurately representing yourself and your abilities requires being as clear and precise as possible.

Additionally, it’s helpful to use bullet points and always mention your experience and skills relevant to the role. The following list explores a few essential sections to include in your resume. 

Contact section

It’s critical to have your personal contact information in your resume. Employers want to be able to reach you regarding a job position or opening. These details include your full name, location, phone number, and email address. The contact section of your resume is also an excellent place to put professional websites or social media profiles, such as LinkedIn. 

Summary statement or objective

A summary statement briefly describes who you are and why you might be a good candidate. It highlights your outstanding qualifications and introduces the remainder of your resume. When including a summary statement in your resume, it’s vital to give a brief professional background and detail your experience specifically related to your career objectives. 

A career objective lets your potential employer know more about your professional goals, which can help hiring managers decide if you’re a good fit for the job. When pursuing a career in HR, it may help to include details about the company you’re applying to. For example, if you enjoy building strong relationships with your employees, you could mention the company’s collaborative culture or status as a small- to medium-sized enterprise.

HR resume skills

This section is an excellent spot to showcase your specialized training and proficiencies. The HR resume skills section should include keywords like popular computer software and programs standard in the workplace. Keywords are specific words that describe your expertise and values, and should align with the particular job you are applying for. Other essential HR keywords include work culture-related skills, promoting your passion for HR objectives.

Work experience 

Presenting your professional or volunteer experience offers an opportunity to show hiring managers the difference you can make. Be sure to list relevant experience, accomplishments, and achievements that made an impact in these roles. For example, suppose you instituted a reskilling program in your previous or current job. You might note that you conducted a skills analysis and implemented a company-wide professional learning and development program that narrowed the existing skills gap by 75 percent. 

If you are new to the field and need to build your work experience, this is a good place to add any HR-related internships. It's essential to relate your experience to HR tasks and duties, such as organizational experience, interviewing, and relationship-building experience. 

Education and certification 

When considering applicants for an HR position, many companies expect to see a human resources bachelor’s degree in human resources or a similar area of study, such as finance, analytics, or communications.

Certifications are essential to add to an HR resume because they show dedication and professionalism to hiring managers, especially when these certifications showcase HR-related capabilities. Consider certifications such as:

• Associate Professional in Human Resources credential from the Human Resource Certification Institute

• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) designation from the Society for Human Resource Management

Understand keywords and applicant tracking systems 

Having relevant keywords in your resume is essential because many companies use applicant tracking systems or resume scanning tools to filter through applicant resumes with specific qualifications.

Tips for selecting impactful keywords 

When selecting impactful keywords, viewing job postings that interest you can be helpful. Many job listings include keywords in their description to showcase what they are looking for. Focus on skills that serve the HR world. Keywords may include:

• Employee orientation

• Employee retention

• Team building

• Benefits administration

• Professional development 

By focusing on keywords that relate to the management and development of a company, you can attempt to rank yourself higher than other applicants. 

HR resume examples and resources

Many HR resume examples and resources are available to assist you with the structure and content of your HR resume. Many informative articles on Coursera can help you understand the world of HR and create a dynamic, professional HR resume. Check out the following list as a starting point:

• What Is Human Resources (HR)? Description, Duties, and Jobs 

• How to Make a Resume: Resume Writing Guide

• 16 Resume Tips to Help You Land a Job

• How to Write a Resume With No Experience: 5 Helpful Steps

• How to List Education on a Resume: Examples, Tips, and Unique Scenarios

How to write a good HR resume: Bonus tips

In addition to incorporating keywords and suitable sections when creating an HR resume, it is also beneficial to prioritize visual appeal when applying for an HR job. Creating an organized and visually pleasing resume will help attract the attention of employers. It can also assist in drawing attention to certain essential elements of your resume, such as keywords and relevant experience. Being concise and direct will also help build a strong resume. Companies look at a multitude of resumes when filling a job position, so it is vital to be clear and straightforward when listing your accomplishments and qualifications. 

Read more: 10 HR Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Discover free resources for your HR career

Stay current with HR industry trends and gain helpful career tips by subscribing to Career Chat, our LinkedIn newsletter. You can also access these resources as you navigate your HR career:

• Enhance your resume: How to Actually Write Your Resume, Part One 

• Stay current with trends: GenAI for HR: Use Cases and Benefits 

• Watch on YouTube: Why Power BI Skills Are Essential for HR, Finance, and Business Intelligence

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