Human Resources Resume: Examples, Templates & Tips

Your resume header contains your contact information, which is critical in the job search. After all, a recruiter can’t invite you to interview if they can’t reach you!

Here’s what belongs in this section:

Every resume should start with either a professional summary or a resume objective.

For job seekers with relevant work experience, a professional summary is the way to go.

It’s all about highlighting those crucial skills needed for the job and showcasing your most impressive professional achievements. Incorporate data and metrics into your professional summary to show off what you can bring to the table if you land the gig.

If you’ve recently graduated or don’t have much work experience, there is another option: a resume objective statement.

A resume objective is a short introduction, usually two to three sentences long, that allows you to tell recruiters what skills and training you bring to the table and why you’re excited to work for them. It’s an excellent way to make a great first impression, even if you’re just starting out in the field.

Skills are important for every job. Finding the right combination of skills is critical since HR roles require a unique combination of hard and soft skills to be successful. Smart applicants know to focus on their training and technical skills but also to emphasize their soft skills, which are the personality traits that make a person great at their job — critical in a people-centric role like HR.

Whether you’re an experienced human resources representative or an entry-level applicant, hiring managers will be looking closely at the human resources skills on your resume. These should be added to your resume skills section, for sure, but also to your work experience section, and in your resume objective or professional summary to really pack a punch.

Pro tip

When writing your skills section, adding computer skills and other technical abilities are critical. However, soft skills count, too. Try to find a mix of hard and soft skills to show that you are a well balanced applicant.

Your work experience section gives you a chance to show employers that you’ve got what it takes to do the human resources job well by giving them real examples of how you work.

As an HR professional, you know full well that recruiters often review dozens of resumes a day, so writing a boring list of work responsibilities just won’t do. Instead, write a work experience section that paints a picture of your professional life through the use of resume action words, data and metrics.

Each entry should include the company name and location, your job title and the dates you were employed. Then add three to five bullet points that describe your responsibilities and achievements.

Sample human resources work experience entry:

When completing the education section of your resume, it’s essential to follow certain guidelines.

If you possess a college degree or higher, there’s no need to include your high school education. Begin with your highest level of education and arrange your degrees in reverse-chronological order. Any nontraditional educational experiences, like fellowships or apprenticeships, can be included here or in a designated section.

Ensure consistency in your entries. Provide the name of your degree, the college or university’s name and its location for each entry. If your degree is still in progress, make sure to mention that clearly (refer to the example below).

You’ve accumulated a wealth of experiences beyond the confines of your human resources career. Adding special sections allows you to showcase those outside-of-work experiences on your resume.

Although these sections are not mandatory, listing items like honors and awards can help set you apart from similarly qualified candidates. Here are a few special sections to consider.

Certifications: If you have gone above and beyond to become an expert in your field, show it off with a special section dedicated to certifications. Here are some examples of certifications people in the human resources industry might list on their resumes:

Language proficiency: Knowing another language can be a real advantage in the human resources field, especially if you work for a company that has an international presence of a culturally diverse workforce. List all of the languages you speak and include your level of proficiency, which, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages scale (ACTFL), should be listed as novice, intermediate, advanced or superior.

Volunteer work: Volunteering is a great way to improve your skills and help your community. Consider adding relevant activities like volunteering at school bake sales or working with seniors. These people-centric activities showcase your interpersonal skills in a way that can be appealing to employers.