As one of the more in-demand professions today, HR professionals can expect an increase of 6% from 2022 to 2032, an outlook that’s faster than the average for all occupations. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 78,700 openings for human resources specialists and 15,500 openings for human resources managers are projected each year, reflecting a robust demand for qualified HR practitioners.
With these figures, you would need an effective human resources resume that will help you secure a rewarding career in this field. Hence, if you’re looking for tips on how to create one, you’re in the right place. Read on!
What are Human Resources?
Simply, human resources refers to a department or division in a company that is responsible for managing its people — the organization’s most valuable asset. From talent acquisition, applicant screening, employee recruitment and hiring to training and development, HR plays a key role in ensuring that the company has the right people with the right skills and mindset to achieve its goals.
In addition, HR departments take charge of employee relations, conflict resolution, performance evaluations, compensation and benefits, and regulatory compliance, which are all crucial to maintaining a productive and harmonious workplace. In essence, HR is the backbone of an organization, supporting its employees and helping to drive its success.
How to Write a Resume Objective for Human Resources
Now that you have a better understanding of what HR entails, it’s important that you impress hiring managers and beat applicant tracking systems (ATS) to land a job in this field with your human resources resume.
Starting with your resume objective, maximize this portion since it serves as your initial interaction to make a positive first impression. That said, your statement should highlight your interest and passion for HR, showcase relevant skills and experiences, and demonstrate how you can contribute to the organization. Moreover, you must underscore the unique combination of your skills, experience, and qualities to present that you are the ideal candidate for the role.
When writing a resume objective for a human resources position, it’s essential to tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for. Here are some tips to craft an attention-grabbing resume objective.
1. Research the company and the job position.
Conducting research about the company and the position you’re applying for is advantageous as it will help you customize your statement to align with your target employer’s expectations.
2. Begin with a strong opening.
Start your resume objective with a succinct statement that highlights your career goals and passion for human resources.
3. Highlight your skills and experiences.
Emphasize your key skills and experiences that are relevant to the job focusing on HR-specific skills such as recruitment, employee relations, training, and compliance.
4. Showcase your achievements.
If you have any notable achievements in your HR career, such as improving employee retention rates or implementing successful diversity initiatives, mention them in your objective.
5. Keep it concise.
Your resume objective should be concise and to the point. Avoid using unnecessary words or phrases and zero in on conveying your message clearly and effectively.
6. Incorporate industry-specific keywords.
Use keywords from the job description into your objective to ensure that it matches the employer’s needs and pass the ATS used to screen resumes.
How to Write Human Resources Resume Skills
Apart from resume objective, highlighting your top, relevant skills in your human resources resume can significantly increase your chances of getting hired. Hence, it’s essential to know how to effectively present your skills in your job application tool. But before we delve into the tips for showcasing your skills, let’s first discuss the types of skills you should take note of — the soft and hard skills.
Hard skills or technical skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge that are easily quantifiable and measurable. These skills are usually gained through formal education, training programs, or job experience. Employee recruitment, compensation and benefits, new hire onboarding, and HR management are some examples of hard skills.
On the other hand, soft skills, also called transferable skills, are personal attributes, traits, and qualities that you can use to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. These are often intangible and hard to quantify, but considered highly valued in the workplace. Examples of soft skills which can be applied in the HR industry include communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and decision-making.
That being said, listing your skills can help you snag your target job faster. Below are a couple of tips you should heed when writing your human resources resume skills.
1. Tailor your skills to the job post.
Thoroughly review the job descriptions and the qualifications mentioned and identify the key skills required for the role. Make sure to include these skills in your human resources resume and emphasize those that align most closely with the job requirements. Why? Because employers are looking for candidates who closely match the requirements of the job.
2. Use a mix of soft and hard skills.
Incorporate a combination of soft and hard skills to demonstrate your versatility and competency. Human resources roles require a blend of interpersonal and technical skills. Including both types of skills in your resume showcases your ability to excel in various aspects of the job.
3. Quantify your skills.
Adding numbers or percentages to your skills can make them more impactful. For instance, mention the number of employees you have recruited or the percentage increase in employee engagement due to your training programs.
4. Prioritize your skills based on the relevance or importance to the job.
Place your most relevant and impressive skills at the beginning of the skills section to grab the employer’s attention. This ensures that the most important information is seen first. Likewise, it will boost your chances of matching your human resources resume with the job post. You may consider using bullet points for easy readability.
5. Optimize your resume for bots.
In today’s hiring and recruitment process, HR professionals use ATS to easily screen job applications. To ensure your resume gets past this initial screening, be sure to incorporate relevant keywords from the job descriptions. Additionally, save your resume in a compatible format, such as.doc, .docx, or .pdf.
How to Write a Human Resources Resume
While the resume objective and relevant skills are crucial for capturing the hiring manager’s attention, having a well-crafted human resources resume encompasses much more. Here are some resume writing tips you should consider when preparing your job search tool.
1. Use a simple yet attractive resume layout and design.
A clean, professional design that is easy to read and visually appealing can make your human resources resume stand out. Avoid using overly complex layouts or font styles that may distract readers from your content. If you prefer adding color to your resume, go for a simple and professional color palette. Keep in mind that the design and layout should also pass the screening software.
2. Choose the best resume format.
For most human resources positions, a reverse-chronological format works best, as it highlights your most recent and relevant experience first. However, if you’re transitioning into HR from another field or have gaps in your work history, a functional or combination format may be more suitable.
3. Include appropriate resume sections.
Having a well-structured document can boost your chances of catching the attention of hiring managers. Hence, through resume sections, these will help you clearly present what you can bring to the table. Below are the most common sections used in a human resources resume.
Resume Heading
Beginning with the top of your document, include your first and last name, home address, and email address. You may also include your LinkedIn URL, personal website, online portfolio, and credentials or certifications, if there are any.
Specific Target Job
To make your application more customized, it’s advisable to add the job position you’re applying for in your human resource resume. Doing so gives hiring managers the impression that you are specifically interested in the role and have tailored your resume to match their needs.
Resume Summary / Resume Objective / Summary of Qualifications
Since recruiters and hiring managers scan an applicant’s resume in a span of seven seconds, writing a compelling resume summary or objective can convince them to review your entire document. As mentioned above, be sure to emphasize your qualifications and relevant skills.
Skills Section
This section allows you to highlight the specific skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Again, include both soft and hard skills that are applicable to the role. Customize your skills section to match the job description to show employers that you have the right qualifications for the position.
Work Experience
When presenting your job experience, include your previous job titles, employers, dates of employment, and key responsibilities and achievements. Use bullet points to highlight your accomplishments and quantify your achievements.
Education
Your academic background is another factor that employers consider in job application. Therefore, list your academic achievements, including your degree(s), institution(s), and graduation date(s). Plus, adding any relevant coursework, honors, or awards can make a positive impression.
Training, Certifications, and Licenses
If you’re currently holding professional certifications and licenses, or have completed specialized training programs relevant to human resources, be sure to indicate them. These can help demonstrate your commitment to professional development and your expertise in specific areas.
Expert Tip:
When crafting your human resources resume, consider placing the sections in order of relevance to the job you’re applying for. Highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences can help grab the employer’s attention and make a strong impression.
4. Highlight your human resources skills.
Tailor your resume to underscore your relevant human resources skills, such as recruitment, employee relations, training, and compliance. Use specific examples and achievements to demonstrate your proficiency in these areas. If you’re applying for an entry-level HR recruiter position, emphasize related skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
5. Sprinkle resume keywords.
Incorporate keywords from the job descriptions in your human resources resume to help your application pass ATS. Include keywords related to HR functions, such as recruitment, employee relations, training, and compliance.
6. Use concrete data and examples.
To demonstrate your achievements and contributions in previous roles, be sure to utilize quantifiable data and specific examples. This helps employers understand the impact you can make in a human resources role.
7. Proofread and edit — thrice!
Before submitting your human resources resume to your target company, thoroughly proofread it to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Consider asking a friend, colleague, or professional resume writer to review it as well to ensure it is polished and error-free.
Human Resources Resume Example
To give you an idea how a job-winning human resources resume looks like, our professional resume writers have prepared a sample using the tips discussed above. This example can serve as a guide to help you craft your own compelling resume.
Download this human resources resume example now.
Land Your Dream Job with the Help of Our Human Resources Resume Writers
In today’s dynamic and fast-paced business environment, human resources (HR) have become more critical than ever. Hence, if you’re planning to be part of this challenging yet rewarding profession, crafting a compelling human resources resume is essential as this will serve as your ticket to entry into the HR field.
Finding it challenging to write your own application tool? Don’t worry, Resume Professional Writers got you covered! Hire our best HR resume writing service today and let us help you ace your job search.
