Create Your Human Resources
Resume in 5 Easy Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

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  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

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  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

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  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

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  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Human Resources Resume

The human resources (HR) industry is about finding talent and leveraging it wisely to achieve success. To achieve success in your own job search, you must write a resume that shows your credentials and experience in the best light.

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder can help. Our team of certified resume writers create content suggestions for a variety of HR job titles, designed to help you include the content that is most sought after in the human resources industry.

Below are samples of content our resume builder might suggest for your human resources resume:

  • Reviewed job applications to identify, vet and recommend optimal candidates
  • Answered questions from employees regarding health benefits and 401(k) options in person, over phone and by email
  • Followed programs closely to assess effectiveness and make proactive changes to meet changing demand

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Human Resources Resume

  • Do highlight successes using metrics. Distinguish yourself by detailing how you helped achieve company goals and improve company culture at other jobs. Using phrases such as, “Implemented staff development initiatives for a team of 25 employees,” or ‘Reduced operational costs by $10K by streamlining inventory control” shows the impact of your work.
  • Do consider the size of the company. Another way to tailor your resume is to consider the size of the organization to which you are applying. The work experience and skills you emphasize will be different depending on whether you are applying at a larger corporation or a smaller business. Choose your words carefully to reflect your ability to work with a workforce of 12 or a workforce of 112.
  • Do list any relevant certifications. Any professional certifications or affiliations that accentuate your communication, leadership and organizational skills are especially relevant, such as PHR or CPLP certification.
  • Don’t generalize. Instead of including that you supervised payroll and records, for example, note that you “”provided consistent payroll disbursement and accurate PTO and vacation record keeping.”” Providing specifics about companies you’ve worked for helps recruiters understand the breadth and depth of your experience.
  • Don’t overuse acronyms. Acronyms are useful but for the sake of adding rich keyword density to your resume, don’t overuse them. They could be confusing to an applicant tracking system.
  • Don’t forget education. You may think your work experience speaks for itself, but because a bachelor’s degree is typically an entry-level requirement for HR jobs, you should list education showing a bachelor’s degree or higher, even if your degree wasn’’t directly related to HR.

Beat the ATS with These Human Resources Resume Skills

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) screen applicants’’ resumes for keywords and rank them to make it easier for hiring managers to weed out unqualified candidates. These tools are increasingly common in hiring. If your resume doesn’t have the right keyword mix to pass through the ATS, it may be removed from consideration before it ever makes it to a hiring manager’s desk.

LiveCareer’s Resume Builder helps you find the right blend of skills and keywords appropriate for the human resources industry, so your resume is job-ready rather than job-adverse. Below are samples of what our builder might suggest for your human resources resume:

  • Knowledge of HR regulatory compliance
  • Listening carefully to employee questions and concerns
  • Resolution of employee disputes resolution
  • Working with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Maintaining accurate employee records
  • Speaking publically
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Human Resources Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level

Human Resources Intern

A functional resume format, as shown here, helps you compete for a job in the human resources field when you don’t have much work experience under your belt. This resume format highlights your relevant professional skills and training over work experience. This allows recruiters to more readily see you for your HR abilities and focus less on your lack of on-the-job experience. This helps to level the playing field and better position you to get the job.

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Mid-Career

Human Resources Administrator

A combination resume format, like this one, uses your mix of work experience and professional skills to your advantage. This works well when you have relevant skills as well as a stellar career progression to show. For example, this applicant’’s resume outlines a trajectory that climbs from an HR coordinator role to the more involved work of an HR generalist and, most recently, an HR administrator position. Pairing a clear progression like this with a list of HR skills makes the resume and the applicant stand out.

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Executive-Level

Human Resources Executive

Recruiters want to see your skills, but when you reach the executive level, your extensive HR work history takes center stage. A chronological resume, as shown here, accomplishes that by placing work history front and center with detailed explanations that incorporate data and metrics. Then, at the bottom of the page, a bulleted list of skills rounds out the resume.

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More human-resources resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired human-resources career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

Recommended Human Resources Cover Letter

If you find this sample helpful, we have many more human resources cover letter examples.

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Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About Human Resources Jobs

Popular Job Titles

  • Human Resources Specialist
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Compensation and Benefits Manager
  • Labor Relations Specialist
  • Training and Development Manager
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Human Resources Generalist
  • Human Resources Analyst
  • Human Resources Coordinator
  • Employment Representative
  • Personnel Analyst
  • Recruiter

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*Net

Minimum Level of Education Required

  • Compensation and Benefits Manager Bachelor’’s degree
  • Labor Relations Specialist Bachelor’’s degree
  • Human Resources Manager Bachelor’’s degree
  • Customer Service Representative High school diploma or equivalent
  • Training and Development Manager Bachelor’’s degree

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Annual Income by Job Title

Human Resources Specialist$60880
Human Resources Manager$113300
Generalist and Recruiter$60880
012K24K36K48K60K72K84K96K108K120K

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Outlook (2018 – 2028)

Human Resources Specialist, Generalist and Recruiter5% (average growth)
Human Resources Manager7% (faster than average growth)
0510

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Human Resources Specialist, Generalist and Recruiter

Annually

Female 73.5%

Male 26.5%

Human Resources Specialist, Generalist and Recruiter

Human Resources Manager

Female 58.5%

Male 41.5%

Source: DataUSA

Pay Disparities and Gender (2017)

Human Resources Specialist, Generalist and Recruiter

Average Male Salary$80,972
Average Female Salary$64,831
Men Make19.9% more
050K100K

Human Resources Manager

Average Male Salary$100,400
Average Female Salary$83,585
Men Make16.7 percent more
050K100K

Source: DataUSA

Important Employee Characteristics by Job Title

  • Human Resources Specialist, Generalist and Recruiter Attention to detail; communication, decision-making and interpersonal skills
  • Human Resources Manager Leadership, speaking, organizational, interpersonal and decision-making skills
  • Compensation and Benefits Manager Analytical, business, communication, decision-making and leadership skills
  • Labor Relations Specialist Decision-making, listening and writing skills; attention to detail
  • Customer Service Representative Communication, computer, customer service, listening and problem-solving skills; patience
  • Training and Development Manager Business, communication, critical-thinking, decision-making, instructional, leadership and collaboration skills

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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