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How to create an eye-catching HR Manager resume

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Volen Vulkov Avatar
Volen Vulkov
8 minute read
Updated on 2021-04-21

As an HR Manager, you’ve probably reviewed hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes. But writing your own can prove to be quite challenging. It’s hard to take a step back and put into concrete words why an employer should hire you over anyone else.

While there’s no one right way to write an HR Manager resume, there are certain things employers will look for. And if you include them on your resume, you’ll be on your way to interviewing in no time.

What you’ll learn here

  • The top sections to include in your HR Manager resume
  • How to properly format your resume header
  • How to write a summary section that actually stands out
  • How to emphasis achievements in your experience section
  • How to list technical and soft skills on your resume
  • Top HR certifications to make you a more competitive candidate

HR Manager resume example

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How to write an HR Manager resume

Human Resource Managers have a lot of responsibility and play a huge role in a company’s overall success. So employers will look far and wide to find themselves the best possible candidate. That means you need a well-written resume to even get an interview. A resume that shows what makes you uniquely qualified. A resume that clearly distinguishes you from other candidates.

There are a few guidelines to follow to ensure your resume does just that. Let’s start with your resume design. If there’s anyone who knows how much (or should we say how little?) time a recruiter spends on a resume, it’s you.

In addition to sharing what makes you unique, your human resource manager resume needs a visual design that differentiates you from other candidates. In today’s business world especially, employers are always looking for candidates that are willing to go the extra mile. And in most cases, your resume is your first point of contact—your first formal impression.

All that’s to say, your resume’s look is just as important as its content. Here are some things to consider while designing your human resource management resume.

  • Keep it concise (it shouldn’t be longer than one page in length)
  • Make your content easily digestible with headings, subheadings, short bullet points, and plenty of white space
  • Use infographics for your skills section
  • Use color sparingly – you don’t want it to distract from the content
  • Use a serif or sans serif font

Now that you know basic resume design tips, you can start working on your resume sections.

Top resume sections for HR manager resumes

  • A header section with your name and clickable contact information
  • A summary section that shows what makes you unique
  • An experience section that emphasis your achievements
  • An education section that shows your college or university and major
  • A skills section that lists both technical and soft skills
  • A certification section (optional)

Those are the basic sections every resume should include. But what exactly is a recruiter looking for in each of those sections?

What recruiters want to see in HR manager resume

  • If you were able to reduce employee turnover (and by how much)
  • What types of onboarding and benefits programs you implemented or managed
  • How you helped improve company culture and employee satisfaction
  • If you were able to reduce company medical insurance premiums
  • How much you were able to cut costs

How to write a strong HR manager resume header

The header section of your resume is pretty straight-forward. You’ll want to prominently feature your name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile. Beneath your name, it can also be helpful to list your current job title or a few words that say who you are as a professional.

That way, recruiters can quickly see you’re an HR Manager as opposed to a Benefits Specialist, for example.

2 HR Manager resume header examples

Hannah Johnson

help@enhancv.com

linkedin.com/in/hannah9826345

Chicago, IL
WRONG

This header section doesn’t include title or a phone number. Even if you prefer to communicate over email, you should always include both. Because if a recruiter can’t easily reach you, chances are they won’t take the time to track you down.

The LinkedIn url is also long and confusing. Instead, customize your profile url so it includes some variation of your first and last name.

Hannah Johnson
HR Manager

+359 88 888 8888

help@enhancv.com

linkedin.com/in/hannah-johnson

Chicago, IL
RIGHT

This header includes all the appropriate information. A recruiter can easily reach this candidate through whichever platform they prefer.

Below your header, add in a 2-3 sentence summary.

What does a meaningful HR manager resume summary include

The summary section of your resume is to quickly convey what sets you apart from other candidates. Highlight what you’ve achieved in the past as well as what you want to focus on in the future. Be as specific as possible. Being vague is doing yourself a huge disservice.

2 HR Manager resume summary examples

Summary
Experienced HR Manager with 7 years of experience specializing in hiring, onboarding, and benefits management.
WRONG

This summary section doesn’t demonstrate any achievements. Recruiters will have no sense what you’re capable of.

Summary
HR Manager with 7 years of experience in hiring, onboarding, and benefits management. I’ve increased employee satisfaction by 30% and decreased turnover by 12%.
RIGHT

This summary section is much more effective. It mentions quantified achievements so a recruiter can see exactly how you’ve contributed to a company.

Under your summary, add in an experience section.

HR Manager resume experience examples that bring up your achievements in front

The experience section of your resume is where you really want to hammer home on your achievements. Your knowledge and day-to-day responsibilities are of course important. But without emphasising your achievements, your resume won’t stand out.

Recruiters want to see what kind of value you will bring—how you improve hiring processes, how contribute to a better workplace culture, and what kind of measurable results you’ve achieved.

HR Manager resume experience examples

Experience
HR ManagerActiveCampaign
Cut new hire processing times
Manage recruiting, benefits and payroll
Implement work from home policy to reduce unnecessary usage of PTO
Designed and executed employee benefit programs
WRONG

This experience section lacks any accomplishments or quantified achievements. The bullet points are generic and don’t go into any detail.

Experience
HR ManagerActiveCampaign
Cut new hire processing times by 30%
Manage recruiting, benefits, and payroll for 250-person company
Implement work from home policy to reduce unnecessary PTO time by 20%
Designed and executed employee benefit programs including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and 401K)
RIGHT

This experience section is much more centered around achievements and job-specific responsibilities. A recruiter can quickly see what kind of impact this candidate can make. They’re much more likely to call this candidate than the first.

After you finish your experience section, you can start working on your skills section.

What’s the proper way to show your HR manager skills

It’s best to include both soft and hard skills on your resume. Soft skills are interpersonal skills like leadership, communication, etc. Hard skills, on the other hand, refer to industry-specific software or tech skills.

How to list tech skills on your resume

Tech skills can be listed in a bullet point list. Refer to the job posting and match any relevant skills you have.

Skills
HRIS (Human Resource Information Software)Talent management softwareCloud-based applicant tracking software
RIGHT

Hard / Technical Skills List for HR managers

  • Applicant screening
  • Applicant tracking software
  • Recruiting
  • Interviewing
  • Reference checking
  • Negotiation
  • Equal opportunity compliance
  • Employment law
  • HRIS
  • Employee benefits
  • Microsoft Office
  • Payroll
  • Talent management software

How to describe soft skills on your HR manager resume

Soft skills, on the other hand, are best demonstrated with on-the-job examples.

Strengths
Communication
When a department head needed to inform team of new procedure, I helped draft the team-wide email and answered employee questions about the upcoming changes
Conflict resolution
When conflict arose between two employees, I held meetings with each employee individually so they could voice their frustrations in a safe and private space. Then we came together, identified solutions, and set ground rules for respect moving forward.
Proactivity
Spotted a potential problem between top execs early and prevented it from escalating
RIGHT

Soft Skills for HR managers

  • Communication
  • Organization
  • Empathy
  • Positivity
  • Leadership
  • Decision-making
  • Collaboration
  • Integrity
  • Affirmative action
  • Attention to detail

After cross-matching your skills, move on to the education section of your resume.

Education Resume Tips for HR Managers

A great education section simply includes your college/university and your major. As an HR Manager, you’re not a recent graduate so there is no need to include graduation date, relevant coursework, or extracurricular activities.

In addition to an education section, you can also add a certification section to further show any professional development or continuing education.

Should you show any certificates in your HR manager resume?

Certifications can show just how dedicated you are to your career. Certified HR Managers are often more educated and more motivated than HR professionals who aren’t certified. Some organizations even require high-level HR managers to be certified.

Key takeaways

  •  Your resume design is just as important as its content
  •  Your resume summary needs to stand out
  •  You should emphasis achievements as much as possible in your experience section
  •  Cross-match your skills with the required skills from the job posting
  •  Certifications can be a great way to show how motivated you are to succeed

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