HR manager resume - text version:
Contact information:
CARLA JENSEN Head of Human Resources | People and Learning Development
cbromley@gmail.com +1-148-281-6089 Dublin, Ireland
Summary
Head of Human Resources with 12+ years of experience developing large impactful teams with skills in consulting and training. Managed 5 head of departments across 300+ employees with annual revenue of up $12M.
Experience
Head of Human Resources Crist 01/2014 - Ongoing Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Managed 5 head of departments across 300+ employees with annual revenue of up $12M
- Collaborated with 3 department managers to develop initiative program training for 250+ employees which improved retention by 60%
- Managed payroll budgets for 300+ employees with budgets $3M
- Analyzed employee feedback to develop team initiatives and performance review system which reduced staff turn over by 40%
- Led the collaboration with CEO to plan strategy for team structure and development which reduced costs by 60%
Learning & Development Specialist/Consultant Padberg 01/2013 - 01/2014 Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Led coaching and mentoring for 15 team leads to increase employee learning and development which received a 100% employee satisfaction
- Created training manuals used by 3000+ employees over 4 years
- Organized and spoke at 25 conferences for guests of up 500+ to communicate learning and development initiatives
- Developed partnerships with 8 external collaborators to develop training processes for 500+ employees which increased employee inclusivity by 70%
Human Resources Executive Gerhold 01/2012 - 01/2013 Waltham, MA
- Mentored and co-trained a team of 5 sales development representatives responsible for over 60% of company's total pipeline
- Completed on average 75 outbound calls daily to IT departments and C-level IT executives
- Established Equality, Diversity and Inclusion with board of 6
Education
M.S. Leadership & Mgmt. University of New Hampshire 01/2011 - 01/2013
Strengths
Leadership
- Led coaching and mentoring for 15 team leads to increase employee learning and development which received a 100% employee satisfaction.
Training and Program Design
- Collaborated with 3 department managers to develop initiative program training for 250+ employees which improved retention by 60%.
Strong Communication
- Organized and spoke at 25 conferences for guests of up 500+ to communicate learning and development initiatives.
Partnership
- Developed partnerships with 8 external collaborators to develop training processes for 500+ employees which increased employee inclusivity by 70%.
Skills
- Team Development
- Communications
- Strategy
- Training
- Partnership Management
- Consulting
When was the last time you looked at your own resume? Be honest.
As an HR expert, it’s probably easier for you to sift through and evaluate other people’s applications. But now the time has come to revise yours again.
Why?
Because you want to progress your career.
So, how do you write an impactful HR manager resume?
Follow our comprehensive guide to learn how to:
- Hint at what you’re searching for in your new role (while referencing your experience)
- Tackle each section on your resume
- Link your skills to quantifiable results
Select the right format for your HR manager resume
There’s a variety of resume formats you can choose from. Some of them can be way out of the box in terms of design and formatting. Others are more traditional and straightforward.
A few weeks ago we decided to compare all the available ATS software out there.
We wanted to find out how different document file types and resume formats fared against each other. And what the key characteristics of a quality resume are.
The crucial deciding factor in all cases was text formatting. More specifically:
- File format: PDFs are preferable because it’s a file type that both preserves the formatting of your resume and it’s easily read by the ATS software.
- Length/Columns: There is leniency on how long your resume can be or how you can divide it.
- Section Headings: Name each of your sections accordingly.
- Colors and Design: There are no restrictions on the color scheme or your design choices.
- Fonts: ATS software products are inclusive of all Google fonts.
Now, what do these mean for you?
An HR manager’s role isn’t for junior professionals or college grads. You must already have some experience in order to apply.
This means that the reverse-chronological resume format is your best option. Try to fit your work history and qualifications in a single page. Even if your career spans over a decade.
Showcase only relevant work experience. Present a clear and concise story of how you have developed as an HR professional.
Add a splash of color but keep it sensible and appropriate for the role.
Alternatively, if you’ve only had one past employer or you’re switching careers, use the hybrid resume format.
This one will help you supplement what little industry experience you have with other relevant information. Such as certificates, side projects or transferable skills.
Pro tip
If you’re not sure what type of experience recruiters want to see in your resume, check what other HR managers are sharing on their LinkedIn profiles.
Specify your area of expertise in the resume header
The HR industry is large and it deals with so much more than just talent recruitment. That’s why you must divulge where your expertise lies.
One way to do this is to directly address it in the resume header. As this section serves as your business card, you must stand out among other candidates sooner than later.
You know that recruiters spend about 6 seconds on average reviewing individual resumes. Make your resume header count.
Other information to add in this section includes your:
- First and last name
- Full job title. Or the job title of the position you’re pursuing, if you’re switching careers.
- Professional email
- Phone number
- Address
- Business social media account, such as LinkedIn
Here is how to do it:
Highlight your greatest achievements in your HR manager resume summary
The resume summary is your first chance to get noticed by hiring managers for your accomplishments.
There are two ways you can approach writing this section:
- Write a short paragraph of 5-6 sentences, referencing your skills and success stories.
- Create a short list with no more than three bullets. Share your accomplishment and the way you achieved it in each bullet.
The first approach is the standard one for resume summary writing. Its aim is to, as the name suggests, detail your:
- Years of experience
- Skills and qualifications
- Career achievements
This is a foolproof way to pass the ATS systems. By referencing job description keywords near the top of your resume, your application will be flagged as relevant by the software.
In contrast, the second method is rather new. Its merits lay in pointing the recruiters’ attention to what projects you would like to continue working on.
Check out the following examples to see how it works:
Feature key career milestones in the HR manager experience section
It’s important to keep the momentum of your resume summary. The experience section is by far the largest section of your resume in terms of real estate.
This is where you must present a well-rounded story which paints how your career has developed over the years. For each of the entries on your experience list, include:
- Your full job title
- Dates of employment. If this is your current position, just add your start date and write “Present” for an end date. Keep the formatting consistent.
- The full name of your company. Avoid using abbreviations, despite what popularity your employer may have. If you’re switching careers, this fame won’t matter much.
- Company location, as well as description of its main business operations.
- Between 3 to 5 bullet points, depending on your circumstances. If you’re switching careers, stick to HR-related achievements.
Cataloging achievements works wonders. But here’s the catch - you’ll have to tie them to results, too.
How do you do that?
Start each bullet point with an action verb, instead of buzzwords. Focus on one success story at a time: provide context and detail the challenges you’ve overcome.
For example, let’s assume you’ve helped your HR department after an M&A. You can say:
“Coordinated the successful merger of two HR departments with over 2000 employees in total, following the acquisition of company X by company Y.”
The sheer scale of the merger makes this entry worth mentioning. This is why providing context is vital.
If you can’t boast such large-scale achievements, you can always count on quality and impact. For instance:
“Reduced the budget for training and development of new employees by 37% by optimizing the existing training roadmap and resources.”
Need more examples?
Use the sample experience section entry below for reference:
04/2021 - Present 
- •Presented the company's activities before 13 government institution in order to raise awareness to the issues local people with disabilities face and influence policy changes.
- •Managed a team of 5 assistant community managers who in turn mentored over 60 new employees.
- •Raised more than $1.1 million for making parks in Orlando safer and more accessible to blind people by planning and organizing charity events.
- •Increased the number of monthly donors by 61% by actively working with the marketing team on the company's newsletter and events calendar.
Showcase your education and professional credentials
Career hopping has become trendy in the last 2-3 years. Yet, in most cases, hiring managers prefer candidates who have a traditional academic background.
Having an HR-related degree shows your commitment to your career. And it makes your resume that much more relevant for the position of an HR manager.
Needless to say, the education section on your resume must be impeccable. It consists of:
- The name of your degree
- The name of the issuing institution (university, college or another educational institution)
- The number of years you’ve attended the course
- Relevant minors (if you’re using the hybrid resume format)
Adding the location of your university or your GPA is preferable, but optional.
Here is what a sample education section looks like:
08/2018 - 04/2021 Shine the spotlight on your most relevant HR manager skills
As an HR professional, you know that presenting a balanced array of skills is key.
Listing the right technical abilities will let employers know you’ll be able to do your job efficiently and up to standard.
On the other hand, social skills are crucial when dealing with everyone on the corporate ladder. From the smallest vendors and subcontractors to the C suite executives.
Not only that, but:
- Hard skills get you past the ATS screening process
- Soft skills inform hiring managers if you’ll be a great cultural fit for the company
With that being said, have a look at the trendiest hard skills in the HR industry:
Top 42 technical skills for HR managers
- FMLA
- FLSA
- LOA
- PLOA
- COBRA
- OFCCP
- Disability
- Payroll administration
- Salary planning
- HR ethics
- HR policy development
- HR analytics
- Organizational culture
- Organizational development
- Organizational strategy
- Industrial-organizational policy
- Policy development
- Workplace standards
- Labor laws
- Dispute management
- Benefits and compensation
- Grievance and dissatisfaction
- Risk and compliance
- Due diligence
- Performance management
- ATS software
- Workday
- Greenhouse
- Bamboo HR
- Jobvite
- iCIMS
- Hireku
- Lever
- HRIS
- HCM
- Applicant onboarding and screening
- Employee retention
- Onboarding and exit interviews
- Equal opportunity compliance
- Occupational safety
- Training programs development
- Vendor relationships
You can cite reports and presentations to prove you have the technical abilities for the job. But what about your social skills?
These aren’t much different.
Take into account everything you do on a daily basis. Your work style and methods affect your colleagues, business operations and the company culture.
Link the impact of your work to measurable results:
If you need more ideas on which social talents to include on your resume, we have some suggestions:
Most popular 30 soft skills for HR managers
- Talent management skills
- Leadership skills
- Team management skills
- Conflict resolution
- Decision making
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Communication skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Negotiation skills
- Task delegation
- Presentation skills
- Attention to detail
- Adaptability
- Persuasion skills
- Empathy
- Strategic planning
- Mentorship skills
- Networking
- Cross-functional leadership
- Ability to motivate others
- Interpersonal skills
- Relationship building
- Collaboration skills
- Team building
- Observational skills
- Evaluation skills
- Accountability
- Responsibility
Flaunt your HR manager certificates
While traditional education is the foundation of your industry knowledge, certificates are what tells recruiters you’re up to date on current HR know-how.
When listing your certificates, remember to add the:
- Name of your certificate
- Name of the issuing body (international organization, college, university)
- Year you’ve obtained your certificate or date you expect to complete your training
- Validity date, if applicable
We’ve prepared the ultimate list of HR-related articles which can make your resume stand out. Check it out:
Top 20 Human Resources Manager certificates for your resume
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR certification, HRCI)
- Senior professional in human resources (SPHR, HRCI)
- Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)
- Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP)
- Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
- Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
- Human Resource Information Professional Certification (HRIP)
- PHR: Professional in Human Resources
- SHRM-CP: Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional
- SHRM-SCP: SHRM Senior Certified Professional
- SPHR: Senior Professional in Human Resources
- Foundation Certificate in People Practice (CIPD)
- Associate Diploma in People Management (CIPD)
- Associate Diploma in Organizational Learning and Development (CIPD)
- Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management (CIPD)
- Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development (CIPD)
- Talent Management Practitioner
- Senior Talent Management Practitioner (STMP)
- Global Talent Management Leader (GTML)
For more tips, read our guide on how to list certificates on your resume.
Diversify your HR resume with other relevant sections
There are several ways to get yourself noticed by hiring managers. One of them is to attach extra sections to your resume, which are both:
- Relevant
- Provide more information about your work style
Some of there sections include:
- Cover letter
- Association memberships (HCI, APA, SHRM)
- Conferences, publications, presentations, public speaking engagements
- Languages
As an HR manager you will have to divide your time between:
- Managing a segment of a larger HR department or an entire HR department
- Presenting and reporting to C suite executives
Supplement your HR manager resume with a matching cover letter
Think of the cover letter as the nice wrapping paper you use to decorate a present with.
You can do without it. But it’s the thought and effort into putting those finishing touches that counts.
Here is a basic outline you can follow:
- Start with a personalized greeting. Usually, you can find information about the hiring manager on LinkedIn
- List some of your biggest achievements in the first paragraph
- Reference the breadth of your expertise and skills in the second paragraph. Don’t forget to mention why you would be a good company fit.
- Finish the cover letter by thanking the letter receiver and remind them that you’ll be waiting for a response.
Key takeaways
- Use the reverse-chronological format and save it as a PDF file
- Reference your area of expertise when listing your job title
- Impress recruiters by displaying your biggest accomplishments in the resume summary
- Display a clear career progression in the experience section
- Create a balance between the hard and soft skills on your resume
- Reference publications and presentations to add an extra touch to your application
- Use the cover letter to include other career milestones which you couldn’t include in your resume
