One specific CV challenge faced by human resources is the difficulty in accurately assessing a candidate's potential from a static document. By referring to our comprehensive guide, you'll learn innovative strategies for interpreting CV details, allowing you to more effectively predict how an applicant's experiences and skills will translate to their performance on the job.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Formatting your human resources CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional human resources CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional human resources CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
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Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a human resources CV
- Professional Summary to showcase HR expertise as it provides a quick overview of the candidate's HR skills and experience.
- Key HR Skills to highlight specific HR-related abilities as they are essential in determining a candidate's suitability for the role.
- HR-related Work Experience to detail past roles and responsibilities because this demonstrates the candidate's practical knowledge in human resources.
- HR Certifications and Qualifications to list professional HR credentials as they reflect the candidate's commitment to the field and expertise.
- Achievements in HR Projects to give examples of successful initiatives as they show the candidate's capacity to deliver results and drive improvements.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Clearly outline your understanding of HR legislation and employee relations, demonstrating how you've kept abreast of legal changes and applied them in previous roles.
- Highlight your experience with HR software and systems, such as HRIS or ATS, showing your technical proficiency and ability to streamline HR processes.
- Emphasise your soft skills, particularly in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution, with examples of how these have benefited employee relations and company culture.
- Showcase your achievements in talent acquisition and retention, including successful recruitment campaigns and initiatives that improved staff turnover rates.
- Detail your involvement in strategic HR initiatives, like the development and roll-out of training programs or company-wide policy updates, to illustrate your strategic thinking capability.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your human resources CV header
Located at the top of your human resources CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for human resources:
- Senior HR Manager | Employee Relations | CIPD Certified | Talent Acquisition Expert | 10+ Years' Experience
- HR Business Partner | Performance Management | Organisational Development | MBA in HR | 15 Years' Experience
- Talent Acquisition Specialist | Recruitment Strategies | Tech Industry Focus | Chartered HR Professional | 5 Years' Experience
- HR Coordinator | Payroll Administration | Training & Development | Level 5 CIPD | 3 Years' Experience
- Employee Engagement Lead | Culture Champion | Diversity & Inclusion Advocate | HRM Degree | 8 Years' Experience
- Global HR Director | Strategic Workforce Planning | Executive Coaching | Senior CIPD Member | 20+ Years' Experience
Choosing your opening statement: a human resources CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a human resources job:
- Seasoned Human Resources Manager with over 12 years of experience seeking to leverage expansive knowledge in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management to drive organisational effectiveness in a leading multinational firm. Proven track record in reducing staff turnover by 35% in previous roles.
- Dedicated HR Specialist with 8 years of hands-on experience in Fortune 500 companies, adept in formulating impactful HR strategies and implementing employee development programs. Recognised for successfully leading talent management initiatives that increased employee satisfaction by 25%.
- Former Sales Manager with 10 years in high-level product strategy seeking to transition to human resources, bringing extensive experience in team building, data analysis, and leadership. Excelled in developing training programs that resulted in a 40% increase in team efficiency.
- Accomplished Educator with 15 years at tertiary institutions making a strategic transition into HR, offering expertise in conflict resolution, mentoring, and organizational development. Showcased ability to improve student engagement through tailored motivational strategies.
- Aspiring Human Resources professional equipped with a recent MBA in Human Resources Management, eager to apply academic knowledge and fresh perspective to facilitate employee engagement and retention in a dynamic organisation.
- Ambitious graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology aiming to utilise strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of human behaviour to contribute to the strategic goals of an expanding Human Resources department.
Narrating the details of your human resources CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your human resources CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed and implemented innovative HR strategies that improved employee retention by 25% over two years, aligning workforce with key business objectives.
- Managed recruitment processes end-to-end, including crafting job descriptions, screening candidates, and coordinating interviews, reducing time-to-hire by 30%.
- Spearheaded the annual performance review process for a workforce of over 500 employees, ensuring clear communication and timely completion of appraisals.
- Facilitated diversity and inclusion initiatives that resulted in a 40% increase in minority representation in leadership roles within the organisation.
- Conducted rigorous HR analytics to track key metrics such as employee engagement and turnover rates, using the insights to drive evidence-based decision-making.
- Reviewed and updated the employee handbook annually to ensure all policies were in compliance with current employment laws and regulations.
- Led a cross-functional team to successfully implement a new HRIS system, increasing department efficiency and improving data accuracy.
- Delivered comprehensive HR training programs for management and staff, covering topics such as workplace harassment, employment law, and leadership development.
- Designed and managed a company-wide benefits program that enhanced employee satisfaction and was recognised as best-in-class in our industry sector.
- Developed and implemented HR strategies aligned with the business objectives which improved employee retention by 25%.
- Led a team of 5 HR professionals to streamline recruitment processes, reducing time-to-hire from 45 days to 30 days on average.
- Introduced a comprehensive performance management system that saw a 15% increase in overall staff productivity.
- Managed the end-to-end recruitment process for over 200 positions, ensuring a diverse and high-calibre talent pipeline.
- Implemented an employee wellness program which decreased sick leave by 20% and enhanced employee engagement.
- Negotiated with trade unions to establish a new collective bargaining agreement, enhancing labour relations.
- Coordinated international recruitment campaigns, successfully filling key positions in overseas branches.
- Facilitated leadership development programs that helped in promoting 10 high-potential employees into management roles.
- Executed a company-wide job evaluation project to ensure equitable compensation, leading to reduced turnover rates.
- Designed and facilitated onboarding programs for over 300 new hires, significantly increasing first-year retention rates.
- Developed HR metrics and reporting mechanisms that improved management decision-making on human capital investments.
- Championed diversity and inclusion initiatives resulting in the company being recognized as an inclusive employer by industry peers.
- Transformed the talent acquisition process by implementing an ATS, which reduced average cost-per-hire by 30%.
- Conducted a successful wage and salary survey that informed a competitive pay structure to attract top talent.
- Played a pivotal role in the transition to a new HRM system that improved data accuracy and employee self-service functions.
- Led a cultural transformation project, enhancing organizational agility which was critical to business expansion plans.
- Analysed training needs to design a corporate learning program tailored to upskill over 1000 employees in new technologies.
- Improved employer brand visibility through strategic social media campaigns, attracting a 40% increase in quality applications.
- Overhauled the performance review process to better align with corporate goals, achieving a 90% satisfactory rating from employees.
- Initiated a flexible work policy, which enhanced work-life balance and increased employee satisfaction scores by 10 points.
- Managed a cross-functional team to deliver a succession planning framework, bolstering leadership continuity.
- Coordinated with IT to develop an employee self-service portal, cutting down HR-related inquiries by 50%.
- Spearheaded a global mobility program, facilitating seamless relocation for 50+ employees annually across several regions.
- Innovated recruitment advertising campaigns using data analytics to target and successfully hire niche skillsets.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your human resources CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your human resources CV:
Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
Employee Relations
Performance Management
Compensation & Benefits Planning
Labour Law Compliance
Training & Development
HR Policy Formulation
Payroll Processing
Data Analysis & Reporting
Communication
Empathy
Problem-Solving
Negotiation
Organisational
Leadership
Adaptability
Collaboration
Time Management
Confidentiality
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Further professional qualifications for your human resources CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your human resources CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional human resources CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
