If you’re in Human Resources, you probably spend a lot of time with resumes — it might even be up to you to decide which ones make it to the next stage of the hiring process. And although as HR professionals our careers may depend on judging resumes, how often do we really critique our own? It can be hard to take a step back and objectively measure yourself against your own standards, but we of all professionals should realize the importance of this process.
An outstanding HR resume has some differences from resumes in other professions. You know better than most just how tiring it is to stare at a pile or resumes every day. So we’ll take you through the steps and show you how to write a Human Resources resume and stand out among the crowd?
Start Out With a Headline
You should start out with a headline right after your name and contact information. You want to make it clear right away what your specialization is. Are you an HR generalist, an employee and benefits specialist, or something else? Make it easy for the reader to quickly understand your “personal brand.” You may even want to tailor the headline to suit the specific job you’re posting to and include important keywords from the job posting into the verbiage.
Even better, turn that headline into a short Executive Summary. Add your most relevant skills and experience and any interesting professional facts or important certifications. You can find more about writing an Executive Summary by checking out our previous blog post here.
Emphasize Accomplishments
This is important in any resume. Focus on what you’ve actually done. Did you implement a new filing system at your last company that led to better organization and more efficiency? Did you come up with a way to increase employee engagement and retention (and can you prove it with numbers)? Here’s your time to shine. Let everyone know how you changed the game and be as specific as possible (stats and numbers can really be impressive here). Tell the reader how the organization you work for is different and better because of you.
Use Keywords
As an HR professional, you know how important keywords are, for both human readers and their electronic counterparts. One way to introduce keywords into your resume is to create a section just for that purpose. A skills section is a good start, but be sure to also include keywords throughout your resume for the best effect.
You also have another advantage over candidates from other backgrounds—you probably have knowledge of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). If you want to keep your resume near the top of the list, you may know you should spell out acronyms, as an ATS won’t recognize the acronym on its own. For example, “SHRM-SCP” becomes “Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional.”
Keep it Clear and Concise
Keep your resume short and to the point. Put your most relevant skills and accomplishments first. Don’t waste anyone’s time—they’ll appreciate it, and so will you when you land that great new job!
Share What Makes You Unique
What makes you different from the other candidates? Don’t forget to share it (briefly) on your resume. You can (and should!) go into more detail through your cover letter and interview.
Use these tips to craft a killer HR resume. Wondering what keywords will get your foot in the door? Below is a list to get you started. Still need a bit more help? Reach out to TalentBridge today to see what we can do for you!
Human Resources Resume Keywords
The below keywords are commonly used in HR applicant searches. You should also carefully sift through the job posting you’re applying to to find specific keywords and tailor them into your resume for each particular application.
Soft skills:
Communication
Conflict Management
Decision Making
Ethical
Integrity
Organization
HR Skills:
Administrative
Applicant Tracking Systems
Assessing Job Candidates
Attention to Detail
Background Checks
Benefits
Candidate Search
Candidate Sourcing
Coaching
Compensation
Compliance
Employee Benefits
Employee Relations
Equal Employee Opportunity Compliance
Human Resource Planning
Health and Benefit Plans
Hiring
Leadership
Management
Recruiting
Social Media
Talent Management Systems
Teambuilding
Wages and Salary