How to Write a Human Resources Manager Resume
Your resume has one purpose, to get you interviews for the jobs you want. You can ensure your resume serves that purpose if you focus on your most relevant skills and display them as clearly as possible. The section-specific tips below will help you give your resume the focus and clarity it needs to move your job search forward.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
A strong Profile section draws the hiring manager’s attention, first and foremost, to your unique strengths. Use this section of your resume to briefly describe your overall experience and record of success. Also, consider using it to mention your communication style or other soft skills.
For instance, the role of the human resources manager is often collaborative. Perhaps you’ve enjoyed working with department leaders, company executives, and various personnel to find relevant HR solutions. If so, consider developing collaboration as a key theme in your Profile.
(Note, it’s usually easier to write your Profile after you’ve built the other sections of your resume.)
Profile Example
Collaborative HR Manager with ten years of experience. Proven record of developing performance management strategies to raise operational efficiency. Skilled at creating communication systems to improve cross-functional alignment. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add a quantified experience section
Incorporate key metrics, data, and monetary figures from your career to enhance the impact of your bullet points and grab the hiring manager’s attention. Companies need to see the context and scope of your achievements to fully appreciate the value you can bring to their organization. For example, you may want to draw attention to the number of employees you supported or the size of the HR budget you managed.
Experience Example
HR Manager, Delta Dental, New York, NY | October 2018 to Present
- Oversee all HR functions for 500+ staff, lead the response to any labor or compensation issues, drive recruitment initiatives, and manage employee onboarding
- Set overarching strategy for employee relations and cross-functional collaboration
- Manage administration and dispersal of $5M+ in annual benefits and compensation
- Established employee resource group, planned events to drive engagement, and improved retention by 30%
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Your degree, license, and certifications are the basis for your career and deserve a prominent spot on your resume. List each relevant credential in a separate section right below your Experience section. (You may consider putting your credentials above Experience if your pertinent HR work thus far is limited.)
Following are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details:
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, ST] | [Year – optional]
Example:
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Human Resource Management, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | 2013
Certification
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Year – optional]
Example:
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) | 2017
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
As an HR professional, you’re likely familiar with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the importance of resume keywords. Below, you’ll find a list of HR skill areas to consider featuring on your document:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) | Benefits & Compensation |
| Change Management | Cross-Functional Coordination |
| Employee Engagement | Employee Relations |
| HR Administration | Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) |
| Legal & Corporate Compliance | New Employee Onboarding |
| Operations Management | Organizational Development |
| Payroll Administration | Performance Management |
| Policy Development & Interpretation | Project & Program Management |
| Succession Planning | Staff Training & Development |
| Talent Acquisition & Retention | Workers’ Compensation |
How to Pick the Best Human Resources Manager Resume Template
For HR professionals, a clear and straightforward resume template is usually best. Choose a visual template that lets the hiring manager quickly and easily take in relevant information about you and your background. Avoid any template that calls undue attention to itself with more elaborate design elements.
Human Resources Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Anthony Gentile
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | New York, NY 12345 | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Service-oriented HR Manager with seven years of experience. Strong background implementing HRIS technologies to make companies more efficient and effective. Naturally curious and committed to gaining and applying new expertise.
Professional Experience
HR Manager, Delta Dental, New York, NY | October 2018 to Present
[Largest dental practice in New York City with 1,000+ employees]
- Manage administration and dispersal of $5M+ in annual benefits and compensation
- Lead employee resource group and plan events to drive engagement, which has improved retention by 30%
- Oversee all HR functions, lead the response to any labor or compensation issues, drive recruitment initiatives, and manage employee onboarding
- Set overarching strategy for employee relations and cross-functional collaboration for support staff who work remotely
Assistant HR Manager, Avail Dental Insurance, New York, NY | June 2016 to October 2018
[Boutique insurance firm with 100+ employees]
- Served as point of contact for HR matters and found solutions to employee conflicts and compensation issues, reducing talent turnover rate by over 25%
- Helped hire and train over 15 new employees
- Created a new performance appraisal system
- Standardized training processes
- Created a database to increase knowledge sharing
Key Skills
- Employee Relations
- HR Administration
- HRIS Technology
- Payroll Administration
- Process Improvement
- Talent Acquisition
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Human Resource Management, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY | 2016
Certification
Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) | 2017
Allison Rosenberg
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Philadelphia, PA 12345 | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Collaborative HR Manager with ten years of experience. Proven record of developing performance management strategies to raise operational efficiency. Skilled at creating communication systems to improve cross-functional alignment. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Professional Experience
HR Manager, Murdock Mortgage Firm, Philadelphia, PA | October 2016 to Present
[Financial firm with 1,000+ employees]
- Identify and select vendors to outsource IT functions, which has reduced yearly costs by $2M
- Coordinate all talent management and succession planning, consistently maintaining a retention rate of over 95%
- Led transition to remote workflows during the global pandemic, created Covid-19 safety protocols and testing requirements, and coordinated with senior leaders to provide HR support to maintain team morale
HR Manager, Anderson & Roberts Legal Associates, Philadelphia, PA | June 2013 to October 2016
[Prestigious legal firm with 300+ associates]
- Improved employee onboarding processes, which led to a 50% reduction in the new-hire turnover rate
- Ensured compliance with federal and state labor laws and employment regulations, with no violations during full 3+ years of employment
- Led the recruitment and build-out of the marketing department
- Spearheaded change management efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
Key Skills
- Change Management
- HR Department Strategy
- Organizational Development
- Quality Assurance
- Staff Recruiting & Retention
- Succession Planning
- Talent Management
- Vendor Contract Negotiations
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Human Resource Management, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | 2013
Certifications
Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) | 2017
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR) | 2014
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Jasmine Brown
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | San Francisco, CA 12345 | linkedin.com/in/yourname
Profile
Forward-looking HR Manager with 12 years of experience. Strong background building successful HR departments from the ground up. Skilled at guiding diversity recruiting initiatives and providing employee resources to support the growth of enterprise organizations. Adapt readily to new work challenges and industry conditions. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Professional Experience
HR Director, Alita Technologies Inc., San Francisco, CA | October 2016 to Present
[$300M technology corporation with 7,000 employees in 5 countries]
- Set overarching HR strategy, oversee a team of 35 HR business partners, and meet with C-level leaders to define company growth objectives
- Develop leadership training programs and coach and mentor department leaders on raising team engagement and performance, which has helped improve the employee satisfaction rate by over 25%
- Spearhead diversity recruiting initiatives to acquire and retain top talent in the tech industry
- Drive efforts to build work cultures centered on DEI, including planning and implementing training programs on cultural awareness and sensitivity
HR Manager, Westline Software Group, San Francisco, CA | June 2011 to October 2016
[Leading software company with 3,000+ employees]
- Developed and built the HR department, defined HR policies, and managed administration of $15M+ in payroll and benefits
- Helped hire and train over 500 new employees
- Managed all talent planning, performance management, and employee compensation and explored new ways to enhance hiring processes
Key Skills
- Change Management
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
- Employee Relations
- Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
- Performance Management
- Policy Development & Enforcement
- Project & Program Management
- Talent Acquisition & Retention
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Human Resource Management, University of San Francisco, CA | 2011
Certifications
Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) | 2016
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR) | 2013
Frequently Asked Questions: Human Resources Manager Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for Human Resources Manager resumes?+
It’s easy to get stuck when writing your resume job descriptions. You may find yourself running out of action verbs to capture your HR work. To help you over the hump, we put together this list of strong resume verbs. Consider using any of these as the first word of your bullet points in your Experience section:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyze | Collaborate |
| Conduct | Coordinate |
| Create | Design |
| Develop | Enhance |
| Evaluate | Execute |
| Generate | Implement |
| Improve | Manage |
| Monitor | Oversee |
| Pinpoint | Plan |
| Provide | Resolve |
| Streamline | Strengthen |
| Support | |
NOTE: The above verbs are all in the present tense. Use the present tense to describe your current job duties. But use the past tense (e.g., “Created,” “Improved”) to describe any projects you’ve completed or achievements you’ve had in your current job. Also, use the past tense to describe both duties and achievements in all your previous jobs.
How do you align your resume with a job posting?+
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for HR managers will increase by about seven percent between 2021 and 2031. This growth rate is roughly the same as the average for all US vocations.
You can get more interviews in this growing field if you tailor your resume for each job application you send. One great way to tailor your resume is by adding brief descriptions of the places you’ve worked. Company descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the organization that posted the job opening. For example, maybe you’ve worked for companies of a similar size or in the same industry. Or perhaps you’ve worked at nonprofits with a similar mission or leadership philosophy. By working these details into your descriptions, you can make your resume more relevant to the job at hand.
Enter each description in brackets right next to or below the company name. It also helps to match formatting. For instance, if you’ve italicized the company name, italicize the description too.
What is the best Human Resources Manager resume format?+
In nearly all cases, you should opt for a Combination or Hybrid resume because they are the easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience — it’s also easiest for you to modify based on your job goals.
With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro may take the form of a Profile summary, Key Skills section, and/or Career Highlights section. You may also include an Honors section to call out any “Best Place to Work” awards or other distinctions your company has earned. By carefully choosing the details for these sections, you can (a) position yourself for your target HR job and (b) give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer them.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
To increase your chances of landing an interview, make sure you craft a strong cover letter. The key to optimizing your cover letter is to customize it based on each employer you apply to. Read our Human Resources (HR) cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our Recruiter and Business cover letter guides.