Human Resources Resume Examples and Templates
3 Best HR Generalist Resume Examples and Templates for 2025
By Andrew Stoner
, Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner
Read More
Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Last Updated:
December 20, 2024
HR Generalist Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
- HR Generalist
- Experienced HR Generalist
- Entry-Level HR Generalist
As a human resources (HR) professional, you understand the importance of having an exceptional resume that separates you from other candidates. Although you’re actively involved in the recruiting process, writing your own resume can offer some unique challenges. It can be difficult to tell your story, even if you have a fundamental grasp on what it takes to stand out on the open market. In this guide, we’ll provide expert tips and advice to help you craft a dynamic HR generalist resume that propels your career forward.
Key takeaways:
- Feature your accomplishments: Rather than detailing generic job responsibilities, illustrate how your efforts have helped organizations improve throughout your career.
- Quantify your contributions: Leverage hard data and eye-catching metrics, such as employee satisfaction and retention rates, to bolster the impact of your professional achievements.
- Use keywords for ATS: Include HR-related terms like “onboarding,” “employee engagement,” and “HRIS management” to improve your resume’s visibility with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
How To Write an HR Generalist Resume Example
The first step in writing an effective HR generalist resume is selecting a template with the right structure to help you effectively illustrate your qualifications, skills, and accomplishments. Opt for a layout that allows you to prioritize your information effectively, drawing attention to the most impressive aspects of your experience. Your resume should always include the following sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
1. Share your contact information
Provide your full name, phone number, email address, city and state, and links to online profiles like LinkedIn.
Example
John Smith
[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | New York, NY | LinkedIn
2. Write a compelling profile summarizing your HR generalist qualifications
Given your experience in the recruiting process, you’re aware that hiring managers have limited bandwidth to explore each candidate’s experience thoroughly. Leading with an engaging opening summary allows you to immediately send a message that you have the HR background to succeed in the position. Start with an opening sentence that details your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that match the job requirements. Use the remainder of your paragraph to emphasize how your previous achievements can benefit potential employers.
Example for experienced professionals
An HR generalist with over five years of experience specializing in employee relations, HRIS management, and compliance. A proven track record of spearheading initiatives to enhance HR processes and drive employee engagement. Adept at administering benefits and managing monthly payroll totaling over $2 million.
Example for entry-level professionals
An entry-level HR professional with two years of experience in recruiting, employee onboarding, and payroll management. Adept at collaborating cross-functionally to support organizational growth and enhance employee satisfaction.
3. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
The key to writing an impactful professional experience section is to highlight your most notable achievements, rather than detailing job duties. Hiring managers want to see how your expertise has created value for employers. Simply stating that you optimized internal processes isn’t enough. Your resume needs to describe how you’ve helped companies grow in terms of both operational effectiveness and work culture. As you write your content, reflect on how your efforts have contributed to the overall success of your previous organizations.
Example for experienced HR generalists
HR Generalist, Redwood Manufacturing Co., Austin, TX | August 2021 – present
- Oversee all aspects of HR operations for a manufacturing company with 250 employees, including managing over $2 million in monthly payroll and administering benefits
- Serve as the point of contact for employee issues and spearhead initiatives to drive engagement, contributing to an 18% increase in retention rates
- Develop and implement impactful recruitment strategies, conduct over 80 interviews per year, and reduce time-to-hire by 23%
Example for entry-level HR generalists
Human Resources Assistant, Horizon Logistics Group, San Diego, CA | August 2022 – December 2023
- Coordinated with the HR manager in processing monthly payroll and administering benefits for a logistics company with 130 employees
- Organized and maintained employee records, benefits enrollment, and performance evaluations in compliance with federal and state labor laws
- Resolved employee inquiries regarding benefits and policies, contributing to an 89% satisfaction rate in HR support surveys
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
Featuring hard numbers, monetary figures, and metrics is essential to convey the outcomes of your HR achievements. For example, if you managed monthly payroll, draw attention to a large monetary figure or mention the company’s size. If you led initiatives to improve employee relations, emphasize how your contributions positively impacted satisfaction and retention rates.
Do
- "Led the development and implementation of HR programs to support organizational growth for a renewable energy company with 350 employees, contributing to a 19% increase in staff retention within two years”
Don't
- "Responsible for managing benefits enrollment, solving complex problems, and performing various administrative tasks for the HR department"
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
Although the daily responsibilities of an HR generalist position may seem similar across various postings, customizing your resume for each application is still an important part of the job hunt. Before submitting your resume, review the job description for any keywords you might be missing to ensure compliance with the ATS. Feature these relevant skill sets in your profile and professional experience section to immediately show hiring managers you have the qualifications they’re looking for.
What if you don’t have experience?
If you lack hands-on HR experience, focus on transferable skills, academic achievements, and internships. Highlight coursework in labor law, HR technology, or diversity and inclusion. Volunteer work or student leadership roles can also demonstrate relevant skills.
4. Include relevant education and certifications
Most companies will require a bachelor’s degree in HR, business administration, or another related field for HR generalist roles. Industry certifications also tend to carry significant weight in this field, so obtaining additional credentials can greatly benefit your long-term career prospects. Certifications from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) are typically held in particularly high regard.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant coursework or honors]
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Human Resources Management
University of Texas, Austin, TX | 2020
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name] | [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Date]
Examples:
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR), HR Certification Institute (HRCI) | 2021
- SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), Society for Human Resource Management | 2020
5. List pertinent key skills
With your background in talent acquisition, you already understand the importance of incorporating the right HR skills and keywords for the ATS. A robust list that features your broad skill sets is critical for advancing to the next phase of the hiring process. Highlight a blend of industry terminology and interpersonal skills to emphasize your versatility as an HR professional.
| Key Skills | |
|---|---|
| Benefits administration | Change management |
| Communication | Compliance and labor laws |
| Conflict resolution | Cross-functional leadership |
| Employee engagement | Employee relations |
| HR management | HRIS management |
| Onboarding and training | Payroll management |
| Process improvement | Program management |
| Project management | Recruiting |
| Talent acquisition | |
Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs
It’s easy to run out of action verbs during the resume-building process. Often a limited number of verbs can accurately convey your professional experience and accomplishments. That said, diversifying your usage of action verbs is the best way to give each bullet point a unique and distinct feel. To help you get over the hump, we’ve compiled a list of verbs to craft your HR generalist resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Analyzed |
| Collaborated | Communicated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Created | Delivered |
| Designed | Developed |
| Drove | Enhanced |
| Evaluated | Identified |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Mediated | Oversaw |
| Performed | Planned |
| Provided | Spearheaded |
| Streamlined | |
How To Pick the Best HR Generalist Resume Template
Choose a clean, ATS-friendly template with a professional structure. Focus on readability and ensuring your key achievements and skills are easily scannable. Avoid overly decorative designs that could distract from your content.
HR Generalist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
James Wheeler
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Austin, TX 78653
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
An HR generalist with over five years of experience specializing in employee relations, HRIS management, and compliance. A proven track record of spearheading initiatives to enhance HR processes and drive employee engagement. Adept at administering benefits and managing monthly payroll totaling over $2 million.
Professional Experience
HR Generalist, Redwood Manufacturing Co., Austin, TX | August 2021 – present
- Oversee all aspects of HR operations for a manufacturing company with 250 employees, including managing over $2 million in monthly payroll and administering benefits
- Serve as the point of contact for employee issues and spearhead initiatives to drive engagement, contributing to an 18% increase in retention rates
- Develop and implement impactful recruitment strategies, conduct over 80 interviews per year, and reduce time-to-hire by 23%
HR Coordinator, Summit Hospitality Group, Austin, TX | May 2019 – August 2021
- Collaborated with the HR manager in managing daily operations for a hospitality service provider with over 160 employees across four locations
- Identified appropriate resolutions for complex employee relations cases and coordinated with senior leadership to build an inclusive, collaborative culture, resulting in a 17% reduction in employee turnover
- Conducted onboarding for 40 new hires per year, created training materials, and led efforts to improve the employee experience and reduce onboarding time by 12%
Key Skills
- Benefits administration
- Compliance and labor law knowledge
- Employee engagement and retention
- HRIS system management
- Performance management
- Talent acquisition
Certifications
- SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) | 2021
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR) | HRCI | 2020
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) Human Resources
University of Texas, Austin, TX | 2019
Why this HR generalist resume is strong:
This resume captures the candidate’s comprehensive knowledge of benefits administration, payroll management, and recruiting, all essential for HR generalist positions. The applicant incorporates eye-catching numbers to show how they’ve successfully reduced employee turnover throughout their career, showcasing the value they can bring to future employers.
Frequently Asked Questions: HR Generalist Resume Examples and Advice
How do you align your resume with an HR generalist job description?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations for HR specialists are expected to increase by 8% between 2023 and 2033. Although the long-term outlook is largely positive, it’s important to understand that not every opportunity is equally lucrative. To generate interviews for the top-paying HR positions, your resume needs to be tailored toward each company you apply to.
For example, if an employer is looking for an HR generalist with an exceptional track record in recruiting, showcase how you’ve developed impactful sourcing strategies and successfully improved the hiring process throughout your career. If an organization is seeking a candidate with a talent for employee relations, paint a picture of how you resolved complex cases and helped transform work cultures.
What is the best HR generalist resume format?
The reverse chronological format is best suited for HR generalists. This approach places your most recent and relevant experience towards the top of your resume, allowing the hiring manager to view your most impressive accomplishments immediately. A combination approach is better suited for entry-level candidates who need to leverage their education, skills, and certifications in lieu of a robust work history.
Expert advice:
Include a cover letter with your resume
Pairing your HR generalist resume with a customized cover letter is a great way to add a personal touch to your job application. In addition to reinforcing key accomplishments from your resume, mention something specific about the company’s reputation or culture in the middle paragraphs. This shows that you’ve done your research beforehand and are genuinely interested in the opportunity.
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Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
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