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HR Generalist Resume: Templates, Examples & Essential Skills
You'll learn about:
As a key person within the Human Resources (HR) Department, an HR generalist handles the day-to-day operational management and covers a wide range of responsibilities including recruitment procedure, employee orientation, training and development, regulatory compliance and reporting, and etc.
Because of the high expertise and job requirements, it is imperative to build a well-designed and professionally-tailored HR generalist resume if you aim to apply for this position.
How to make an HR generalist resume?
Step 1: Understand the differences between a CV and a resume.
People seem to be mistaken between a HR generalist CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a HR generalist resume as they are both professional documents required for the job application. In fact, these two terms are not quite the same.
HR generalist CV
- In addition to basic information, a CV also covers the candidate’s academic experience or prizes such as publications, professional licenses, etc.
- Is widely required for the positions related to such academic fields as teaching, medical & nursing, accounting or science.
- No length limit to the length, normally ranging from 2 to 6 pages.
- Plain and simple design/layout.
HR generalist resume
- Mentions the areas of expertise, skills and work experience only personal relevant to the target position.
- Is commonly required for the job application along with the cover letter.
- Should be kept as short and straight-to-the-point as possible, ideally within 2 pages
- The layout varies from fields to fields with tailored formats.
Learn more about how to distinguish a CV from a resume to make sure your HR generalist resume is proper for the job application.
Step 2: Choose the right HR generalist resume format.
A resume is subject to four major types of formats , namely: chronological, functional, hybrid, and targeted.
Accordingly, an impressive human resources generalist resume should have a coherent and well-structured layout. Before adopting a template, first determine which HR generalist resume format would be the best choice for your desired positions.
Step 3: Look up HR generalist resume templates & examples online as references.
Before starting with your resume, you can try to search resume templates & examples on the Internet. This way, you can find a lot of useful tips and avoid critical mistakes.
Step 4: Tailor your resume for the HR generalist position.
Human Resources holds many different positions with each covering specific HR-related functions. Thus, your HR generalist resume should fully show your strengths and skill set that are specifically required for the HR generalist role, not an HR assistant, recruitment coordinator or personnel manager one .
Step 5: Craft an HR generalist cover letter.
Besides a CV / resume, a human resources generalist cover letter is also required by the recruiter and hiring managers as they wish to hear more from applicants.
By introducing briefly about yourself, expressing how much you want to be a part of the team and how you are a great fit for the job, you can leave a favorable impression which might lead you to the next round.
Learn more about creating a well-written cover letter to have your own collection of HR generalist cover letter examples.
Step 6: Proofread your HR generalist resume.
Proofreading is a very important step towards crafting a good resume, whether it is an HR generalist resume with 3 years experience, an HR generalist resume with 5 years experience or even a senior HR generalist resume.
⚠️ Make sure your document is error-free otherwise you may miss out the career opportunity.
What does an HR generalist resume look like?
1. Resume profile (personal information)
First and foremost, an HR generalist resume should include information that allows hiring managers to reach you. Thus, keep it in mind to provide up-to-date and sufficient details.
You should include these:
- Full name
- Professional title
- Phone number
- Address
- Social media
You should not include these:
- Expected salary
- Social Security Number
- Marital status
- Religion
- Height
- Weight
2. Resume headline for HR generalist
As mentioned earlier, the resume headline and title can demonstrate your professional level in this field. Having a lean and well-branded resume headline that shows your achievements can help you stand out from other candidates.
🔍 How can a professional title present your seniority level? (HR generalist resume headline examples)
- HR generalist resume with 3 years experience
"HR Generalist with 3+ years in employee recruitment and retention, staff development, benefits and compensation, human resources records management" - HR generalist resume with 5 years experience
"HR Generalist with 5+ years' experience working for both turnaround and high-growth manufacturing groups" - Senior HR generalist resume
3. HR generalist resume summary
At the beginning of your resume, it is necessary for you to bring up an impressive HR generalist summary statement together with the most remarkable achievements you have gained, ideally within two sentences.
Examples of an HR generalist professional summary:
- Strategic HR generalist who turns business vision into HR initiatives that boost performance tracking system, growth, and employee engagement.
- HR supervisor who works closely and supports senior directors with an innovative perspective and appreciation of the organizational workforce.
4. Resume objective
While writing your HR generalist resume objective, it is important to illustrate your professional and devotion to the organization instead of personal goals, for examples:
- Looking to be a part of a progressive corporate as an HR generalist, to provide excellent administrative support in the HR department.
- To deliver the most efficient performance as an HR generalist at ABC company with an extended foundation of knowledge about human resource policies and procedures.
5. HR generalist skills to put on a resume
Structuring your skill section wisely will not only show the hiring manager that you are a perfect match for the vacancy but also distinguish you from the competition. Below are several ways to showcase your HR general skills on resume:
- Experienced in a variety of administrative tasks, including personnel records, new hire and termination procedures, executive compensation, etc.
- Ability to deal with complicated issues by leveraging organizational management skills.
6. HR generalist achievements and work experience
Work experience is regarded as the key part of a resume where recruiters will spend most of their time reviewing and exploring. You should not only list your employment history in a well-structured order but also mention some of your HR generalist achievements.
HR generalist achievements resume example:
Ashley Marie | Mesa, AZ | Inteplast Group
2015 – 2019
Director – US & International Human Resources
- HR Organization Leadership:
Most senior HR executive in Inteplast, directing 4 HR professionals in staffing, recruitment, benefits, executive compensation, training, leadership development, succession planning, HRIS, and regulatory compliance. - International HR Launch:
Established overseas HR department recruitment, staffing, onboarding, training – for both expatriates and local national hires in Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. - Organization Transformation:
Enabled operational change essential to a $5M reduction in HR costs.
7. Education
The educational background section on an HR generalist resume may affect the hiring executives' decision as this is viewed as a measure to evaluate the candidates' attributes. However, it should be noted that you need to avoid filling this part with all of the academic details otherwise your resume will become lengthy and tedious.
Here is the way you can present your educational background in your HR generalist resume:
- MSc Global Human Resources – Keller Graduate School of Management – 2010
- MS Degree - Organization Development - Alma University - 2006
- BA Degree - Industrial Relations - College of Trade and Commercial - 2000
8. Additional information to put on an HR generalist resume
To further promote yourself in your human resources generalist resume, you can also include some information about your personal projects, awards or certifications that support your qualifications upon the job description.
Best HR certification for career advancement:
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR) provided by HRCI
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Associate Professional in Human Resources - International TM
Tips for writing a professional HR generalist resume
#Tip 1: Customize the resume for the job.
Despite being greatly emphasized by recruiters as well as hiring managers, this tip tends to be neglected by many job applicants.
Instead of sending a generic resume, you should craft a unique resume for the position that you are targeting, for instance, an HR generalist resume with 3 years experience should be different from a senior HR generalist resume. This way, you can distinguish yourself from other potential applicants by demonstrating your competitive advantages and professionalism.
#Tip 2: Use Keywords (from Job Description) in your HR generalist resume.
Recent research has revealed that recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds scanning a resume. Therefore, it is very important to utilize keywords from the job description. These phrases could be applicable skills or job responsibilities.
🗒 Note : Keep in mind to organize them by bullet points to make your HR generalist resume well-structured, lean and professional.
#Tip 3: Quantify results in your HR generalist resume.
Every number can tell a story. Indeed, elaborating on your employment history through numbers and metrics can speak louder than a high GPA. Show hiring managers what contributions you have made, not just what tasks you have been assigned.
Examples:
- Boosted managerial performance up to 28% through employee survey conduct and analysis
- Developed a coaching program for 8 regional managers for advanced leadership, focusing on organizational communications and strategic planning.
#Tip 4: Choose an ATS-friendly resume format.
Unless you are applying for creative jobs such as a graphic designer, content writer or social media specialist, you'd better choose an ATS-friendly format/layout for your HR generalist resume. A simple and basic HR generalist resume format allows big companies that adopt an ATS to review your resume more efficiently.
💡 Tips: Upon completing the writing, don’t forget to save it as a PDF with a proper name file.
#Tip 5: Adopt resume action words (verbs).
Polish your resume with powerful and compelling action verbs instead of common words and phrases that recruiters have read over and over.
#Tip 6: Feature your qualifications in your HR generalist resume.
Assuming you have a variety of job experiences before, your HR generalist resume should only focus on what’s relevant to the HR Generalist position.
List of HR-related skills to put on an HR generalist resume:
- Communication skills
- Administrative expert
- Intercultural acumen
- HRM knowledge
- Coaching
Online resume builders like CakeResume, provide service in building a professional HR generalist resume.
How to write a cover letter for HR generalist jobs?
The purpose of a cover letter (also known as a job application letter) is to further demonstrate your qualification to convince the recruiter that you would be a good fit for the company.
HR generalist cover letter should be one-page in length with the following information:
- Contact details
- Self-introduction
- Your motivation to apply for the position
- Your qualification and achievement
- Appreciation to the hiring manager
Human Resources Generalist Resume Sample (Text Format)
Samuel Stephen | HR Generalist
625-984-0045
linkedin.com/in/samstephen
Professional Summary
Driven HR generalist with 6+ years of experience, possessing great expertise in staff coaching, training, development and engagement. Looking to invigorate the corporate culture at Masus Corporation.
Work Experience
Ivee Group, Houston, TX
HR Generalist
Mar 2016 - Jun 2020
- Enhanced managerial performance up to 33% through benchmarking and streamlining the system for employee records.
- Executed a program to foster employee engagement within the corporate, having achieved 100% employee participation.
- Integrated 20+ staff in the aftermath of 2 acquisitions, steering flawless workforce assimilation into core business operations. Contributed to profitable turnaround with >$1M in first-year savings.
VNG Ltd., Mesa, AZ
Staffing & Recruitment Associate
Feb 2012 – Dec 2015
- Handled all aspects of the recruitment and staffing procedures for a 400-employee company.
- Supported the company's long-term growth and expansion by managing and executing hiring policies, procedures and innovative technology.
- Controlled corporate repositioning, guiding recruitment of 130 technical, professional, and management staff for US HQ.
Education
2008 – 2012, Bachelor's Degree in HRM
San Diego State University
Skills
Soft skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Meeting management
Hard skills
- HR best practices
- Employee relations & diversity
- Talent acquisition
- Staff coaching & mentoring
- Workforce planning & development
--- Originally written by May Luong ---
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