As a human resources generalist, your resume needs to show your ability to handle various HR tasks. The article provides solid resume examples to follow, along with strategic advice. You will learn how to highlight your skills, experience, and achievements to impress hiring managers. Improve your chances of landing the job you want by using our proven tips and templates.
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Here's what we see in the best resumes for human resources generalists:
Show Numbers For Impact: Include metrics to show results. Examples:
Show Skills From The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are
Trends In HR Technology: Many resumes now mention tools like
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Decide where to place your education on your resume based on your current career stage. If you are new to the workforce as a human resources generalist, show your education at the top. This helps you to demonstrate your recent learning and its relevance to the job.
For those with experience in human resource roles, list your education after your work history. Here, focus on any human resources certifications or continued training you've completed. They can provide you with an edge and should be presented clearly. Remember, you should display the most convincing information first to catch the hiring manager's attention.
Highlight skills that are specific to human resources, like knowledge of labor laws and employee relations. These are important and show you are ready to handle key tasks in the role.
Experience with HR software is also valuable. Mention any platforms like Workday or ADP you are familiar with. This shows you can manage essential HR systems effectively.
As a hiring manager, it's important you make a strong first impression. The resumes that stand out are often one page, especially if you're earlier in your human resources career with less than a decade of relevant experience. Your ability to summarize your skills and experiences on a single page shows you understand the key achievements that matter.
For those with more experience, going up to two pages is acceptable. In this case, you should place your most impactful contributions, such as significant projects or leadership roles, on the first page. This strategy ensures these highlights catch the hiring manager’s eye quickly.
Remember, readability is key. Avoid trying to fit too much onto one page with small fonts or slim margins. It’s better to be succinct and use the space well than to overcrowd and diminish your resume’s readability. Prioritize your jobs as an HR generalist, placing emphasis on pivotal tasks like employee relations and compliance that display your breadth of experience.
Emphasize any experience that directly ties to human resources, like recruiting, onboarding processes, or conflict resolution.
If you have managed employee benefits or training programs, make sure to detail these. Practical experience in these areas is often sought after by employers.
When you apply for jobs as a human resources generalist, your resume might first be reviewed by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To pass this test, you need to make your resume easy to scan and match the job description.
Here are some tips to help you:
Make sure your job titles and the skills you list are a good match for the job you want. This will help the ATS see you as a strong candidate for the role of human resources generalist.
It's important for you to show how you've contributed at past jobs. Make your resume fit the human resources role by listing specific tasks you've handled. This helps us see if your skills match what we need. Aim to make each point connect directly to typical human resources duties.
As you prepare your resume, focus on the skills that show your capability in HR. Make sure these skills are included in a dedicated section and woven throughout your work experience to help pass the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that many companies use.
Choose skills that match your experience and the job you want. For example, if you have strong experience in
Place your skills in the resume's skills section and also mention them in your job descriptions. This helps show how you've used these skills in practice. Remember, you don't need to list every skill, just those that are most relevant and that you are good at. This tailored approach will make your resume stronger.
When you show your impact with numbers, it helps hiring managers understand the value you can bring to their team. Think about how you have improved processes or achieved results in your past human resources roles, and then put those achievements into numbers.
Here are some examples to guide you:
As you prepare your resume, think about the specific ways you have helped your company. Maybe you improved employee retention, or you trained new hires more effectively. Always try to estimate the impact you had with numbers, such as how much time you saved or how much you decreased costs. Remember, even if you are unsure about the exact figures, an estimated percentage can still show your impact clearly.
When you apply to small businesses or startups, show that you are flexible and can wear many hats. You might say, 'Managed end-to-end recruitment processes in a fast-paced startup environment, adapting roles to evolving company needs.' This shows you are ready for the varied tasks you’ll find at a small company. List skills like 'direct communication' and 'quick decision-making.'
For larger companies, like well-known brands such as IBM or PepsiCo, they look for specialists who can work within set structures. You could write, 'Streamlined onboarding procedures in alignment with corporate HR policies, contributing to a 20% increase in employee retention.' Here, you should highlight skills such as 'strategic planning' and 'policy implementation.'