Human Resources Generalist Resume Examples

As a human resources generalist, writing a resume can feel like a job interview in itself! Despite knowing what makes a strong resume, it's easy to stumble when putting your own experience on paper. You may find it tricky to highlight your diverse skills while showcasing your value. Often, stress and self-doubt creep in, making the task even harder. Many worry about whether their resume will stand out to hiring managers or get lost in the pile. Fear not, this guide is here to help you craft a resume that truly represents your HR expertise and catches the eye.

Choosing the right resume template is crucial. A well-designed template will make your resume professional, easy to read, and aligned with industry standards. This means no more stressing over format and design; you can focus on the content that truly matters. With a template tailored for human resources generalists, you'll ensure the key aspects of your career shine brightly, making recruiters take notice.

We offer more than 700 resume examples to help you get started on the right foot. Dive in and find the perfect template to make your HR experience shine.

What to focus on when writing your human resources generalist resume

Your human resources generalist resume should clearly convey your experience in managing multiple HR functions such as recruitment, employee relations, and compliance. Highlight your ability to handle sensitive employee issues and your proficiency in using HR software. To boost its impact, you can include:

• Specific metrics (e.g., reduced turnover by X%)
• Tools or software you're skilled in (e.g., ADP, Workday)
• Descriptions of successful projects or initiatives you've led
• Certifications relevant to HR (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR)

This ensures you showcase both your technical abilities and interpersonal skills.

Must have information on your human resources generalist resume

To create an impactful resume for a Human Resources Generalist role, you should include essential sections that highlight your skills and experience. Here are the must-have sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Key Skills
• Work Experience
• Education
• Certifications

Additional sections like Professional Affiliations and Volunteer Experience can further enhance your resume and make you stand out. Tailor these sections to reflect your HR expertise and contributions.

Which resume format to choose

When crafting your human resources generalist resume, the reverse-chronological format is the best choice as it highlights your career progression and experience. Opt for modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat over traditional ones like Arial and Times New Roman to give your resume a fresh, professional appearance. Always save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting and ensure it looks the same on any device. Keep your margins at an inch on all sides to ensure your resume is easy to read and doesn't appear cluttered. Use clear section headings like "Experience" and "Education" - these not only improve readability but also help Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan and rank your resume more effectively.

A human resources generalist resume should have several essential sections:

• Contact Information
• Summary or Objective
• Experience
• Skills
• Education
• Certifications
• Awards (optional)
• Professional Associations (optional)

Resume Mentor's free resume builder handles all of this for you, ensuring a professional and ATS-friendly resume every time.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

When writing the experience section of your human resources generalist resume, begin with your most recent job and work backward. This format helps employers quickly see your latest achievements. Typically, it's best to go back 10-15 years unless you have older, highly relevant experience. List each job title clearly, and only include titles that showcase your skills and progress.

Tailoring your resume to the job you are applying for is key. Highlight experiences and skills relevant to the specific HR generalist position you're aiming for. Use action words to describe your accomplishments, such as "improved," "developed," or "achieved." Quantify your achievements with numbers when possible to make a stronger impact.

Here are some practical yet poorly-executed examples:

For the example above, the list of tasks is vague and doesn't show any specific achievements or results. This makes it difficult for potential employers to understand the impact of your work. Also, using plain action words like "handled" and "assisted" doesn’t grab attention.

Here’s how you can greatly improve this:

In the improved example, the information is specific and quantifiable. It shows clear achievements, such as a 25% increase in benefits participation and cost savings. Action words like "implemented," "streamlined," and "recruited" communicate that you took initiative. This makes your past work experience much more compelling and relevant to potential employers.

When refining your experience section, focus on clarity, specificity, and measurable results. This approach will make your performance stand out.

Human resources generalist resume experience examples

Ready to climb the HR ladder? Let’s dive into this section with some human resources experiences, all packed neatly and practically. After all, the right resume should make you smile—not feel like you’re trapped in paperwork!

Achievement-focused

Celebrate your HR victories with this setup. Highlight big wins that made a significant impact. Be sure to quantify these achievements to show real value.

Skills-focused

Zero in on the specific skills you possess. Emphasize those that set you apart and boost your qualifications.

Responsibility-focused

Showcase your primary duties. Demonstrate your capability in managing essential HR functions.

Project-focused

Point out key projects you've driven. Demonstrate how you've managed from conception to completion.

Result-focused

Highlight the tangible outcomes of your work. Show employers the real-world impacts you’ve achieved.

Industry-Specific Focus

Tailor your experience to fit the industry you’re targeting. Use industry-specific jargon and roles.

Problem-Solving focused

Illustrate your problem-solving abilities. Showcase specific issues you’ve addressed and your solutions.

Innovation-focused

Show your flair for creativity. Highlight innovative approaches and new ideas you’ve introduced.

Leadership-focused

Emphasize leadership experiences. Describe roles where you led teams or spearheaded initiatives.

Customer-focused

Highlight experiences wherein you catered to client or employee needs. Demonstrate your customer service skills.

Growth-focused

Reflect on positions where you focused on growth. Showcase initiatives that helped scale operations.

Efficiency-focused

Spotlight your efforts in creating efficiencies. Demonstrate how you have optimized processes.

Technology-focused

Emphasize your ability to adapt and integrate new technologies. Showcase tech solutions you've brought in.

Collaboration-focused

Showcase how well you work with others. Detail your teamwork and inter-departmental collaboration skills.

Training and Development focused

Highlight your experience in training and employee development. Detail any programs or initiatives you’ve led.

Write your human resources generalist resume summary section

Writing a resume summary for a Human Resources Generalist role requires you to concisely showcase your skills, experience, and value to potential employers. The best way to describe yourself in a resume summary is by being specific and focusing on key achievements and skills that align with the job you're applying for. Use action words and measurable outcomes to make your summary impactful.

A summary and a resume objective serve different purposes. A resume summary highlights your experience and key skills, summarizing what you bring to the table. In contrast, a resume objective states your career goals and what you aim to achieve. A resume profile provides a brief overview of your background and skills, more similar to a summary but generally shorter. Lastly, a summary of qualifications lists your key qualifications in bullet points, offering a quick scan of your credentials.

The first example is not effective. It uses vague language like "good at hiring people" and lacks specifics. There are no quantifiable achievements or clear, impactful descriptions of skills. The sentence structure is too simplistic and doesn't convey a strong image of the candidate's capabilities. Plus, the phrase "did a lot of paperwork" is not professional.

The second example excels by being specific and using quantitative results like "25% improvement in hiring process efficiency." It clearly outlines key areas of expertise such as recruiting, employee relations, and benefits administration. The language is professional and impactful, making the candidate's achievements and skills stand out. Including the desire to leverage skills for XYZ Company shows the candidate's enthusiasm and alignment with potential employers.

Listing your human resources generalist skills on your resume

When crafting your resume, you can showcase your skills in a standalone section, while also weaving them into your experience and summary. Highlighting strengths and soft skills shows your ability to work well with others and handle various professional situations. Hard skills, on the other hand, are specific, teachable abilities such as HR software proficiency or data analysis.

Incorporating skills and strengths into different sections like your experience and summary helps recruiters pick up on resume keywords, which can increase your chances of passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Resume keywords are essential in the hiring process because they match the recruiter’s search terms.

A skill section that stands out includes diverse and relevant skills that align with the job description. The example above demonstrates a broad range of abilities necessary for a human resources generalist. What makes it effective is its focus on core competencies of the profession, ensuring that both industry-specific and transferable skills are listed.

Best hard skills to feature on your human resources generalist resume

Hard skills for a human resources generalist are technical abilities you have learned through training or experience. They should show your expertise in handling HR tasks efficiently.

Best soft skills to feature on your human resources generalist resume

Soft skills for a human resources generalist demonstrate your interaction abilities and emotional intelligence. They show how you handle interpersonal relationships and workplace dynamics.

How to include your education on your resume

An education section is an important part of your human resources generalist resume. Tailoring your education section to the job you are applying for is crucial. Only include relevant education, and leave out anything unrelated. Listing your GPA can be helpful if it is high and recent. If you graduated with honors like cum laude, ensure it is prominently displayed. Here’s how to list your degree: Write the full degree name, followed by your major, the institution name, and your graduation date.

This first example is badly written for a human resources generalist resume. It includes an irrelevant degree in Fine Arts and a low GPA that doesn't impress potential employers.

This second example is outstanding. It features a relevant degree with a high GPA and honors, making it highly relevant and impressive to potential employers.

How to include human resources generalist certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section on your resume is crucial for a Human Resources Generalist. Certificates demonstrate your commitment to professional growth and showcase your specialized knowledge. List the name of each certificate clearly. Include the date you received it. Add the issuing organization to validate the certificate. For extra emphasis, place the most relevant certificate in the resume header. An example might look like this:

Jane Doe, PHR Certified

A detailed certificates section can enhance your resume’s appeal. Consider this example:

This example is good because it lists relevant certifications for an HR Generalist. It includes well-recognized issuers, lending credibility to your qualifications. The dates and titles are clear and specific, making it easy for employers to see your competencies. Use this format to make your resume stand out.

Extra sections to include in your human resources generalist resume

Navigating the complexities of a human resources career requires a well-rounded resume that showcases diverse skills and experiences. As you build your resume as a human resources generalist, organizing sections like language proficiency, hobbies and interests, volunteer work, and notable books can add valuable depth to your profile.

• Language section — Highlighting proficiency in multiple languages — such as English, Spanish, and Mandarin — can underline your ability to communicate with a diverse workforce.
• Hobbies and interests section — Including hobbies like reading HR-related books, participating in sports, or traveling can show your dedication to personal growth and work-life balance.
• Volunteer work section — Demonstrating volunteer experience in HR-related roles or at community organizations can show your commitment to community service and skill-building.
• Books section — Mentioning key books you’ve read, like "Good to Great" by Jim Collins or "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni, shows you continually seek to increase your HR knowledge.

Incorporating these sections effectively can provide employers with a holistic view of your competencies and character. This balanced approach will help you stand out as a well-rounded candidate.

Pair your human resources generalist resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a one-page document that you send with your resume when applying for a job. This letter introduces you and explains why you are a good fit for the position. It highlights your skills, experience, and passion for the role, adding a personal touch to your application.

A cover letter can help the applicant by grabbing the hiring manager’s attention and making a strong first impression. It allows you to showcase your personality, enthusiasm, and writing skills. A well-crafted cover letter can set you apart from other candidates and increase your chances of landing an interview.

For a human resources generalist, your cover letter should focus on your experience with employee relations, recruitment, and benefits administration. Mention specific successes or projects where you improved workplace culture or streamlined HR processes. Additionally, highlight your knowledge of employment laws and your ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion.

Ready to create your cover letter? Try Resume Mentor's cover letter builder for an easy, hassle-free experience. Export your letter as a PDF to ensure your content and formatting stay perfect.