Are you an HR Generalist looking to craft a strong, compelling resume that helps you land the job of your dreams? You’ve got the right mix of education, knowledge, skills, and experience to excel in this role, but how do you convey that to a recruiter or employer who has to sift through hundreds of similar resumes and decide who to interview and who to pass on?
In this article, we’ll cover how to write an HR Generalist resume summary and objective, key skills to include, and examples of strong resumes for entry-level and senior-level HR Generalists. We’ve also included a handy template for you to download so you can create a winning resume of your own.
Contents
Crafting your HR Generalist resume: What to keep in mind
How to write an HR Generalist resume summary
How to write an HR Generalist resume objective
HR Generalist skills to include on your resume
HR Generalist resume examples
HR Generalist resume templates
Crafting your HR Generalist resume: What to keep in mind
Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating an HR Generalist resume.
1. Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for
Take time to research the company and specific role you’re applying for, and make small amendments to your resume accordingly. The job description is a helpful resource that will usually include details such as the key responsibilities, essential skills, and desirables of the role.
Let’s say the HR Generalist role you’re interested in emphasizes employee engagement and data-driven decision-making. You could highlight your experience in those areas by including a line like: “Led initiatives that improved employee engagement by 15% and utilized data analytics to optimize retention strategies.”
Tailoring your resume shows employers that you’re not just applying to any job—you’re the right fit for theirs.
2. Focus on results, not just responsibilities (and use data to back them up)
Don’t just share the responsibilities you’ve had in previous roles – speak to the impact you have had and use data to quantify your achievements.
For example, don’t simply state that you were responsible for onboarding new employees. Instead, you could mention that you improved the onboarding process, reduced time-to-productivity by 20%, or revamped the training materials, leading to a 15% increase in new hire satisfaction.
3. Use action verbs
An action verb is a doing word – e.g., organized, delegated, directed, planned – that demonstrates you not only did your job but accomplished something in the process. For instance, you might say that you led guided tours of the workplace for new employees or that you conducted interviews with candidates for open positions.
Avoid weaker verbs like helped, worked on, or responsible for, which are vague and don’t convey impact. Instead of saying you “helped with employee training,” say you “developed and implemented a new training program that increased employee performance by 12%.”
4. Don’t forget to showcase your soft skills
Soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication, and time management are crucial to succeeding in any role at work and progressing in your career. Remember to include these in the skills section of your HR Generalist resume, and if you have room, share examples of times you’ve demonstrated these skills and the results you achieved.
5. Be honest about your skills and experience
While it’s important to showcase your strengths, avoid the temptation to embellish your skills or experience. Employers value authenticity, and any exaggerated claims can lead to challenges during interviews or on the job.
Stick to highlighting the skills you genuinely possess and can back up with examples. For instance, if you’ve only had limited experience with a specific HR software, be honest about your proficiency level rather than overstating it. Trust that your real strengths will speak for themselves.
6. Keep the layout clean and easy to read
When formatting your resume, it’s essential to strike a balance between making it visually appealing and ensuring it’s optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Many companies use these systems to scan resumes to extract relevant information and decide if the document should move forward to a recruiter.
Here are some tips to keep both ATS and design in mind:
- Keep the design simple: While it’s important to personalize your resume to reflect your unique experiences and qualifications, simplicity in design is key. ATS software may struggle with complex designs, unusual fonts, and excessive formatting. Stick to a clean, neutral font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman).
- Use standard headings: Use straightforward section titles like “Summary,” “Professional Experience,” “Skills,” “Education,” and “Certifications.” Fancy or creative titles (like “What I Bring to the Table”) can confuse ATS and result in important sections being overlooked.
- Avoid graphics and images: ATS often cannot parse text embedded in graphics and images. While these elements may make a resume visually impressive to a human reader, they could lead to critical information being missed during the automated scan. Keep your resume layout plain and text-based.
- Utilize bullet points for clarity: Use bullet points to organize your achievements and responsibilities clearly. This helps both ATS and human readers quickly scan and absorb your experience.
- Choose the right file format: Submit your resume in a format that ATS can easily process, typically .docx or PDF (if the job posting specifies that PDFs are acceptable).
By following these guidelines, you ensure that your resume stands out both in design and function, making it through ATS filters while remaining professional and visually clear for human readers.
HR tip
You don’t have to start from scratch! There are many professional resume templates available online that you can use for inspiration and easily customize. Plus, we’ve included two templates in this article that you can quickly amend to suit your needs. Go here to download them for free!
How to write an HR Generalist resume summary
A resume summary is a short, impactful statement that explains who you are, your greatest skills, strengths, and experience, and your career aspirations. It would typically be at the top of your resume, just below your name and contact information.
This summary will usually include data to demonstrate your results. It should be a few sentences long – no more than a paragraph. The aim of the resume summary is to offer the recruiter a concise introduction to who you are and encourage them to keep reading.
HR Generalist resume summary example #1 (Looking for a similar role in a larger company with more career progression)
Experienced HR Generalist for 2+ years, skilled in managing payroll, recruiting and onboarding candidates, writing HR policies, and managing conflict. In my previous role, I optimized the compensation and benefits package, which reduced costs by 8% and increased our retention rate by 12%. Currently looking to work for a company where I can grow and further develop my skills, knowledge, and experience.
HR Generalist resume summary example #2 (Looking for a promotion with a startup company)
A dedicated HR Generalist with over five years experience and a background in talent acquisition. Skilled in all areas of HR, including recruiting and training staff, performance management, payroll, data protection, and conflict management. In my previous role, I conceived and executed a new onboarding process that reduced our new hire turnover rate by 5%. Looking to take on greater responsibility in my next role, manage a small team, and have a significant impact on the business.
How to write an HR Generalist resume objective
A resume objective is a short statement describing who you are, the kind of role you’re looking for, what makes you a good candidate for it, your career goals, and how you plan to achieve them. It would usually be at the top of your resume, in the same location where a resume summary would go.
An objective is typically one to three sentences long and more suitable for job seekers with little to no experience, for example, someone who has recently graduated and is looking for their first job, making a career change, or someone who has HR experience but wants to move into a different HR specialization.
HR Generalist resume objective example #1 (A recent graduate)
MBA student seeking first role in HR, with a specific interest in employee rights and local and national regulations.
HR Generalist resume objective example #2 (Someone changing careers)
Experienced content creator transitioning into a Human Resources role with a strong interest in supporting HR functions such as policy development, employee communication, and training. Skilled in writing, analyzing, and editing, with a proven ability to create clear, impactful content. Seeking to leverage communication skills and attention to detail in a meaningful HR position.
HR Generalist resume objective example #3 (Someone with existing HR experience)
HR professional with over three years of experience in compensation and benefits, data analytics, and recruitment, seeking to apply my skills in a larger company. Looking to contribute to initiatives that enhance recruitment strategies and overall HR operations while continuing to grow professionally and make a greater impact.
HR Generalist skills to include on your resume
When listing your HR Generalist skills, it’s important to tailor them to the specific job you’re applying for. While the following are commonly valued skills, always review the job posting and prioritize the skills that align with the role. This ensures your resume shows why you’re the right fit.
Common HR Generalist skills to consider including in your resume:
- Communication skills
- Administrative expertise
- HR Management knowledge and expertise
- HR strategy creation & execution
- Managing priorities
- Proactivity
- Coaching
- Conflict management and resolution
- Recruitment and onboarding
- Employee experience expertise
- Command of technology
- Analytical skills and data-driven HR
- HR reporting skills
- Commercial awareness
- Cultural awareness and sensitivity
- Wellbeing evangelism
- Active listening
- Teamwork
- Stakeholder management
- Project management
- Time management
- People analytics
- Ethics and data privacy
HR tip
Focus on the most relevant skills from the job description, and include a mix of hard skills (e.g., HR software, analytics) and soft skills (e.g., communication, active listening) to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate.
HR Generalist resume examples
Here are two examples of HR Generalist resumes so you can get a better understanding of what to include and how best to showcase your skills and experience.
Entry-level HR Generalist resume
Senior HR Generalist resume
HR tip
As you gain more experience in your career as an HR Generalist, it’s essential to discern between all your experience and achievements and only showcase the highlights on your resume.
HR Generalist resume templates
If you’re an aspiring HR Generalist, you can use our easily customized templates to create a clear and concise resume that showcases your unique skills and experience.
One-page HR Generalist resume template
This one-page HR Generalist resume template is ideal for individuals who are at the beginning of their HR career. It highlights relevant skills, education, and early professional experience in a concise format.
Two-page HR Generalist resume template
This two-page HR Generalist resume template is perfect for professionals with more experience or those looking to expand on their accomplishments in various HR roles. It allows for detailed descriptions of professional experience, skills, and additional certifications while maintaining a clear and easy-to-read format.
To sum up
No matter where you are in your career as an HR Generalist, you have a combination of skills, knowledge, and experience to showcase on your resume. Ensure your resume is clear, highlights your strengths, and is tailored to the position you’re applying for. A carefully crafted resume has the power to make hiring managers take notice and want to know more about you and what you can bring to their company.
