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26 Human Resources (HR) Resume Examples for 2024

• Human Resources Resumes
• HR Resumes by Experience
• HR Resumes by Role

Writing Your HR Resume

A company’s most valuable resource is its employees, but it takes a great human resources manager to find, manage, and help those employees succeed within an organization.

From hiring to onboarding to benefits, you know how to help colleagues succeed within a company. When it comes to being a successful human resources (HR) professional, you put people first. But although you can spot a great resume from a mile away,  building a resume  of your own is an entirely different beast.

Our HR resume examples and guide have helped HR professionals learn  how to write a resume  and make a cover letter to  land highly coveted jobs with companies like Facebook and Lyft.  Writing an amazing human resources resume has never been easier!

Human Resources (HR) Resume

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Why this resume works

• If you have more than 10 years of experience, you can add a  resume summary  (also called a career summary) to list your HR experience and biggest achievements.
• Space is limited on your resume, but don’t worry—you’ll have more room to discuss the context of your experience in your  human resources cover letter , so you don’t have to try and cram everything onto your resume.
• Whenever possible, quantify the scale or impact of your work on your human resources resume. For example, how many employees did you help hire or onboard? What was the scale of the compensation plan you managed? How many disputes did you resolve? Numbers speak louder than words!

Human Resources (HR) Manager Resume

• Start by listing your hard skills (the tools and technologies you know) and the areas of HR in which you’re an expert, such as Disability or FMLA.
• Don’t make your skills section a laundry list; only include skills that you can readily demonstrate if asked. Honesty is key!
• You can help the reader out by  formatting your resume  with your most recent experience first. That way hiring managers see your best roles right away, which will encourage them to keep reading.

Human Resources (HR) Intern Resume

• Don’t be afraid to showcase your work and accomplishments! Use strong action words like “developed”, “spearheaded”, or “operated” to show hiring managers that you have what it takes to move into roles with more responsibility. 
• In just two to four sentences, let hiring managers know what company you want to work for, the job title you’re seeking, and what specific skills you have that will be an asset to the company.
• The key word here is  specific.  A vague resume objective won’t do you any favors!

Entry-Level Human Resources (HR) Resume

• Have you started a club, held an internship, or had a part-time job? These can all be valuable on your  entry-level human resources resume !
• You can also highlight your academic abilities by listing your GPA or any awards you won during college. You can even list relevant courses to really show off your skills!
• Some employers prefer resumes in different formats, so check the  Human Resources job description  if you need to use a  Google Doc template  or a  Microsoft Word template  to format your entry-level human resources resume correctly.

Junior Human Resources (HR) Generalist Resume

• Woah, cowpoke! Hold off for a minute and use our  resume checker  to ensure your Jr. human resources generalist resume is formatted correctly and that you’re using all the gold-standard grammar and punctuation rules.
• Leverage metrics about the number of employees at each company you’ve worked for, the percent increase in efficiency after implementing a new HR tool, the number of new hires you’ve added, or the increase in qualified applicants you’ve driven through recruitment strategies

Human Resources (HR) Assistant Resume

• Above all, be specific. A generic, vague objective only wastes valuable space. Instead, talk about your qualifications for the position at hand, then mention why you want this particular role with this specific company.
• For example, did you help plan an event that brought in an extra $3K in revenue? Or maybe you collaborated with your HR team to develop new onboarding processes that decreased the cost-per-hire by 21%. Whatever you did, find a way to tell the employer why your efforts mattered on your  human resources assistant resume .

Senior HR Manager Resume

• Tell your story with the help of your past work experiences! Enrich your senior HR manager resume by depicting the growth in your career. Mention your early career and how you’ve managed to go from simply revisiting policies to finally improving employee satisfaction rate as a manager.

Senior Human Resources Analyst Resume

• A senior human resource analyst resume that gleams with moments you introduced new processes, designed more effective systems, developed better problem-solving strategies, or launched products shows that you’re innovative. And guess what, recruiters have a thing for such candidates.

HRIS Analyst Resume

• As long as you list tools like Tableau, Oracle HCM Cloud, or even TSheets, you’ll be able to convince a would-be employer that you know the ins and outs of visualizing employee data that help an organization reduce its turnover rates.

HR Analyst Resume

• Make your HR analyst resume more eye-catching by choosing the “Standout” template and picking a yellow tone that is cool on the eyes. Back this visual appeal with a degree such as a Bachelor’s in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources that you’ve accomplished and show that you’re a professional in handling employee behavior and data.

HR Compliance Resume

• Use and highlight bullet points like “lowering instances of compliance violations by 17%” in your previous roles. These metrics will do the job of solidifying your interest and ability to ensure all workspace operations are compliant with state and federal laws.

Human Resources Recruiter Resume

• For example, you must show your unmatched competencies in skills and tools that track, assess, and help onboard new hires smoothly.

Human Resources Administrator Resume

• A great example you can use in your human resources administrator resume is underscoring your input in achieving a 42% increase in promotion rates for employees under your supervision.

Human Resources Associate Resume

• However, it’s not enough to state that you’re a team player; your human resources associate resume must also show your contribution in identifying, interviewing, and onboarding new hires.

Human Resources Executive Resume

• For instance, integrating Tableau’s HR data analytics dashboard to support decision-making would give recruiters a reason to pick your human resources executive resume ahead of others.

Human Resources (HR) Director Resume

• Use your work experience bullet points to showcase a variety of skills, like management, collaboration, data analysis, and mentorship. Think of each bullet point as a separate skill you want to showcase.
• Using a  resume template  can help you easily change stylistic elements to suit your fancy, like colors, font types, and layouts. Be creative and go for it!

Human Resources (HR) Coordinator Resume

• Set a timer for six seconds. Now, read through your resume until the timer runs out. What stands out the most?
• Hopefully, “numbers” was your top answer. Numbers are easier to scan, and they’re great at showing how you improved your workplace, so include them when you can!
• Try to include rates like ROIs, time and cost per hour, the staff you oversee, reviews, error reductions, efficiency improvements, and employee retention time.
• While you don’t have to use an outline, we would recommend it, especially if you haven’t  written a resume  in a while.

Human Resources (HR) Generalist Resume

• Use small amounts of color (and different font types) to break up an otherwise-monotonous page of black text and draw attention to section headers.
• However, if you personalize your summary by calling out the employer and the role by name, as well as listing your most relevant achievements, you should add it in to help make a great first impression!

Human Resources (HR) Representative Resume

• While that’s understandable when you make a  resume outline , your resume must be polished and customized to highlight past experience that is applicable to the new job you desire.
• In general, we recommend including three to four work experience listings total so you can expand on each. Any more than four, and it starts to get pretty overwhelming!
• This way, you can quickly review your resume against the job description to create a resume  for every job for which you apply!

Human Resources (HR) Data Analyst Resume

• Always double (and even triple)  check your resume  for any typos or grammatical errors before you turn it in. Even areas that you think are perfect, like your Contact Information, might have a missed “t” or an extra period.
• We’d recommend having a friend or colleague read your resume, too, since they’re more likely to notice mistakes. 
• Font : are you using two fonts, one for your body text and one for your headers?
• Layout : is your resume easy to read? Do you have headers for each section? 
• Style : does your resume convey your personality? If not, consider adding some color and different font types, provided your resume is still readable afterwards.

Human Resources (HR) Benefits Specialist Resume

• Numbers will encourage hiring managers to slow down and carefully read your text. Plus, they take less space then words and can demonstrate your capabilities faster. So, if you want to demonstrate your capabilities quickly, use numbers! 
• For example, adding a  resume objective  usually isn’t the best option unless you’ve just changed careers or are starting out in the HR field.

Human Resources (HR) Business Partner Resume

• That internship you had back when pagers and Razr phones were a thing? Probably not relevant—instead, pick three to four recent positions where you’ve showcased your leadership abilities. 
• We’d recommend listing your experience in reverse-chronological order (aka putting your most recent work experience at the top) to increase the chances of making a good first impression right away.

Human Resources (HR) Recruitment Coordinator Resume

• That’s right. Your resume doesn’t need to be boring to command respect. In fact, a bold color can demonstrate confidence and individuality, which can make you an even more desirable candidate. 
• A note of caution: While more companies are valuing individuality and personality, there are times when muted colors (think deep navy, slate gray, or hunter green) may be more appropriate. This may be especially true if you’re applying to work in HR for a legal or investment firm.

Human Resources (HR) Specialist Resume

• If yes, use our human resources specialist resume to add a dedicated section where you can add certs and improve your chances of being hired.

Chief Human Resources (HR) Officer ( CHRO ) Resume

• With a cluttered template, you run the risk of leaving an employer overwhelmed and unsure of where to look on your resume. Using a clean template, like our Elegant, Official, Standout, or Professional templates, will let a recruiter focus on what’s important and help you put your best foot forward.

VP HR Resume

• If you’re applying for a senior-level position, like Vice President of HR, you’ve probably got a ton of experience under your belt. Still, your resume should ideally fit into one page, so select your most substantial achievements at each role to mention under your work experience in your VP HR resume.

Related resume guides

• Office Administrator
• Talent Acquisition
• Operations Manager

You could be an employer’s dream candidate, but you won’t be hired if your resume isn’t readable or logical. So before your professional resignation letter hits your current employer’s desk, walk through our guide on the top resume formats, what to include in your contact header, and how to make your HR resume readable for employers and ATS.

Top resume formats

The top three  resume formats  for 2024 are reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid. Each format showcases your aptitude for the job in different ways.

• Reverse-chronological : This format stresses your career progression by putting your most recent job at the top. It’s easy to skim, but it can reveal gaps in employment or career changes.
• Functional : Skills are the name of the game with this format, which highlights position-related and transferable skills alike. However, it can confuse ATS and recruiters since it’s not common.
• Combination/hybrid : It’s the best of both worlds with an in-depth skills section and a work history section, but it can be hard to format and isn’t ATS-friendly.

We believe the reverse-chronological format, as shown below, is the best choice for a human resources resume because it’s easy for ATS and recruiters to read quickly and tells a consistent, steady of your career.

Include the right details in your contact header

Your contact header is where you list (surprise, surprise) your contact information. In this section, you’ll want to include the following:

• Job title you’re seeking
• Email address
• Phone number
• City/State (optional)
• Professional links (optional but recommended)

Since your contact header is the first thing recruiters will read, you need to design it carefully. Place your contact header at the top of your resume, either centered or left-aligned, to make it easy to spot. If you’re struggling to fit everything, remove the optional elements or go down a font size.  Just make sure it’s no smaller than your resume body text . 

You should also adjust the color, font style, and layout. Giving your name a different font and a color block outline can showcase your personality and desired role. No matter what you do with your contact header, just ensure it’s easy to read and looks professionally appealing.

Our resume examples can offer inspiration if you’re struggling to format your contact header.

Make your HR resume readable for software and people

HR professionals know the hiring process is complex, so ATS can be a lifesaver when used well. That means that when you write your HR resume, keep ATS in mind to avoid getting the boot.

Our tips on formatting elements can help you format your resume to impress ATS and employers.

• Margins : Avoid margins smaller than half-inch or larger than one inch to give your resume a professional and clean appearance.
• Fonts : Sans-serif fonts are the best for ATS readability, but unusual fonts aren’t a good choice. Choose safe standards like Arial, Verdana, and Helvetica.
• Font sizes : Overly large or small fonts are overwhelming and hard to read. Use 10 or 12-point font sizes to keep reading a cinch.
• Header names : ATS systems aren’t programmed to recognize creative header names, so stick to industry standards like “work experience” and “skills.”
• Skills:  Include skill keywords listed on the job description to ensure your resume passes ATS inspection.
• Logical order : ATS and recruiters read resumes quickly, so organize your resume according to industry recommendations. Namely, put your contact header at the very top and put your work experience in the middle.
• One page : Recruiters have limited time to read endless qualifications, so keep your resume to a single page. 
• File type : Some ATS won’t recognize .dot, .txt, .jpg, or other file types that aren’t .docx. Submit your resume as a Word document and PDF to cover all your bases.

Write a Winning HR Resume

Writing an effective resume  is an overwhelming process, but human resource professionals can get it done in no time by writing only a section at a time.

In the following sections, we’ll introduce:

• Using an objective/summary effectively
• Listing your HR experience
• Choosing the appropriate skills
• Writing the education section and adding optional elements
• Tailoring your HR resume
• Editing your resume for maximum impact

Determine whether you should use an objective/summary

Many people will argue that a  resume objective  or summary is a waste of space that’s “me-centric.” Yet, a worthwhile objective or summary can showcase your qualifications and give a snapshot of  how  you can impact a business. 

Good objectives and summaries tell the recruiter why you should be hired in three sentences or less. They should highlight your skills while expressing how you’ll use your unique experience in the role for which you’re applying. 

Objectives are typically used when you’re changing careers or just starting out, and they focus on your strengths and transferable skills. Summaries are used for those who have been in their career field for some time, and they function as a snapshot of your long-standing career.

You may not need a summary or an objective, but if you do choose one, always tailor it to each job for which you apply. 

For example, generic objectives give nothing more than buzzwords like this:

• Talented human resources professional seeking new opportunities. Skilled at hiring, management, and communication.

This doesn’t tell the recruiter anything about the candidate’s unique experience (or  anything  about the candidate at all). A good objective is specific and personable, like this example:

• Compassionate and detail-driven HR professional with 3 years of experience. I want to use my interpersonal communication skills and conflict resolution abilities to increase employee satisfaction at CORE. My goal is always to foster relationships from the start of the onboarding process, resulting in a 15% decrease in ETR. 

Similar to the example above, notice how this savvy candidate tailors the career objective to the target business.

Summaries are excellent tools if you’re further along in your career. If you’re SHRM-SCP certified or have been in management for years, you should use a  summary for your resume . Summaries can be difficult, though, because you have to cram in years of experience, often resulting in something that looks like this:

• Experienced HR professional who is organized and passionate about people. I am certified and ready to bring my 10+ years of communication, training, and administration skills to your company. 

It’s not bad per se, but it’s vague and not tailored to the company. The one below gives examples of the applicant’s skills and what they’ll provide for their employer:

• Onboarding and employee training are my specialties as a PHR-certified manager with 10+ years of HR experience. I’m passionate about talent acquisition, coaching, interviewing, and compensation/benefits. I wish to use my skills to increase employee satisfaction and training effectiveness while decreasing time-to-hire and time-to-productivity at CORE.

Like the visual below, the above summary explains goals, specialties, and what the candidate can do for their future employer. When writing your objective or summary, make sure it’s detailed and concise to showcase your best qualities.

List your HR work experience

HR professionals wear a lot of hats, so it can be tempting to cram in as many past jobs as you can to showcase your adaptability and skills. This results in a resume that’s overloaded without a clear focus.

Instead, list  two to four of your most relevant job experiences . Doing so provides a clear story of your career and gives you room to expand on the responsibilities and skills you obtained from each position. 

If you lack formal job experience, list internships, volunteer/leadership work, and projects related to your desired HR position.

Write actionable bullet points

Bullet points are the bread and butter of your experience section, so your writing should be as specialized as possible in this area. Use active verbs and targeted language without resorting to personal pronouns to create the most impact. Consistency is key, so match your verb tenses and either use punctuation or avoid it altogether.

Excellent bullet points for an HR resume are distinct and concise. Use the following examples to help you craft amazing bullet points on your resume: 

• Enforced compliance with federal, state, and company employment laws
• Created individualized employee performance reviews in collaboration with management quarterly
• Educated employees on company policies, procedures, and compensation during employee training
• Established a standard set of onboarding processes, including interviewing, office setup, and software training

These bullet points showcase your specialized skills and highlight your accomplishments most effectively and efficiently. 

Harness the power of numbers

Metrics are frequently missed in HR resumes, but they’re a huge asset. They’re definitive proof that you’ve done your job well. So, you should aim to include metrics on 50 percent of your job description bullet points.

When discussing your job responsibilities, try to include some of the following  HR metrics :

• Improved time-to-hire
• Increased employee retention
• Increased employee satisfaction
• Increased employee performance

Below are some sample job description bullet points using the above metric types. 

• Established improved hiring processes, including quarterly job description updates, sourcing plans, and training/development opportunities for current staff, reducing the time to hire by 7 days
• Provided individualized guidance through weekly one-on-one meetings with new staff members, resulting in 13% higher employee retention than in previous years
• Distributed satisfaction surveys in meetings and incorporated feedback into procedures over 6 months, resulting in 50% higher satisfaction rates than the previous year
• Encouraged employees in weekly meetings with special shout-outs and consistently pointed employees to HRIS records in case of concerns regarding payroll, benefits, or training, resulting in 15% higher employee performance than the previous quarter

Choose your HR skills selectively

The skills section on an HR resume presents your attributes and qualifications in an easy way to read. Regardless of your experience, this section showcases why you’re the best candidate for the job because you possess the traits and knowledge the employer is seeking. 

This is why ATS prioritizes skill keywords to weed out candidates, so nailing this section is crucial. To ensure you stay on the recruiter’s list, choose skills that appear in the job description or those related to similar HR positions. 

Below are some good examples of hard and soft skills HR recruiters desire:

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Legal Compliance
• Conflict Resolution
• Performance Management
• Compensation and Benefits
• HRIS or HRMS
• PHR Certification
• Planning and Strategy

These  resume skills  show experience in multiple areas, like recruiting and payroll, while also listing some hard skills like ATS knowledge. 

Include education, and decide on optional sections

As displayed in the visual below, you’ll need to include education, as most HR positions require a BA in Human Resources Management or associated degrees. Depending on your education level, years in the workforce, and any specializations and certifications, you may need to include different sections on your resume.

For example, if you have multiple certifications, it may not be wise to crowd them all in your objective/summary. Instead, list them in your skills section. 

You may wonder if you should add a  hobbies and interests section to your resume , but most HR resumes shouldn’t include these. Interests and hobbies can be useful in tipping the scale in your favor, but most often, they don’t increase your chances significantly.

However, if the job description or ad mentions company culture or the importance of interests, you should include an interests and hobbies section. For example, if you apply for an entertainment company position, including your love of Harry Potter and Star Wars might be beneficial.

Adjust your HR resume accordingly

Every job is different, so each resume you submit should also be unique. Human resources jobs will have things in common, so you don’t need to revamp your resume completely. Still, pay attention to the differences with each position. Tailor your  objective/summary ,  your skills , and  your work experience bullet points  to match the job description or ad for every job to which you’ve applied.

Edit your HR resume for optimal impact

Although it’s tempting, don’t submit your resume right away! Even though it’s technically complete, there could be mistakes you’ve overlooked.

Walk away for a day or two and let others read it. Once you’ve refreshed your mind, come back and  check your resume  one last time for any errors. Then make the necessary changes until your HR resume is spotless.

Nail the interview and get hired

The last step is to celebrate and prepare for your interview! You can use our  resume checker  to upload your resume and check it against our AI-powered tips or use our  free resume maker , which allows you to create resumes from scratch. Just remember, whenever you apply for a job, you’ll want to tailor your resume again. Good luck—we’re rooting for you!

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How to Write Powerful and Memorable HR Resumes-Employee Development

7 rules to guide you through showcasing your talents and accomplishments

No matter how many hundreds, or even thousands, of resumes you've reviewed throughout your HR career, writing your own resume is always a challenge. It can be difficult to take a step back and look at your career objectively to identify what makes you uniquely qualified and distinctive from other candidates. Why are people going to remember you? Why will people want to hire you? What is your unique value to a new employer?

The answers to those questions and many others should be the foundation upon which you build your resume and brand yourself for new professional opportunities.

While there's no formula or single template to use in crafting an HR resume, there are certain guidelines that will help you write, format and design a resume that will showcase your greatest talents, accomplishments and value to a potential new employer. These seven "rules of the resume road" are applicable to all HR professionals, managers and executives.

1. Use a Well-Branded Headline

Of course, your resume will start with your name and contact information (phone number and live links to both your e-mail address and LinkedIn profile) prominently positioned at the top of the page. Immediately following that, include a headline statement that tells readers “who” you are professionally in regard to your current career objective. With just a quick glance, readers instantly recognize that you’re an HR generalist, an employee and benefits specialist, or a senior HR and organizational development executive.

Your headline statement replaces the now outdated “Career Summary” or “Professional Profile” heading that you may have used in the past to begin the summary section of your resume. Those headings don’t communicate any information, while your headline instantly does.

After you’ve written your headline, think about adding one or two subheadings to further define your expertise. Do you have an industry specialization? Any distinguishing credentials? Experience with a hot-button HR issue? With just a few words, you can quickly convey relevant and valuable information about yourself that will set you apart from other candidates.

In the two sample resumes that accompany this article, you’ll immediately notice the relevant headlines: “Human Resources Manager” for Leslie Grant , followed by three short, bulleted statements that summarize her key areas of expertise. (The resumes are both linked to each person’s name, and appear at the end of the article.)

For Loretta Danielson , we’ve used a three-line headline. The first line, “Human Resources Director,” positions her for the level of job she’s targeting; the second line communicates the breadth of her experience, from startups to high-growth organizations; and the third line, “Positioning HR as a Business Partner for Excellence,” is what we refer to as a branding statement, her unique value proposition.

One word of caution about headlines—and, in fact, about everything that you include in your resume. Be certain that what you are highlighting matches not only what you’ve done in the past but also what you want to do in the future. This is extremely important because you want readers to perceive you as a qualified and experienced candidate for the positions you’re currently targeting.

If you have extensive experience managing compensation and benefits, for example, but you don’t want that to be a major part of your next job, don’t highlight it with a headline. You can mention it as appropriate in the experience section, but don’t make the mistake of drawing attention to something you don’t want readers to focus on. Be selective and be strategic.

2. Share Details About the Organizations Where You’ve Worked

Help your readers understand the depth and breadth of your experience by providing details about the organizations where you’ve worked. You can cite the number of employees, the number of locations, the total annual company revenue, the specific business or industry, and other details that will give readers a frame of reference.

You’ll notice brief company descriptions on both of the resume samples we’re sharing. On Leslie’s resume, the information is integrated into the short paragraph immediately under each company’s name. On Loretta’s resume, the information is positioned right next to the company name.

No matter where you position the information, it’s valuable. Knowing where you’ve worked helps readers put everything into context and makes your experience and accomplishments all that more impressive.

Just as with your headline, be strategic. If you’ve worked only at very large public companies and now want to move to a small privately held business, the size of those companies might scare off your target employers. Think about your goals and add the details that make you a good fit for the companies, associations and/or other organizations where you want to work.

3. Emphasize Achievements

This is perhaps the most critical strategy in creating a powerful and memorable resume. Without specific achievements, your resume will sound much like that of any other HR professional who has similar experience.

While your knowledge and expertise are important, hiring managers want to know more. They want to know what you have done—how you have contributed to business objectives, how you have made a difference, what measurable results you have produced, how you’ve strengthened the HR organization, what you’ve done to improve company culture and more.

In the accompanying sample resumes, you will see both quantified and unquantified achievement bullets. It’s important to realize that both add value to the resume, so don’t feel that you must have a number or hard result for every bullet point.

In fact, HR professionals sometimes find it difficult to quantify achievements. After all, HR is not sales. But we encourage you to dig deep to find results wherever possible. Often if you ask yourself about the problem you solved—not just the activity, but why that activity was important to the business—you can find positive and perhaps measurable outcomes.

4. Highlight HR Keywords

You know how important keywords are for both human readers and electronic eyes scanning your resume. If you don’t include those all-important terms, you may be perceived as unqualified and your resume may be passed over. Don’t let that happen to you!

Look for opportunities to introduce keywords throughout your resume. You can create a “Core Competencies” or “Professional Skills Summary” at the top, but that’s not enough. You want keywords to be prevalent throughout every section of your resume.

Look at Leslie’s resume. When you read her Professional Experience section, you find a wealth of HR keywords in every sentence. What’s more, her resume isn’t loaded with lengthy “responsible for” statements. Rather, the keywords are seamlessly integrated into all of her achievement bullets so that readers gain clear and compelling evidence of her HR activities, expertise and value.

Next, look at Loretta’s resume. One of the first things you notice in the Professional Experience section are the bold keywords at the start of each bullet point. This is a very effective strategy both for increasing the keyword density of your resume and for making your resume highly “skimmable.” Readers immediately gain a sense of your expertise from a quick keyword scan, setting you apart from the competition.

5. Prepare Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

Carrying on with our discussion of the importance of keywords … as an HR professional you have an advantage over most candidates. You have the opportunity to look “under the hood” of an applicant tracking system (ATS) to see what happens in a typical keyword-driven resume review. Use that knowledge for your own benefit.

Because there are so many ATSs, and because candidate searches are conducted by humans who have their own habits and preferences, you can’t guarantee a perfect result from every ATS scan. But you can—and should—follow best practices for formatting your resume, integrating keywords and increasing keyword density.

For example, in Loretta’s resume you’ll note that the acronyms after her name are later spelled out fully in the appropriate section of the resume. “SHRM-SCP” becomes “Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional” under the Education & Professional Credentials section. This gives her a greater chance of being found in a computerized keyword scan, regardless of the exact term the hiring manager inputs for a specific search.

6. Share What Makes You Special

Obviously, your professional experience and educational credentials are vital in positioning you as a well-qualified candidate. However, there are many other items you can—and should—include in your resume if relevant to your career. These items add further value, distinction and qualification.

Be certain to include any of these that are relevant to you: Professional credentials (e.g., SHRM-SCP); professional affiliations (e.g., SHRM, OD Network); board of director appointments and other leadership posts; presentations and public speaking engagements; media features and quotes; and publications. We recommend that you focus the above on professional activities and exclude common civic and/or community-based affiliations. Resume “real estate”—just one or two pages—is extremely valuable, so you want to be certain that each line of text adds strength to your candidacy.

7. Write Tight, Lean and Clean

Clean, clear, concise writing is the hallmark of a powerful and modern resume. Readers simply don’t have the time or inclination to wade through irrelevant experiences, fluffy adjectives, unnecessary details and other “filler” that weighs down many resumes. No one writes tight, lean and clean on the first pass. It requires repeated review, careful editing, and a constant focus on strategy and goals to determine what’s important to include and what does not support your professional brand and your current career objectives. In addition to tight writing, pay attention to how your resume is formatted. Avoid dense paragraphs (anything longer than three or four lines) and allow ample white space to create an inviting document that rewards readers, whether they come for a quick skim or a more thorough read.

Moving Forward

These seven guidelines to writing powerful, impactful and memorable HR resumes cover just some of the many things you can do to create a resume that will work for you and distinguish you from the crowd of other applicants, many of whom are also well-qualified. Constantly remind yourself that you’re writing to the future—to the positions that you’re targeting—and emphasize the relevant skills, experiences, achievements, keywords and results.

If you can focus on what matters most, showcase what’s unique about you and your career, and design a resume that’s sharp and distinctive, chances are you will get noticed, you will get interviewed and, we hope, you will get hired.

Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark are both Master Resume Writers (MRW), Job & Career Transition Coaches (JCTC), and Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRW). Separately and together, they have authored 40-plus books on resumes, cover letters, keywords and career management, including the recently released Modernize Your Resume: Get Noticed … Get Hired (Emerald Career Publishing, 2016) ( www.emeraldcareerpublishing.com ). Reach them by e-mail at wendy@wendyenelow.com or louise@louisekursmark.com .

Resume Samples

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Human Resources Resume Samples

How to write a Human Resources Resume

Human Resource is an Executive job that relies on communication skills , culture, empathy, analysis, and important technical skills to strengthen the backbone of every organization around the world. If you want to upgrade your HR Resume to impress the recruiter, the first step is to collect Human Resources Resume Samples .

Your resume is the first interaction you will have with the hiring manager .  The role of an HR Executive involves many traits, skills, and technical prowess. To draft a resume that contains the right skills and a tint of exceptionality, you need rigorous preparation of assessing HR resume sample templates .

As a candidate, you need to assess the style, tone, focus and formatting style of current HR Resumes to design a flawless resume that passes the first test.  Sifting through multiple resume samples will teach you the right way to include your educational qualifications to professional achievements as a professional. Moreover, multiple templates of HR resumes also enlighten the common errors you can avoid when writing on your own.

With our instructional guidance and your exceptional HR traits, drafting a technical sound and enticing the HR resume is effortless. Before starting your final draft, recollect that your motive is to create a unique and captivating CV that fits the needs of the employer.

Table of Contents

Human resources resume headline examples, human resources resume career objective examples, human resources resume summary statement examples, action verbs to use in human resources resume.

• How to present Skills Section in Human Resources Resume

Human Resources Resume Achievements Examples

• How to write Education Section in Human Resources Resume

Career Prospects in the Industry

The header, title or headline in a Human Resources resume is a brief phrase that reflects your exceptional professional skills as an HR executive indispensable to the employer’s needs. Place the header on top of the CV under the name and contact information to highlight the perfect qualifications that advocate you best for the job in need.

If you’re an experienced or Senior HR Executive, use the headline to condense multiple technical skills and extensive experience relevant to the job. In addition to outwitting the other candidates, your headline must quickly impress the hiring manager. Go through these examples of sample Human Resources Resumes before deciding on a quick phrase

• Senior HR Manager with 5+ Years Experience in Staff Improvement, Customer Service and Supervision of Staffing Issues
• Exceptional Human Resources Specialist seasoned in Virtual Staff Management , Continuous Improvement, and Recruitment since 7+ Years
• Bi-Lingual HR Graduate with a dedicated column in National Dailies and Emphatic Online Presence
• Detail-Oriented Healthcare HR Specialist with 4+ Years of Offshore Hospital Experience as an HR Assistant
• Enthusiastic and Confident HR Executive with Dual-Degrees and Honorary National Mention in Community Service
• Motivated Human Resources Consultant with 9+ Years of Organizing, Operating and Managing International Fast Food Chains
• Deadline-driven HR Specialist with 7+ Expertise in Modern Team Management Training, HR Policies and Market Reach
• Dedicated Human Resource Coordinator adept in 401 (k) administration , Staffing Issues and FMLA
• Confident Human Resource Manager with 11+ Years of Practical Wisdom in Regulatory Compliances, Hiring, Retention and Superlative Employee Relations
• Talented HR Training Manager with 4+ Years Experience in Hiring, Training and Improving the Employee Output for Supermarkets and Global Franchises

HR Generalist

The motive of a career objective in any professional HR Resume is to highlight your career direction and professional expertise useful to the employer. The career objective of an HR must be well-researched and bold to woo the reader.

In short, avoid making your career objective too generic, personal or plea-like. An ideal objective from Human Resources Resumes samples advocates listing your past career experience and future goals of being an HR with technical terminologies.

• Multi-faceted Human Resources Development Manager deft at progress tracking, team building, employee management and recruitment procedures for XYZ Corporate
• To obtain the position of HR Manager in order to apply my mastery of Coaching, Strategic Planning, and Team Building Relationships to improve the internal relations
• Goal-Oriented HR Recruiter with Expert Communication and Negotiation Traits seeking an opportunity to improve the Global Relations of Caesar & Co
• To leverage my academic excellence of five years in Human Resource Management and Business Development as the HR Head of E-Commerce Websites
• Hardworking HR Specialist with a Proven Track record of Drafting Standardized Disciplinary Rules for new businesses

The profile statement in an HR Resume presents the gist of your technical qualifications that emphasizes your qualifications for the position offered. A good summary statement is a quick synopsis of your core competencies. It is a hook that pulls the manager to review the remnant sections of your resume right away.

Your summary statement must comply with the needs of your recruiter in a confident and technically sound tone. Go through the following Human Resources Resume samples summary statement to draft a professional resume that takes the limelight at the hiring desk!

• Versatile Human Resources Expert with fifteen years of experience in recruitment and training aspiring to replace Hiring Agencies and add to the profits of XYZ as the HR Manager
• Energetic and Charming HR Coordinator with a proven record of increasing Staff Productivity through Innovative learning events aspiring to improve the inner working of XYZ as HR Chief
• Efficient, Reliable and Accomplished HR Specialist with a knack for continuous improvement of employee-client relations who thrives under pressure aiming to collaborate with small local businesses
• Results-Oriented Human Resources Manager with Extensive Experience in Project Outreach, Team Building, Staffing, and Orientation. Seeking the position of HR Manager to improve and standardize Staff Codes for local firms
• Amiable HR Coordinator with a history of improving Sales and Employee Management for IT Firms hoping to improve the staffing relations, issues and incentive at Electronic-Traffic Systems

How to write Experience Section in Human Resources Resume

Your experience in the HR industry is the most valuable information for a hiring manager as it proves your professional record of being beneficial to the recruiter.  The official format recommends using bulleted short points in lieu of elaborate narratives.

When listing your past employers, ensure that you correctly furnish the contact, financial worth, and nature of the business, alongside the time stamp. If you have gap years in the experience section of your Human Resources resume, it is better to avoid the timestamp on all the other jobs too. Yet another important tip to draft a striking experience section in an HR Resume is by removing jobs completed prior to a decade, due to technological differences. In case you want to mention an honorable job experience prior to ten years, condense it into bullet points.

It is necessary to cite your creative accomplishments from past jobs as HR personnel to reflect your technical efficiency. Spanning from increasing employee retention above 90% within the target by innovative workspace renovation to productive coffee breaks, you must not forget the core Human Resource Technical skills pivotal to the recruiter.

For your past achievements and duties, use the past tense of the below action verbs, prominently seen in professional Human Resources Resume Samples-

• Collaborate

How to present the Skills Section in Human Resources Resume

Core Skills in skills section in a Human Resources Resume portrays you as a vital and competent HR Professional to the hiring committee. The skills section in an HR Resume must be outstanding and engrossing with technical terminologies relevant to the job you’re applying for. From your achievements of recruiting 100 IT Professionals from diverse Educational Institutions in one day to the ability to draft detail-oriented employee incentives are effective alternatives to prove your deftness as an HR Executive.

The technical skill section in a resume refers to technical management skills learned over the years of studying and working in Human Resources. Processes such as your experience with Microsoft Office, Adobe, WordPress, Kronos, HRIS, Quickbooks, Workday and Basecamp are exceptionally attractive to Hiring Managers. Bonus technical skills establish your passion for the field. In addition, ensure that your skills section consists of brief bullet points relevant to the HR roles and duties.

The highlight of your professional prowess in the HR resume belongs to the practical or applied achievements. You must list your career accomplishments pertaining to the job, in a condensed form using technical terminologies. Your expertise in the Human Resources department decides the placement of your Achievements in a professional resume.

Hiring Managers scan through endless resumes to find ones that qualify their criteria of experience. Listing successful professional achievements by mentioning specific duties as an HR in your past jobs will impress the recruiter.

According to sample Human Resources Resumes , you must avoid listing references on the same page as achievements.

How to write the Education Section in Human Resources Resume

Your educational section decides your technical foundation for being a Human Resource Executive. Depending on your academic records, you can be descriptive or brief about your educational qualifications. It is best to mention your GPA along with the University or College Details in addition to the Specialization Degree.

If you have a meritorious academic record, published papers or thesis, the latest samples of Human Resources Resumes can help you make the most out of it in this section. Provided that you dropped out of your degree course, mention the name of the institution without the time stamp or GPA. Avoid congesting the education section with professional certifications and reports.

Human Resources Resume Writing Tips

Some important guidelines from Human Resources Sample resume create a professional resume are-

• An ideal way to draft an HR Resume is by maintaining a professional tone in your resume. Avoid using personal pronouns including “me” or “I” if you want to crack the ‘Yes’ Pile on the hiring desk.
• Another prominent doubt amongst most amateur HR Resume writers is the length of the resume. Unless your recruiter has specified the length, it is ideal to maintain an organized resume that lists important achievements and skills than shortening it.
• Depending on your expertise as an HR in previous jobs, your focus of the resume must change. If you’re a newbie, educational qualifications must be the focus. Updated Human Resources Samples advocate Experienced HR Executives to focus on career feats ahead of professional achievements.
• Career objective in a professional Human Resources Resume must be unique and customized to answer the needs of the hiring manager. It must impress the manager and portray a professional portfolio filled with technical skills and mastery as an HR.
• Where do you add the education section? Depending on whether you are a newbie or an experienced HR Professional, add the education section before or after the achievement section. Also, begin the education section in the professional HR resume by listing the highest acquired degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career prospects in Human Resources are shooting up every day. BLS advocates the key jobs in Human Resources as the Manager and Specialist with varying annual wage. HR Manager Occupations are leading with a growth rate of 9% and HR Specialists lock the growth rate of 7% until 2024.

Human Resources Resumes Samples vouch core HR skills like communication, negotiation, and arbitration. Ideally, an entry-level Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources suffices in ensuring a credible position in HR Category of jobs. Managers in the field earn up to $125,000 per annum while an HR Specialist earns up to $80,000 per annum.

Samples of Human Resources Resumes are helpful to learn tweaks to create a profile that woos the hiring manager quickly. Before beginning your fair resume writing, pick a format that applies well to your facts, skills and achievements. Two popular formatting options in professional resumes are chronological and functional. The chronological section refers to the time-stamped organization of your points while a functional resume arranges career achievements ahead of professional glories.

For HR Executives with wide experience, chronological format helps in listing numerous technical skills in a compact space while those with gap years must restrict to a functional format of writing the resume.

Resume Samples by Job-Title

• • Developed HR strategies that contributed to a 15% increase in employee engagement scores across the organization
• • Implemented talent acquisition processes improving retention by 20% and reducing hiring time by 25%
• • Spearheaded a diversity and inclusion initiative resulting in a 40% increase in minority representation within the leadership team
• • Facilitated leadership development programs, boosting management performance metrics by 30%
• • Conducted comprehensive compensation and benefits analysis to ensure market competitiveness, influencing a 10% reduction in turnover
• • Managed complex employee relations cases, maintaining a 99% resolution rate without escalation to legal action
• • Orchestrated the rollout of a new performance management system for a region of over 1,000 employees
• • Led succession planning processes, identifying and developing high-potential employees for future leadership roles
• • Drove HR policy compliance, decreasing infractions by 35% through targeted training initiatives
• • Coordinated with senior management to realign HR strategies supporting business objectives
• • Improved employee satisfaction metrics by 18% through the introduction of flexible working options
• • Managed a portfolio of HR projects leading to a 50% improvement in process efficiency
• • Administered benefits programs, ensuring 100% compliance with regulatory standards
• • Collaborated on the development of an employee wellness program that reduced healthcare costs by 12%
• • Delivered HR analytics reports that informed leadership decisions, optimizing workforce planning

20 Human Resources Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your HR resume must capture your expertise in people management. It should clearly outline your ability to navigate complex employment laws. Demonstrate your knack for talent acquisition and retention within your resume. Showcase any successful initiatives that improved workplace culture or efficiency.

All resume examples in this guide

Human Resources Intern

Entry-Level Human Resources

Junior Human Resources

Human Resources Coordinator

Human Resources Representative

Human Resources Data Analyst

Human Resources Benefits Specialist

Human Resources Specialist

Chief Human Resources Officer

Contracts Manager

Diversity And Inclusion Manager

HR Assistant

HR Business Partner

HR Director

HR Generalist

Human Resources Consultant

Resume Guide

Resume Format Tips

Resume Experience

Skills on Resume

Education & Certifications

Resume Summary Tips

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

One specific resume challenge faced by HR professionals is sifting through the high volume of applicants to find the most qualified candidates. Our comprehensive guide outlines efficient screening techniques and key criteria to consider, helping you streamline the process and pinpoint top talent with greater accuracy.

• Sample industry-leading professional resumes for inspiration and hr resume-writing know-how.
• Focus recruiters' attention on what matters most - your unique experience, achievements, and skills.
• Write various resume sections to ensure you meet at least 95% of all job requirements.
• Balance your hr technical expertise with personality to stand out amongst candidates.

If the hr resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:

• Transition Manager Resume Example
• HR Analyst Resume Example
• HR Generalist Resume Example
• Talent Manager Resume Example
• HR Business Partner Resume Example
• Contracts Manager Resume Example
• HR Director Resume Example
• Continuous Improvement Manager Resume Example
• District Manager Resume Example
• Recruiter Resume Example

HR resume format made simple

You don't need to go over the top when it comes to creativity in your HR resume format .

What recruiters care about more is the legibility of your HR resume, alongside the relevancy of your application to the role.

That's why we're presenting you with four simple steps that could help your professional presentation check all the right boxes:

• The reverse-chronological resume format is the one for you, if you happen to have plenty of relevant (and recent) professional experience you'd like to showcase. This format follows a pretty succinct logic and puts the focus on your experience.
• Keep your header simple with your contact details; a headline that details the role you're applying for or your current job; and a link to your portfolio.
• Ensure your resume reaches an up-to-two-page limit, only if you happen to be applying for a more senior role or you have over a decade of relevant experience.
• Save your HR resume as a PDF to retain its structure and presentation.

Upload & Check Your Resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.

The key to your hr job-winning resume - present your expertise with these sections:

• A header to make your resume more scannable
• Snapshot of who you are as a professional with your resume soft skills, achievements, and summary or objective
• Job advert keywords in the skills section of your resume
• Resume experience quantifying your past job successes with metrics
• A relevant education, certification, and technical sills section to provide background to your technological/software capabilities

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in HR laws and regulations
• Proven track record in talent acquisition, employee retention strategies, and workforce management
• Strong proficiency in HRIS (Human Resource Information System) and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills with a focus on fostering positive employee relations
• Experience in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures that align with the company's strategic goals

Essential tips for crafting your hr resume experience section

The experience section is indeed the core of your hr resume . It's where you present your past and current job roles. But how should you approach this crucial part?

A common error is treating the experience section as merely a list of job duties. Many candidates fall into the trap of detailing what they did without illustrating the impact of their actions.

To effectively write your hr resume experience section, consider these guidelines:

• Emphasize your achievements, supported by concrete metrics such as percentages, revenue increases, or customer satisfaction rates;
• Avoid using generic buzzwords like communication, hard work, or leadership. Instead, demonstrate how these skills added value in your previous roles;
• Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb, followed by a skill, and then the result of your actions;
• Tailor your resume for each job application by selecting the most relevant experiences, responsibilities, and successes.

We have an array of resume examples that illustrate how to optimally curate your hr resume experience section.

• Led the implementation of a comprehensive HRIS system, improving personnel data management and accessibility for a 1,000+ employee organization.
• Cultivated a company culture that reduced annual employee turnover by 25% through targeted retention strategies and enhancing employee engagement programs.
• Managed a cross-functional team that redesigned the performance evaluation process to align with strategic goals, increasing overall workforce productivity by 15%.
• Streamlined recruitment processes to fill an average of 100+ positions annually, while maintaining a diversity hire rate of 30%.
• Negotiated health and benefits contracts resulting in a cost reduction of 20% without compromising employee benefits.
• Delivered comprehensive training programs for leadership development, reaching over 500 managers and executives, improving leadership effectiveness across the company.
• Implemented a talent acquisition strategy that saw an increase in qualified candidate flow by 40%, significantly cutting down the time to hire.
• Developed a successful employer branding campaign, enhancing the company’s image and attractiveness to potential talent in a competitive market.
• Spearheaded an employee wellness initiative that led to a 30% decrease in reported stress-related absences.
• Coordinated with department heads to create a unified onboarding experience, reducing new hire ramp-up time by 40%.
• Optimized HR operational processes using Lean Six Sigma methodologies, resulting in a 25% increase in department efficiency.
• Championed a diversity and inclusion program that increased minority representation in leadership roles by 18% within the company.
• Administered benefits enrollment for over 500 employees, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations and achieving a 98% satisfaction rate.
• Collaborated with senior leadership to develop a succession planning framework that identified and prepared high-potential employees for advancement.
• Conducted comprehensive job analyses and revised job descriptions for 200+ roles to reflect current needs and industry standards.
• Facilitated the transformation of the performance management system, incorporating continuous feedback mechanisms that improved employee morale and productivity.
• Orchestrated a company-wide salary benchmarking exercise, leading to a more competitive compensation structure and a 10% decrease in salary-related grievances.
• Initiated an upskilling program for the HR team focused on data analytics, resulting in enhanced reporting capabilities and informed decision-making.
• Played a pivotal role in expanding the company's workforce by 50% over a three-year period, through strategic talent acquisition and workforce planning.
• Reduced HR-related inquiries to management by 60% by implementing a self-service employee portal and comprehensive FAQ repository.
• Launched a mentorship program that paired junior and senior employees, leading to increased cross-departmental collaboration and knowledge transfer.
• Directed the global mobility program, successfully relocating 50+ employees internationally while ensuring legal compliance and high satisfaction rates.
• Developed and executed an analytics-driven recruitment campaign using social media and advanced data tools, improving reach by 200% and applicant quality by 35%.
• Created a comprehensive employee assistance program which led to a significant improvement in employee well-being and a reduction in health-related absences by 20%.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Include the number of employees you've successfully recruited and onboarded to demonstrate your ability to fill positions efficiently.
• State the percentage decrease in employee turnover after implementing new retention strategies to highlight your influence on staff satisfaction.
• Specify the average time saved per recruitment cycle through your optimized processes, showcasing operational efficiency.
• Mention the exact amount of money saved by negotiating better rates with benefits providers or other HR vendors.
• Quantify the increase in employee engagement scores as a result of HR initiatives you have led or contributed to.
• Report the number of training sessions conducted and the total number of employees trained to establish your impact on workforce development.
• Present the diversity statistics before and after your inclusion efforts to underline your commitment to creating a balanced workplace.
• Reveal the scale of HR projects managed, such as the number of locations or departments involved, to convey your capability to handle complex tasks.

Action verbs for your hr resume

HR resume without experience: a walk-through guide

If you don't happen to have any relevant experience yet, you can substitute this with:

• Short-term gigs and stunts - like month-long internships, that you have done during your university days
• Contract work - be specific about the relevance and outcomes of each role you include
• Resume format that prioritizes your skills - the functional-skill-based format or hybrid format could work
• Research roles - feature those especially prominently if you've participated in a noteworthy project or your role was of utmost importance to the project's success.

Recommended reads:

• How to List GPA on Your Resume
• How To List Certifications On A Resume (Examples Included)

Bringing your hr hard skills and soft skills to the forefront of recruiters' attention

Hard skills are used to define the technological (and software) capacities you have in the industry. Technical skills are easily defined via your certification and expertise.

Soft skills have more to do with your at-work personality and how you prosper within new environments. People skills can be obtained thanks to your whole life experience and are thus a bit more difficult to define.

Why do recruiters care about both types of skills?

Hard skills have more to do with job alignment and the time your new potential employers would have to invest in training you.

Soft skills hint at how well you'd adapt to your new environment, company culture, and task organization.

Fine-tune your resume to reflect on your skills capacities and talents:

• Avoid listing basic requirements (e.g. "Excel"), instead substitute with the specifics of the technology (e.g. "Excel Macros").
• Feature your workplace values and ethics as soft skills to hint at what matters most to you in a new environment.
• Build a separate skills section for your language capabilities, only if it makes sense to the role you're applying for.
• The best way to balance hr hard and soft skills is by building a strengths or achievements section, where you define your outcomes via both types of skills.

There are plenty of skills that could make the cut on your resume.

That's why we've compiled for you some of the most wanted skills by recruiters, so make sure to include the technologies and soft skills that make the most sense to you (and the company you're applying for):

Top skills for your hr resume:

Employee Relations

HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems)

Performance Management

Recruitment/Talent Acquisition

Compensation and Benefits

Employment Law Compliance

Training and Development

HR Policy Formulation

Workforce Planning

Diversity and Inclusion Strategies

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Negotiation

Adaptability

Time Management

Conflict Resolution

Decision-Making

HR-specific certifications and education for your resume

Place emphasis on your resume education section . It can suggest a plethora of skills and experiences that are apt for the role.

• Feature only higher-level qualifications, with details about the institution and tenure.
• If your degree is in progress, state your projected graduation date.
• Think about excluding degrees that don't fit the job's context.
• Elaborate on your education if it accentuates your accomplishments in a research-driven setting.

On the other hand, showcasing your unique and applicable industry know-how can be a literal walk in the park, even if you don't have a lot of work experience.

Include your accreditation in the certification and education sections as so:

• Important industry certificates should be listed towards the top of your resume in a separate section
• If your accreditation is really noteworthy, you could include it in the top one-third of your resume following your name or in the header, summary, or objective
• Potentially include details about your certificates or degrees (within the description) to show further alignment to the role with the skills you've attained
• The more recent your professional certificate is, the more prominence it should have within your certification sections. This shows recruiters you have recent knowledge and expertise

At the end of the day, both the education and certification sections hint at the initial and continuous progress you've made in the field.

And, honestly - that's important for any company.

Below, discover some of the most recent and popular HR certificates to make your resume even more prominent in the applicant pool:

The top 5 certifications for your hr resume:

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) - HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) - HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
• Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) - Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) - Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) - HR Certification Institute (HRCI)

Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.

• How to List a Major & Minor on Your Resume (with Examples)

Deciding between a resume summary or objective for your hr role

Understanding the distinction between a resume summary and an objective is crucial for your hr resume.

A resume summary, typically three to five sentences long, offers a concise overview of your career . This is the place to showcase your most pertinent experience, key accomplishments, and skills. It's particularly well-suited for those with professional experience relevant to the job requirements.

In contrast, a resume objective focuses on how you can add value to potential employers. It addresses why they should hire you and outlines your career expectations and learning goals. Therefore, it's ideal for candidates with less experience.

In the following section of our guide, explore how resume summaries and objectives differ through some exemplary industry-specific examples.

Resume summaries for a hr job

• Seasoned HR professional with over a decade of experience specializing in talent acquisition and employee relations across various industries. An expert in deploying HRM systems, keen analytical aptitude, and proficient in legal compliance, having successfully navigated challenging legal disputes and reduced company risk through meticulous policy development.
• Versatile leader transitioning from a senior management role in retail to human resources bringing 15 years of team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning skills. Skilled at fostering a collaborative work environment and recognized for exceptional ability to drive operational efficiency through effective personnel management.
• High-achieving marketing executive seeking to leverage extensive background in campaign coordination and cross-functional team management into a human resources career. Distinguished for catalyzing revenue growth by 200% through innovative strategy implementation, ready to enhance employee engagement and retention with data-driven approach.
• Dedicated customer service supervisor with 8 years in managing dynamic teams in high-pressure environments, aiming to transition into human resources to focus on workforce development and organizational culture enhancement. Proven track record in improving customer satisfaction rates and adept at identifying training needs.
• Aspiring HR coordinator eager to apply a fresh perspective and keen understanding of interpersonal communications honed from a history in educational settings. Looking to contribute passion for talent development and employee support to initiate rewarding workplace dynamics in line with cutting-edge HR practices.
• Graduate with a Bachelor’s in Psychology intent on launching a career in Human Resources, armed with a rich blend of academic knowledge and internship experience. Exceptional listener and communicator, poised to delve into employee relations, talent management, and organizational development to foster a welcoming and efficient work environment.

Other hr resume sections to support your expertise and skills

Recruiters are always on the lookout for that hr candidate who brings about even more value to the role.

This can be either via their personality or additional accreditations they have across the industry.

Add to your resume any of the four sections that fit your profile:

• Projects for your most impressive, cutting-edge work;
• Awards or recognitions that matter the most;
• Publications further building up your professional portfolio and accreditations;
• Hobbies and interests to feature the literature you read, how you spend your time outside of work, and other personality traits you deem may help you stand out .

Key takeaways

We've reached the end of our hr resume guide and hope this information has been useful. As a summary of our key points:

• Always assess the job advert for relevant requirements and integrate those buzzwords across various sections of your hr resume by presenting tangible metrics of success;
• Quantify your hard skills in your certificates and skills section, while your soft skills in your resume achievements section;
• Ensure you've added additional relevant experience items, such as extracurricular activities and projects you've participated in or led;
• Use both your resume experience and summary to focus on what matters the most to the role: including your technical, character, and cultural fit for the company.

Looking to build your own HR resume?

• Resume Examples

Frequently asked questions about HR resumes

How long should i make my hr resume, what is the best format for an hr resume, which hr skills are most important to add to your resume, should i include a summary or objective in my hr resume, can i use an hr resume template, how can i make my hr resume stand out, 3 steps to write a killer ecommerce resume, how to list publications on a resume: a guide for researchers, how to show recruiters you're willing to relocate on your resume, cv d'une page : 3 exemples pour en illustrer l'impact, does having color on my resume affect my chance of getting hired, how do left-brainers and right-brainers organize their new year’s resolutions.

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Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

Hr professional linkedin headline examples.

Approved by LinkedIn experts and recruiters, these HR Professional LinkedIn headlines will make sure you attract the right prospects and recruiters to your profile. Optimized for 2024's LinkedIn algorithms.

Table of contents

Hr professional linkedin headlines.

Passion Drives Engagement

Expressing passion about fostering company cultures can be a magnet for like-minded HR professionals and companies. It shows your drive and dedication in this field.

Be Specific About Your Expertise

Stating your expertise in areas like Performance Management, Employee Benefits, & Conflict Resolution gives a clear picture of what you bring to the table. This helps others understand your capabilities better.

Demonstrate your knowledge

When you outline key areas of your expertise like 'Employment Law, Talent Acquisition, HR Policies', you are showcasing your knowledge and proficiency, which can make you more appealing to potential employers.

Showcase your Experience

Stating that you're 'experienced in fostering positive work environments' adds a dimension of emotional intelligence to your profile. It shows you're not just about policy but also about people, and that's crucial in a field like HR.

Highlighting Specialization

Claiming your niche in areas like HR Technology, Labour Relations & Organizational Development, can make your profile more appealing. It tells potential employers or clients not just what you do, but how you have specialized your skills.

Showcase Your Values

Stating your commitment to creating diverse & inclusive workplaces gives a sense of your values. It speaks volumes about what you stand for and can attract like-minded professionals or organizations.

Past Experience Adds Credibility

Mentioning your past role at a reputable company such as Hilton Hotels boosts your credibility. It serves as a testament of your skills and the trust placed in you by notable organizations.

Specialize in trending HR areas

Specializing in 'Training and Development, HR Analytics' shows you're up to date with current trends in HR. These areas are highly relevant in today's data-driven, fast-changing world of work. It makes you more appealing to modern, forward-thinking companies.

Highlight transformational achievements

By stating you've 'Transformed underperforming teams', you're positioning yourself as a change agent. It shows you're not just about maintaining the status quo, but about driving improvement and making a real difference.

Focus on strategic HR tasks

By mentioning 'Managing Employee Relations, Compensation, and Benefits', you're positioning yourself as someone who deals with strategic HR tasks, not just admin work. It gives a sense of your capabilities and the level of responsibilities you can handle.

State your professional identity

Identifying yourself explicitly as an 'HR Professional' is a good move. It places you firmly in your chosen field and makes it easier for others in the same field to find and connect with you.

Leverage previous roles

Mentioning your previous role as an 'HR Manager at Oracle' serves as a proof of your professional standing and experience. It shows you've handled responsibilities in a well-known company, which adds weight to your profile.

Highlight tech-savvy HR skills

Highlighting skills in HRIS, Onboarding, and HCM reveals you're comfortable with technology in HR. In this digital age, HR tech skills are a big plus. It increases your chances of being spotted by recruiters hunting for tech-savvy HR professionals.

Showcase measurable achievements

Stating that you 'Increased retention rates by 15% in a previous role' is a powerful statement. It shows you're result-oriented and have a track record of making a positive impact. Plus, it's a quantifiable achievement, and numbers always catch the eye.

Highlight your years of experience

'7+ years handling HR Management' gives an immediate sense of your experience level, which can be a key factor for recruiters and hiring managers. It shows that you've likely encountered and solved a variety of HR challenges.

List your core skills

Listing 'Recruitment, Labor Relations, Performance Management' as your core skills, shows recruiters that you have wide-ranging HR capabilities. It also helps with searchability, as these are common keywords in HR job descriptions.

Mention your previous roles

Stating 'Prev: HR Associate at IBM' can impress potential employers by showcasing that you've worked at a reputed company. It also helps to establish a career trajectory, showing that you've progressed in your HR career.

Focus on Area of Interest

Highlighting your focus on Training & Development, Workforce Planning & Career Development draws attention to your specific interests within the HR field. It can attract connections who value these same areas.

Advocacy Shows Character

Asserting your advocacy for employee rights and labor laws gives a sense of your character. It can resonate with like-minded individuals and organizations.

Punchy Expertise

Outlining your expertise in Change Management, HR Policies & Compliance, is like setting out your stall. It can help people quickly understand your areas of strength.

Highlight Big-Name Experience

Mentioning your prior experience at Amazon can increase your credibility. LinkedIn users often use company names as keywords when searching, so this can boost your visibility.

Assert Your Niche

Identifying yourself as a Recruitment & Retention Specialist establishes your unique focus within the HR field. This can catch the attention of those who are specifically looking for this skill set.

Mention Relevant Skills

Listing unique skills, such as Implementation of HRIS systems & Employee Onboarding, lets your audience know the specific areas you handle. It can help you appear in searches for these terms.

Leverage Past Experience

Referencing your past role managing HR operations at IBM adds weight to your profile. It showcases your experience handling HR at a large, reputable company.

Chief HR Officer LinkedIn Headlines

Highlight your leadership skills

Listing 'Strategic HR' and 'HR Leadership' as your skills showcases your ability to steer an HR team in the right direction. This is particularly important for a senior HR role and can attract companies looking for a seasoned HR leader.

Showcase your passion

Expressing passion for leading teams towards success can connect with potential employers on an emotional level. This can create a positive impression and make your profile memorable.

Entry Level HR Professional LinkedIn Headlines

Display your skills

As an entry-level professional, it's crucial to highlight your skills like 'Employee Onboarding, HR Administration & HR Software Tools'. It reassures potential employers that you have the needed skills to hit the ground running.

Show your enthusiasm

As a newbie, your eagerness to contribute like 'building engaged and dynamic teams' signals to potential employers your readiness to jump in. It shows that you aren't just looking for a job, but a space to make a difference.

Global HR Professional LinkedIn Headlines

Highlight your skills

Highlighting skills like 'Global HRM' or 'Talent Acquisition' right at the start of your headline ensures that these key skills are not overlooked. It also improves your visibility in LinkedIn search results when these skills are used as search criteria.

Show your impact

Sharing an achievement like "Fostered international team collaboration" serves as a teaser for your profile, inviting others to learn more about how you've made a difference. This can serve as a compelling reason for others to engage with you further.

HR Administrator LinkedIn Headlines

Show off your admin skills

Focusing on areas like 'Staffing' and 'HR Reporting' showcases your administrative skills. This signals to potential employers that you have a handle on the day-to-day tasks of this role. It makes you an attractive prospect for an employer who values efficiency in their HR operations.

Establish your reputation

Being 'known for streamlining HR Workflows, HRIS Management & Employee Records Management' sets you apart as someone who's not only skilled, but also has a proven track record. This can enhance your credibility and make you an attractive candidate for employers in need of experienced HR professionals.

Share your professional aspiration

When you say, 'I strive to develop a collaborative and transparent work culture', you're showing that you're proactive and goal-oriented. This can resonate with employers who prioritize a collaborative culture and transparency in their organizations.

HR Advisor LinkedIn Headlines

Job title as a keyword.

Using your current job title, like 'HR Advisor', as a keyword in your headline increases your visibility in search results. This is because LinkedIn's algorithm gives weight to job titles. Moreover, recruiters often search by job titles to find potential candidates. So, make sure to include your current or targeted job title in your headline.

Display your legal knowledge

Stating your expertise in areas like 'HR Legislation' and 'Employment Law' is a smart move. This highlights your ability to navigate the legal aspects of HR, which is a key requirement in this role. It also gives a hint of your potential value to a company needing help with legal compliance.

HR Analyst LinkedIn Headlines

Specify your role.

By stating "HR Analyst" straightaway in your headline, you direct your profile towards the right audience. Being upfront about your role also increases your chances of appearing in search results for that job.

List your skills

Listing skills like "HRIS Analysis" or "Performance Management" right in the headline makes it easier for recruiters or potential collaborators to spot your expertise. It also increases your visibility on LinkedIn for these specific skills.

HR Assistant LinkedIn Headlines

Showcase core hr skills.

Listing specific HR skills like 'HR Services', 'Background Checks', or 'HR Filing' gives a clear picture of your competencies. It's like dangling a bait for recruiters who are searching for these keywords on LinkedIn. Also, it's a subtle way of saying that you're hands-on and know your way around daily HR tasks.

Declare your passion

Adding a line about your commitment to 'employee well-being and company growth' shows you're a person who cares. It sets you apart as someone who understands the human element in HR and is just as committed to the company's growth as they are to its people.

HR Business Partner LinkedIn Headlines

Identify your role.

Identifying yourself as an "HR Business Partner" in your LinkedIn headline immediately positions you for the job roles you are targeting. It not only clarifies your role but also helps you get noticed in LinkedIn searches related to this job title.

Stress on specializations

Stating specializations like "Change Management" or "HR Metrics" showcases your unique skill set. It adds more depth to your profile, making you more appealing to potential employers or partners seeking these specific skills.

HR Consultant LinkedIn Headlines

As a 'HR Consultant', it's vital to state your title explicitly. It helps define your professional identity and sends a clear message to those who view your profile about your specific niche in HR.

Showcase your expertise

Stating 'Expertise in HR Policies, HR Consulting, Labor Law' packs a punch. It indicates the depth of your knowledge and the value you can bring to potential clients, which can be more persuasive than generic phrases.

Highlight your extensive experience

When you mention 'extensive experience in HR Process Improvements, HR Auditing & HR Metrics', you're showing potential employers that you're not just familiar with these areas, but you have a deep and wide-ranging understanding of them. This can be especially appealing to organizations looking for a strategic HR partner.

Communicate your commitment

Communicating your commitment to 'fostering employee engagement & morale' suggests that you understand the connection between employee satisfaction and business success. It can attract employers who value the well-being of their employees and understand its impact on productivity.

HR Coordinator LinkedIn Headlines

Highlight a focus area.

Zeroing in on any specialization you have, like 'Employee Retention', makes your profile more attractive to specific roles. Companies looking for an HR Coordinator who knows HRIS inside out will appreciate this focus. It also helps you show up in LinkedIn search results when a recruiter is hunting for that specific skill set.

Showcase your technical proficiency

Listing your proficiency in HRMS, Payroll Processing, and HR Documentation doesn't just show your technical abilities, it also helps you catch the eye of recruiters who are scanning for those keywords. Plus, it gives a clear indication of your functional areas of expertise within the HR field.

Express your HR philosophy

A philosophy, like 'creating a positive work environment through active HR initiatives', can say a lot about your approach to HR. It suggests you're proactive, value-driven and conscious of the impact HR can have on a company’s culture. This can resonate with organizations that share your philosophy, making them more inclined to connect with you.

HR Director LinkedIn Headlines

Promote high-level hr skills.

Being 'Accomplished in Leadership Development, HR Budgeting & HR Policies' sets you apart as a seasoned HR director. It highlights your ability to handle advanced HR tasks and gives a sense of the strategic value you can bring to a company.

Share your HR philosophy

Stating your belief in 'creating workplaces where talent can thrive' gives a sense of your HR philosophy. It shows you're focused on creating a positive work environment where people can do their best work, which is a value any company would appreciate.

State your role

Your role, like "HR Director", is the first thing that most people will read in your headline. This immediately introduces your level of seniority and your area of expertise. This is especially helpful for those actively seeking jobs or networking as recruiters and professionals will identify your position instantly.

Demonstrate special skills

Including specific skills like 'Succession Planning” or “HR Compliance” shows that you're not just a generalist, but have particular expertise. This can increase your profile’s visibility in LinkedIn search results when recruiters search for these skills. It also conveys your full worth to anyone reading your profile, increasing the chance that they'll want to learn more about you.

HR Executive LinkedIn Headlines

Cover your skillset.

Listing specific skills like 'HR Planning, Employee Retention Strategies and HR Compliance' shows you’ve got the goods. It will attract recruiters who need these skills, and also ups your chances of appearing in LinkedIn search results when someone searches for those skills.

Mission Statement

By mentioning a mission like 'building a culture of productivity & satisfaction', you let potential employers know your drive, passion, and what you want to achieve in your role. It's a unique touch that can resonate with the right employer.

By mentioning expertise areas like "HR Planning" or "Performance Metrics", you immediately showcase your specialities. This gives a quick snapshot of what you bring to the table, which can resonate with recruiters or potential connections looking for these specific skills.

HR Generalist LinkedIn Headlines

Emphasize expertise.

Labeling yourself an 'Expert' in Performance Evaluations, Employment Laws & HR Best Practices instantly gives you credibility. It shows you're not just familiar with these areas, but have a deep understanding and expertise in them. This can be very appealing to hiring managers looking for seasoned professionals.

Align with business goals

Stating your goal to 'drive HR initiatives that support business success' clearly shows you understand the strategic role of HR. It's a strong signal that you're not just about administration, but about contributing to the company's success.

Promote a healthy workplace

Emphasizing expertise in 'Employee Wellness' and 'Employee Retention' shows that you care about creating a positive work environment. This can resonate strongly with companies that value employee well-being and retention.

HR Manager LinkedIn Headlines

Assert your position.

Stating your current role 'HR Manager' in the headline is straightforward and effective. It tells everyone who you are and what you do, which is especially crucial when networking or job hunting.

Leverage your experience

'10+ years of experience in HR Operations, HRMS, and Organizational Development' is a powerful statement. It succinctly communicates your level of expertise and the breadth of your knowledge, making you an attractive prospect for senior roles.

Demonstrate your proficiency

By stating proficiency in 'HR Operations, Compensation & Benefits, and HR Software', you're showing that you have a wide range of skills and can handle various aspects of HR. This can make you a solid candidate for roles that require multitasking and juggling different HR responsibilities.

Reveal your passion

Your passion for 'developing systems that enhance employee performance' suggests a strategic mindset and a focus on results. This could make you a compelling candidate for organizations that value data-driven decision-making and employee development.

HR Officer LinkedIn Headlines

Job title for visibility.

Flagging your current or targeted title, like 'HR Officer', helps you stand out in LinkedIn searches. Recruiters who are looking for HR Officers are more likely to find you, increasing your chances of being approached for potential opportunities.

Show your auditing skills

Detailing your proficiency in 'HR Compliance' and 'HR Audit' is a smart move. This communicates your ability to ensure that the company stays in line with labor laws. This could be a major draw for potential employers who value compliance.

HR Specialist LinkedIn Headlines

Highlight expertise areas.

Listing areas of proficiency like "HR Transformation" or "Employee Relations" gives an immediate overview of your skill set, helping you attract the right opportunities. It increases your chances of being found when these skills are used as search keywords.

Show your dedication

Statements like "Dedicated to creating supportive company cultures" are a fantastic way to show your personal commitment. It gives a hint of your working style and ethos, which can help draw in like-minded professionals or companies.

Outline your specializations

Outlining your specializations like 'Employee Relations, HR Consultancy & HR Strategy Development' can increase your visibility in LinkedIn searches and inform potential employers about your areas of interest and expertise in the HR field.

Share your passion

Stating your passion for 'building better workplaces' not only shows your dedication to your work, but also implies a level of emotional intelligence and an understanding of the value of a positive work environment. This can attract employers that prioritize culture and employee satisfaction.

Senior HR Professional LinkedIn Headlines

Highlight your specialization.

Mentioning areas of specialization like 'Strategic HR, Employee Engagement, Workforce Planning' can set you apart from other HR pros. It helps potential employers or partners identify you as the right fit for specific roles or projects.

Specializations are Attractive

Showing your specialization in HR Analytics, Succession Planning & Talent Management makes you more attractive to specific roles or projects that demand these skills. This can increase your chances of being found in searches for these skills.

Business Alignment

Expressing your commitment to aligning business objectives with HR needs shows that you understand the strategic role of HR. It can make you more attractive to organizations that value this approach.

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4 things to do as soon as layoff rumors hit the office, according to an HR professional​ with 20 years' worth of experience

• Leigh Henderson worked in HR for 20 years for five Fortune 100 companies.
• She said workers should speak to a trusted source when layoff rumors start to spread in the office.
• Henderson also suggests saving all personal documents and developing an exit strategy.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leigh Henderson, a 42-year-old CEO of HR Manifesto , in San Antonio. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I worked as an HR leader for nearly 20 years, supporting a handful of Fortune 100 organizations.

Then, after navigating a shocking layoff myself, I started HR Manifesto, a community on TikTok, and I now have a whole new career in content creation and consulting that brings me joy.

When it comes to the workplace, I know people often dread rumors of layoffs , but here's the thing: If you're hearing these rumors, there's probably some truth to them. Instead of denying the rumors, fearing them, or brushing them under the rug, it's best to both take care of yourself and set yourself up for success.

After working in HR, here are four things I'd tell my friends to do if they heard rumors of layoffs happening in their office.

1. Get information from someone who knows

When you hear rumors of layoffs floating around the office, it's important to talk to a trusted source, like a manager.

When in conversation with them, it's acceptable to ask them questions and see if there's any truth to the rumors. Understand, however, that some managers might not be forthcoming , as they do represent the company.

If that's the case, hopefully, you know your manager well enough to read between the lines and interpret their body language, which can tell you more than words. If needed, you can also ask other trusted mentors , advocates, or champions in the organization. These are not usually coworkers or your gossip-obsessed friend, but those in leadership positions who might have some insight.

You might say, "Hey, I'm hearing a lot of rumors. Should I be concerned?"

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Ask questions to those you've built relationships with to get more information and protect yourself in the future.

2. Save personal documents

In case the rumors are true, I recommend emailing yourself anything important such as your updated résumé, performance reviews, and any kudos or recommendation letters you've received.

In some cases, when people get laid off they lose access to everything saved at work immediately. If you have these documents saved only at work, now's the time to transfer them to your personal device.

While this is an extreme scenario, it's crucial to retain these documents for your personal records and future prospects. You don't want to lose any information that might be valuable to you.

3. Develop an exit strategy

If you suspect layoffs are coming, it's time to develop a plan or an exit strategy . This might look different for different people, but it may involve warming up old contacts, updating your résumé, talking to your mentor for advice, and researching other businesses and organizations.

I highly recommend an exit strategy because whether layoffs come to fruition or not, networking and updating your résumé can help you. By doing these things, you will feel more in control no matter what happens.

4. Take care of you

When you're worried about layoffs, it's easy to fall into a negative mindset. Instead, while easier said than done, it's best to stay positive and set yourself up for success. This starts by taking care of yourself.

If you're worried about layoffs, remind yourself to focus on fact-based discussions with trusted advisors and to engage in healthy coping mechanisms, like seeking support from friends, mentors, and industry peers who have experienced similar situations.

When worrying about a layoff , I think it's easy to feel alone. You might think, no one can help me. But know that so many others have experienced it too, and understand what you're going through. Even if it's just to vent, tapping into your support system can really help.

I know that when I was laid off unexpectedly over a quick Zoom call, it felt like the worst thing in the world. Now, when I look back, I realize it's the best thing that could have happened. That layoff got me out of a job that was hurtful, toxic, and unhealthy. And it helped me launch the career I have now.

If you get laid off, just know that it's not the end of your career; it's the beginning of what's next for you.

If you're an HR professional with advise on how to navigate the workplace during difficult times, and want to share your story, email Manseen Logan at [email protected].

Watch: Nearly 50,000 tech workers have been laid off — but there's a hack to avoid layoffs

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VA Secretary Asked to Resign by Former Navy SEAL Lawmaker in Wake of Executive Bonus Scandal

A lawmaker for the first time on Tuesday called for Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to resign over bonuses erroneously paid to senior VA executives under a law passed to provide incentive pay to retain employees in jobs with critical shortages.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., called on McDonough to resign during a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing. Other lawmakers previously have called for the heads of the Veterans Benefits Administration and Veterans Health Administration to resign or be fired, but they have stopped short of asking McDonough to step down.

The VA Office of Inspector General published a report last month that found the VA authorized bonuses worth $10.8 million to 182 senior headquarters executives under the PACT Act , the law that expanded health care and benefits to millions of veterans who served overseas.

Read Next: Coasties, Marines and Sailors Awarded for Seizing Millions of Pounds of Explosive Materials in Middle East

The inspector general investigation, instigated at McDonough's request after the secretary learned the extent of the bonuses, found that the VA under secretaries for health and benefits approved the payments, known as critical skill incentives, or CSIs, despite concerns from human resources personnel and financial staff.

The investigation found that the VA under secretary for health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, kept McDonough apprised of the bonuses paid to medical center directors and the heads of VA medical regions but did not inform him of the executive bonuses at the central office in Washington, D.C.

In a subsequent report released last Thursday, Inspector General Michael Missal raised concerns that Elnahal may not have had the authority to award bonuses to certain senior executives who work directly for him.

Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL , said during the hearing that he has been in communication with Elnahal in the past several days and drafted a resignation letter for Elnahal to McDonough.

During the hearing however, Van Orden said McDonough should sign it and send it to his boss, President Joe Biden.

It "breaks my heart," Van Orden said, to call for McDonough's resignation. He noted that the two speak regularly and McDonough supported his family following the death of his daughter.

"I'm going to give you the opportunity to do what you just asked to do -- to be held accountable. ... This is a systemic problem. I do not think you are capable of serving in this capacity any longer," Van Orden said.

On May 21, a dozen Republican senators, including four members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee , called for the immediate firings of Elnahal, Under Secretary for Benefits Joshua Jacobs and Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher.

No Democrats have called for dismissals, but Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, joined committee Democrats and Republicans on May 30 calling for accountability and personal actions to restore public trust.

"The use of this important authority to instead increase the salaries of executives in [VA Central Office] is unethical, a violation of VA policy, and in direct opposition to the intent of Congress," wrote the senators in a letter to McDonough .

The House Veterans Affairs Committee asked Elnahal and Jacobs to testify during the hearing, but McDonough took responsibility, saying he would speak for the department and lay out the steps the VA is taking to address the issue.

According to McDonough, of the $9.7 million the VA distributed to senior executives, it has recouped $9.1 million. Collections for the remainder are on hold following hearings requested by those who received the bonuses.

He added that the VA has paid out $340 million in incentives to employees in positions of greatest need, including housekeepers, food service workers, VA police and human resources specialists, and "retention rates are at the highest they've been."

"VA has used CSI payments as an important tool to help attract employees who possess high-demand and shortage skills that serve a critical need," McDonough said in his written testimony. "We made serious mistakes in the way we implemented and executed the PACT Act's CSI authority for ... senior executives. ... Moving forward, we will continue to work to ensure that everyone who receives a CSI meets the criteria to do so."

McDonough said he continues to have faith in his leadership team but acknowledged that the VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection and ethics experts are reviewing the process and may make recommendations regarding any future steps or disciplinary actions.

"There's an established process there," McDonough said.

When asked after the hearing about Van Orden's call for his resignation, McDonough looked dejected.

"These are issues everyone feels strongly about," McDonough said. "I appreciate the candid conversation."

Related: Senators Demand Recoupment of $10.8 Million, Dismissal of VA Officials Who Authorized Executive Bonuses

Patricia Kime

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