Navigating the myriad of CVs to identify the right candidate can be a daunting challenge for an HR generalist. Our comprehensive guide offers targeted strategies and practical tools to streamline the selection process, enhancing your ability to pinpoint the ideal match for your team efficiently.
- Answer job requirements with your hr generalist CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your hr generalist CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
How complex should the format of your hr generalist CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your hr generalist CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a hr generalist CV
- Professional Summary demonstrates your HR expertise and career goals.
- HR-Specific Experience highlights your work history in human resources.
- Key HR Skills showcases your relevant abilities like recruitment or employee relations.
- Education and Certifications validate your formal HR training and qualifications.
- Additional HR-Related Achievements underline any notable successes or contributions.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your knowledge of employment laws and regulations, mentioning specific training or certifications you've obtained, such as CIPD qualifications, to substantiate your expertise in safeguarding the organisation's legal compliance.
- Emphasise your experience in managing a full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and offboarding, to show your capability in overseeing HR operations.
- Demonstrate your ability to handle sensitive situations by providing examples of conflict resolution, negotiation, or employee relations issues you've successfully navigated, showcasing strong interpersonal skills.
- Showcase your proficiency in HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems) by including specific platforms you have worked with and how you've utilised these systems to improve HR processes.
- Detail any initiatives you've spearheaded or contributed to, such as diversity and inclusion programs or employee wellness schemes, which reflect your commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your hr generalist CV header
Right at the very top of your hr generalist CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for hr generalist:
- Human Resources Generalist | Employee Engagement Specialist | CIPD Certified | 5+ Years Progressive Experience
- Senior HR Officer | Talent Management & Development | Employment Law Expertise | 8 Years in HR
- Junior HR Generalist | Recruitment & Onboarding Enthusiast | Diversity Advocate | BA in Human Resource Management
- HR Business Partner | Strategic HR Planning | Performance Management | 10 Years Industry Experience
- Associate HR Generalist | Payroll Administration | Employee Relations | SHRM-CP | 3 Years HR Experience
- Lead Human Resources Generalist | Organisational Design | HR Analytics Savvy | MBA | 12+ Years Experience
Your hr generalist CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
hr generalist candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you hr generalist CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a hr generalist job:
- Highly-skilled HR Generalist with over 10 years of experience in multinational corporations, adept at managing a wide spectrum of human resources functions. Proven ability to streamline HR processes, enhance workforce productivity, and lead successful employee relations strategies. Key achievement includes revamping the recruitment process, reducing time-to-hire by 30%.
- Dynamic professional with a 5-year tenure in HR management, bringing forth a track record of implementing effective HR policies and programs in fast-paced technology startups. Expertise includes talent acquisition, employee engagement, and compliance with labour laws. Successfully introduced a company-wide developmental program that boosted employee retention by 25%.
- Seasoned marketing strategist transitioning to HR Generalist roles, equipped with a comprehensive understanding of corporate dynamics and employee development needs. Keen to apply 8 years of people-focused experience and strategic planning capabilities to enhance human resources initiatives. Exceptional communication skills honed with cross-functional teams and large customer bases.
- Financial analyst with 6 years of experience making a career pivot into human resources, eager to leverage analytical capabilities and data-driven decision-making skills. Committed to applying a strong foundation in team leadership, project management, and budgeting to foster a positive work environment and manage talent effectively.
- Aspiring HR professional, freshly graduated with a Master's degree in Human Resources Management, seeking to put academic knowledge into practice. Eager to develop hands-on experience in recruitment, employee relations, and HR analytics, while bringing fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to contribute to employee success and organisational growth.
- Motivated individual with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, aiming to embark on a career in HR by engaging in a challenging environment that values continuous learning. Determined to leverage strong interpersonal skills and a dedication to fostering workplace culture to become a valuable asset in managing and nurturing talent.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your hr generalist CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Efficiently managed a diverse workforce of over 200 employees, leading to a 15% decrease in staff turnover through strategic engagement initiatives and a robust career development programme.
- Implemented an updated HRIS system that streamlined the employee data management process, reducing manual errors by 25% and improving overall HR productivity.
- Championed the company’s equality and diversity policies, resulting in a 40% increase in diversity hires and the successful establishment of an inclusive workplace culture.
- Developed effective onboarding programmes which accelerated employee ramp-up time by 30%, enhancing productivity and early-stage employee satisfaction ratings.
- Handled complex employee relation cases with a 95% resolution rate without escalation, evidencing strong conflict resolution skills and adherence to legal and policy guidelines.
- Designed and facilitated targeted training workshops covering leadership, customer service, and compliance, increasing the average skills rating of participating staff by 20%.
- Played a pivotal role in salary benchmarking activities and annual compensation reviews that led to industry-competitive pay structures and a 10% reduction in pay disparities.
- Conducted monthly HR analytics reports to track talent acquisition effectiveness, workforce trends, and training ROI, enabling data-driven decisions that supported HR strategic goals.
- Collaborated with senior management to align HR functions with business objectives, resulting in the seamless integration of HR strategy with organisational expansion plans.
- Implemented and streamlined recruitment processes, cutting down time-to-hire by 30% and improving the quality of candidates.
- Led a successful employer branding campaign which increased our LinkedIn followers by 150%, enhancing our market presence.
- Developed and oversaw a performance management system that boosted employee productivity by 25% within the first quarter of its introduction.
- Facilitated the digital transformation of the HR department by implementing a new HRIS system that resulted in a 40% reduction in administrative tasks.
- Managed a workforce restructuring project, ensuring 100% compliance with employment laws and minimising disruption to ongoing operations.
- Launched a diversity and inclusion initiative that saw a 20% increase in minority representation in leadership roles within two years.
- Designed and rolled out an employee well-being programme that reduced absenteeism by 15% and increased employee satisfaction scores by 10 points.
- Contributed to international recruitment drives, successfully staffing 50+ key technical positions with top-tier talent from around the globe.
- Negotiated with insurance providers to enhance employee benefits while cutting annual costs by 20%, directly impacting staff retention rates.
- Orchestrated the merger of departmental HR policies following a company acquisition, aligning 500+ employees with new organizational standards.
- Conducted comprehensive job evaluations resulting in a revised grading structure to ensure market competitiveness, affecting over 300 positions.
- Initiated a leadership training programme that upskilled 40 managers in people management, enhancing team effectiveness.
- Spearheaded the development of a company-wide career progression framework that increased internal promotions by 35%.
- Coordinated with department heads to manage a workforce of 1000+, including talent acquisition, development, and exit strategies.
- Piloted a flexible working hours scheme that improved employee work-life balance and reduced turnover by 18%.
- Drove company compliance with new GDPR regulations, conducting training for all 800 employees and mitigating data breach risks.
- Implemented a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme that engaged employees and contributed to a 10% uplift in brand reputation.
- Renegotiated with external recruitment agencies to lower hiring fees by 25%, resulting in significant cost savings.
- Developed a bespoke onboarding programme that accelerated new hire ramp-up time by 50%.
- Played a pivotal role in internal conflict resolution, decreasing the number of formal grievances by 70% through effective mediation techniques.
- Crafted a rewards and recognition scheme that uplifted employee motivation levels, reflected in a 20% improvement in NPS scores.
- Collaborated on the development of a cutting-edge e-learning platform for employee training, reaching 100% completion rates for mandatory courses.
- Led a team of 4 in the HR department, ensuring high service delivery standards that supported 600+ employees.
- Streamlined expatriate management processes, reducing relocation issues by 40% and enhancing the experience for international assignees.
How to ensure your hr generalist CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your hr generalist CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your hr generalist CV:
Employee Relations
HR Policies and Procedures
Recruitment and Staffing
Payroll Processing
Benefits Administration
Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
Performance Management
Compliance with Employment Law
Training and Development
HR Analytics
Communication
Interpersonal Skills
Problem-Solving
Organisational Skills
Confidentiality
Adaptability
Teamwork
Attention to Detail
Critical Thinking
Empathy
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Further professional qualifications for your hr generalist CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your hr generalist CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your hr generalist CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
