One CV challenge you might face is ensuring that the selection process is free from unconscious biases, which can be difficult to pinpoint and address. Our guide provides practical strategies and tools to help you recognise and mitigate these biases, ensuring a fairer approach to candidate evaluation.
Learn how to create your next hr manager CV by:
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Resume examples for hr manager
Explore additional hr manager cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Senior HR Manager
- Comprehensive career progression - Isaac Scott's CV demonstrates a clear trajectory of growth in the HR field, marked by progressive responsibilities and roles at prestigious companies like GSK, Unilever, and Rolls-Royce. Each position showcases upward mobility, indicating a successful career path characterized by increasing leadership and strategic impact.
- Mastery of HR tools and efficiency improvements - The CV details specific HR systems implemented by Isaac, such as Taleo and Kronos, which have led to significant process improvements like a 30% increase in recruitment efficiency. This reflects a technical prowess and ability to leverage industry-specific tools for optimized HR operations.
- Strategic HR impacts on business outcomes - Through tangible achievements, such as reducing compliance issues by 15% and increasing employee satisfaction by 30%, the CV presents a strong narrative of Isaac's capacity to strategically influence organizational success. These accomplishments indicate a deep understanding of how HR can drive overall business performance rather than just focusing on internal metrics.
Junior HR Manager
- Organized and Concise Structure - The CV is well-structured with clear headings for each section, facilitating easy navigation through the candidate's professional history and achievements. It maintains conciseness by using bullet points to highlight key responsibilities and accomplishments, making it simple for potential employers to identify relevant information quickly.
- Career Growth and Consistent Industry Focus - Henry White's career trajectory shows a consistent focus on human resources with a steady growth from an HR Intern to an HR Manager. This progression within reputed organizations like Siemens, Rolls Royce, and Unilever demonstrates his commitment to the HR field and his capability to advance into roles with increased responsibilities.
- Innovative Use of Strategic HR Methodologies - The CV highlights Henry's application of industry-specific strategies like workforce planning and risk mitigation, employing innovative methods that have resulted in significant improvements in employee engagement, operational efficiency, and conflict resolution within organizations. These initiatives underscore his competence in translating HR strategies into impactful business outcomes.
Assistant HR Manager
- Comprehensive structure and insightful content presentation - The CV is meticulously structured, beginning with a persuasive summary that encapsulates substantial HR managerial experience, establishing immediate credibility. Each section is purposefully concise, emphasizing key roles and achievements effectively, aiding in swift comprehension by potential employers.
- Impressive career trajectory and professional growth - Sophia Foster’s career trajectory exhibits a consistent upward mobility from HR Coordinator to Assistant HR Manager, showcasing significant roles in prestigious firms like PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG. This progression highlights her capacity for professional growth and ability to take on larger, more complex responsibilities within the HR domain.
- Achievements demonstrate significant business impact - The CV underlines achievements that go beyond mere numbers, demonstrating real business impact such as a 20% increase in employee retention and a 30% improvement in new hire productivity. These accomplishments reflect not only on her individual abilities but also on her strategic impact on organizational performance and cost efficiency.
By Role
HR Project Manager
- Clear Presentation and Conciseness - The CV is structured clearly, with headings and bullet points that make the content easy to scan and comprehend. It avoids clutter, with concise entries that focus on the most significant contributions and experiences, ensuring the reader can quickly understand the candidate's qualifications and career highlights.
- Strong Career Trajectory and Growth - Amelia Murphy's career shows a clear progression from HR Business Partner to Senior HR Consultant, and finally to HR Project Manager. Each role shows increasing responsibility and the development of leadership skills, reflecting her capability to take on complex projects and drive significant organizational change.
- Unique Methodologies and Tools - The CV highlights Amelia's proficiency in key methodologies such as Agile and PRINCE2, which are crucial for the roles she has held. This expertise showcases her ability to manage projects efficiently and effectively, and her technical depth ensures she can contribute to strategic implementation and process improvement.
HR Operations Manager
- Structured Clarity and Conciseness - The CV is efficiently laid out with distinct sections that enhance readability and convey information effectively. Each section is concise, providing only relevant details that highlight the candidate’s extensive HR background and accomplishments without overwhelming the reader. This clear presentation allows potential employers to quickly assess suitability for strategic HR roles.
- Demonstrated Career Progression - Samuel's career trajectory showcases a consistent rise through HR roles, from HR Specialist to HR Operations Manager. This upward path highlights both horizontal and vertical growth within the field, underscoring their capability to handle increasing responsibilities. The progression within esteemed organizations like AECOM and Capgemini reinforces their industry credibility.
- Significant Industry Impact through Achievements - The CV accentuates substantial achievements, including a 30% improvement in HR service delivery and a 25% boost in operational efficiency. These accomplishments are not just numerical but demonstrate meaningful business impact, such as enhanced employee satisfaction and reduced payroll errors, showing the candidate's prowess in applying HR strategies to tangible results.
Regional HR Manager
- Clear and logical content presentation - The CV is organized in a way that allows readers to quickly grasp key components of Leo Brown's professional journey. It utilizes clear headings and bullet points, ensuring concise and effective communication of achievements, skills, and career history, which is particularly beneficial for HR roles that require comprehension and communication of complex processes.
- Career trajectory showcases growth and adaptability - Leo’s progression from HR Manager to Regional HR Manager highlights his steady career growth and increasing levels of responsibility in varied locations. This trajectory reflects his adaptability and capacity to lead in different environments, particularly in logistics contexts at companies like DHL and XPO Logistics, showcasing successful adjustments within the HR field.
- Strong focus on strategic HR initiatives - The CV emphasizes distinct industry-specific initiatives such as digital HR transformation, talent management programs, and succession planning strategies. Integrating an HRIS and developing cross-functional training are technical achievements that denote Leo’s proficiency in implementing sophisticated HR technologies and methodologies to advance organizational efficiency.
HR Training Manager
- Strategic Leadership and Employee Promotion - Evie Perry’s career trajectory exemplifies her strategic leadership skills, as evidenced by her successful rollout of a leadership development program at Zeppelin Ltd. This initiative led to a 20% increase in internal promotions, demonstrating her ability to cultivate talent and prepare employees for higher responsibilities, thus ensuring long-term organizational growth.
- Comprehensive Experience Across Multiple Industries - The CV outlines Evie’s adaptability and breadth of experience by highlighting her roles in diverse organizations such as Zeppelin Ltd., Bellway Homes, and Tesco. The progression from HR Business Partner to HR Director showcases her growth and ability to apply her HR expertise successfully across different sectors, leveraging unique challenges to produce significant improvements in employee engagement and compliance.
- Dedication to Enhancing Employee Wellbeing - The inclusion of passions like Employee Wellbeing underscores Evie’s commitment to fostering a positive workplace environment. Her initiative to implement a wellness program at Zeppelin Ltd. that enhanced employee engagement scores by 18% showcases her dedication to not only improving workforce morale but also driving productivity through well-being initiatives.
By Industry
HR Manager in Retail
- Structured and Concise Content - The CV is well-structured with clearly defined sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. This ensures that key information is easily accessible to the reader. The content is concise, providing sufficient detail without overwhelming the reader, making it easy for hiring managers to quickly understand the candidate's qualifications and contributions.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Jacob's career progression from an HR Generalist to a Senior HR Generalist and eventually an HR Business Partner reflects significant growth and expertise in his field. This trajectory shows a clear commitment to developing strategic HR skills and a readiness to take on more complex responsibilities within major corporations like AstraZeneca and Unilever.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV distinctly highlights achievements in the context of business impact, such as reducing employee turnover by 20% and enhancing productivity by 15%. Each achievement includes specific metrics, demonstrating a direct contribution to organizational goals, illustrating the candidate's strategic vision and effectiveness in HR management.
HR Manager in Healthcare
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is presented in a clear and logical structure, making it easy for potential employers to assess the candidate's qualifications and experiences. Details are systematically broken down into sections such as experience, education, skills, and courses, providing a concise yet comprehensive overview of the candidate's career.
- Proven Career Growth and Adaptability - Alexander Jackson’s career trajectory from HR Officer to HR Business Partner within prominent healthcare organizations highlights consistent growth and adaptability. His promotions and increasing responsibilities within these roles demonstrate strong progression and the ability to handle complex HR challenges effectively.
- Significant Achievements with Measurable Business Impact - The CV vividly details Alexander's notable achievements, such as improving employee engagement by 20% and reducing staff turnover by 15%. These accomplishments not only reflect his effective leadership skills but also illustrate their direct, positive impact on business outcomes, signaling value to potential employers.
HR Manager in Manufacturing
- Emphasizes strategic HR leadership - The CV is structured to highlight strategic leadership roles within prominent companies such as Unilever and Nestlé, showcasing a progression from HR Specialist to Senior HR Business Partner. This trajectory underscores Isabelle’s capacity for guiding HR strategies at a higher level, reflecting depth in leadership and decision-making.
- Focus on industry-specific achievements - The document effectively communicates industry relevance by detailing accomplishments within manufacturing environments. Isabelle has consistently implemented HR initiatives that led to significant improvements, such as increasing operational efficiency by 12% and enhancing employee retention by 25%, demonstrating her ability to drive meaningful change.
- Adaptability through diverse responsibilities and methodologies - Isabelle’s career reflects adaptability and breadth, with experiences ranging from leading diversity initiatives to refining HR processes using data analysis. Her ability to implement cultural change, develop talent management strategies, and refine onboarding demonstrates her proficiency in adapting to and thriving in complex business environments.
HR Manager in IT
- Clear and organized content presentation - The CV is structured logically, presenting information in a straightforward manner that makes it easy to follow. Each section is clearly defined, featuring concise bullet points that effectively convey significant projects and achievements without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.
- Progressive career advancement - The candidate demonstrates a solid career trajectory, showcasing steady growth from Project Manager to Programme Manager roles. This progression highlights their capability to take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership, reflecting well on their professional development over time.
- Mastery of industry-specific methodologies - The CV emphasizes the candidate's proficiency in widely recognized methodologies such as PMP, PRINCE2, and SAFE Agile. This indicates a strong technical foundation, ensuring that they are well-equipped to manage complex programmes and align technology strategies with business objectives effectively.
HR Manager in Finance
- Structured and Concise Content Presentation - The CV's layout is logical and reader-friendly, providing concise bullet points that succinctly present accomplishments and skills. This approach allows for easy navigation and ensures that critical information is quickly accessible, vital for capturing the attention of potential employers.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - Oscar Evans demonstrates significant career growth, transitioning from a Financial Analyst to a Finance Business Partner, and then to a Senior Finance Analyst. This upward trajectory is complemented by roles in prestigious organizations such as Harrods, Liberty London, and Marks & Spencer, reflecting his capacity for leadership and increasing responsibility in the finance sector.
- Effective Use of Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - The CV highlights Oscar's proficiency with essential financial tools and methodologies, such as FP&A processes and IT capital projects, as well as his adaptability to advanced forecasting methods. His expertise in contract negotiation and project accounting showcases a deep understanding of financial analysis tailored toward tech investments.
HR Manager in Construction
- Clear and Cohesive Content Structure - The CV excels in presenting information succinctly and logically, effortlessly guiding the reader through Chloe Bell's professional journey. Each section is strategically organized, commencing with a compelling summary and transitioning smoothly through experience, education, and skills, culminating in a list of relevant achievements. This streamlined format ensures clarity and allows for quick and effective scanning.
- Progressive Career Growth in HR - Chloe Bell's career trajectory is marked by consistent advancement within the HR industry, demonstrating a clear pattern of growth and increasing responsibility. Starting as an HR Coordinator and advancing to her current role as an HR Manager, she showcases significant milestones at established companies. This progression highlights her dedication to professional development and increasing expertise in talent management and employee development.
- Impressive Achievements with Business Impact - Within her roles, Chloe has engineered improvements with tangible business outcomes, such as reducing hiring time by 10% and increasing employee engagement by 20%. Her accomplishments detail not just numerical enhancements but their broader implications, like strategic HR initiatives that reduce turnover and bolster employee satisfaction, underscoring her capability to deliver impactful, strategic human resources solutions.
HR Manager in Education
- Clear and well-organized content presentation - The CV is neatly structured with distinct sections such as summary, experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions. This layout ensures that the reader can quickly locate critical information. The language is clear and concise, focusing on key achievements and roles without unnecessary detail, enhancing readability and emphasizing essential points.
- Diverse and progressive career trajectory - Sophia has a solid and continuous career path characterized by consistent growth in the educational sector. Her progression from an Educational Consultant to a Senior Educational Liaison Officer and currently as an Education Programme Coordinator demonstrates a clear upward career movement, with increasing responsibilities and leadership roles. This trajectory highlights her competence and readiness for advanced challenges in education management.
- Impactful achievements demonstrating business relevance - The CV details several notable accomplishments, demonstrating Sophia's ability to drive meaningful change. For example, the 30% improvement in school engagement and the 20% increase in student placement underline her capacity to implement strategies that align educational outputs with real-world demands. By illustrating the tangible impacts of her work, she underscores her contribution to larger organizational goals.
HR Manager in Hospitality
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - This CV is presented with clarity, featuring well-defined sections like experience, education, skills, and achievements that are easy to navigate. Each job role is succinctly summarized with bullet points, detailing specific responsibilities and outcomes, which makes the content accessible and impactful.
- Progressive Career Growth - Ruby Gibson's career trajectory displays a clear pattern of growth and increasing responsibility. Starting as an HR Specialist and moving up to a Senior HR Business Partner, this progression highlights her ability to take on more complex roles and responsibilities within prominent companies like Unilever and Procter & Gamble.
- Strategic HR Initiatives and Impact - This CV underscores Ruby's specialized focus on strategic HR initiatives and their broad impact on business metrics. Her achievements include improving employee engagement and increasing retention rates, which reflects a deep understanding of aligning HR practices with business objectives for transformative results.
HR Manager in Non-Profit
- Clear Content Structure Enhances Readability - The CV is well-organized, with distinct sections for experience, education, and skills, making it easy to navigate. Each role includes concise bullet points that clearly convey key responsibilities and achievements, ensuring that the reader can quickly grasp the candidate's qualifications.
- Demonstrates Significant Career Progression - Charlotte's career trajectory shows constant professional growth, moving from a Human Resources Officer role to an HR Manager position within six years, demonstrating her competence and readiness for challenges. The transition from organizations like Oxfam GB to Save the Children UK illustrates her increasing responsibilities in humanitarian organizations.
- Illustrates Impactful Achievements with Industry Relevance - The CV features achievements that are not only quantified but also tied to organizational benefits, such as a 20% talent retention improvement and a 30% faster onboarding process. These accomplishments highlight her ability to deliver meaningful outcomes particularly related to strategic HR initiatives and policy development, key aspects in HR management.
HR Manager in Logistics
- Structured career progression - The CV showcases a clear upward trajectory in Grace's career, moving from a Logistics Coordinator to a Logistics Operations Manager. Each role demonstrates her ability to increase her responsibilities and impact, indicating a strong growth potential and commitment to her professional development in the logistics field.
- Implementation of efficient methodologies - Throughout the document, there's a heavy emphasis on Grace's use of industry-specific methodologies like 5S initiatives and continuous process optimization. These approaches highlight her technical depth and commitment to improving operational efficiency within logistics management.
- Effective leadership and team development - Grace’s experience with managing large teams, as demonstrated in her role managing 50 employees at DHL Supply Chain, underscores her leadership capabilities. Her focus on training programs and conflict resolution speaks to her ability to foster a productive and harmonious work environment, crucial for maintaining smooth operations in logistics.
HR Manager in Energy
- Structured Professional Growth - Samuel Campbell's career trajectory showcases a clear progression through increasingly responsible HR roles, starting from an HR Specialist at Good Energy to an HR Manager at Octopus Energy, illustrating his professional development and strategic career decisions within the energy sector.
- Industry-Specific Expertise - His CV emphasizes expertise in HR policy development and employee retention strategies tailored for the corporate energy industry, demonstrating his ability to implement high-impact HR solutions like a 401k plan and enhanced benefits programs that lead to measurable improvements in employee satisfaction and retention.
- Real-World Impact of Achievements - The CV effectively presents achievements with concrete impacts, such as reducing employee turnover rates by 18% and onboarding over 50 new employees annually, showcasing Samuel's ability to not only propose but also execute strategic HR initiatives that align with organizational goals and enhance workforce efficiency.
HR Manager in Agriculture
- Content presentation and clarity - The CV is well-structured and coherent, presenting each section with precision. It uses a clear format, breaking down complex experiences and achievements into easily digestible bullet points, making it straightforward for the reader to assess the candidate's qualifications quickly.
- Career trajectory demonstrating growth and leadership - Elsie Murray's career progression from an HR Advisor to an HR Manager reflects considerable professional growth and an increasing scope of responsibility. This trajectory highlights her capability to lead teams and contribute to strategic human resource initiatives across various organizations.
- Achievements emphasizing business impact - The CV effectively quantifies accomplishments that demonstrate significant business contributions, such as boosting employee satisfaction and retention rates. These achievements are not just about the numbers; they underscore Elsie's ability to implement initiatives that foster positive organizational change and enhance productivity.
HR Manager in Media
- Clear and Organized Presentation - This CV effectively breaks down Elsie Murray's qualifications into concise sections, making it clear and easy for employers to follow. The logical structure, with headings like "Experience" and "Education," helps to quickly convey essential information, ensuring that key achievements and skills are highlighted without overwhelming the reader.
- Demonstrates Strategic Leadership and Growth - Elsie’s career progression reflects a strategic and upward trajectory, moving from HR Officer to HR Manager within top-tier professional services firms. Each role adds depth to her experience, showcasing her ability to take on increased responsibility and leading strategic HR initiatives that significantly impact company operations and staff satisfaction.
- Integration of Tech Systems in HR Practices - The CV places significant emphasis on Elsie’s ability to leverage HR IT systems to enhance operational efficiency. Her experience with implementing new systems that improved efficiencies by 30% demonstrates a deep technical understanding and an innovative approach to managing HR functions, which is critical in today’s data-driven environment.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your hr manager CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your hr manager CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your hr manager CV:
- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your hr manager CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a hr manager CV
- Professional Summary outlines career goals and HR expertise.
- HR Management Experience shows relevant work history and achievements.
- Key HR Skills highlights specific HR competencies and knowledge.
- Professional Development details HR-related training and certifications.
- HR Project Highlights showcases successful initiatives and contributions.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your understanding of employment law and experience in compliance; demonstrate specific scenarios where you've successfully navigated legal challenges or updated company policies to reflect legislative changes.
- Highlight your experience in talent acquisition and workforce planning by outlining strategies you've developed or led that improved the recruitment process and retention rates within previous organisations.
- Showcase your leadership and interpersonal skills by mentioning any successful HR initiatives you've pioneered that have improved employee engagement, satisfaction, or company culture.
- Detail your experience with HR metrics and data-driven decision-making by providing examples of how you've used analytics to solve organisational problems or enhance HR operations.
- Include instances where you've led training and development programmes, focusing on how your efforts have boosted staff performance and contributed to succession planning and employee career advancement.
Recommended reads:
Making a good first impression with your hr manager CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for hr manager:
- Senior HR Manager | Chartered CIPD | Talent Development | 15+ Years Experience | Strategic HR Leadership
- HR Business Partner | Employee Relations Expert | CIPD Qualified | 10 Years Progressive Experience | Change Management
- HR Manager | Recruitment & Retention Specialist | MA Human Resources | 8+ Years Experience | Compliance Guru
- Associate HR Manager | Graduate CIPD | Performance Management | 5 Years in HR | Workforce Planning Enthusiast
- Lead HR Advisor | Diversity & Inclusion Champion | CIPD Level 7 | 12 Years HR Expertise | Culture Shaper
- HR Operations Manager | Payroll & Benefits Oversight | CIPD Accredited | 7+ Years HR Excellence | Data-Driven Strategist
Opting between a hr manager CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your hr manager CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a hr manager job:
- Dedicated HR Manager with over 12 years of experience specialising in talent acquisition, employee relations and performance management for multinational corporations. Successfully implemented comprehensive HR strategies that reduced staff turnover by 25% in the financial sector and streamlined recruitment processes to enhance workforce quality.
- Accomplished HR professional transitioning from a 10-year tenure in sales leadership, bringing forth a unique blend of interpersonal and strategic planning skills. Mastery of conflict resolution and labour law compliance has defined my career, leading to a 30% improvement in employee satisfaction scores within the retail industry.
- Dynamic Human Resources enthusiast with a strong background in operational management, seeking to leverage 8 years of team leadership and organisational restructuring experience into a flourishing HR career. Recognised for deploying highly effective training programmes that increased productivity by 40% in the manufacturing sector.
- Seasoned Project Manager aiming to pivot to Human Resources, offering 15 years of experience in complex project execution and team development. Proficient in analytics and change management, eager to apply these skills towards fostering a productive and engaging workplace environment in the technology industry.
- Aspiring to initiate my career in Human Resources, my objective is to contribute fresh perspectives and a steadfast dedication to fostering a productive, engaging work culture. My strong academic background in business administration and my internship experience in employee onboarding prepares me to become an asset in staff development and retention.
- Recent graduate with a Master's in Human Resources Management, I am eager to translate my academic knowledge into practical expertise. My objective is to provide exceptional support in talent management and employee relations while actively learning from seasoned HR professionals and contributing to organisational success.
How to meet job requirements with your hr manager CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed and implemented HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business strategy, driving organisational effectiveness and workforce planning.
- Managed a variety of HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and best practices.
- Led the talent acquisition process, securing high-calibre candidates by optimising recruitment channels and enhancing employer brand visibility.
- Designed and facilitated comprehensive training and development programmes to foster employee skills, engagement, and retention.
- Championed diversity and inclusion initiatives, creating and upholding policies that foster a respectful and equitable workplace environment.
- Administered employee compensation and benefits programmes, ensuring market competitiveness and internal equity.
- Played a key role in change management processes, providing leadership and support to teams during restructuring and organisational growth.
- Conducted regular HR audits and reported on HR metrics to senior management, offering insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Mediated and resolved complex employee grievances and conflicts, demonstrating strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
Work Experience
Senior HR Manager
Tesco PLC
03/2017-08/2021
- Led a team of 10 HR professionals to drive the recruitment process, successfully filling over 200 positions across multiple departments.
- Implemented a new performance management system tailored for a workforce of 500, resulting in a 25% increase in overall employee satisfaction according to annual surveys.
- Championed diversity and inclusion programmes which led to a more diverse candidate pool and a 15% increase in minority hires over a 2-year span.
Work Experience
HR Department Head
Barclays
01/2013-12/2018
- Redesigned the onboarding process, integrating e-learning tools that reduced orientation time by 30%, which directly decreased time-to-productivity for new hires.
- Managed a budget of £1.2 million for HR initiatives and successfully negotiated vendor contracts that cut costs by 20% while maintaining quality of services.
- Coordinated with international teams to align HR policies and established a unified set of best practices for the company’s overseas branches.
Work Experience
Human Resources Manager
Vodafone UK
06/2014-Ongoing
- Implemented an advanced applicant tracking system that improved hiring efficiency by 35% and provided actionable data on recruitment metrics.
- Developed a leadership training program that nurtured internal talent, resulting in the promotion of 12 middle-managers to senior roles within the company.
- Orchestrated a company-wide cultural transformation programme that bolstered employee engagement scores by 22% within the first year.
Work Experience
HR Strategy Manager
Unilever
10/2009-02/2014
- Spearheaded the successful negotiation of a new employee benefits package that enhanced offerings while reducing company costs by 10% annually.
- Played a pivotal role in the strategic planning committee that determined workforce expansion, contributing to a growth strategy that saw 150 new hires over 5 years.
- Initiated a robust employee relations programme that substantially decreased employee turnover by 18% over three years.
Work Experience
HR Operations Manager
Sainsbury's
11/2011-06/2019
- Revamped recruitment advertising strategy to leverage social media, increasing brand visibility and attracting a higher caliber of candidates.
- Conducted a company-wide salary audit that addressed pay disparities, subsequently boosting morale and establishing equitable pay scales.
- Facilitated the merger of HR processes following a company acquisition, assuring a seamless transition for 200+ employees without disruption to business operations.
Work Experience
Head of Human Resources
Lloyds Banking Group
07/2012-03/2020
- Established a comprehensive employee wellness program that led to a 20% decrease in reported mental health days off taken.
- Implemented and adjusted HR policies to comply with changing employment laws, ensuring zero penalties in annual audits for the duration of tenure.
- Drove automation of HR record-keeping through the adoption of an HRIS, freeing up the team to focus on strategic initiatives and reducing manual errors by 95%.
Work Experience
People Director
AstraZeneca
05/2013-07/2022
- Lead a cross-functional project team to develop a mobile-friendly employee portal that increased self-service transactions by 50% and improved employee experience.
- Analysed and restructured the compensation and rewards system, affecting over 600 employees which led to a 5% decrease in annual turnover rates.
- Oversaw critical incident management response for HR related issues, consistently resolving matters within a 48-hour window, minimising operational disruption.
Work Experience
Human Resources Director
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
08/2015-Ongoing
- Launched a company-wide inclusion initiative that educated 1,000+ employees on unconscious bias, fostering a more inclusive work environment.
- Streamlined the recruitment process with advanced analytics, reducing time-to-hire by 25% whilst improving the quality of candidates.
- Cultivated a partnership with local universities, enhancing the graduate recruitment programme and offering internships that converted 30% of participants to full-time roles.
What to add in your hr manager CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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PRO TIP
Describe how each job helped you grow or learn something new, showing a continuous development path in your career.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your hr manager CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your hr manager CV:
HARD SKILLS
HR Policies & Procedures
Recruitment & Staffing
Employee Relations
Performance Management
Compliance & Labour Laws
Benefits Administration
HRIS Technologies
Training & Development
Compensation & Payroll
Data Analysis & Reporting
SOFT SKILLS
Leadership
Communication
Problem-solving
Organisational
Empathy
Negotiation
Teamwork
Conflict Resolution
Adaptability
Decision-making
PRO TIP
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.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your hr manager CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your hr manager CV:
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your hr manager 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.
