Writing a human resource (HR) resume is very different from writing an executive or career services professional profile. This type of resume is focused more on your strengths as a person, not listing positions you held nor achievements that made you famous.
Your HR resume should emphasize how well you performed in related roles for similar organizations. It also can be shorter than other types of resumes since it does not need to include every detail about yourself.
It’s important to note here that although this kind of resume is typically categorized as a “job seeker” resume, anyone with limited job experience can write one.
Writing an HR resume takes some time to master but isn’t difficult once done. In fact, many people find it simpler to do than a standard CV.
Be cautious with trying to stand out
A good career coach will quickly notice if your resume is full of flashy, attractive features or if it sounds very professional and crisp with use of strong punctuation and verb tenses. These are all well and good, but they can be faked easily! If you’re not sure what to include or how to emphasize certain points, look into it more thoroughly.
Be careful about including too many gimmicks like dramatic effects or funny quotations. While these may make you chuckle at first, no one actually believes them nor does anyone take you seriously when you use such tricks. People might even think that you don’t put in much effort since there’s no depth to your writing.
Don’t exaggerate or lie on your resume – this won’t help you get the job! Hiring managers read resumes, so chances are they have seen something similar before and could tell if something seems off.
Maintain uniformity
Consistency is one of the most important things when it comes to writing a resume. This means keeping your formatting, tone, and style the same from page to page, element to element, and section to section.
If you try to switch up your fonts or styles, it can look messy and hard-to-read. The rest of the document may even clash with that font or color choice.
Likewise, switching up how long an element takes, using different length units, and adding in additional details depending on what position you are applying for will only seem unnatural to read.
Make it easy for the manager to read
When writing your resume, make sure that you use clear, simple language and organize information logically. Use short, straightforward sentences and emphasize action verbs such as “managed”, “coordinated”, and “directed”.
It is very common to put too much content into a page, making it hard to scan. Try keeping each page under one-and-a-half times its height so that there are enough lines of vertical space to focus on without getting lost in the length of text.
Do not try to be too flashy or self-absorbing with your cover letters and resumes.
What to mention
In this era of technology, most employers look more closely at how well you use computer applications as markers of whether or not you would be successful in the position.
So instead of emphasizing what grade you took last semester, emphasize what apps you were able to successfully use. This includes highlighting achievements such as taking online courses about using Microsoft Office products, or showing off through interviews how you used those same office apps professionally.
It is also important to highlight soft skills like time management and communication skills. These are crucial to being an effective employee so don’t forget to mention them!
Your first few lines should tell people why you are interested in this job and what you hope to get out of it. Then follow up with some key strengths, and finally include some career goals.
Make it short and sweet
A resume is a very important document that can make or break your chances of being selected as a candidate for a position. Therefore, you should try your best to keep it simple.
There’s no need to include every detail about yourself unless you are confident that your information will stand out and be noticed.
You do not have to list all of your jobs, educational achievements, and experiences at this stage if they are not relevant to the positions you want to apply for.
Your potential employer may already have these documents so there is nothing new to see!
Instead, focus on creating a dynamic, well-rounded picture of who you are as a person. This includes highlighting your strengths, hobbies, and activities.
Link your resume to your LinkedIn profile
It’s not enough just to have a great resume anymore, you need to be able to connect with people online in order to find employment.
In this day and age, most employers look at social media as a way to determine if someone is worth hiring or not. If you don’t have a good looking account that displays your personality, then it can hurt your chances of being considered for a position.
So how do you create an engaging Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram profile? What types of content are needed to make yourself stand out from the crowd? All of these things contribute to creating a strong connection between you and your potential employer.
Links to your website and/or resume are one of the strongest ways to showcase who you are as a person and what you know about the company. Your online presence is a form of advertisement that makes your image more visible to others.
It also gives the interviewer access to see beyond the cover letter and resume, giving them a better picture of you as a person.
By linking all three accounts together, people will be able to explore your personal style, learn something new, and get a feel for whether or not they like you.
