How to Write an HR Manager Resume Summary

The overall objective of any resume is to sell yourself to a prospective employer. You do that by keeping in mind the universal truth about job searching—it’s not about you. Your resume needs to communicate very quickly that you understand the challenges that the hiring manager faces, and that you are ready with solutions. Although it’s likely that, as an HR professional, you’ve reviewed many resumes during your career, it can still be a daunting challenge to create your own. Hopefully you know that at this point, an HR manager resume objective is no longer in vogue, and that the resume summary has replaced the resume objective. Here are some suggestions on how to write an HR manager resume summary that will get you interviews.

Your resume should be well-branded

Your HR manager resume summary goes at the top of your resume, just under your contact information, in place of where you may have previously had an HR manager resume objective. Do you have an industry or functional area of expertise? Note it here. Be sure that you also include your personal value proposition, which communicates what is unique about you. For example, “HR professional who works to partner with business unit clients to drive growth and reduce costs.”

Emphasize key talents

Swiftly emphasize your key talents in your HR manager resume summary. For example, “Highly organized and driven HR Manager with extensive experience in directing and coordinating all administrative functions of businesses large and small. Seeking to combine recruiting, hiring, and onboarding talents to increase employee retention and satisfaction.”

Keep it simple

Avoid superfluous, flowery, or overly jargoned language. Keep your audience in mind, and write your HR manager resume summary for them.

Customize

Tailor your resume summary (and the rest of your resume, for that matter) to each position to which you apply. You want the person reading your resume to feel that you wrote it for him/her.

Say something different

The hiring manager and recruiter are likely to receive hundreds of resumes from enthusiastic self-starters who are excellent problem solvers and are ready to hit the ground running. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. We know that you’re a well-qualified candidate. So are many of the folks with whom you’re in competition. What makes you different, interesting, or appealing?

Do NOT include an HR Manager resume objective

Yes, the objective of your resume is to sell you, but do not include an objective section on your resume. Why not? Because an HR manager resume objective is irrelevant to the problems that the hiring manager has. An HR manager resume objective is All About You, and what you want (and not about the employer’s needs). Instead, as previously touched on, include a summary section in place of the objective.

Use “responsible for” or “duties include” statements

As previously noted, no one cares about the mundane aspects of your previous jobs. Focus on your key talents, and perhaps a key achievement, in your HR manager resume summary.

Head over to LiveCareer’s Resume Builder for more help with writing a resume summary. And create the perfect accompanying cover letter using our Cover Letter Builder.

Additional Jobseeker Resources

• How to Write a Resume
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Templates