Step #1: Start with a Strong Personal Statement
Similar to a company mission statement that introduces employees to an organisation's existing goals and values, it’s a good idea to include a standout objective or personal statement at the top of your CV to introduce yourself to the hiring manager – ideally in one to three sentences.
The key here is to catch their attention, so when you’re applying for an HR role, that means emphasising your interest and experience in Human Resources.
If you want to kick things up a notch, it’s also a good idea to update and personalise your statement for each HR role you're applying for!
General example
"CIPD-qualified HR professional with [X amount] of HR experience across a variety of industries. Currently seeking a position in HR management to utilise and elevate my strong communication and leadership skills."
Specific example
"Ambitious and forward-thinking HR professional with polished interpersonal and multitasking skills. Looking to join [insert company] for the available HR Advisor role to provide enhanced HR guidance and employee support."
Step #2: Focus on Your Transferrable Skills
This is an important step to pay attention to, especially if you're new to HR.
You'll likely have plenty of transferrable soft skills that employers want (and need!) which means, as workplace dynamics continue to evolve, it's important to include relevant skills related to the roles you're applying for. These skills might include:
- Communication and negotiation
- Organisation and time management
- Data handling and attention to detail
- Conflict resolution and coaching
It's also a good idea to frame your work experience in a way that highlights these transferable skills. While some choose to list them near the top of their CV under the 'Personal Statement' section and above their work experience, others prefer to list their 'Skills' section below it.
It all comes down to the role, your level of experience, and what you want a hiring manager to see first.
Step #3. Highlight Your Relevant Qualifications
While it’s typical to list education after work experience, the CIPD actually recommends placing it when writing an HR CV – especially if you have an HR-related degree or qualification!
These qualifications are often among your most relevant achievements as an HR professional, so highlighting them early helps catch employers' attention and demonstrates your expertise and commitment to the field.
Start with your most relevant HR qualification, and make sure to include key modules or relevant HR skills that you've developed.
Top CV tip: If you're currently studying for an HR degree or a CIPD qualification, we also recommend including this in-progress qualifcation on your CV! This can help boost your career even sooner as many people professionals are hired during their studies.
Step #4. Showcase Your HR Experience (Even If It's Limited)
Next, you're going to focus on your work history, and you don’t need years of HR experience to make an impact on employers! All you need to do is demonstrate the HR-related aspects of your previous roles.
For instance, if you've worked in admin, customer service, or management roles, highlight responsibilities that relate to HR, such as:
- Supporting the recruitment process
- Training new hires on the team
- Handling employee queries
- Managing employee records or payroll
Use action-oriented bullet points and provide insight into results where possible (with metrics too!). For example:
- Coordinated onboarding for 20+ new employees, reducing ramp-up time by 30%
- Supported monthly payroll for a 100-person team with 100% accuracy
Top CV tip: The general rule of thumb is to include the last 10 to 15 years of your career experience on your CV. So, if you’ve been working in HR for a while, try to avoid listing entirely unrelated jobs where you can.
If you worked part-time in retail or at a restaurant during college then years ago, for instance, it’s probably safe to leave those details off your CV altogether.
Step #5: Include Professional Memberships and Development
Your CV should also reflect your commitment to your continuous professional development (CPD) to show employers you're dedicated to your craft. If applicable to you, include mentions of the following within your CV:
- Your CIPD membership status (e.g., Student Member, Associate Member)
- CPD activities, webinars, or HR-related courses
- Voluntary or freelance HR work
This will show employers you're proactive about staying up to date on current industry trends and insights.
Step #6: Tailor Your HR CV With Keywords
Perhaps the most important aspect of creating a great HR CV is using keywords to tailor your personal statement, skills and experience for the roles you're applying for. This includes:
- Reviewing job descriptions to find the most commonly used keywords
- Using one of the many free keyword finders available online to help speed things along
- Having a look at the common qualifications employers are looking for (e.g., specific HR certifications or software)
Now, you might be wondering why you should even bother? Well, these days, applicant tracking systems (ATS) are often used by organisations to assist with their recruitment and hiring processes.
Since a typical online job posting will receive anywhere from dozens to hundreds of applications, this type of software helps organise, filter, and rank applicant CVs for review based on its keyword search rankings and algorithms.
The catch? An ATS is typically set up to filter out the least-qualified applicants rather than identify the best ones. So, if your CV isn’t formatted properly with the relevant keywords, you run the risk of the system overlooking your CV altogether – so don't skip this part!
HR CV Example for Inspiration
