Human Resources Administrators (also called HR Coordinators or HR Assistants) are behind-the-scenes professionals who make things happen in the HR world. They deal with HR queries from employees and external collaborators, and are involved in a variety of HR projects, from recruitment to learning and development.
Due to their scope of responsibilities, HR Administrators are expected to be a jack of all trades in HR!
A great HR administrator is a go-to person and the main collaborator for HR colleagues who need help with ongoing projects or organisation of an event. Also, they are the main point of contact for all employees who need support with their contract, absences, HR policies and much more.
If you are looking for an HR administrator job, you may be responsible for: maintaining employees’ data, supporting various HR projects, organising HR events (from team-buildings and trainings to job fairs) and answering employees’ queries about HR-related topics. In this role, you’ll be the one juggling and coordinating all the pieces of the HR-puzzle.
So, if you are about to apply for an HR Administrator vacancy, you need a resume that reflects all the skills the company will be looking for, including:
Out-of-this-world organisation and time-management skills
Reliability, accuracy and attention to detail
Strong collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills
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We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you create such a resume. With this guide, in the next 10 minutes, you’ll learn how to:
► write a perfect professional profile summary for the position of HR Administrator
► quantify your responsibilities and achievements
► format your resume
► overall, create an HR administrator resume that stands out from the crowd and gets you hired
You'll also get:
► a template and sample for a personal profile summary
► a list of 20+ action verbs tailored to an HR Administrator’s responsibilities
► five examples of metrics to quantify your achievements
► 50+ actionable tips coming from experienced recruiters and resume writers
► a full and FREE HR administrator resume example
Let’s dive into it!
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STARTING POINT: Job Description
Everything you need to cover in your resume is written in the job description (i.e. job ad, job posting).
So, before you start crafting a great HR Administrator resume, go through the job description a few times. Make sure you understand all the responsibilities and requirements specified there.
To find the most important information, look for sections called ‘Requirements’, 'Person specification', 'Essential and desirable skills' or 'What are we looking for?'.
The content of the job description will likely sound like this:
We are looking for an HR Administrator to support our Human Resources department. You will act as the first point of contact for HR-related queries from employees and external partners.
Your main administrative duties include maintaining personnel records, managing HR documents (e.g. employment records and onboarding guides) and updating internal databases. To be successful as an HR Administrator, you must have experience with HR procedures and be able to juggle various administrative tasks in a timely manner. Ultimately, you should be able to ensure our HR department supports our employees while conforming to all applicable labor laws.
HR Administrator Responsibilities:
Organise and maintain the stored data about employees and HR-related information, e.g. vacations, fluctuation, absence
Support the recruitment processes and prepare HR documents, including employment contracts and new hire guides
Liaise with external partners, such as insurance vendors, and ensure legal compliance
Assist the payroll department by providing relevant employee information (e.g. leaves of absence, sick days and work schedules)
Prepare regular reports and presentations on HR metrics (e.g. turnover rates)
Answer employees’ queries about HR-related issues
Helping with various arrangements internally; from travel, team-buildings, training events and processing expenses
Participate in HR projects (e.g. help organize a job fair or other employer branding events)
Requirements:
Degree in business, human resource management or any other related field
Practical experience in a similar position, as an Administrator or HR administrator’s assistant
Understanding various HR software systems, like HRIS or HRMS
Ability to efficiently use computer software, such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise
Reliable team player with strong communication skills
Now that you have seen this, we can start working on a resume that proves to HR managers and recruiters that you’re the one for the job!
Step 1. Start with your contact details
First things first - open a new Word or Pages document and write down your name and surname.
They are the first thing employers will read on your CV and you want them to be seen and remembered. They should be easy to find, so put them at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can put them at the bottom for a more unconventional approach.
Then, tell employers how to reach you. Below your name and surname, write down your location, phone number and email address. Make this part short, straightforward and professional – without too many phone numbers or emails to choose from, and with a formal-sounding email address.
Contact information on your resume should look like this:
NAME SURNAME City, Country / +44 (0)203 000 000 / name.surname@email.com
It’s also a good idea to provide links to your social media profiles, such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.
However, it’s not mandatory. Do it only if your profiles are appropriate, and you feel that they are going to add value to your job application helping you come across as a motivated and professional candidate. Otherwise, it’s better to keep them off your resume.
Step 2. Write a perfect HR Administrator personal statement
[a word-for-word template included!]
Unknowingly, many candidates lose the reader’s interest in the very first sentence in their resume.
The reason is that they start with a vague opening about their career aspirations that doesn’t add any value – it feels like it’s there just to fill the space.
This ‘full-of-buzzwords-but-meaningless’ sentence usually sounds something like this:
'As a self-motivated professional, I am looking for a new challenging job opportunity to develop myself further and build on my skills and knowledge in a new role.'
This introduction doesn’t actually say anything about your expertise. As such, it doesn’t help you brand yourself as an HR professional and it doesn’t grab the reader’s attention. In other words – it’s made to fail.
To avoid starting your resume with an opening sentence that sends your application into the black hole of “thanks-but-no-thanks” resumes, kick your CV off in the most effective way – write a personal statement tailored to the role of your interest.
A personal statement is essentially a summary of your career.
When done correctly, this section can help you position yourself as an expert and a strong candidate right from the start, which consequently increases the time that employers will dedicate to your resume and your chances of being invited to an interview.
To do it right, fill in the template below:
<adjective 1> and <adjective 2> <current job title> with <number> years of experience in <industry 1> and <industry 2>. Strong <key strength 1> combined with the ability to <skill 1> and <skill 2>. Extensive experience of <area of expertise 1>, <area of expertise 2> and <area of expertise 3>. <Insert a quantified achievement>. Currently looking to broaden experience and apply the existing skillset in <specific industry/company/role>.*</