HR (Human Resources) Director Resume—Examples & Writing Tips

There’s always pressure when applying for a new job. After all, you need to sell yourself—highlight your strengths and achievements and try to downplay the weaknesses. 

The task gets even more complicated if you apply for a role in the HR department. And if you’re interested in leading the department, your resume must adhere to the absolute highest standards. And you can fulfill this task with a little from our guide to writing an HR director resume!

In this article:

• An HR director resume sample that gets jobs.
• How to ace your HR director job description on a resume.
• How to write a resume for an HR director that gets the interview.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing an HR director job.

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HR Director Resume Sample

An HR director leads, plans, and coordinates the policies and activities of an HR department. The purpose of your HR director resume is to show you have a combination of people and organizational skills and the expertise necessary to lead the HR department. 

Here’s how to write a perfect HR director resume:

1. Start With the Right HR Director Resume Format

When it comes to resume formatting, it’s best not to experiment. You want to present the most critical information clearly, so that the recruiter can easily find it and invite you to the next stage of recruitment. 

Whether you’re updating your old resume or writing one from scratch, keep these resume tips in mind: 

• Use the reverse-chronological resume format to list your most recent jobs first. 
• Choose an easy-to-read resume font, for example, Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Arial. A crazy, unreadable font can really break an otherwise good job application. 
• Apply even, 1-inch resume margins on all sides of your document. 
• Keep your resume short and to the point. The ideal resume length will depend on your experience so far: if you’ve been in HR for years and have lots of achievements to share, you can submit a two-page resume. Otherwise, stick to one page.
• Divide your document into the standard resume sections: Header, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and Additional. 

Once you have your resume ready, you need to save it. Unless stated otherwise, save your resume as a PDF file. This preserves your resume layout, ensuring the document will look the same on any device. Plus, your resume will be easy to read for the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) if the company uses one. 

As you probably already know, ATS software scans and sorts incoming job applications—so making your resume ATS-friendly is crucial to making sure it is actually seen by a recruiter. 

2. Write an Interesting HR Director Resume Summary

How to stand out in the crowd of other HR directors’ resumes right from the start? With a customized resume profile, of course! 

This is the short paragraph at the top of your resume, presenting the reader with a quick overview of your candidacy and your suitability. As an experienced professional, you should write a resume summary. 

Use: 

1. One adjective (efficient, organized, diligent)
2. Job title (HR director)
3. Years of experience (6+, 7+)
4. What you’ll do to help (lead the work of the HR department to meet the desired business outcomes)
5. Your best 2–3 achievements (implemented programs that make the workplace more attractive for prospective employees)

Expert hint: Writing an HR director resume summary is complex. But where is the will, there is the way! Write your resume profile once you’ve completed other sections of your resume to make the job easier. 

3. Add Job Description and Skills Sections to Your Director of HR Resume

You have the recruiters' attention; now you have to get their curiosity. How? With an exciting work experience section!

How to write a job description for an HR director:

1. Read the job ad. 
2. Note the resume keywords—skills and requirements required for the position. 
3. Think about how you showed those skills in your previous jobs.
4. Write resume bullet points that prove you have mastered them; use numbers and action words.

The key to a thriving HR director description section is simple. Target your job description to the specific job you’re applying for. Hiring managers will probably receive hundreds of resumes. A targeted resume will always stand out. 

What’s more—focus on the professional achievements you’re most proud of. 

To spice up your resume, add a targeted skills resume section. During your previous work and studies, you’ve accumulated an impressive number of skills.

It might sound counterintuitive, but don’t list all of them. Instead, focus on the HR skills mentioned in the job posting.

HR Director Resume Skills

• Labor Law
• Employment Law
• Team Management
• HRIS
• Organizational Skills
• Giving Feedback
• Computer Skills
• Talent Management Systems
• Budgeting
• Negotiation
• Attention to Detail
• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Conflict Resolution Skills
• MS Office
• Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Communication Skills
• Computer Skills
• Technical Skills
• Time Management Skills

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4. Turn Boring Education into a Reason to Hire You

Is your education section going to make or break your job application? Probably not. But you can’t take any risks, so you better nail it. 

Since you already have plenty of experience, stating your school name, degree, and graduation date will suffice.

5. Include Extra Sections on Your HR Director Resume

Extra sections on your resume can help you stand out and get that interview invite. Consider adding a couple of the following:

• Certifications
• Foreign Languages
• Awards
• Memberships in professional associations
• Publications
• Volunteering
• Professional References

Hobbies and interests are okay to mention on a resume in general, but probably not when you’re applying for a senior role—you definitely have other, more important things to share on your resume by now! 

And one final note: write a cover letter. A great HR cover letter is the perfect way to double the impact of your application.

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Key Points

To write a job-winning HR director resume, remember to:

• Use the resume format from this guide. It’s easy to read and highlights your skills and accomplishments. 
• Mention your proudest achievements in the resume profile and work experience sections. 
• Include resume keywords throughout your resume, especially in the work experience and skills sections. Prove your achievements with numbers. 
• Write an HR director cover letter to state your case. 

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or want to share your own tips for an impressive human resources director resume, leave a comment below. We’d love to chat!

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