With job adverts receiving 100+ applicants in less than an hour these days, your CV decides if you get to have a chance with a company.

HR roles are growing at a rate of 42% over the last decade, and only 2% of applicants reach the interview stage.

Whether you’re a CIPD student, career changer, or experienced HR professional, this guide covers exactly what employers look for and how to make a winning CV for HR jobs to get noticed.

 
What Are Employers Looking For In An HR CV?

HR hiring managers scan CVs with trained eyes, looking for specific elements that separate strong candidates from the rest:

 1. HR-specific skills 

Do you have relevant work experience in HR, L&D, Performance management, etc?

Are there any transferable skills you bring to the role outside of HR?

This shows them that you don’t have too many skill gaps from the mentioned job description and that they can save time from training you. 

 2. Quantifiable results 

These are stats that prove your impact within your area of expertise.

Did you reduce employee turnover by 20% in 6 months?
Did you achieve a payroll accuracy of 100% in your last 3 months?

Numbers matter, so don’t forget to include everything important. 

 3. Proactivity in Skill Development 

Have you done any courses relevant to your field of expertise?

This can be:

• CIPD qualifications

• Certifications

• Volunteering

This shows that you’re committed to the field of HR and will prioritise staying ahead of relevant skills. 

 4. Tailored Applications 

Many organisations use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter hundreds of applications. These systems rank CVs based on keywords and formatting, so generic applications often get filtered out before human eyes see them.

Be sure to match your CV to the specific keywords and relevant information used in the job descriptions. 

Essential Sections For A Winning HR CV

1. Personal Statement

This is your introductory text, which should include 2-3 sentences on:

• Who you are.

• What you offer.

• What your career goals are.

• How you are the right fit .

 
Keep it concise and as brief as possible to capture the hiring manager’s attention. 

Here’s an example: 
HR professional with 5+ years of experience specialising in talent management and employee engagement. I use data-driven strategies to optimise recruitment, retention, and workplace culture, aiming to support organisational growth through effective people operations.

2. Education And Qualifications 
If you have HR- related qualifications, this can be your biggest selling point. 

List them in this order:

1. CIPD qualifications (if applicable)

Include your level (3, 5, or 7), membership status (Student/Associate/Chartered), and expected completion date if studying. 

 2. HR-related degrees
BA/MA in HR, Business, Psychology, etc. 

 3. Professional certifications
REC accreditation, SHRM-CP, HR software certifications, etc. 

 If you don’t have a professional qualification worth displaying, include:

• Online courses you’ve taken (LinkedIn Learning, Coursera). 

• Industry webinars you’ve attended. 

• Relevant non-HR degrees that show transferable knowledge (Management, Law) 

3. Work Experience Or Employment History

List roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first), including job title, company, dates, and location if relevant.If you have relevant work experience in HR, use bullet points with action verbs, stats and strategies used to achieve that particular result.

Employers want to see what you have achieved and, more importantly, how you’ve achieved them. 

Here’s an example: 
Reduced time-to-productivity for new hires by 35% by implementing digital workflow automation within the onboarding process. 

If you don’t have relevant HR experience, make sure to highlight roles which have transferable skills like admin, management or customer service. 

4. Skills And Achievements 
Position this above or below your experience section, depending on what you want employers to see first. Highlight skills that are relevant to the job role to get noticed. HR-specific skills and achievements to include: 

1. Technical Skills 

 HRIS systems, ATS platforms, payroll software, MS Office/Excel.

2. Core HR competencies

Talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, training delivery, HR compliance.

 
3. Soft skills
Communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, time management, attention to detail, problem-solving.

4. Any relevant achievements

Promotions, university competitions, features or published articles.