HR professionals play a huge role in shaping a company’s future by managing its greatest asset: the people. If you’re aiming for your first job in recruiting, your entry-level human resources resume has to rise above the rest. Show them you’ve got the expertise, the energy, and the drive to make a difference.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what it takes to build an entry-level HR resume that actually gets noticed and helps you score that first big break in the sphere.

Entry-level human resources resume examples

Entry-level HR assistant resume sample

In 2024, there were approximately 221,900 human resources manager jobs in the U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Entry-level human resources assistant resume template

HR Assistant Resume
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Resume for entry-level HR assistant | Plain text

Name: Ava Johnson
Location: Chicago, IL
Email: avajohnson@gmail.com
Phone: (312) 555-7890
LinkedIn: /in/avajohnson

Objective

Recent graduate with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources from DePaul University, detail-focused and genuinely passionate about building strong teams. Excited to put HR education to work as an Assistant, supporting both employees and leadership with reliability and a positive attitude.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Human Resources

DePaul University, Chicago, IL

  • GPA: 3.6
  • Graduated: May 2024

Skills

  • Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • HRIS (Workday, BambooHR)
  • Recruitment coordination
  • Data entry and report generation
  • Employee onboarding and documentation
  • Strong organizational and communication skills

Experience

HR Intern

Horizon Talent Solutions, Chicago, IL

May - August 2023

  • Assisted HR staff with accurate data entry, file organization, and record management to meet company standards.
  • Helped schedule interviews, coordinate candidate assessments, and refresh job descriptions.
  • Supported onboarding for new hires by preparing orientation materials, completing paperwork, and creating profiles in Workday.
  • Handled confidential information with care and discretion.

Customer Service Representative

Walgreens, Chicago, IL

June 2021 - April 2023

  • Worked directly with customers to resolve concerns and maintain strong satisfaction scores.
  • Partnered with teammates to track transactions and customer feedback in company systems.

Certifications

  • SHRM Essentials of HR Certificate, May 2024
  • Microsoft Excel Specialist, April 2024

Extracurricular Activities

Volunteer Coordinator

Chicago Cares, IL

January 2022 - Present

  • Coordinated volunteer activities for community projects, managing schedules for a group of 20 and keeping communication clear.
  • Developed leadership, time management, and interpersonal skills through hands-on experience.

What this resume example gets right, even without direct experience:

  • The objective at the top is concise and clearly aimed at the HR Assistant role — demonstrates you actually know where you’re headed, instead of sending out generic papers.
  • Including certifications like SHRM Essentials of HR and Microsoft Excel? That’s a smart move. It proves you’re serious about building your skills and taking professional development seriously, not just passively waiting for that first job to fall into your lap.
  • The volunteer coordination experience is highly relevant to the field, showcasing leadership skills and organizational skills that are useful in an HR role.
  • Indicating a 3.6 GPA is a subtle way to display you’ve got a solid academic foundation and aren’t afraid to back it up.

How to properly format a resume for entry-level human resources jobs?

  • Recommended fonts are: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, and Times New Roman.
  • For body text, 10-12 point font is ideal. Headers of resume sections stand out better at 14-16 points.
  • Don’t squish everything together — line spacing around 1.15 to 1.5 helps your draft breathe and looks neat.
  • Standard 1-inch margins on all sides provide balance and structure.
  • An entry-level resumes work best as a single page.
  • Unless an employer asks for something else, always send your application as a PDF.

If you don’t want to fuss with formatting, using an online AI resume builder or a free resume template can help your document appear clean and consistent, with less effort on your part.

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Entry-level human resources coordinator resume example

Sample entry-level HR coordinator resume

Name: Michael Taylor
Location: Dallas, TX
Email: michaeltaylor@gmail.com
Phone: (214) 555-1234
LinkedIn: /in/michaeltaylor

Objective

Detail-oriented and proactive HR Coordinator with hands-on experience in onboarding and administrative support. Enjoy streamlining processes and keeping things organized, especially when it comes to recruitment and data management. Eager to contribute these skills and grow with a company that values collaboration and efficiency.

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources

University of North Texas, Denton, TX

  • GPA: 3.7
  • Graduated: December 2024

Skills

  • HRIS (BambooHR, Paycor)
  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS) management
  • Recruitment and interview scheduling
  • Employee data entry and record keeping
  • Onboarding and new hire orientation

Experience

HR Coordinator Intern

BrightPath Healthcare, Dallas, TX

May - August 2024

  • Supported the recruitment team by reviewing resumes, updating the ATS, and handling interview logistics with hiring managers.
  • Assisted in onboarding, preparing orientation materials, and processing new employee paperwork to ensure a smooth start for each hire.
  • Organized HR events, including orientation sessions, training workshops, and quarterly meetings to foster staff development.
  • Maintained up-to-date employee records, paying close attention to accuracy and confidentiality.

Administrative Assistant

Sprouts Farmers Market, Dallas, TX

June 2022 - May 2023

  • Provided day-to-day administrative support for the HR department, managing schedules, responding to staff questions, and preparing reports.
  • Maintained spreadsheets to track attendance, employee benefits, and other HR data, making sure information was always current and reliable.

Certifications

  • SHRM-CP Candidate, Currently pursuing
  • Microsoft Office Specialist, March 2024

Languages

  • English (Native)
  • Spanish (Intermediate Proficiency)
  • French (Basic Conversational)

This example of an entry-level human resources resume is good as:

  • The layout’s clean and organized, with each section clearly marked. Makes it easy for anyone scanning it to spot the keys without squinting.
  • The objective isn’t a generic filler — it’s shaped for the actual job, pointing out skills like recruitment coordination and admin support.
  • Mentioning language proficiency? That’s a definite plus. It reveals you can handle a workplace with all sorts of backgrounds, which is a real asset these days.
  • SHRM-CP candidacy is a smart move, too. Even if you haven’t finished the certification, showing you’re moving toward it says you’re serious about growing in the field.

Should I choose an HR resume objective or summary?

If you’ve got some real-world experience — even if it’s internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer gigs — a resume summary has sense.

  • It’s your chance to quickly display your top strengths and what you’ve achieved so far, so hiring managers can get an overview of you without reading a novel.

Entry-level human resources resume summary sample:

Motivated HR professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management. Skilled in recruitment, employee relations, and payroll administration. Demonstrated ability to promote positive employee engagement and maintain HR compliance.

But if you’re brand new to the industry — maybe just graduated and don’t have expertise yet — a good objective for resume fits better.

  • It lets you explain your career goals and why you’re excited, giving the employer some context for your application.

Entry-level human resources resume objective example:

Recent HR graduate looking for an entry-level position to use strong communication skills, solid organization, and a genuine interest in building a positive workplace culture. Eager to contribute to a dynamic team’s success.

How to showcase your human resources resume skills?

If you’re starting out and don’t have tons of HR know-how yet, it's your set of talents that really matters. This is your space to convince interviewers of your potential.

  • Hard skills are those hands-on abilities you picked up — maybe you’ve played around with HR programs like Workday or ADP, or you know your way around payroll and benefits stuff. If you learned it in a course, at work, or even from a YouTube tutorial, it’s fair game.
  • Soft skills are all about how you act with people and challenge tricky situations. You can’t exactly measure “good vibes” or “team player energy,” but don’t underestimate how much individuals pay attention to those qualities.

Human resources hard skills examples:

  • HR software proficiency (e.g., ADP, Workday)
  • Employee recruitment and interviewing
  • Payroll processing and administration
  • Knowledge of labor laws and employment regulations
  • Benefits administration
  • HR data analysis and reporting
  • Onboarding and training processes
  • Conflict resolution
  • Performance management
  • Employee engagement strategies

Soft skills for human resources resume:

  • Communication skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Empathy and emotional intelligence
  • Time management
  • Attention to detail
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Active listening
  • Conflict management
  • Multitasking

Entry-level HR generalist resume template

Entry-level human resources generalist resume sample

HR Generalist Resume
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Resume for entry-level HR generalist | Text version

Name: Colin Lee
Location: Atlanta, GA
Email: colinlee@gmail.com
Phone: (470) 555-5678
LinkedIn: /in/colinlee

Objective

Driven and adaptable student with hands-on HR internship experience, especially in policy and compliance work. Eager to step into an HR Generalist role where I can really support employee relations, recruitment, and data management — ideally in a team that values collaboration and fresh ideas.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

  • Current GPA: 3.8
  • Expected graduation: May 2025

Skills

  • HR Policies and Procedures
  • Recruitment and Employee Onboarding
  • HRIS (Workday, ADP)
  • Conflict Resolution and Employee Relations
  • Compliance and Documentation

Experience

Human Resources Intern

OmniTech Solutions, Atlanta, GA

June - August 2024

  • Supported the HR Generalist by answering employee questions, assisting with exit interviews, and managing HR records.
  • Helped with background checks, processed job offers, posted open positions, and reviewed candidate applications.
  • Worked with the HR team to update company policies so everything stayed in line with current labor laws and best practices.
  • Tracked attendance, handled leave requests, and pitched in with payroll tasks.

Office Assistant

Staples, Atlanta, GA

March 2020 - May 2022

  • Maintained organized employee files, handled office paperwork, and assisted with document prep for HR projects.
  • Responded to both employee and customer inquiries, always aiming for a positive and helpful attitude.

Certifications

  • SHRM Foundation HR Internship Certificate, August 2024
  • Google Project Management Certificate, April 2024

Professional Development

Human Resources Workshop Participant

Georgia Society for Human Resource Management, Atlanta, GA

March 2024

  • Took part in an in-depth workshop focused on HR compliance, employee engagement, and practical communication strategies. Learned a lot from industry professionals and real-world scenarios.

This beginner HR resume sample is effective for several reasons:

  • The introduction is laser-focused, outlining adaptability and HR internship experience — exactly what a boss is hoping for in a new HR candidate.
  • The skills section doesn’t just list random abilities; it zeroes in on what matters, like policies, conflict resolution, and people management.
  • Featuring a “Professional Development” section with a specific workshop signals genuine interest in ongoing growth — not resting on your degree.
  • The Google Project Management Certificate is a valuable addition, demonstrating the capacity to organize projects, which is a transferable skill for such roles.

What academic credentials should I add to my entry-level HR resume?

The resume education section may actually carry the most weight for newcomers, since it proves you’ve got the background and the basics down. Here’s what you should place:

  • List your degree (e.g., Bachelor’s in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field).
  • Include the name of your university or college and the year you graduated or the expected date.
  • If applicable, highlight any specific HR-related coursework on resume you’ve completed (e.g., Labor Relations, Organizational Behavior, Recruitment and Selection).
  • If you have any relevant resume certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR), add them here as well.

How to organize experience in an entry-level human resources resume?

If you’ve done an internship in an HR department or volunteered for a nonprofit, give these as "Experience" rather than "Volunteer Work."

Even if your role wasn’t strictly HR, focus on the skills and responsibilities that connect to human resources, such as teamwork, communication, or organizing events.

Each entry should be accompanied by 3-5 bullet points describing your achievements. Start each one with a strong action verb (e.g., “assisted,” “coordinated,” “managed”) and concentrate on results whenever possible.

Conclusion

Crafting your entry-level human resources resume is basically your first shot to grab attention in the field — your chance to say, "Hey, I belong here!"

Even if your work history isn’t stacked, don’t sweat it. Attend to what you bring to the table — think people skills, what you learned in school, and any relevant experiences, big or small.

Let your dedication and excitement for HR do the talking. Seriously, passion and a willingness to grow can go a long way, sometimes even further than a long list of jobs. Make sure your potential pops off the page.

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