When writing a CV, it’s important to know that the information you write, and how you write it, will affect whether an employer will be interested in your application. To make a CV easier to write, we have provided some writing tips, as well as this HR Assistant CV guide to help you write a standout CV.
1. First, start with a strong personal statement, outlining the skills and experience you can bring to the job
2. Follow with your work experience, listing previous roles in reverse chronological order.
3. Include a section that details your education, qualifications, skills and work experience.
4. You can also boost your CV with hobbies, interests, and references.
How to Write a Personal Statement for a HR Assistant
Now that you know which skills and qualifications to write about, you can use your personal statement to show employers that you have what they’re looking for in an employee. Your statement should be 100-150 words in length, and it should briefly describe your relevant skills and work experience.
Write your personal statement with confident language, as this is the first part of your CV an employer will read.
HR Assistant Personal Statement Example
“At my previous position as an Administrative Assistant, I gained experience in data entry and using different pieces of software to contact employees, clients and customers, this included email correspondence, written correspondence, and messaging services. It was also part of my duties to make appointments and meetings, this included booking meeting rooms and adding information to an online calendar.
I was also asked to assist HR with some of their duties, such as creating job postings and creating reports on HR metrics to be used in meetings.
Before this, I worked as a Data Entry Clerk, handling sensitive information with care and integrity, and disposing of confidential data in the appropriate manner.”
Ideal Work Experience for a HR Assistant CV
There are some jobs that offer the best transferable skills for an HR Assistant, and an employer may prefer to see certain roles on a CV. Sometimes a job description will require a candidate to have a specific amount of time within a role before they are considered.
Which Jobs to Include
Any job that includes administrative tasks will be a boost to your CV. This can include Secretarial work, Data Entry, Administrative Assistant, or a HR role. These jobs will provide the most transferable skills for a candidate and boost the desirability of the CV. Hospitality jobs can also provide some value, as they often deal with interpersonal skills.
HR Assistant CV Work Experience Example
Start with your most recent relevant experience and work backwards using bullet points to separate jobs and skills:
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Administrative Assistant at [company name] from [start date] to [end date]
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This role required a high level of communication skills which I developed while at the company. I would often speak with employees and clients via meetings and correspondence.
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I frequently used calendar software and Microsoft Office to deal with data and appointments. I also became adept at creating presentations and compiling useful information for meetings.
Key Skills & Qualifications for a HR Assistant CV
A job description will always include key skills and any qualifications a candidate needs before applying. You might have these skills from previous job roles, and some qualifications can be received from educational facilities, on-the-job training, or apprenticeships.
Important Skills for a HR Assistant
A HR Assistant position will rely heavily on administration skills, HR knowledge, organisational skills, interpersonal skills, and communication skills. These are important because a person in HR will often need to speak to different teams and people on a regular basis to deal with any concerns.
It is also important to have some computer skills for managing data and performing administrative tasks.
Qualifications Needed to Be a HR Assistant
Although qualifications aren’t strictly necessary for an HR Assistant, some employers may prefer them. CIPD qualifications are highly valued, and there are HR-related degrees that you can obtain, such as a degree in Business Administration or Human Resources. These qualifications will boost the desirability of your application.
Additional Content to Boost Your HR Assistant CV
Once you have written about your education, qualifications, skills and work experience, you can provide some insight into what you do outside of work with a section about your hobbies and interests. You might also want to include references at the end of your CV.
Hobbies & Interests
Your hobbies and interests should pair with certain soft skills you’ve learned while practising your craft. This can be communication and teamwork skills through group hobbies, or time management skills if you have an interest in arts or cooking, which take a specific amount of time and patience.
References
If you intend to include one or two references in your CV, make sure that you ask for the person’s permission before adding their information. A reference should be someone who worked closely with you, such as a mentor, advisor or manager, and they should be able to talk about your positive work attitude and any of your notable work achievements.
How to Make a HR Assistant CV Stand Out
Making your CV stand out comes down to the structure of your writing and how relevant your experience is. Make sure to avoid writing long paragraphs of text and stick to bullet points when mentioning any skills or qualifications, as this will make the contents of your CV easier to read.
Showing a lack of enthusiasm or confidence in your skills will make an employer think that you’re not serious about your application, so having a confident tone will help your CV stand out more.
Employers enjoy seeing candidates who are interested in improving themselves, this can also come through in your hobbies, any volunteer work you’ve done, and any positive feedback you’ve had from your job, where you’ve gone above and beyond to find a solution to a problem.
Mistakes to Avoid
Don't clutter your CV with useless information, an employer will not want to sift through paragraphs of writing to find what they’re looking for. It’s also important to only write about 5-6 relevant jobs you’ve had, so you don’t overwhelm your CV and make it too lengthy, as this can be detrimental.
HR Assistant CV Examples
If you need additional help when writing your CV, you can download our free HR Assistant CV template to help you get an idea of how your CV should look.
