HR CV Keywords: Skills & ATS Terms to Include

HR CVs are filtered on employment law knowledge, HRIS systems and CIPD level. Senior HR roles also expect evidence of commercial impact: retention, time to hire, engagement scores.

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HR hard skills

Core competencies recruiters and ATS filters search for.

Employee relationsRecruitmentOnboardingPerformance managementEmployment lawDisciplinary and grievanceAbsence managementWorkforce planningCompensation and benefitsLearning and developmentHR policyChange management

HR tools & software

Use the exact product names from the job ad.

WorkdayBambooHRSAP SuccessFactorsHiBobCezanneGreenhouseLeverOracle HCMExcel

HR certifications & qualifications

Write the full name and the acronym, with the year.

CIPD Level 3 FoundationCIPD Level 5 Associate DiplomaCIPD Level 7 Advanced DiplomaSHRM-CP / SHRM-SCPMental Health First Aider

HR soft skills

Show these through achievements rather than listing them alone.

DiscretionEmpathyConflict resolutionCoachingInfluencing managersJudgement

HR action verbs

Start each bullet with one of these instead of "Responsible for".

AdvisedRecruitedImplementedReducedDesignedManagedResolvedIntroducedCoachedNegotiated

Weak vs strong hr CV bullets

Did recruitment for the company.

Ran end-to-end hiring for 85 roles in 12 months, cutting average time to hire from 48 to 29 days.

Handled employee issues.

Managed 30+ ER cases including grievances and disciplinaries with no tribunal claims over 3 years.

Examples are illustrative. Only use figures you can back up in an interview.

ATS tip for hr CVs

Write your CIPD level in full ("CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma") and name the HRIS you have used. Both are common hard filters on HR roles.

How to use these keywords

  1. Start from the job description, not this list. Keywords that appear in the ad matter most.
  2. Only include skills you genuinely have. You will be asked about them.
  3. Put the most important keywords in both your Skills section and your experience bullets.
  4. Use the employer's exact wording (e.g. "Workday", not a synonym).
  5. Keep formatting simple: single column, standard headings, no text inside images.

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