HR
HR business partner CV: example and template
This example is for HR business partners at manufacturing companies, shared service centres, technology and retail companies, and for HR specialists, recruiters and HR administrators who want to move into an HRBP role.
The employer wants to know which departments you work with, how you support managers, which changes you have led and how you measure their effects. We show you how to describe this on your CV in business language.
How to write an HR business partner CV
Professional summary
Write which organisation you work with, how many employees and managers you support and which changes you have led. Add one result in numbers, for example lower turnover or higher engagement, because an HRBP is judged by business impact. Mention labour law and trade union relations if you have them.
HR specialist with 5 years of experience in recruitment and onboarding who for a year has supported the managers of 2 departments on reviews, promotions and conflicts. I ran the engagement survey. I am looking for work as a junior HR business partner.
Experience: duties and achievements
Describe the organisation, employee groups, projects and their effects: turnover, absence, engagement, time to fill roles. Show your work with managers and the board. Add difficult matters, for example reorganisations, in general terms, without personal data.
Weaker: Supporting managers.
Better: Supporting the plant director and 25 managers on matters concerning about 900 employees.
Weaker: Reducing turnover.
Better: A turnover reduction project: onboarding, promotion paths, exit interviews; turnover from 32% to 19%.
Weaker: Reports.
Better: HR reports and metrics for the board: turnover, absence, labour costs.
Skills worth listing
List HR areas, change management, labour law, data and tools. In your soft skills show conversations with managers, conflict resolution and understanding the business.
Professional skills
- Business partnering
- Change management
- Development
- Labour law
- HR data
- Pay and reviews
Personal skills
- Understanding the business
- Conflict resolution
- Influencing managers
- Discretion
- Assertiveness
Training
List HRBP, labour law, coaching and HR analytics courses. Give current labour law training with the year, because the rules change often.
How to become an HR business partner
People usually move into this role from HR specialist, recruiter or HR administrator roles. On your CV show matters in which you already advised managers.
Run a project, for example an engagement survey or an onboarding programme, and describe its result. It is the best proof before a promotion.
Tailoring your CV to the job offer
A manufacturing plant looks for turnover, trade unions and shift work, a technology company for development and keeping specialists, and a service centre for growing teams and HR processes. Move to the top what the job ad is about.
Questions and answers
What should an HR business partner put on a CV?
The organisation, the number of employees and managers, projects and changes, effects in numbers, labour law, HR data and training.
How does an HRBP differ from an HR specialist?
An HRBP advises managers and the board on people and organisation, while an HR specialist more often runs specific processes.
How do you become an HR business partner?
Most often after several years as an HR specialist, recruiter or HR administrator, with projects for managers.
Which metrics should go on the CV?
Turnover, absence, engagement, time to fill roles and labour costs.