How to write an internal recruiter CV (with example)
Updated 14 April 2023
Companies often hire internal recruiters to help them find qualified job candidates within the organisation. If you're applying for internal recruitment jobs, having a quality CV is essential. Learning how to write one effectively shows employers you have relevant qualifications and can help you make a positive impression on hiring managers. In this article, we explain what an internal recruiter is, provide the steps you can take to write an internal recruiter CV and share a CV template and an example you can use as a reference when crafting your own.
What is an internal recruiter?
An internal recruiter is a human resources (HR) team member who finds qualified candidates for open positions from within the organisation. They evaluate job opportunities, identify employees with the credentials to perform well in the role and promote the job to these candidates. They typically aim to save on hiring costs and choose candidates with a verifiable performance history who seek professional development opportunities. This can encourage job satisfaction and prevent employee turnover, which benefits employees, teams and the company. Other duties an internal recruiter may have to help them achieve this goal include:
collaborating with hiring managers to determine their employment needs
creating and sharing job postings with employees
evaluating candidate CVs to determine their suitability for the role
conducting telephone screenings and interviews
providing feedback about candidates to the hiring manager
sharing the results of recruitment efforts with candidates
communicating with employees to determine their career goals and identify positions that align with them
monitor recruitment and HR KPIs to maintain efficient processes
Related: Internal recruitment: definition, benefits and tips
How to write an internal recruiter CV
Here are the steps you can take to write an internal recruiter CV that may help you get the attention of a hiring manager:
1. Write a CV header
Start your CV by including a header with your contact information. This allows recruiters to identify you easily and find your contact information quickly if they want to reach you to schedule an interview. Add your first and last name at the top, and then include your phone number, email address and the city where you live on the next line. If you have relevant certifications or degrees that you use as part of your professional title, such as a master's degree in HR or a recruiting certification, you can include this after your name.
Related: Should you put your address on your CV? (With examples)
2. Create a professional summary
After you've added your contact information, write a professional summary encouraging the hiring manager to consider you for the role. A professional summary is a two- to three-sentence description of your qualifications that make you a suitable candidate. You may find it helpful to review the job description first so you can identify the employer's requirements and mention those that apply to you. For example, if the employer wants a candidate with at least three years of HR experience and you meet or exceed this requirement, you can include your years of experience in your summary.
Read more: How to include a profile summary in CV: a guide
3. Add your work experience
The next step is to expand on your professional summary by adding a work experience section to your CV. This section details your relevant employment history, including your experience as an internal recruiter or in related roles. Starting with your current or most recent position, add your job title, the duration of your employment and the name and location of your employer. You can then add a bulleted list of your primary duties for each role, including the reason for each one or their outcomes. Consider quantifying them when possible to emphasise the extent of your experience.
Example: Implemented an internal recruitment method that resulted in a 35% increase in employee retention.
Related: How to write a recruiter CV (with example and template)
4. List your essential skills
Your work history allows you to explain how you applied the skills you developed and used in previous roles, but include a separate skills list. Sharing your most vital skills with employers shows them what you consider your strengths and identifies the proficiencies you find most beneficial to the role. Consider including soft skills, such as communication and time management, and hard skills that pertain to an internal recruitment job like interview techniques or HR software.
Related: 9 essential recruiter skills for career success
5. Provide your educational credentials
Employers may require you to have a certain educational level to qualify for an internal recruiter job, such as a bachelor's degree in HR or a related field. Even if an employer doesn't have specific educational requirements, you can add your certificates, diplomas or degrees to your CV to supplement your other qualifications. Starting with your most recent education, list the name of the programme, your field of study and the name and location of the institution you attended. If you've received multiple credentials, you can add them in reverse-chronological order.
Related: How to write your degree on your CV (with steps and FAQs)
6. Share your professional certifications
People who work in HR often pursue professional certifications to show employers they have specific skills or extensive knowledge of a topic in the field. Whilst candidates usually receive these certifications voluntarily, some employers may require them. If you have professional certifications, you can add them at the bottom of your CV by listing the name of each one, the certifying agency that awarded it to you and the date you received it or its expiry date. If you don't have relevant certifications, you can omit this section.
Related: 5 HR certifications (plus descriptions and benefits)
CV template for an internal recruiter
Here's a CV template for an internal recruiter you can use as a guide when writing your own:
[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City]
Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as a professional.]
Experience
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]
(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City]
(Strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome or quantified results.
[Job duty]
[Job duty]
Skills
[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]
Education
[Degree and major], [Name of school or university]
[City]
[Certification name], [Host organisation] - [Year completed or expiry date]
Related: The complete CV format guide: examples and tips
CV example for an internal recruiter
You can use this example of a CV for an internal recruiter to get ideas about what to include on your CV:
Kevin Klein
07928 092185 | kevinklein@email.com | Birmingham
Professional Summary
Motivated recruiter with seven years of experience and a master's degree in HR seeking an internal recruitment role with a healthcare organisation. Skilled in evaluating candidates, streamlining recruitment processes and optimising employment policies.
Experience
Recruiter | April 2017–Current
Journey Cancer Care | Birmingham
recruit for 12+ clinical and administrative positions quarterly to accommodate clinic growth
evaluate candidates and perform phone screenings to determine their qualifications
monitor recruitment KPIs to ensure efficiency and change processes as needed
developed a recruitment method that resulted in a 20% increase in HR costs
trained a team of eight recruiters on new HR software
HR Specialist | March 2015–April 2017
Birmingham Hospice Centre | Birmingham
prepare compensation packages for employees
update and maintain 50+ employee records
review and update company policies quarterly
Skills
Verbal communication | Active listening | Time management | HR software | Interview methods | Employee relations
Education
BSc in Human Resources, City Centre University
Birmingham
Certified Recruitment Professional, Human Resources Association - 2017
Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
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