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Senior human resources specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Vinh Nguyen Ph.D.,

J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.

Senior human resources specialist example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior human resources specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for senior human resources specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.0% of senior human resources specialist resumes contained payroll as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior human resources specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior human resources specialist skills for your resume and career

1. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how senior human resources specialists use payroll:

Handled payroll inquiries, benefits resolutions including disability, leave of absence, severance agreements and coordinated outplacement services.
Performed review/audit of payroll transactions and final reports each pay period to ensure accuracy and compliance with established guidelines/policies.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how senior human resources specialists use customer service:

Assisted in the development, maintenance and customer service for external company websites to include staffing/on-boarding, position classification and employee relations
Initiated organizational improvements for 2,600-employee Customer Services business unit in the United States and facilities in Belgium and Singapore.

3. HRIS

Here's how senior human resources specialists use hris:

Partnered with HR generalists on training administration and decommissioning legacy HRIS.
Coordinate reorganization activity with regards to HRIS updates.

4. PowerPoint

Here's how senior human resources specialists use powerpoint:

Developed and facilitated online and instructor based training for university staff utilizing Oracle UPK Developer, Blackboard and PowerPoint.
Conducted PowerPoint presentations on company benefits during open enrollment, resolve paycheck and PTO discrepancies.

5. Develop Recommendations

Here's how senior human resources specialists use develop recommendations:

Continue to identify process improvements initiatives across the department and develop recommendations for improvements.
Develop recommendations for employee discipline and write hearing reports for submission to the appointing authority.

6. Provide Technical Assistance

Here's how senior human resources specialists use provide technical assistance:

Provide technical assistance with enrollment processes.
Provide technical assistance and training.

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7. Performance Management

Here's how senior human resources specialists use performance management:

Coordinated and executed Talent Management functions, employee relations and Performance Management administration for a biotechnology operation with several plants.
Created performance management leadership development programs focusing on succession planning and individual development for immediate and long term organizational sustainability.

8. Employee Engagement

Here's how senior human resources specialists use employee engagement:

Formulated policies and recommendations on employee engagement including: directives, accountability measures and systems, strategies, and initiatives.
Developed a leadership curriculum to provide supervisors with tools to enhance employee engagement and performance.

9. Shared Services

Here's how senior human resources specialists use shared services:

Shared Services Re-design: Developed and implemented centralized staffing model to create consistent, best-in-class selection processes and capabilities.
Coordinated with functional team to transition recruiting support to a shared services model.

10. Personnel Actions

A personnel action means any action taken which affects compensation, appointment, promotion, transfer, assignment, reassignment, reinstatement, evaluation of performance, layoff, dismissal, discipline, commendations, or any other action that affects the status of employment, etc. For example organizational reassignment, hiring an employee, or an employee leaving the company, are represented by separate personnel actions.

Here's how senior human resources specialists use personnel actions:

Verified eligibility for veteran's preference, recomputed Service Computation Dates, and trained office personnel to properly process personnel actions.
Prepared and reviewed all official correspondence, including Congressional inquiries, evaluations, military and civilian awards, and personnel actions.

11. SR

Here's how senior human resources specialists use sr:

Promoted to Sr. Human Resources Specialist after having acquired and demonstrated proficiency in all facets of Human Resources.
Discussed diploma issues, criminal offenses of applicants and new incidents of current employees with Sr.

12. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how senior human resources specialists use management system:

Served under the project manager in the implementation of automated document management system.
Identify, analyze and provide corrective action for document/data management system problems.

13. Training Programs

Here's how senior human resources specialists use training programs:

Maintained human resource development by conducting training sessions, administering on-the-job training programs, and maintaining all records of employee participation.
Managed two-state district with 750 union/non-union employees through implementation of proactive employee relations and training programs and leadership development.

14. Background Checks

Here's how senior human resources specialists use background checks:

Managed background checks, E-verify and reference checks, ensuring satisfactory clearance and regulatory compliance.
Submitted candidates' background checks; analyzed results for eligibility legality to hire.

15. Labor Relations

Labor relations refer to the relationship between the employer and its employees. It usually deals with labor-management wherein it focuses on the collective bargaining agreement regarding work between the union of the employee in making decisions for the organization. On the other hand, findings mean the proper wages, hours of duty, working conditions, safety, and employee protection while at work, grievances, and other related concerns.

Here's how senior human resources specialists use labor relations:

Managed recruiting and hiring process, termination and exiting process, coaching/counseling and employee relations and labor relations activities.
Develop strong business partnerships with internal customers to manage Employee/Labor Relations issues and achieve strategic initiatives.

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What skills help Senior Human Resources Specialists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on senior human resources specialist resumes?

Dr. Vinh Nguyen Ph.D.

Professor of Business Administration, Coe College

The most important skills for new graduates, particularly for HRM majors, are adaptability and problem solving. The ability to continuously learn and change is critical during this crisis and with on-going technological advancements. A willingness to face any problems and to find creative solutions is also highly desirable in this changing world. Thus, people who are highly aware and possess a growth mindset will stand out in the labor market.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior human resources specialists?

J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management & Human Resources, Saint Leo University

Even though these skills are much more trainable, it helps if HR professionals are familiar with HR information systems.
There are too many to name them all here (sorry, no free advertising)! It would be difficult for a candidate to be familiar with every platform a company might use for their HRIS, but it is good to know that they generally work in the same ways.
If the company asks if you have experience with a particular platform that you have never heard of, always be truthful but still be ready to ask intelligent questions about it: "I'm not too familiar with that platform, but I'd be curious to know about your employees' experiences with it. How long have you been using it, and how robust is the self-service interface?"

What soft skills should all senior human resources specialists possess?

J. Adam Shoemaker Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Management & Human Resources, Saint Leo University

FYI, soft skills are a lot more difficult to train than hard skills. This is part of the reason that there is so much demand for soft skills - for the most part, they need to be innate to the candidate.
Here again, communication comes up - and here, it is important to recognize that communication is much more than just telling people. A good communicator is a great listener. He knows when to speak his mind and when to wait and see what happens. She knows how to collaborate effectively with people and how to take action when needed.

What senior human resources specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Michael Pasquale Ph.D.

Professor of Linguistics, Humanities Division Chair, Cornerstone University

Graduates should continue to develop expertise and fluency in their language learning and development. They should focus on developing language fluency in the career areas they are pursuing. For example, they should read extensively and listen to podcasts in their target language to understand the field and how to use the language fluently and effectively in those contexts.

What type of skills will young senior human resources specialists need?

Dwaine Turner Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, East Central University

Graduates will need to be multiculturally competent, have great interpersonal skills, and Telehealth exposure. Upcoming graduates will be faced with providing services to a diverse population that will be very challenging, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The graduates will have to implore the usage of their interpersonal skill set to strengthen the therapeutic alliance between counselor and client relationship. Also, the new trend in the profession is virtual sessions, which can be awkward at times but very necessary with the current landscape of society. The graduate will have to be more creative when creating an environment that is therapeutic in a virtual meeting room to allow the client to emote/divulge sensitive information.

What technical skills for a senior human resources specialist stand out to employers?

Adam Smith Ph.D.

Bicentennial Professor, Associate Professor of Management, Enactus Sam Walton Fellow, Indiana University Kokomo

That varies by industry, employer, level, and position. Also, it depends on their approach to hiring and training. It is important that students research employers and industries that interest them. But overall, it may be skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and collaboration that remain vital. Going forward, effective communication, tech savviness, a positive view of change (as opportunity), and an openness to continuous learning may set people apart in organizations.

Do you want to know more?

List of senior human resources specialist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a senior human resources specialist resume and required skills for a senior human resources specialist to have include:

Payroll
Customer Service
HRIS
PowerPoint
Develop Recommendations
Provide Technical Assistance
Performance Management
Employee Engagement
Shared Services
Personnel Actions
SR
Management System
Training Programs
Background Checks
Labor Relations
Open Enrollment
Exit Interviews

Employee Training
Data Integrity
SharePoint
FMLA
Timekeeping
I-9
EEO-1
Data Analysis
Conflict Resolution
PeopleSoft
Succession Planning
Benefits Administration
Hr Administration
PTO
OPM
FLSA
State Laws

Disciplinary Actions
Cobra
Unemployment Claims
Ongoing Management
Employment Law
Action Plan
Policy Development
Position Management
Applicant Tracking Systems
Taleo
Reference Checks
AAP
ADP
Policy Interpretation
Position Descriptions

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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