Benefits Specialist Resume Examples & Templates
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Benefits specialists manage employee compensation and benefits programs, including medical, vision, disability coverage, and 401(k) plans. This role calls for coordinating employee plans, researching and analyzing plan options, and communicating with insurance carriers to address claims and coverage issues.
Use the following professional tips and resume examples to create a resume that helps your benefits specialist application stand out from the crowd.
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Benefits specialist example (text version)
Name: CHERYL SANDOVAL
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Collaborative Benefits Specialist with seven years of experience in human resources. Provides exemplary service regarding benefits support. Excellent reputation for resolving problems, improving employee morale, and driving overall operational improvements.
WORK HISTORY
Benefits Specialist
03/2015 – 11/2017
Company Name, City, State
- Oversee all corporate benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401k, incentive plans, and corporate credit cards.
- Answer all calls and emails from staff members regarding benefits issues or questions.
- Research, compare, and negotiate benefits pricing per employee saving the company $15,000 in annual expenses.
Human Resources Coordinator
06/2015 to 03/2018
Company Name, City, State
- Sent out human resources paperwork to new employees and reviewed documents for accuracy and completeness.
- Worked on restructuring compensation and benefits according to market conditions and budget demands.
- Assisted human resources team with job fairs to attract local talent for long term and contract positions.
Human Resources Assistant
06/2014 to 09/2014
Company Name, City, State
- Provided friendly assistance to new hires throughout interviewing and hiring process.
- Reviewed and maintained employee punches to verify correct pay each pay period.
- Maintained over 300 employee and contract files to keep company in compliance with current laws and coordinate office activities and vendor relations.
SKILLS
- Benefits administration
- Workers compensation
- Documentation and reporting
- Organization
- FMLA knowledge
- New employee enrollment
- Recruiting
- Communication
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Management
Company Name, City, State
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Benefits Specialist Resume FAQ
1.What are some skills that fit a benefits specialist resume?
| Technical skills: | Soft skills: |
| Benefits plans | Quick thinker |
| Insurance vendor management | Excellent communication skills |
| Knowledge of HRIS, FMLA, HIPAA, ERISA, FSA, and/or ACA | Confident |
| Knowledge of Cobra | Works well under pressure |
| Open enrollment management | Strong interpersonal skills |
| Analytical skills | Self-motivated |
| Data entry | Team player |
| Payroll management/td> | Presentation skills |
| Retirement planning | Decision-making |
| Proficiency in software such as Peoplesoft | Professionalism |
| Claims processing | Friendly demeanor |
| Critical thinking |
| Technical skills: |
| Benefits plans |
| Insurance vendor management |
| Knowledge of HRIS, FMLA, HIPAA, ERISA, FSA, and/or ACA |
| Knowledge of Cobra |
| Open enrollment management |
| Analytical skills |
| Data entry |
| Payroll management/td> |
| Retirement planning |
| Proficiency in software such as Peoplesoft |
| Claims processing |
| Soft skills: |
| Quick thinker |
| Excellent communication skills |
| Confident |
| Time management |
| Works well under pressure |
| Strong interpersonal skills |
| Self-motivated |
| Team player |
| Presentation skills |
| Decision-making |
| Professionalism |
| Friendly demeanor |
| Critical thinking |
2. What is the ideal resume format for a benefits specialist position?
If you have plenty of work experience in benefits management, go with the chronological resume format, highlighting your work history and achievements. If you have less experience but can point to some impactful work achievements and skills, use a combination resume format, which gives attention to both your experience and professional skills. If you’re a recent college graduate or have less than two years of experience, the functional resume format will highlight your most relevant skills and qualifications.
3. What are some recommended certifications and training programs for this job position?
While many benefits specialist jobs don’t require specific training, getting certification in related areas can boost your resume credentials. Look into organizations that offer programs for certification as a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Benefits Professional (CBP).
4. What is the right way to include keywords in the resume?
Read through the job description to pinpoint skills and other requirements that emphasize important aspects of the job (for example, “API and EDI troubleshooting and integrations”). You can also browse through other job postings to find common phrases and sought-after skills. Once you’ve noted down these keywords, address them in your skills, summary, and work history sections with skills and experiences of your own. Don’t just stuff your resume with keywords; show how you put your skills into practice. For instance, you can list “EDI integrations” as a skill and also mention related experiences in your work history section: “Processed pension benefits and implemented CDI program for office of 100 employees.”
5. What are action verbs, and how should you use them?
While describing your job accomplishments or work history, use powerful verbs that present yourself as a proactive, energetic employee. For example, writing “managed open enrollment activities” or “supervised open enrollment activities” leaves a stronger impression than “responsible for open enrollment activities.” Some more action verbs you can use:
- Executed
- Oversaw
- Reconciled
- Supervised
- Spearheaded
- Conceptualized
- Coached
- Implemented
- Mentored
- Formulated
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO review your resume before you send it in.Even a minor mistake on your resume can negatively impact your chances of getting a job. Proofread your resume for misspellings, inconsistent spacing between paragraphs, and any other issues that can quickly turn off an employer. For added assistance, use our Resume Builder, which scans your document to spot errors.
- DO use your summary as an “elevator pitch.”Recruiters spend only a few seconds reviewing a resume, which means that it’s crucial to grab their attention from the start. Do so by creating an engaging summary statement. Think of it as a sales pitch in which you have a few sentences to convince the reader why you’re the best person for the job. Single out skills and top achievements that fit what the job is looking for. Our article How to Write a Perfect Summary Statement provides more tips.
- DO highlight your achievements using numbers.Support your work achievements with numbers and metrics, demonstrating the value of your accomplishments. For example: “Administered and processed medical, dental, vision, COBRA, long-term disability and pension benefits for three accounts totaling over 4,800 participants,” or “Trained new benefits representatives to correctly handle the resolution of 10 cases per week for four new clients.”
- DO create a human resources cover letter to match your resume.
- DON’T let your resume run too long.It’s official: most recruiters like resumes that are two pages long at most. To stay within those limits, feature only information that is relevant to addressing what the job needs. Limit your skills section to your top six to eight most relevant skills, and write three to five bullets in the work history section for each job. Use short, peppy phrases and bullet points instead of long sentences.
- DON’T forget to tailor your resume to fit the job. Every employer has different expectations and requirements, even if you’re applying for the same role, so customize your resume accordingly. Always look at the job description to understand the most important employer requirements, and then address those requirements in your resume by featuring your most relevant skills and work accomplishments. Our article How to Create a Targeted Resume features additional tips.
- DON’T go overboard with your resume design.Creating a resume with bright colors and stylish graphics might work well for creative jobs like animation and graphic design but can work against you in more traditional roles in areas such as human resources. An unorthodox resume layout can also confuse applicant tracking systems (ATS) that employers use to screen resumes. Instead of getting too fancy, put more effort into getting the right content into your resume, and use an employer-ready resume template to make your resume.
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Benefits Specialist Resume
Summary
In a few short sentences, explain to the potential employer why you’re the best candidate for the job, relying on your top work achievements, skills, and qualifications. For example: “Dedicated HR benefits specialist resume example with 6+ years of experience maintaining payroll databases and optimizing employee benefits. Extensive knowledge of retirement and stock-based compensation packages. Adept in educating workers about medical, dental, and disability policies.”
Skills
Review the job description and note the skills you possess that match what the employer is looking for. Divide your skills into two categories: professional (or hard) skills such as employee insurance management, open enrollment processes, analytical skills, and soft skills such as time management, critical thinking, communication skills, and flexibility.
Work history
Rather than listing everyday tasks and duties, focus on achievements and make them stand using numbers. For example: “Provided administrative support in dealing with employee benefits for 400 employees across three different states.” List three to five bullet points for each previous job, and limit your work history to the past 10 years.
Education
Mention your top education credential (e.g., a degree in human resources or a related field such as business administration, finance, or communication), along with any certifications or specialized training you’ve had (e.g., completion of programs with the HR Certification Institute or the Society for Human Resource Management).
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Benefits Specialist Resume Example
Kellie is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with extensive experience in digital media. She is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She earned a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.
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