How to Write a Mid-Career Resume

How to Write a Mid-Career Resume How to Write a Mid-Career Resume Think back to the very first resume you wrote - maybe it was for a summer job, an internship in college, or your very first full-time job. Most likely, it was difficult to fill up an entire page.  A lot has changed since then.  Now, in the middle of your career, you likely have plenty of experience and accomplishments.   Fortunately, once you hit mid-career, you no longer have to restrict your resume to a single page. (Here is more information on  how long a resume can be.) Some  resume best practices  may have shifted, too, since your first resume.   What makes sense for an  entry-level resume  does not necessarily hold true for a mid-career resume. Here is a round up of things that you can -  and should â€" cut from a mid-career resume. What to Include in a Mid-Career Resume Focus on Your Accomplishments: A strong mid-career resume will lead with accomplishments: rather than Presented on topic XYZ, a mid-career resume may say Led training efforts on topic XYZ, ensuring a successful switch to the new operating system. See  how to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Include Your Most Relevant Skills: Whether through networking, careful research, or LinkedIn connections, mid-career applicants often skip the job application step that involves having a resume scanned by a machine for keywords. When youre applying for jobs directly - that is, sending your resume to someones email - use a version of your resume that lists only significant or surprising skills. Match Your Resume to the Job: Quantity doesnt always win. A strong mid-career resume will be calibrated to match the job you want; instead of including every career twist and turn, and listing every skill and task completed, focus on work experience and skills that relate to the job you want. 7 Things to Cut From Your Mid-Career Resume 1. Your First Job:  Its possible your first job was the perfect launching pad for your career, still relevant all these years later. But for many of us, knowing the bosss coffee order, booking meeting rooms, and answering phones made up the day-to-day. Important stuff, and great training for office life, but not exactly whats going to grab hiring managers attention for mid-career positions. If the work you did at your first job is in a different industry or doesnt relate to the work you want to do now, you can probably cut that job from your resume.   Dont keep low-responsibility positions on your resume for nostalgias sake- real estate is at a premium, so cut your first job (and any other roles) that dont further your career goals. See more of  what not to include in a resume. 2. Obvious Skills:  Does your resume skills section list your proficiency in Microsoft Office or your ability to use basic email programs? Theres probably no need to include these very basic  resume skills, which nearly every high school graduate possesses. 3. A List of Your Responsibilities:  Early in your career, it makes sense for your resume descriptions to be a laundry list of tasks. At the bottom of the totem pole, with several managers above you, your ability to  do  things is your most important asset. As you rise in your career though, showing leadership with ideas, people, and projects is more important. 4.  Irrelevant Information:  Its tempting to include everything in your resume. Why leave something out? Well, a lot of details can make it overwhelming to readers. Hiring mangers and interviewers may be left unsure of your true talents- or might miss a skill thats relevant to the position because its drowned out by a zillion other bullet points. It can feel brutal to trim down your history this way- perhaps in the same way that it can feel sad to remove your first jobs from your resume- but it helps to make your work history as clear as possible for interviewers to follow. 5. Putting Education Front-and-Center:  Once youve worked several years, your education becomes a less important signifier. Work experience is more meaningful than school, and is the best way to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and expertise to succeed in your field. If you havent already, you can move the  education section  from the top-most section of your resume all the way to the bottom.   Remove your graduation year now that youre no longer a recent grad. 6. Weak Words:  If youre using words like responsible for or coordinated, consider getting out a red pen. Since there isnt much space on your resume, you want every word to pack a punch. Use this list of  action verbs and powerful words  to help showcase accomplishments with strong, engaging language. 7. A Goofy Email Address:  If youre still holding on to an AOL email address or any email address that isnt based on your name, consider getting a new one. You may want to have a funny email address for communications with your friends, but its not appropriate in a professional setting.  Here is more information about what to include in the  contact section of a resume. Remember to use a personal email address, and not one associated with your current place of employment. Key Takeaways Your career has changed; your resume should as well.  The way you present yourself on an entry-level resume is quite different from on a mid-career one.  Put the emphasis on big-ticket accomplishments.  Youve done a lot! Make sure thats clear in your resume by focusing on accomplishments and wins (and less on the tasks you perform on a day-to-day basis).  Dont mistake quantity for quality.  Longer isnt better when it comes to your resume. Instead of sharing all the information on your career, share only the details that are relevant to the job at hand.