6 Must-Have Resume Sections for Mid-Career Professionals

What are the most important sections to include on a mid-career resume?

A mid-career resume should highlight your extensive experience, skills, and accomplishments. The most important sections to include are:

1. Contact Information: Include your full name, email address, phone number, and LinkedIn profile URL.


2. Summary: A 2-3 sentence summary of your career, highlighting your key skills and experience.


3. Skills: List your technical and soft skills, quantifying them whenever possible using specific numbers or metrics.


4. Experience: Detail your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each role, include the company name, job title, dates of employment, and a bulleted list of accomplishments.


5. Education: List your degrees, certifications, and any relevant training programs. Include the institution name, location, degree or certification obtained, and dates of attendance.

How can I effectively quantify my skills and experience?

Quantifying your skills and experience adds credibility and helps employers visualize your impact on previous roles. Here’s how to do it:

• Use specific numbers and metrics:
  • Instead of ‘Managed a team,’ write ‘Managed a team of 10 engineers, increasing team productivity by 25%.’


• Highlight your results:
  • Instead of ‘Developed software,’ write ‘Developed software that reduced production time by 30%.


• Use action verbs:
  • Use strong action verbs that convey your skills and accomplishments, such as ‘managed,’ ‘developed,’ ‘increased,’ and ‘reduced.’

What are the best ways to highlight my accomplishments on my resume?

Accomplishments are a crucial part of your resume as they showcase your abilities and impact. Here are some tips for highlighting them:

• Use the STAR method:
  • Describe the Situation, Task, Action taken, and Result achieved.


• Quantify your results:
  • Use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your accomplishments.


• Use action verbs:
  • Use strong action verbs to convey your skills and accomplishments, such as ‘managed,’ ‘developed,’ ‘increased,’ and ‘reduced.’


• Tailor to the job description:
  • Review the job description and highlight accomplishments that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

How should I present my education and credentials on my resume?

Your education and credentials play a vital role in showcasing your qualifications. Here’s how to present them:

• List in reverse chronological order:
  • Start with your highest degree or certification and work backwards.


• Include relevant information:
  • For each degree or certification, include the institution name, location, degree or certification obtained, dates of attendance, and any relevant coursework or honors.


• Highlight relevant coursework:
  • If you have taken specific courses that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, list them separately under a ‘Relevant Coursework’ section.

What additional sections can I include to make my resume stand out?

In addition to the essential sections, you can include additional sections to further showcase your skills and experience:

• Awards and Recognition: List any awards or recognition you have received for your work.


• Certifications and Licenses: Include any professional certifications or licenses that demonstrate your expertise.


• Languages: If you are proficient in multiple languages, list them along with your level of fluency.


• Accomplishments: If you have any notable accomplishments that don’t fit in other sections, create an ‘Accomplishments’ section to highlight them.


• Projects: If you have worked on major projects or initiatives that showcase your skills, consider creating a ‘Projects’ section.


• References: While references are not typically included on resumes, you can create a separate page with your references and provide it upon request.

Why is it important to include references on my resume?

Including references on your resume is not essential, but it can be helpful in certain situations. Here are a few reasons to consider including references:

• Credibility: Having references can add credibility to your resume and support your claims.


• Verification: Employers may use references to verify your experience, skills, and character.


• Networking: If you have strong relationships with your references, they may be able to provide you with additional job leads.