Have you ever wondered if a certain achievement of yours is worth mentioning on your job application?
If you’ve earned prizes or honors like making it to the Dean’s List or professional recognition at your workplace, it’s almost never a bad idea to show it off.
But you may be asking yourself, “Should I have an awards section on my resume?”
When you’re on the hunt for a new job, a resume award section can strengthen your application. However, it may not always be straightforward.
This guide we will cover:
- Whether you should include awards on your resume
- How to highlight achievements on an application
- Where to list your honors on your resume
- Examples of awards on your resume
If you feel adding some honors and recognitions to your application is the right move, our AI resume builder can help you do so in an organized way.
With our tool and the advice below, your resume will be as polished as a gold medal.
Should You Include Awards on a Resume?
It may seem like a no-brainer to include all your recognitions, awards, and honors on your resume to impress a hiring manager. However, you should be careful to make sure you only include what is relevant.
If they contribute to demonstrating your relevant experience and skills, you should definitely include them on your resume as they illustrate your:
- Professional progress
- Academic progress
- Advanced skill set and knowledge
Awards can also be a fantastic opportunity to show off your knowledge and skills in a specific area, and they’re especially useful for entry-level applicants to cover up for a lack of experience.
However, keep in mind that it may seem unprofessional if you include any honors that are unrelated to the job posting.
For example, if you’re applying for a job as a financial analyst, then there’s no point listing hospital volunteer of the month.
What Kind of Awards Can I List on My Resume?
There are all sorts of types of awards to put on a resume if they are presented in the right context (if they are relevant to the job you are applying for). Here are a few types of awards that you can list on your resume:
Academic awards
Academic awards may emphasize many of your other abilities, such as a strong work ethic and the capacity to accomplish long-term objectives. They also add to your credentials in a specific field or industry and could highlight your organizational skills.
Take a look at these kinds of awards in resume examples like the one below.
Awards
Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Award, XYZ University | April 2022
- Recognized for a groundbreaking research project on sustainable energy solutions, leading to a published paper in the Journal of Green Technologies.
Professional awards
When you’ve been recognized at work, adding the award to your resume can enhance your profile. They represent a wide range of hard and soft skills, ranging from strong team leadership to great salesmanship. They may vary from corporate-wide recognition to yearly company honors.
Company awards emphasize your worth as an employee.
One example is the Best Performer award. It’s given out for outstanding performance, such as receiving 100% customer satisfaction throughout the year. This is also a good resume awards example as it shows consistency in at-work conduct.
Awards
Best Performer Award, ABC Corporation | December 2021
- Received recognition for consistently exceeding sales targets by 20% and demonstrating exceptional team leadership throughout the year.
Employee of the month awards
Winning employee of the month means you were the best-performing staff member for any given month.
In fact, you’ve probably seen a TV show that had two characters battling it out to win the Employee of the Month at one time or another.
So, can you put employee of the month on a resume, even when it seems so cliché?
The answer is a resounding yes.
Even though the award may be seen as ineffective nowadays as a motivational tool, it shows you performed your duties at a high level over a 30-day period, which will stand out to hiring managers.
Awards
ABC Real Estate | Hoboken, New Jersey
2021-2022
- Employee of the month, most sales, May 2021, November 2021, February 2022
Industry awards
These accolades are given by organizations related to specific industries to companies, teams, or individuals who have achieved notable success, innovation, or leadership skills in their respective fields.
These honors often recognize best practices, innovative solutions, or outstanding performances and will really make you stand out due to the awarding bodies’ strong reputations.
Awards
Marvin L. Manheim Award | Workflow Management Coalition | 2023
- Received recognition for significant contributions in the field of workflow management.
Athletic/Sports awards
Honors related to athletics may demonstrate your leadership, coaching abilities, and how you work well in a team.
These awards can come in handy if you’re applying for a job that requires physical strength, stamina, and agility.
For example, if you’re applying to be a lifeguard, then it’s definitely worthwhile to mention your awards as an athlete alongside your other skills and achievements.
Awards
1st Place, CrossFit Downtown Annual Competition | June 2022
- Outperformed over 100 participants in a series of high-intensity workouts, showcasing strength, agility, and endurance.
Military awards
While these awards aren’t immediately relevant to most civilian employment, they do emphasize a number of soft skills, including leadership, commitment, and teamwork.
Of course, adding military honors looks outstanding if you’re applying for a position in the armed forces. If you’re looking for a position in the civilian sector, only mention the recognition if it’s relevant to the position.
Awards
Bronze Star Medal | US Army | November 2021
- Awarded for displaying exceptional valor and heroism during a critical operation in Afghanistan.
Other awards
You can list other awards such as volunteer awards and community service awards on your resume, too.
While these awards aren’t necessarily directly related to any specific job profile, they are good markers of important soft skills that make you an attractive prospect to any hiring manager.
How Should I List Awards on My Resume?
As you can see from our above resume awards examples, you should include the following information:
- Name of the award
- The date/year you received the award
- Why you won the award, or what you were competing for
- Give context to your award – for example, how many people were participating or whether it was an international-level competition
Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when thinking about how to list your awards on your resume:
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1. Title of the award
Always mention the official title of the award, the degree of recognition (regional, state, national, international, industry-specific), and the date of recognition when including awards or accomplishments on your resume.
Include the award’s purpose as well as the particular achievements it honors.
2. Impact of the award
Describe exactly what effect your efforts have had on the company, community, organization, etc. in question to demonstrate the value of your experiences.
For example, if you were in charge of a fund-raising campaign that collected $75,000 for a nursing home, you could describe how the funds were utilized to better the lives and medical treatment of seniors and elderly patients.
3. Quantify the award
Make an award more relevant by quantifying the achievement.
For example, if you were picked for a scholarship from a big pool of applicants to play football, you may want to mention those specifics to demonstrate how exceptional your achievement is.
4. Use action verbs
Use powerful action-oriented verbs like “Awarded the…”, “Recognized as…”, or “Received recognition for…” when presenting your awards and achievements.
This will increase the visibility of your awards on your resume and gives them a more distinguished appearance.
Where Should I List Awards on My Resume?
Depending on how many relevant achievements you have, you’ll have a couple of choices.
You can select one of the following options to tailor your resume and display your awards:
- Add a resume awards section: Typically, these are listed towards the bottom of your resume.
- Include them with your previous jobs or education section: You can add any honors that were given to you by a former employer in your experience section, or academic awards in your education section.
If you decide to add recognition to your work experience, just remember to keep it brief. If you were given a lot of awards then a dedicated section would be the better option.
This way, you’ll be able to contextualize achievements and provide proof of your credentials.
Key Points
Any candidate would be proud of their achievements, and it’s normal if you are eager to show off all the recognition you’ve picked up until now.
Just remember to:
- Only include honors relevant to the job opening
- Choose the right location to list your awards
- Add your resume award section at the bottom
- Use the correct action verbs when describing your achievement
Also, keep in mind that using tools like resume templates will help you make the job much easier. With this advice in mind, you shouldn’t have trouble claiming first prize when applying for a position.
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