How to List Awards and Achievements on Your Resume

An awards section on a resume lists a person’s relevant achievements and accomplishments that you have been recognized for. Including awards on your resume that demonstrate proficiency in a number of hard and soft skills might help a candidate stand out to a hiring manager. Honors and awards can include academic distinctions, internal employee recognition awards, industry titles, and more.

Some resumes have a dedicated awards section. Awards can be included within the work experience, skills, or education section of a resume. Regardless of where they are listed, including your awards in a resume can help distinguish you as a candidate with quantifiable skills and exceptional accomplishments.

You want to be selective about the types of awards you include on your resume. Include only the ones that are pertinent to the job title you are applying for. Here is a list of example awards you might include on a resume.

1. 1. Education awards: Some job seekers decide to include awards on their resume that they received while attending high school, college, or graduate school. This can include an honors society membership, Dean’s List, or other academic achievements. This information can be handy if you’re applying to become an educator yourself.
2. 2. Company awards: Company awards like “employee of the month” or “salesperson of the year” can be useful to share with potential employers. These awards can show hiring managers that you’ve been a dedicated asset to the past teams you’ve been on, and could also be an asset to your new team.
3. 3. Industry awards: Winning an award in your industry is an impressive way to highlight your exceptional abilities. For instance, if you’re an architect who has received a prestigious design award or another related award in your field, listing it on your resume can show prospective employers that you can add value to the organization.
4. 4. Leadership: Winning a leadership award can show prospective employers that you’re able to manage a team and inspire others to do a great job. List any awards you’ve received for outstanding leadership efforts or team management.
5. 5. Volunteer work: Employers may look favorably on people who make an effort to positively impact the communities around them. List any accolades or recognition you have received for volunteer efforts within any given community.
6. 6. Athletic awards: If you’re applying for a job in a field that involves athletics, make sure to list any athletic awards you have received.

You can list any awards you have received in the relevant sections of your resume, or you can make a dedicated “awards and accolades” resume section. In some cases, some of your professional achievements will be more relevant under your work section than sticking it in your resume summary. If you’re placing awards beneath existing sections, create a few bullet points detailing the name of the award, who awarded it to you, and what it means. Here is an overview of how to list a few different types of awards.

• Academic awards: List any of your academic achievements in the education section of your resume, along with the school you attended and your GPA. Mention any academic honors you’re particularly proud of. Impressive awards and honors in education can be a good indicator of your soft skills, making you an asset for the job market.
• Professional awards: Your professional achievements and industry awards should be listed in the work history section of your resume. Any award or honors that showcase your work ethic as a professional may be worth including in your resume.
• Personal achievements: For other types of awards that may not fall within any of your sections, you can create a separate section for these achievements. Your achievements section can include any notable articles or accolades you’ve received in other areas of your life. You can also include any noteworthy personal achievements here as well.

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