Your resume is the first chance you get to impress a future employer. This document must include all your proudest moments and top accomplishments to make that great first impression. There’s no reason to be humble and hold back; instead, you should proudly detail any top accolades or recognition you’ve received throughout your career.
The best awards to put on a resume are the ones that are most relevant to the position and industry. Additionally, you should also include accolades that show your general work habits, such as Employee of the Month distinctions. If your past employer has recognized you and you leave these awards off your resume, you’re sure to miss a chance to position yourself as a top candidate for the job.
How to Write Awards to Put on a Resume
If you want to really shine as a top applicant for a great job, you should focus on detailing your proudest career moments. One thing to focus on could be any accolades you have won throughout your years of employment or in your education. Showcasing your professional distinctions could potentially help hiring managers notice your qualifications over other candidates.
Some types of awards to put on a resume include those from your school, clubs, or past work history. These could look like achievements, honors, or actual physical accolades you have won in the past. If you avoid showing your awards, you could come across as average and forgettable.
Some candidates have a strong history of achievement from their educational background. If you have won distinctions, such as graduation honors, scholarships, honor roll, or recognition in a specific subject, it’s important to list these noteworthy events on your resume. You should include awards you won in school in the education section of your resume. Don’t list details that are typical school activities, focus on the most impressive.
If you have a history of other accolades from your life that relate to your industry, you can also choose to include them. Depending on the nature of the distinction, you may have some flexibility in placing it somewhere on your resume. An award for a club or organization may fit best in your educational history; volunteer job distinctions could work in your skills section of your resume. Avoid irrelevant recognition.
The most common place to include awards is in the work history section of the resume. You should list accolades received from your previous jobs in the duties and responsibilities section in your employment background. Awards from work include promotions, employee recognition, and performance distinctions.
Here are some ways you could phrase earned awards in your resume:
* Graduated Summa Cum Laude
* Awarded top sales associate five years in a row for increasing sales 35%
* Promoted to assistant manager after working for three months in the position
5 Awards to Put on a Resume Must-Haves
1. Focus on accolades related to your field or that show great character and work habits
The professional distinctions in your resume should be something relevant to your career choice. Some awards are general and demonstrate your commitment to your job, and these are helpful to have on a resume. Other accolades are more specific and connected to the type of work you’ve done in the past. Make sure you choose these industry-specific awards and showcase your talents in your field.
2. Purposely organize the awards on your resume
Depending on the nature of your distinctions, you can include them in many different parts of your resume. You can list awards won in college or training school in your education history. Awards won during your career most likely fit in the work history section. Other impressive accolades that aren’t related to your academic or work history could fit in the skills section or your professional summary.
3. Use measurable details whenever possible
Using metrics to give your awards more power is a great way to point out your talents to hiring managers. When you detail your distinctions, include information such as percentages, dollars, number of people, duration, and other metrics to help people understand your contributions.
4. Performance accolades are also important to include
Some candidates think of awards and only consider actual physical awards, such as trophies or certificates. In fact, many employers appreciate hearing about performance awards, such as promotions or stellar performance reviews. You should place these items in your work history section. For truly impressive distinctions related to your performance, you could give these top billing in your professional summary.
5. Use awards to demonstrate your top skills and attributes
Listing awards on your resume can help you provide actual examples of specific strengths you have. Instead of saying you’re committed to coming to work on time every day, give an example with an attendance accolade. Rather than stating how important pushing sales is, list an award you received for sales performance. Another idea is to show your knowledge about a specific subject or industry topic by including an accolade you won from a professional organization or society.
Top Awards to Put on a Resume Takeaways
The most effective awards to put on a resume are ones that show off your top accomplishments. Employers may appreciate you showing off your great moments from your employment history, education, and volunteer work. Having meaningful awards listed on your resume can make you a better candidate for your next potential job.
There are many different types of awards that look impressive to hiring managers. A good rule of thumb is to focus on the professional distinctions that make a statement about your character, work habits, or ability in your field. With this type of information, you can show hiring managers they shouldn’t overlook your qualities during the job search.
