Job seekers often question what awards are important to include when building a resume. The value of an award is based on your target industry and when you received it. For instance, if you’re a professional with 10 years of experience, you probably wouldn’t feature an award you achieved during high school. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide insights to help you determine what awards are important for you and what details you can omit from your resume.
Include Academic Awards Early in Your Career
If you’re at the entry level looking for your first job, incorporate academic awards to fill out space on your resume. Academic achievements will also provide you with content you can feature instead of professional experience within your industry. Once you’ve acquired five or more years of experience, you can safely omit these awards from your resume in most cases.
That said, there are exceptions to every rule. For example, if you were pursuing a position as a professor of literary criticism, you’d probably include that you were nominated for the English award during your undergrad. In this section, you could also mention the dean’s list, scholarships, or associated grants.
Why Should I Include Awards on My Resume?
In certain circumstances, including awards may not be appropriate for a job seeker. Nevertheless, if the information is relevant to your industry, it may provide an opportunity to initiate a conversation with the hiring manager. Don’t be afraid to feature recognition on your resume, as it’s best to market yourself as a top talent who goes above and beyond expectations.
When determining the relevance of an award, be sure to ask yourself if the information helps showcase who you are as a professional. If it isn’t pertinent, omit the information, as it’s best not to pad your resume with irrelevant details.
Put Industry Awards on Your Resume
Industry awards have longer staying power than academic awards for most industries. For example, if the President’s Club for sales acknowledged you, this is important to feature even if the award is from years back. Prioritize your most recent recognition as much as possible if it matches your target industry. Although it’s best to never prioritize an award over your work experience section, highlighting the accolades you’ve garnered in the past can go a long way in establishing your credibility as a top talent in your field.
Feature Community Service and Volunteer Awards if Applicable
If an organization has recognized you for your community service, include these while pursuing opportunities within the nonprofit sector. Prospective employers within these industries value candidates with a strong commitment to public service, and these types of awards may help differentiate you from other applicants during your job search. If you’re pursuing a role outside of this industry, these can still help showcase different aspects of you as a professional, but they aren’t mandatory to feature.
Include Leadership Awards on Your Resume
Leadership accolades are relevant regardless of your target industry, as companies always seek to acquire candidates who excel in people management. For example, if you have been recognized as manager of the year, consider including this information in your document. If you were part of a committee that provided leadership development coaching and mentorship to employees, this is also useful to showcase on your resume. Hiring managers value job seekers with impressive leadership backgrounds, and these awards will help showcase your ability to lead and develop organizations.
Create a Separate Section for Patents
If you have been awarded any patents in the past or currently have a patent pending, consider creating a separate section to highlight them on your resume. Although these are different from receiving an industry award, they can go a long way in demonstrating your industry expertise. Being awarded a patent for a product design or feature is an outstanding achievement and may help to generate job opportunities in the open market. When creating a patent section, specify the status of the patent and the number associated with it on your resume.
How To List Awards on Your Resume
When including awards, ensure you correctly format the information on your resume. Start with the name of the award, the company you received it from, and the date you earned each recognition. If the award’s title lacks clarity, consider incorporating a one-line bullet point explaining what it was and how you achieved it.
This step is crucial if you’re changing industries. The hiring manager would be less likely to be familiar with the award if you earned it while working in a different field. Below, you’ll find a list of examples to help you build your awards section on your resume.
How to list academic awards on your resume
Dean’s list, Columbia University, Awarded 2017-2021
Summa Cum Laude, Columbia University, Awarded 2021
University English Award, Columbia University, Awarded 2020
How to list industry awards on your resume
Innovative Design Award, San Francisco Robotics Conference, Awarded 2020
Stevens, Hadley. 2024. Calibration Sensor. US Patent 12,345,678, filed May 30, 2024. Patent pending.
Stevens, Hadley. 2018. Calibration data tool. US Patent 87,654,321, filed April 10, 2018, issued December 1, 2018.
Resume Examples With Awards
Actress Resume Example With an Award
Theater Resume Example With Awards
Quality Control Resume Example With Awards
Musician Resume Example With an Award
Nonprofit Resume Example With an Award
Banker Resume Example With an Award
Janitor Resume Example With an Award
Allison Rosenberg
(123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio
New York, NY 12345
Profile
An award-winning actress with seven years of experience performing in high-profile theater productions. Adept at bringing complex, emotionally scarred characters to life for audiences using the Stanislavski method. Achieved a best supporting actress Tony Award for the role of Ginny in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
Physical Attributes
Height: 5’6
Weight: 130
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Vocal: Soprano
Theater
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”
Ginny Potter
Winter Garden Theater
“The Cocktail Party”
Lavinia Chamberlain
Thunderbolt Stage
“Children of a Lesser God”
Sarah Norman
Stage East
“A Man for All Seasons”
Margaret
Midwest Theater
“Lady Windermere’s Fan”
Lady Windermere
Grisham Theater
Awards
Best supporting actress, Tony Awards, Ginny Potter, 2020
Key Skills
Dancing
Method acting
Singing
Soprano vocal range
Stanislavski method
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Drama Columbia University, New York, NY September 2012 – June 2016
Sarah Geller
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A dynamic actress with eight years of experience delivering award-worthy performances in a wide variety of Broadway productions. Expertise in utilizing a method acting approach to adopt authentic character personas. Achieved recognition for leading roles in the Wizard of Oz, Moulin Rouge! and Rent.
Physical Attributes
5’7” Height
129 Pounds
Hazel Eyes
Brunette Hair
Soprano
Theater Experience
Rent
Maureen
Lyric Theater
West Side Story
Graziella
Winter Garden Theater
Wizard of Oz
Dorothy
Gershwin Theater
Moulin Rouge!
Satine
Gershwin Theater
Sweeney Todd
Mrs. Lovett
New Amsterdam Theater
Grease
Sandy
Winter Garden Theater
Awards
Best Performance by a Leading Actress, Satine, Tony Awards
Nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actress, Maureen, Tony Awards
Associations
Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Member, 2013 – Present
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Theater Columbia University, New York, NY September 2009 – May 2013
Key Skills
Soprano Vocal Range
Singing
Method Acting
Dancing
Acrobatics
Virginia Steele
(602) 888-8888 [email protected]
717 Mesa Blvd, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Profile
Quality Control Technician sought out for efficiency and process recommendations based on strong assembly background. Won various awards including “Production Employee of the Month” on 3 occasions.
Key Skills
Efficiency Improvement
Quality Control (QC)
Team Collaboration
Technical Troubleshooting
Professional Experience
Assembler / Quality Control, Metalsa, Elizabethtown, KY | March 2019 to Present
Frequently inspect production and packing areas to ensure correct product forms, specs, storage, packaging, labeling, and coding
Recommend process changes to help optimize efficiency and quality
Consult and advise design team on prototype testing
Highlight:
Co-developed a new quality standards manual that helped better align the organization
Assembler, Ford Motor Company, Kansas City, MO | September 2016 to February 2019
Assembled components by examining connections for proper fit and securing parts and subassemblies
Fixed assembly issues by modifying dimensions to match
Worked in different areas of the department as production schedule dictated
Highlights:
Named “Production Employee of the Month” out of 250+ peers on 3 occasions
Surpassed daily production quota by 10%+ on average
Assembler (night shift), Sedona Medical, Phoenix, AZ | June 2013 to August 2016
Used hand tools and machines to assemble parts, closely following blueprints and schematics
Ensured each part was fastened securely, and logged any deviations
Performed hourly QC checks
Highlight:
Exceeded production quota by ~1,500 units per day
Education
General Education Development (GED) Diploma | 2013
Brian Marko
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
123 Your St., Seattle, WA 98101
Profile
A skilled Guitarist and Writer with seven years of performance experience and more than 100 published music reviews. Winner of the “Best of Seattle” award for coverage of the city’s thriving music scene. A strong history of delivering engaging performances in major Seattle music venues, including the Crocodile.
Professional Experience
Music Reviewer, Treble Clef Magazine, Seattle, WA June 2016 – Present
Write detailed reviews of rock and punk concerts, symphony performances, and Broadway-style musicals for a music magazine with a circulation of 25,000
Interview musicians and gather interesting details to be used in profiles and concert reviews and generate coverage for upcoming music events
Use musical knowledge to promote local events and ensure that Seattle residents of all ages are aware of the variety of music performances available on a weekly basis
Guitarist, Mouse Rat, Seattle, WA April 2013 – Present
Played acoustic and electric guitar for Seattle-based band Mouse Rat and performed at a variety of premiere venues, including Sunset Tavern, Ballard, The Crocodile, Belltown, and Paramount Theatre
Composed original music with a blend of punk rock and mathcore elements, released three albums, and achieved a review score of 9.5 in a major online publication
Education
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, 2012
Nonprofit Development Professional with 3+ years of experience. Consistently meet or exceed fundraising goals. Skilled in planning events, designing advertisements, and building relationships with web-based donors.
Professional Experience
Development Coordinator, Abused Women Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Anchorage, AK | September 2019 to Present
Identify new donors and negotiate funding
Assist with grant writing
Set event budgets and account for expected fundraising outcomes
Design ads, flyers, posters, and social media posts to promote fundraising events
Highlights:
Raised $2.5M through individual and corporate donations
Served as lead writer on a $500K grant award
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Key Skills
Budgeting
Company Partnerships
Data Analysis
Donor Relations
Event Planning
Grant Writing
Raiser’s Edge
Emily Lin
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
123 Your Street, Los Angeles, CA 12345
Profile
A personal banker with five years of experience specializing in customer success, retail banking, cross-selling, and client relations. A proven track record of leveraging consultative sales techniques to identify optimal banking products for customers.
Professional Experience
Personal Banker, Bank of America, Los Angeles, CA May 2018 – Present
Manage relationships with 65+ banking customers, analyze client financial needs, identify appropriate financial solutions, and cross-selling banking products to achieve over 130% of monthly sales quota YOY
Receive recognition with the Banker of the Year Award in 2021 for delivering a high-quality customer experience and achieving client satisfaction scores of 95%
Develop a mentorship program to train new hires on client relations, cross-selling, and consultative selling, resulting in a 30% sales increase for the banking team
Personal Banker, Wells Fargo, Los Angeles, CA May 2016 – May 2018
Led consultative meetings with existing customers and prospects to evaluate banking needs, identify sales opportunities, and provide education on financial solutions, including checking accounts, mortgage loans, savings accounts, and online banking
Achieved 110%-120% of sales quota month over month and built relationships with customers to ensure alignment with financial needs and goals
Identified resolution to customer issues regarding overdrafts, fraudulent charges, loan applications, fees, and overdue credit payments
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Finance University of California, Los Angeles, CA September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
Personal Banking
Cross-Selling
Financial Services
Customer Education
Mortgage Loans
Henry Richard
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
123 Blue Bird Street, New York, New York, 12345
Profile
A HVAC-certified janitor with eight years of experience delivering custodial services to schools and hotel facilities, including grounds cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. A proven track record of executing large-scale cleaning projects quickly and efficiently. Adept at utilizing hand tools, power tools, and industrial equipment.
Professional Experience
Janitor, Big Apple Hotel, New York, New York February 2015 – Present
Deliver custodial services for a 550-room hotel, perform deep cleaning and sanitation of rooms, lounge, restaurant, and gift shop areas safely, and sweep, mop, and vacuum floors
Repair hotel cooling and heating systems and maintain and repair hotel plumbing and electrical systems
Train five new janitors successfully in cleaning, sanitation and safety procedures
Receive the Big Apple Hotel Excellence in Safety Award in 2018 for quick-response cleanups
Janitor, Big Apple Middle School, New York, New York March 2012 – February 2015
Mowed and trimmed school lawn and shrubs, cleared trash and debris from grounds
Swept and mopped hallways, classrooms, gymnasium and teacher’s offices
Cleaned office and classroom furniture, fixtures, windows and walls
Saved school roughly $3K per year by performing minor heating, cooling and plumbing repairs
Performed daily electrical appliance safety checks before locking up the school
Certifications
New York State HVAC/R Certification, 2012
Key Skills
Custodial Services
Communication
Deep Cleaning
Health and Safety
HVAC Maintenance
Education
High School Diploma Big Apple High School, New York, NY, August 2007 to August 2011
Frequently Asked Questions About Listing Awards on Resumes
What do you put on a resume if you don't have awards?-
You do not need to list awards on your resume. If you do not have any awards, you don’t need to include an awards section on your resume. If you do have relevant awards, you can list them, but hiring managers are looking for relevant skills and experience more than awards. If you fear you are up against other candidates with awards, you can create a strong summary of your skills and achievements.
Should I put military awards on my resume?-
If you have earned military honors, you can create a section on your resume to list these honors or list them under your military service. Even if these honors do not directly relate to your current field, they can show hiring managers your dedication, work ethic, teamwork, and leadership skills.
What is the difference between awards and achievements on a resume?-
Awards are recognitions you receive from someone else. Achievements are notable goals and milestones you’ve achieved on your own. For example, you can reach the highest sales in company history. Your company may or may not give you an award for that, but you still achieved that status regardless. Awards may also be given for work that is harder to quantify, such as an award for outstanding leadership.
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Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).
