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Highlights

1. Awards highlight soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, proving your value to employers.
2. Relevant awards, like industry-specific or leadership honors, make your resume stand out.
3. New graduates or entry-level applicants can showcase academic or internship awards to boost their resumes.
4. Senior-level applicants should prioritize leadership or high-impact awards, ideally in the "Professional Summary."
5. Certificates should be listed separately under "Certifications" rather than in a resume's "Awards" section.

Winning an award at work or school can feel good, but it also shows potential employers something valuable about you. In a competitive job market, a resume that stands out is essential. Therefore, listing relevant awards on your resume can help you get noticed and even make it to the interview stage.

But now you might be thinking about where to put awards on your resume and how to put them. Continue reading this guide to learn if should you describe awards on resumes, where to place awards on your resume, and how to include them to boost your chances.

Should You Describe Awards On Resumes?

Yes, including honors and awards on your resume can give you the boost needed to make it to the interview stage. While your education and experience set you apart from other candidates, employers often review countless resumes daily. Adding awards can be that extra detail that helps yours stand out.

Here are the reasons why you should put awards on your resume: 

1. Showcase soft skills: Awards often reflect teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
2. Prove your abilities: If you're new to the workforce, academic honors or recent awards can show you have valuable skills for an entry-level role.
3. Stand out from other candidates: Listing achievements and awards can make your application memorable, especially for competitive positions.
4. Show your value: Awards related to the job you're applying for demonstrate your potential value to employers.
5. Highlight your work ethic: Awards prove you exceed expectations and excel in your field.

What Are the Best Awards to Put on a Resume?

When deciding which awards to include on your resume, focus on recognitions that highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments relevant to the job. Here are some types of awards that can strengthen your resume:

1. Industry-Specific Awards: These awards are directly related to your field. For example, a “Salesperson of the Year” award strongly adds to a sales role.
2. Academic Awards: College or school awards can demonstrate dedication and commitment to your studies.
3. Leadership Awards: Recognitions like “Employee of the Month” showcase leadership skills, which are valuable in many positions.
4. Community Service Awards: Highlight your commitment to helping others, especially relevant for nonprofit roles or jobs that value community involvement.
5. Creative Awards: If you work in a creative field, awards from competitions or shows can help illustrate your creative talents.

What Awards Can You Win From Employment Skills?

Awards and recognition can powerfully showcase your skills and contributions, helping your resume stand out. Here are some examples of impactful awards that you can win for your skills:

1. Employee Recognition Awards: Mentioning employee recognition awards demonstrates that your organization values your efforts and can help highlight your commitment and contributions to your role. These awards can improve engagement and reflect well in concurrent titles on your resume.
2. Employer of the Year Award: If you’re a business owner or in a leadership role, an “Employer of the Year” award emphasizes your excellence in management, employee satisfaction, and leadership skills. Listing this award in your concurrent title section shows strong leadership and dedication.
3. SkillsFuture Employer Award: This award, given to employers who prioritize skills development and career growth, can be added to your resume if relevant. It underscores your commitment to fostering talent, an appealing quality for potential employers or partners.

Tips for Listing Awards on Your Resume

1. Keep it Short: Stick to concise descriptions of each award to maintain resume flow and readability.
2. Prioritize Significance: Highlight your most meaningful and relevant achievements. Focus on awards directly tied to the role you’re seeking.
3. Avoid Controversial Awards: Leave out awards that might be polarizing or irrelevant to the job.
4. Stay Honest: Exaggeration can backfire; be factual about your accomplishments.
5. Summarize in the Resume Introduction: Briefly mention your most significant achievements in your resume summary to capture interest immediately.

Using awards and concurrent titles on resume strategically can help position you as a highly capable and recognized professional. Moreover, by using our free resume templates, you can easily create your resume in no time.

Where to Place Awards on a Resume?

Effectively showcasing awards and certifications can boost your appeal to employers, making you stand out in a competitive job market. Here’s how to strategically place them on your resume depending on your career stage:

New Graduates

If you’re just starting your career, your "Work Experience" section may be limited. Use academic awards, scholarships, or recognitions from internships, research projects, or student organizations to strengthen your resume. Place these awards in the "Education" section, or create a dedicated "Honors and Awards" section if you have several achievements to list.

Coming off a Professional Break

Getting back into the workforce after a break? Awards or certifications earned during or before your hiatus demonstrate your commitment to maintaining your skills. 

Highlight recent recognitions in a "Professional Summary" at the top of your resume. Older awards can go in a separate "Awards and Certifications" section at the end or within past job descriptions if they relate to those roles.

Entry-Level Applicants

As an entry-level applicant, awards can help you stand out. Include awards from internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or relevant extracurricular activities. 

Based on their relevance, you can place these awards within specific job descriptions, in a dedicated "Awards and Achievements" section, or under "Skills" if they underscore a specific skill set.

Mid-Level Applicants

For mid-level candidates, professional awards should take priority. These awards should ideally appear within the "Work Experience" section under relevant job descriptions to show how they directly relate to your roles. 

If you have multiple significant awards, consider a separate "Awards and Achievements" section. However, focus on your work history, with awards enhancing, not overshadowing, your career story.

Senior-Level Applicants

At a senior level, awards demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, or significant contributions to your field are most valuable. High-impact recognitions or awards for leading team projects should be highlighted in your "Professional Summary" at the top of the resume. Alternatively, they can be woven into relevant "Work Experience" entries.

Should A Certificate Be Put Under Awards On Resume?

Certificates are generally not placed under "Awards" on a resume. Instead, they should be listed in a separate section titled "Certifications" or "Professional Development."

The "Awards" section is typically reserved for recognitions or honors you've received, such as employee of the month, sales achievement awards, or academic honors. 

Certifications, on the other hand, refer to qualifications or credentials you've earned through courses, training, or exams and should be highlighted in their dedicated section to make them easy to spot for recruiters.

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Summary

Including awards on your resume can significantly boost your chances of standing out to potential employers. Whether showcasing your skills, proving your abilities, or highlighting your work ethic, awards can provide valuable insight into your accomplishments. So, if you're wondering, "Should you describe awards on resumes?" the answer is a yes. Just focus on relevant and meaningful awards that align with the job you're applying for and place them strategically.