Recruiters spend around six seconds looking at each resume that lands on their desk (or in their inbox!). That's not a lot of time to make a good impression and win an interview.

If you want to catch their eye, you need to use everything in your arsenal. That's why it can be to your advantage to include awards on your resume. However, first, you need to understand which awards to put on a resume and where to place them.

How to put awards on your resume

There's a right and wrong way to include awards on your resume, including which types and where they should be placed

Decide which awards to include. When looking at your list of awards, ask yourself:

Is the reward relevant to the job?
Does it add value to my resume?

Select the best location for them on your resume. Once you decide on what award to put on your resume, the next step is to decide where to include them. You have the option of adding awards in your resume summary, education, and work history. You can also create a separate, stand-alone “Awards” section.

Include the pertinent details for the award. For each award you include, ensure that you provide sufficient information so that the employer understands the significance of the award. At a minimum, include the name of the award, the year you received it, and the issuing body. You can also include additional details like the number of entries you were selected from or valuable information about the award that might not be evident from its title.

Types of awards to put on a resume

Before you get started, you're going to need to know good awards to put on your resume. Understanding which types of awards are appropriate for your resume is your first step toward success.

Spoiler alert: a hiring manager is unlikely to be all that interested in your high school swimming award – unless, of course, you're applying to be a swim teacher.

Here's a quick breakdown of the types of awards you should include:

Industry-specific awards

Are there any awards that are specific to your industry? The fact that you've won this type of award demonstrates to a hiring manager that you are recognized in the broader field. Often seen as more prestigious than company awards, these honors show you're known in the sector.

When listing these awards, be sure to include the issuing body, the title, and the year you received the award.

Expert tip: If you want to add some extra clout to your application, you can include how many nominees were in the running. For example, you could say “out of 100 candidates.”

Academic awards

When writing your resume, your education section is absolutely vital. Think back, did you win any academic awards that will set you apart from the crowd? Since the majority of candidates will have a similar educational background, these awards could be crucial in landing an interview.

Academic awards are particularly useful when it comes to entry-level resumes. If you don't have a whole load of industry experience, you can use your academic accolades to bolster your application. Be sure to include the title and the year that you achieved them.

Here are some of the academic achievements you may want to include on your resume:

Department-based awards
Best in class awards
Scholarships
Research projects
Dean's list or honor roll
Class President
Other class-based titles

While there's a broad variety of education awards you can include, you should consider what each tells a hiring manager about you. For instance, if you were class President, chances are you have great people skills and are a natural-born leader. That's a formidable combination if they are looking for a salesperson or manager.

Company awards

If you've excelled in a role, your company may recognize that with an award. It should come as no surprise that these accomplishments can enhance your resume.

Each business will offer a unique set of awards for its employees. However, some of the common ones you may see include the following:

Employee of the month or year
Top performer awards
Leadership awards
Peer-based awards

Company awards show that you have been a valuable asset to the business. That's good news in the eyes of any hiring manager.

When you're listing these awards on your resume, be as specific as possible. For example, don’t merely write “Employee of the Month.” Instead, get in there with the details, like “Employee of the Month, April 2022.”

Extracurricular and community awards

Have you won an award outside of the workplace or classroom? You may be part of a society, have joined a specialist club, or have excelled in your hobbies.

Extracurricular awards can add weight to your resume. However, think about whether they are appropriate to include on your application and what they say about you as a professional.

Let's take a look at some of the extracurricular awards to put on your resume:

Volunteering or charity awards
Arts and culture-based awards
Military honors and awards
Athletic or sports team awards
Society or community awards

Before you put your awards on your resume, take a moment to think about whether they are appropriate. For instance, if you are applying to work for a charity and have previously won a community development award, that fits well. Likewise, if you are an illustrator and have an arts award under your belt, that's going to put you in good standing.

Where to put awards on your resume

There are three main areas where you put awards on your resume:

Your resume summary
Your education section
Your employment section
A dedicated awards section

The area you choose will depend on the type of award you're listing.

Resume summary

If you hold a prominent industry award that is recognizable and sets you apart, you can kick your resume off with a bang and mention it in your resume summary.

Example

Marketing Director and 2024 Content Marketing Awards Design Winner with more than 15 years of experience. Experienced in…

Education section

If you've received an academic award, the most obvious place to put it is in your education section. You should ensure that the placement aligns with when you received the award. For example, if you were class president in the academic year 2017 to 2018, add the award under that period.

Most of the time, you can simply add your award under the main information about the qualification. It’s a good idea to use a bullet-pointed format or, at least, place it on a line beneath your degree and school.

Example:

Marketing and Communications, Bachelor of Arts University of Florida Dean's List and Honors Roll, 2016 to 2019

Employment section

When listing either company or industry-specific awards, chances are they will fit best in the employment section. Once again, you can put these below your position, company, and years of employment. If you won an industry award while working for a certain business, it might be logical to include it here.

Example

Sales Manager, Dancewear Inc., Iowa City, Jan 2020 - Jun 2022

Increased department sales by 15% by acquiring two new clients
Led training to support new hires in developing sales acumen
Named Regional Salesperson of the Year 2021

As you can see, you don't have to include loads of detail when listing awards on your resume. However, you must get the basics right. That means including the date you achieved the award and other minor details. The more specific you are, the better.

Dedicated awards section

Are you a real go-getter? Are you more decorated than the world's biggest athletes? If you're a serial award winner, you may want to create a dedicated section on your resume. The usual placement for this is below your education section at the bottom of the page.

Example

Awards & Achievements

Top Performing Salesperson of the Year 2021
Iowa Region Sales Star 2020
Listed in “Top 10 Sales Professionals to Watch”

Should you choose to include your awards in this way, ensure that they are in the same realm. There's very little merit in listing a bunch of unrelated awards. Be selective when it comes to the achievements that you decide to include on your professional resume.

Important things to remember when listing awards

Have you identified the awards to put on your resume, and are you now ready to spruce it up? Before you finalize your list, there are some final things that you may want to keep in mind:

Quantify your awards, wherever possible
Always include the date you earned the award
If applicable, note the body that gave the award
Consider whether the award fits your profession
Consider whether the award adds value to your resume
Avoid adding awards that could be considered controversial
Include the award in the appropriate section of your resume – education, work experience, resume summary, or a stand-alone awards list

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The takeaway for awards on a resume

If you've missed putting awards on your resume up until now, you may find that adding them gives you a competitive edge. Awards can help you grab a hiring manager's attention — and keep it — for all the right reasons.

There are plenty of awards to put on a resume, along with plenty of places where you can list them. Now that you know what to do, it's time to include your achievements.

Does your resume include awards in a way that will help vs. hurt your chances of landing an interview? Submit it for a free resume review to find out!

This article was originally written by Charlotte Grainger. It has been updated by Ronda Suder.