Updated September 27, 2026.
In short: list an award with its name, the organization that gave it, the year, and — when the name does not explain itself — a few words on what it was for and how selective it was ("top 3 of 120 sales reps"). Put awards from a job inside that job's bullets; use a separate "Awards" or "Honors and Awards" section only if you have three or more worth listing. Include awards that are competitive, recent and relevant to the job; leave out participation certificates and anything older than about ten years unless it is major.
Which awards should you put on a resume?
Include an award when it proves something the job needs. Good candidates:
- Performance awards: President's Club, top performer, employee of the quarter or year.
- Industry and professional awards: from a trade association, publication or professional body.
- Academic honors: Latin honors, dean's list, departmental awards, competitive scholarships.
- Competitions: hackathons, case competitions, design or writing contests — especially with a placing.
- Grants and fellowships in research, nonprofit and academic roles.
- Community and volunteer recognition when it shows leadership or relevant skills.
Leave out awards that everyone received, awards you cannot explain in an interview, and high school awards once you are in college or working (unless they are nationally recognized).
Where do awards go on a resume?
You have three options:
1.Inside the job entry — best for work awards, because the award becomes evidence for that role: "Named Top Account Manager of 2025 (1 of 40) for 124% of renewal target."
2.Under the education entry — best for academic honors: "B.A., History, magna cum laude · Dean's List (6 semesters)."
3.In a separate "Awards" section — best when you have three or more awards, or awards that do not belong to one job. Place it after experience and education, or combine it with certifications as "Certifications and Awards".
Students and recent graduates with strong honors can place an "Honors and Awards" section right after education.
How do you format awards on a resume?
Use the same pattern for every entry:
Award name, Organization — Year One line on what it recognized and how selective it was (optional).
Examples:
President's Club, Northwind Software — 2025 Top 5% of 300 sales representatives by annual revenue.
Nurse Excellence Award, St. Mary's Medical Center — 2024 Peer-nominated for leading the unit's sepsis screening rollout.
First Place, Regional Case Competition, Midwest Business Schools Association — 2026
All names in the examples are placeholders; use your real award names exactly as the issuer writes them.
How do you describe an award so it means something?
A reader who does not know the award cannot judge it. Add the context that makes it meaningful:
- Selectivity: "1 of 12 selected from 400 applicants", "top 3 of 60".
- Reason: "for reducing onboarding time by 30%", "for a published undergraduate thesis".
- Scope: "company-wide", "national", "state-level".
Keep it to one line. The award is a supporting detail, not a new job description.
Award examples by situation
Sales:
Circle of Excellence, Acme Medical — 2024, 2025 · Top 10% of reps nationally two years running
Customer service:
Employee of the Quarter, Q3 2025, Riverside Bank · Highest customer satisfaction score in the branch network
Software engineering:
1st Place, Springfield Civic Hackathon — 2025 · Built a permit-status tracker later piloted by the city
Teaching:
Teacher of the Year, Lincoln Elementary — 2024 · Selected by staff and parent committee
Student:
Dean's List, University of Arizona — 6 semesters Presidential Scholarship (merit-based, renewable) — 2022–2026
Should you include awards from a long time ago?
Generally keep awards from the last 10 years, matching how far back your experience goes; see how far back a resume should go. A major award — a national honor or a top industry prize — can stay longer. Once you have a few years of work history, drop high school awards.
Awards vs certifications vs accomplishments
- An award is recognition someone gave you.
- A certification is a credential you earned by meeting a standard; list those in a certifications section.
- An accomplishment is a result you produced; it belongs in your experience bullets. See achievement-based bullet points.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put employee of the month on my resume?
Yes, if it is recent and relevant, especially early in your career. Add what it was for; "Employee of the Month" alone says little.
What if I don't have any awards?
Leave the section out. An empty or padded awards section hurts more than it helps; let quantified results in your experience section do the work.
Should I list scholarships as awards?
Yes, for students and recent graduates. Merit-based scholarships show selection; list them under education or in "Honors and Awards".
What is the difference between honors and awards?
"Honors" usually means academic distinctions (dean's list, Latin honors, honor societies); "awards" covers prizes and recognition more broadly. Many resumes combine them under "Honors and Awards".
For the rest of the page, see what to put on a resume.