The Ultimate Guide to Listing Awards on a CV (+ Expert Examples)

Awards on your CV can make employers notice you more than other job seekers. The best way to show awards depends on your career level and goals. Place important awards in their own section on your CV. Mix other awards into your work or school experience. Always explain what each award means and why you got it. Keep your award list fresh and related to the jobs you want.

Key Takeaways

• Your award descriptions should include numbers and results whenever possible. Write "Increased sales by 45%" instead of "Improved sales significantly."

• Recent awards (within the last 3 years) carry the most weight with employers. Only keep older awards if they're truly exceptional.

• Customize your awards section for each job application. Move the most relevant awards to the top of your list.

• Always include these four elements: award name, issuing organization, date received, and a brief impact statement explaining why the award matters.

Making Your Achievements Count on Your CV

Your CV needs to catch an employer's eye in less than 30 seconds. Awards can make this happen fast. They show you're better than average at what you do. But many people mess up when they list awards. Some forget to explain why their awards matter. Others put awards in the wrong spots. Many leave out important details that could impress employers. This guide will teach you how to make your awards shine on your CV.

Why Including Awards on Your CV Matters

What Employers Think

Employers get hundreds of CVs for each job. They look for ways to spot the best people quickly. Awards catch their eye because someone else already said you're good. It's like getting a five-star review for your work. Real awards mean more to employers than what you say about yourself.

Better Job Search Results

A study by JobScan looked at 10,000 CVs in 2024. They found that CVs with well-written award sections got 34% more interviews. That means you might get 13 interviews instead of 10. The study also showed that people who explained their awards well got 28% higher starting pay offers.

How to Choose Which Awards to Include

Pick the Right Ones

Start by making a list of all your awards. Now think like your future boss. Which awards show you can do the job well? Sales awards matter for sales jobs. Customer service awards help with support roles. Leadership awards work for management jobs. Teaching awards shine for training roles.

Some awards sound fancy but don't help much. A baking contest win won't help you get an accounting job. But it might help you become a restaurant manager. Match your awards to each job you want.

Think About Timing

Most employers care about recent success. Awards from the last three years work best. Awards from three to seven years ago can still help. Older awards need to be really special to keep. A national award from ten years ago might still impress. But a local award from that long ago probably won't help anymore.

Where to Put Awards on Your CV

Make an Awards Section

Create a special awards section if you have three or more good awards. Put work awards right after your job history. This shows you're good at your work. Put school awards after your education. This shows you were a top student.

Your awards section needs clear headers and clean spacing. Make it easy to read quickly. Use the same style for every award. This makes your CV look neat and professional.

Other Places for Awards

Some awards work better mixed into other CV sections. Put sales awards with your sales jobs. Add teaching awards next to your teaching experience. This helps employers connect your awards to your work.

Mix school awards into your education section if they're recent. Write "Bachelor's Degree in Business, Dean's List 2024" instead of listing them separately. This saves space and still shows your success.

How to Write About Awards

Basic Format

Every award needs four key parts. First, write the award name in bold letters. Next, add who gave you the award. Then write when you got it. Last, explain why the award matters.

Here's the magic part many people miss. Tell a short story about each award. Say how many people competed for it. Show what you did to win. Share what changed because you won.

Good Examples

Here are real awards written the right way:

Regional Sales Champion Northwest Medical Supply Co., 2024 Beat 200 sales reps across five states. Sold $3.2 million in new accounts.

Customer Service Star City Bank Group, 2023 Chosen from 1,500 workers for solving hard problems. Saved our biggest account.

Innovation Leader Tech Startup Alliance, 2024 Created a new app that saved clients $500,000 in the first year. Now used by 50 companies.

Common Mistakes to Fix

Too Many Awards

More isn't always better with awards. Five great awards beat ten okay ones. Pick awards that match the job you want. Remove awards that don't help tell your career story.

Missing Details

Many people just list award names. This wastes a chance to impress employers. Tell the story behind each award. Share numbers that show your impact. Explain why your award mattered to your company.

Old Awards

Old awards can make you look stuck in the past. Keep awards from the last seven years unless they're really special. Replace old awards with new achievements when you can.

Tips for Different Career Levels

Just Starting Out

New graduates have more award options than they think. School awards show you work hard. The Dean's List proves you finish what you start. Research awards show you can solve problems. Club leadership awards prove you work well with others.

Look at your internships too. Even small recognition matters when you're starting out. A "Best Intern" award shows you learn fast. "Project Excellence" awards prove you can do real work. Write about what you did to earn each award.

Here's a good example: Outstanding Finance Intern Goldman Stanley Bank, 2024 Created a new tracking system that saved 10 hours each week. Now used by all interns.

Mid-Level Workers

People with 3-7 years of experience should focus on work impact. Show awards that prove you're getting better at your job. Team awards matter more now. They show you help others succeed too.

Industry awards really shine at this level. They prove people outside your company notice your work. Professional certifications with honors show you keep learning new skills.

Here's a strong mid-career example: Project Manager of the Year State Technology Council, 2024 Led team of 12 to finish $2 million project three months early. Client saved $400,000.

Senior Leaders

Leaders need different kinds of awards. Industry speaking awards show you're an expert. Innovation awards prove you see the big picture. Leadership awards show you build strong teams.

Numbers matter even more for senior awards. Show how many people you led. Share how much money you made or saved. Prove your ideas helped the whole company grow.

Here's a powerful leadership example: Business Excellence Medal Chamber of Commerce, 2024 Turned around struggling division. Grew revenue 40% in one year. Created 25 new jobs.

Using Numbers to Show Impact

Make It Clear

Numbers turn good awards into great ones. They prove your award mattered. Here are real examples that work:

"Picked from 1,000 global employees" sounds better than "company-wide award." "Led award-winning team of 30 people" beats "managed successful team." "Project saved $750,000 annually" tops "significant cost savings."

Use numbers that match your job level. New graduates might count projects or team size. Mid-level workers show budget or revenue impact. Leaders share company-wide or industry numbers.

Online Portfolios and Digital Proof

Adding Links

Many jobs ask for online CVs now. This lets you prove your awards are real. Link to award announcements on company websites. Add photos of ceremonies or certificates. Show news stories about your wins.

But keep it professional. Link only to business sites or news pages. Skip social media unless it's LinkedIn. Make sure every link still works. Test them monthly.

Digital Badges and Certifications

Some awards come with digital badges now. Microsoft gives badges for certification honors. Amazon has AWS achievement badges. Google has top developer awards. These prove your skills instantly.

Add digital badges to your online CV. Link them to verification pages. This lets employers check your awards quickly.

Keeping Awards Updated and Relevant

Regular Changes

Your awards list needs care to stay strong. Review it every three months. Add new awards while they're fresh. Remove old ones that don't help anymore.

When you add new awards, look at your whole list again. Make sure all awards work together. They should tell one clear story about your career. Update award details if your numbers got better.

Customizing for Each Job

Smart job seekers adjust their awards for each job. Moving to a sales job? Put sales awards first. Want a leadership role? Move team awards up top. Seeking a technical job? Lead with technical awards.

Keep the same awards but change their order. This shows employers what matters to them first. It makes your CV feel perfect for each job.

Here's a pro tip: Read the job post carefully. Look for keywords about what they value. Move awards with those keywords to the top of your list.

Conclusion

Strong award listings can open doors to better jobs and higher pay. Choose awards that match your career goals. Put them where employers will notice them. Tell the story behind each award clearly. Keep your award list fresh and relevant. Follow this guide to turn your awards into job opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include awards from college if I have five years of work experience?

Only keep college awards if they're prestigious or directly relevant to your target job. Focus on recent professional achievements instead of academic awards.

What if I won an award as part of a team?

Include team awards! Mention your specific role and contribution. Write "Led award-winning team" or "Key member of team that won" to show your part.

Should I list award nominations if I didn't win?

Include nominations for prestigious industry awards. Being a finalist among hundreds shows recognition. Skip smaller award nominations that didn't result in wins.

How many awards should I list on my CV?

List 3-5 of your most impressive and relevant awards. Quality beats quantity. Pick awards that match your target job and remove others.

Do online certificates and badges count as awards?

Include recognized industry certifications with honors or distinctions. Skip basic completion certificates. Focus on achievements that require extra effort or excellence.