Resume Writing Tips | Honors, Awards and Accomplishments

Part of our resume writing series:

Honors, Awards, and Accomplishments

In a competitive academic and job market, many students or recent grads find themselves lost in the shuffle, particularly when early applicants have like academic or work histories. Academic and ferment accomplishments are what set you apart from the hundreds, possibly thousands, of early candidates vying for the same seat in college or that subcontract you in truth want. Admissions directors and hiring managers know that past accomplishment normally predicts future performance. They besides know that achievers are self-starters, motivated, and an asset to their school or caller .

Remember, admissions directors and hiring managers have dozens of resumes to review on a daily basis. In that sea of newspaper, accomplishments are what get and retain their pastime, so to make certain that you get noticed, highlight your academic or work-related honors, awards, and accomplishments.

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What is an accomplishment?

Accomplishments are relevant honors, achievements or awards that you earned for exceeding average standards in either academics, athletics, or in a work environment. Some examples of accomplishments are :

Scholarships
Honor Roll inclusion for high grades
Awards won for specific activities or subjects (i.e., Most Valuable Player (MVP), Fine Art Award)
Inclusion in student-related achievement publications (i.e., Who’s Who in American High Schools)
Perfect attendance awards
Work related awards (i.e., Top Sales Performer)
Promotions to leadership positions in your job (i.e., Shift Supervisor)
Volunteer related awards (i.e., Volunteer of the Year)

As you can see, the key is to provide an admissions conductor with relevant academic honors and achievements that highlight your especial setting. Be surely to include other honors and awards as you see fit .

What is not an accomplishment?

Any regular activity that does not include skill of an award, scholarship, or other means of recognition should not be listed as an skill since your ability to be extraordinary has not been measured by an organization .
Examples:

Performing daily tasks correctly
Promptness for meetings
Being congenial or friendly
Attending school on a daily basis

Describing your accomplishments

When describing honors, awards, or accomplishments on your sum up, it is important to maximize the use of speech and wording in order to get your point across in the strongest direction. Keep the surveil tips in beware :

1. Avoid writing vague self-serving statements on your student resume by using quantifying data.

Weak: high School Senior with good grades
Strong: high School Senior systematically named to the Honor Roll, 2000-2004 Member of the National Honor Society

2. Avoid accomplishments that have nothing to do with your future career goal, your current job search, or those that do not enhance your candidacy.

Don’t use: Beauty contest “ Miss Congeniality ” winner
Use: Won Award at High School Science Fair, 2002

3. Be specific with details to capture and retain interest.

Weak: Won Award for Best Art .
Strong: Earned Excellence Award for Art Work ( pen & ink drawings ), 2008-2010
Weak: Helped customers in showroom .
Strong: Increased sales by $ 5,000 during summer by helping clients in showroom. This resulted in sales to 8 out of 10 customers .

Featuring honors, awards, and accomplishments on your resume

Accomplishments, no matter how stellar, will do little to enhance your chances of getting into educate or getting a job, unless they are by rights showcased in your student resume or entry-level resume. If you bury them within your daily duties or general academic information, they may not be seen. Remember, admissions directors and hiring managers have many resumes to review. If it ’ s intemperate for them to find important information on your resume, they may pass on your campaigning.