Listing an honor society on your resume can showcase your academic achievements. To make the right impact, consider if, where, and how you should present this information. Properly positioning your membership requires understanding its relevance to your career stage and the specific job you are applying for.
Deciding If You Should Include an Honor Society
The decision to include an honor society on your resume depends on your career stage and the society’s reputation. For students and recent graduates with limited professional experience, an honor society membership can be an asset, demonstrating academic success. As you advance in your career, professional achievements and job-specific skills take precedence, and academic honors may become less relevant.
The prestige of the honor society is another consideration. Widely recognized organizations like Phi Beta Kappa carry more weight with recruiters than lesser-known societies. If the society is not well-known, its inclusion might not add significant value unless it is directly related to your industry. You must also evaluate your available resume space.
Where to Put an Honor Society on Your Resume
The placement of an honor society on your resume is determined by your profile and the number of accolades you have. The most common location is within the “Education” section. This approach is logical for students and recent graduates, as it groups all academic-related achievements together and links your membership to your academic institution.
Alternatively, you can create a dedicated “Awards and Honors” or “Achievements” section. This strategy is effective if you have multiple honors, awards, or scholarships to showcase. A separate section can draw attention to a pattern of recognition and is particularly useful for academic or research applications.
What Information to Include
Always start with the full, official name of the honor society to ensure recognition. If the organization is not widely known, you may add a brief, one-line description to provide context about its focus. This prevents recruiters from having to guess its significance.
Include the year you were inducted or your period of membership. If you held a leadership position, such as President, Treasurer, or committee chair, be sure to list that title. This demonstrates initiative and experience beyond simple membership.
Formatting Examples
The formatting of your honor society entry should be consistent with the rest of your resume. When placed in the education section, it should be indented beneath your degree information. This associates the honor with your academic achievements at that institution.
In the Education Section:
- University of Example, City, State
- Bachelor of Science in Economics, May 2023
- Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Economics Honor Society)
If you have multiple accolades that justify a separate section, the format is slightly different.
In an “Awards and Honors” Section:
- Member, Phi Alpha Theta (National History Honor Society), Inducted April 2022
- Served as Chapter Treasurer, managing a budget of $2,000 and organizing two fundraising events.