Employers will be impressed by your excellence if you use the action verb 'awarded' in your resume because it shows them that you will likely accomplish more great things.

If you want to add a bit of flair to your resume by using this verb, make sure that it fits with the rest of your resume and helps paint an accurate picture of who you are as a professional. Just be careful not to overuse it. Using the word 'awarded' repeatedly in your resume makes it difficult for the reader to understand the scope of your accomplishments.

The best way to avoid this is to use synonyms. In addition to using the word 'awarded,' try using other words like 'succeeded,' 'surpassed,' or 'won.' This will show that you have taken action, worked hard, and earned the skills needed to be successful in your field.

Using synonyms can help avoid unclear and verbose writing. If you keep repeating a single word in your resume, you're making it harder for readers to understand what you've done—and more difficult for recruiters to scan your resume. By using synonyms for awarded, you convey more information about what you've done without having to repeat yourself.

I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Awarded on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).

Resume Synonyms for Awarded:

Secured
Recognized
Distinguished
Endowed
Credited
Heralded
Conferred
Venerated
Accredited
Topped
Acclaimed
Decorated
Celebrated
Commended
Lauded
Furnished
Supplied
Allocated
Assigned
Appointed
Designated
Granted
Allotted
Achieved
Demonstrated
Earned
Exceeded
Reached
Outperformed
Succeeded
Surpassed
Scored
Authorized
Obtained
Won

How to replace Awarded with a stronger action verb:

Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Awarded, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.

Before: Weak example using Awarded

• Awarded a Recognition Award for work on saving company time

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Received Recognition Award for automating booking system, reducing required man-hours by 75%; promoted 6 months ahead of schedule .

Replacing Awarded with Secured ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded an internal grant for project ideas

⤸

After: Secured• Secured a $20,000 internal grant for pitching an innovative project idea that potentially boosts the company's revenue by 15%

The after example replaces the vague verb 'awarded' with more concrete action 'secured'. It also provides specific details about the award and its potential impact on the company’s revenue.

Tip: I've prepared a ton of additional examples for you to give you inspiration. Please click on any of the following to expand and see real examples of how I've rewritten client bullet points.

Replacing Awarded with Recognized ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded Salesperson of the Month multiple times

⤸

After: Recognized• Recognized as Salesperson of the Month 4 times in 2021 for surpassing sales targets by 30% consistently

Instead of simply mentioning 'awarded', I switched to 'recognized' to depict acclaim. The revised version outlines the number of times the recognition was achieved, and it quantifies the accomplishment in sales target achievement, showing better professional success.

Replacing Awarded with Distinguished ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for exceptional customer service

⤸

After: Distinguished• Distinguished for delivering exceptional customer service, leading to a 40% increase in positive customer reviews in a quarter

I swapped 'awarded' with 'distinguished'. This denotes not just a reward, but a standout performance. The 'after' example specifies the area of excellence and includes a performance metric offering proof of the claim.

Replacing Awarded with Endowed ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded Employee of the Year

⤸

After: Endowed• Endowed with the Employee of the Year 2020 honor for executing a cost-cutting strategy that saved the company $200K annually

The verb ‘endowed’ better reflects the honor given and makes the statement stronger. The 'after' version specifies the action that led to the award, emphasizing the tangible impact the individual had on the company's finances.

Replacing Awarded with Credited ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded government contract for new project

⤸

After: Credited• Credited for winning a $500,000 government contract by spearheading a new project that addressed an urgent environmental concern

Swapping 'awarded' with 'credited' emphasizes personal responsibility for the accomplishment. Including specific details about the project and its value makes the achievement more concrete and impactful.

Replacing Awarded with Heralded ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for my role in improving team dynamics

⤸

After: Heralded• Heralded for fostering a collaborative environment that improved team efficiency by 35% within six months

The active verb 'heralded' replaces 'awarded' to indicate high praise rather than just a prize. The alteration also quantifies the change in team efficiency and the timeline within which it was achieved.

Replacing Awarded with Conferred ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for reducing production costs

⤸

After: Conferred• Conferred with the Company Efficiency Award for a production cost reduction strategy that saved $10K in monthly expenses

The term 'conferred' signifies a high honor, replacing the simple 'awarded'. The 'after' example gives direct insight into the nature of the award and includes a quantification of the money saved, showing not just a responsibility, but a significant accomplishment.

Replacing Awarded with Venerated ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for my management skills

⤸

After: Venerated• Venerated for top-notch management skills that increased team productivity by 20% and decreased turnover by 15% in one year

The term 'venerated’ was used in place of 'awarded' to signify deep respect for the accomplishment. Specific metrics to illustrate the magnitude of management skills give the accomplishment more weight and make it more understandable.

Replacing Awarded with Accredited ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for implementing new processes

⤸

After: Accredited• Accredited for the initiation and impeccable execution of new inventory management processes, reducing procurement time by 30%

The revision replaces 'awarded' with 'accredited', a word implying a formal recognition. It offers insight into the exact processes and their specific outcome, painting a more detailed picture of the accomplishment.

Replacing Awarded with Topped ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for best sales

⤸

After: Topped• Topped company-wide sales competition by consistently exceeding targets by 25%, leading to a 30% annual profit increase

Replacing 'awarded' with 'topped' emphasizes supremacy, and specific performance metrics demonstrate concrete results. It clearly represents a significant achievement that had a positive impact on the company’s annual profit.

Replacing Awarded with Acclaimed ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for employee training

⤸

After: Acclaimed• Acclaimed for designing and implementing an employee training program that improved overall productivity by 40%

I chose 'acclaimed' as it shows a high level of recognition, in contrast to 'awarded'. The updated statement includes specific area of impact and the increased productivity figures.

Replacing Awarded with Decorated ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for my role in expanding company reach

⤸

After: Decorated• Decorated for driving company expansion into three new markets, resulting in an increase in customer base by 35%

'Decorated' introduces a strong action verb that conveys a high honor. Greater detail about the expansion and the consequent customer increase gives a clearer idea of the candidate's capabilities.

Replacing Awarded with Celebrated ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for project management skills

⤸

After: Celebrated• Celebrated for managing a complex cross-functional project that streamlined company operations, leading to a 15% cost saving

The bland 'awarded' is replaced with 'celebrated' for more vibrant imagery. The scope and impact of the project are also made clear, offering proof of the candidate's project management skills.

Replacing Awarded with Commended ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for my contributions to customer service

⤸

After: Commended• Commended for revamping the customer service protocol, resulting in a 50% decrease in customer complaints

'Commended' replaces 'awarded' and creates a more favorable impression. The revision makes explicit the improvement to customer service protocol and the resulting decrease in criticisms, allowing prospective employers to see the candidate's potential value.

Replacing Awarded with Lauded ▾

Before: Awarded

• Awarded for innovation

⤸

After: Lauded• Lauded for conceptualizing and executing an innovative marketing campaign that boosted online traffic by 70% in three months

By exchanging 'awarded' with 'lauded', I've infused more praise into the statement. Including specific details about the campaign and its success gives employers a clearer understanding of the candidate's skills.

How to use these synonyms in practice

We've put together an infographic to give you more examples of how to put this into practice. Note the use of strong action verbs instead of words like Awarded.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Analyzed on a resume:

• Analyzed fundamental growth drivers via top-down (macro/sector trends, competition) and bottom-up (growth strategy, revenue forecast, cost allocation) approaches, and analysis of senior management and shareholding structure..

How to use Coached on a resume:

• Coached 30 summer interns and launched a mentorship program for new joiners in the Berlin office.

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led five developers to establish client's ERP system; identified $1.5MM in cost savings, and secured $1MM+ in additional work for Accenture.

How to use Founded on a resume:

• Founded ReferRoom to organize social events for 500 young professionals, and grew it to $20k/year revenue and $8k/year profit..

How to use Overhauled on a resume:

• Overhauled the obsolete legacy source code of two production applications, resulting in increased usability and reduced run time performance by 50%.

How to use Developed on a resume:

• Developed an iPhone app to help medical professionals measure the insulin needs of patients with diabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Awarded on a resume?

If you're looking for another word to use in place of Awarded, consider using one of these stronger alternatives:

Reached
Designated
Furnished
Scored
Outperformed
Allocated

What can I use instead of Awarded on a resume?

Here are some synonyms for commonly repeated words, like Awarded, I see on resumes:

Succeeded
Allocated
Obtained
Reached
Allotted
Achieved

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