How to Put Phi Beta Kappa on Resume (Tips and Template)

Not everyone gets good grades in college. But if you do, you might get invited to become part of the Phi Beta Kappa honors society.

It's a sign of your ability to work hard towards your goals. Something employers like a lot.

But how do you list Phi Beta Kappa on your resume? Here's an example:

How to put Phi Beta Kappa on your resume

Step by step:

1. Create an education section.
2. List your college, its location, and your graduation year.
3. Add your degree(s), including majors and minors.
4. Add your GPA (optional).
5. Create an Honors subsection. Include Phi Beta Kappa.
6. Add any other honors (if adding Latin honors, use lowercase and italic font).

Alternative: Create an honors and awards section

You can alternatively create an honors and awards section. This works best for those with a long list of honors:

However, it would be awkward to create an honors section if you only list Phi Beta Kappa there. Skip this section if you can't find anything else to put there.

No need to include Dean's List

If you're already including your honors and your GPA, there is no need to include Dean's List as it would be redundant.

You can still add it to an Honors and Awards section if you want to.

How do you describe Phi Beta Kappa on a resume?

Not all hiring managers know what Phi Beta Kappa is. You can optionally explain what it is, using parentheses:

Should Phi Beta Kappa be italicized?

No, only Latin honors should be italicized: cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude.

Add Phi Beta Kappa to LinkedIn

Just like your resume, you can add Phi Beta Kappa in multiple places on LinkedIn: under the accomplishments section or under your degree.

It's ok to add it to both places on LinkedIn, but keep it to one place on your resume.

Should I add Phi Beta Kappa if I have a long career?

As your career gets longer and your professional accomplishment list grows, your academic honors become less relevant.

But that doesn't mean they're unworthy of a mention. You should add membership to Phi Beta Kappa, even if you have many years of experience.

Is Phi Beta Kappa worth it?

It sure is. Its major benefits are:

• It shows you're a driven and studious individual.
• It helps you stand out from the pack.
• It shows intellect and talent.
• It helps fill out your resume when you're starting out your career.
• Gives you access to a network of successful individuals.

Why ‌add Phi Beta Kappa to your resume

Not all employers know what Phi Beta Kappa is, but for those who do, it means you're one step ahead of the pack.

Think about it. If you had to make a choice on who to hire between two identical candidates, who would you choose?

The one with Phi Beta Kappa on their resume, or the one with nothing?

Some interesting facts about Phi Beta Kappa

• Oldest honors society in the United States.
• Over 500,000 members.
• Graduates need a GPA of at least 3.8 to join.
• Phi Beta Kappa was once a secret society.
• 17 American Presidents and 136 Nobel laureates have become members.
• Phi Beta Kappa means "love for learning is the guide of life".