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9 Social Worker Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Social Worker Resume

• Social Worker Resumes by Experience
• Social Worker Resumes by Role

Writing Your Social Worker Resume

Social workers protect vulnerable populations, support families, and help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, all within different settings.

Since social workers support numerous communities, work in various environments, and develop different scopes based on their licensure, creating your social worker resume  to target the right job for your career goals can be challenging. (It’s also why  social worker job descriptions  tend to be rather vague.)

We’ve analyzed hundreds of social worker resume samples from all populations, environments, settings, and licenses to  attract the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter so you can get more interviews in 2024 . We created nine resume samples to help you  build an eye-catching resume  and  check your resume  using AI-powered tips. 

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Why this resume works

• Make sure to mention the facility settings where you’ve worked, whether it’s a hospital, school, rehabilitation center, group home, or community facility, so hiring managers see your expertise.
• Social workers typically have high volumes of cases to manage, so you should highlight the number of cases you managed per day/week/month.
• If your case management included court documentation and appearance, be sure to discuss this in your social worker resume. 

Social Work Student Resume

• As a social worker, you’ll interact with people from all walks of life. List any experiences that exposed you to diverse backgrounds on your social work student resume to show that you’re prepared to work with complex clients.

Social Work Intern Resume

• An advanced degree in social work and volunteer involvement prove that you chose this career mindfully.

Entry-Level Social Worker Resume

• In your  resume skills section , include skills like “verbal communication,” “case assessment,” “and counseling” to reassure employers of your abilities.
• If you’ve participated in any internships, include those over other positions. The goal is always to include the most relevant experience if at all possible.
• Don’t discount any administrative or supportive tasks; hiring managers understand (and want to see) that everyone starts somewhere.  

Associate Social Worker Resume

• Consider including work-related projects, activities, or  hobbies on your resume  to demonstrate your abilities.
• Start strong with a  resume objective  that immediately shows the reader who you are as a professional.
• If you choose to use an objective, always tailor it to the specific role and  job description .

School Social Worker Resume

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• In your work experience bullets, mention your areas of expertise ( for example, ADHD, grief counseling, teenage pregnancy) to create a targeted  school social worker resume  that will gain a recruiter’s interest.
• Within the experience of your school social worker resume, be sure to focus on the programs you implemented or supported. This will support the statements made in your resume objective.

Clinical Social Worker Resume

• Be sure to discuss how your responsibilities and leadership abilities resulted in  positive changes  at your workplace.
• If you have a license designation, put it after your name in your contact header so recruiters can immediately see your expertise. 
• Your  resume summary  should list also the settings where you’ve worked or the clinical settings you want to target for your next clinical social worker role. 

Nursing Home Social Worker Resume

• Include the patient types you worked with, such as end-of-life/hospice or memory care patients, and mention how you demonstrated collaboration and communication in your work experience since those are vital skills for nursing home social workers.
• Highlight your experience educating patients and their families, as well as any community initiatives you implemented, to improve the nursing programs you supported.  
• Be sure to  check your resume  to ensure there aren’t any grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors so you can put your best foot forward. 

Medical Social Worker II Resume

• Only include three to four positions in your work experience, and focus on your expertise from the most recent ten years of jobs and training.
• If you can, keep your bullet points solely about achievements or responsibilities that benefited the company.
• It should be just two or three sentences long to keep it brief. Include the name of the company to which you’re applying, and finish strong with a closing sentence tying directly to the role you’re targeting.

Related resume guides

• Social work cover letter
• Medical Receptionist

A  well-formatted resume  is your first impression to potential employers, so formatting is your golden ticket to securing an interview. Hiring managers sift through countless applications daily, so readable and  comprehensive resumes  have the best chance of moving forward.

Present your achievements, competencies, and education in a logical way that responds to your prospective employer’s criteria. When  crafting your social worker resume , you must consider:

• Reverse-chronological, functional, or combination/hybrid formatting
• Contact information and header presentation

ATS and readability

Reverse-chronological format, functional format, and combination/hybrid format

There are several acceptable ways to present your professional experience like a narrative. Hiring managers accept the following  resume formats :

• The reverse-chronological format lists your employment experience, achievements, and education, beginning with the most recent.
• The functional format emphasizes your skills instead of your work experience. You place the most relevant achievements or skills near the top to highlight your abilities for the position you’re pursuing.
• A hybrid format blends the reverse-chronological and functional approaches. If you’ve changed industries or have ample parallel experience, you should present the most recent relative aspect toward the top of your resume.

Within the social work industry, recruiters respond best to the reverse-chronological format because it highlights the evolution of your career through progressive acquisition of skills and professional development.

Contact info and header

Your social worker resume explains your qualifications and credentials for the job you’re seeking, but if recruiters don’t know how to contact you, nothing you write will matter. As a result, you need to write and format your contact header effectively. This section should include:

• Title of the position you’re applying for (taken directly from the job description)
• Your city and state

Notice the customized header that lists the job posting title below the name.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are computer programs that filter out low-quality, irrelevant, and unreadable resumes. However, they’re not infallible. Sometimes they toss out relevant resumes based on a lack of keywords. Adhering to a few simple conventions, which our  resume builder  helps with, will ensure you pass the inevitable ATS filter. 

Beat the ATS with a few simple tips.

• Fonts and font sizes: ATS systems need to be able to scan your resume easily, so keep fonts simple and sizes consistent.
• Header: Adding headers makes your resume easier for the ATS to read.
• Save your resume in multiple formats and confirm that each version looks correct.
• Names: Your name must appear prominently with the associated contact info to make it beyond the ATS.
• Skills: the ATS scans for keywords, so you need to carefully read the job description to include the right terminology.
• Logical Order: A reverse-chronological order is the easiest for the ATS to scan; other formats may be misread.
• Length: Typically, the ATS will toss any resume that’s longer than one page.

How to write your social worker resume

Social workers require licensure, soft skills, and clinical abilities to perform their jobs effectively. Presenting that breadth of experience in an easy-to-read and tight  resume format  can be challenging.

Luckily, you’re familiar with tricky situations. So, assess your experience and determine your desired job competencies to help you write an effective resume.

Consider the following aspects of your social worker resume:

• A resume objective or summary

Work experience

Crafting your bullet points.

• Quantifying your impact with numbers and statistics
• Top social worker skills

Education, licenses, and specialized training

• Adding projects, interests, or hobbies
• Customizing your resume each job
• Eliminating errors

When to include a resume objective or summary in your social worker resume

Resume objectives  and  resume summaries  are optional, but they can be an eye-catching aspect of your social worker resume. If used effectively, they can be a deal-breaker that grants you an interview.

They should sell your value to the company within two to three sentences. This is the first section of the resume, so it must be compelling and informative to justify its inclusion.

• Above all, your objective should convey how your skills and abilities align with your prospective employer’s mission.
• “I hope to obtain a position to grow and utilize my education. I want to leverage my skills to help clients.”
• This objective is generalized, which isn’t helpful to any employer.
• Instead, tailor your objective to each job to which you apply.
• It should highlight your abilities and show off your specializations to prove you can make the next step in your career.
• “My current and former positions have enabled me to grow as a clinician and widen my knowledge base. I have progressive experience that qualifies me to supervise.”
• This summary is bland and provides no insight into the applicant’s experience or details about their qualifications.
• “LCSW-R with 10+ years of experience working with homeless populations, seeking opportunity with Seek and Save. I designed a job skills program to help clients develop interview skills. It helped 1,200 individuals obtain entry-level employment.”
• This summary highlights the applicant’s licensure and depth of experience, while noting a quantifiable achievement and mentioning the targeted employer by name.

Employers will notice you’ve taken the time to mention their company by name, as seen here.

You should be comprehensive, but use space wisely. Generally speaking, focus on recent jobs relative to the work you’re seeking: limit your positions to the last two to four jobs you’ve held. This provides enough space to give substantive details about your accomplishments.

Each bullet point in your social worker resume tells the story of your experience and qualifications. To make sure your bullet points are effective and easy-to-read,  choose active verbs  that are specific to social work,  use a consistent tense , and  use sentence fragments  without ending punctuation. 

Examples of bullet points include:

• This uses a generic verb and provides no detailed insight into the client population.
• There is no information to describe the scope or extent of this achievement.
• This fails to highlight particular clinical skills or describe the client population.
• This specifies exactly what the applicant did and the community they served.
• This highlights specific skills applicable to social work and quantifies their volume.
• This highlights a soft skill with an active verb and specifies the nature of the work.

Quantify your impact with numbers and statistics

Recruiters value statistics because they’re tangible proof of your performance and accomplishments. However, quantifying results in social work is difficult, and it doesn’t always reflect the humanistic nature of the practice. So, include metrics and statistics when you can, but don’t stress about including them in every bullet point. A good rule of thumb is to have 60 percent of your bullet points include metrics.

• Saw 25 clients weekly for CBT and check-ins
• Designed and implemented a revised onboarding system for new client intake with file integration in 6 weeks
•   Completed and submitted necessary documentation tracking for patient reimbursement at a 100% conversion rate

Top social worker skills to mention

Social work positions require very specific skill sets, like particular diagnoses, treatment methods, and clinical theories. Review the job description carefully to see what skills they need for the position and thus, what you should include on your resume. Use these terms throughout your social worker resume (when they’re applicable) to catch the eye of any recruiter.

Top social work skills in 2024 include:

• Soft skills: Empathy, active listening, collaboration, critical thinking
• Clinical positions: CBT, evidence-based practice, intake, assessment, treatment planning, discharge
• Management/Oversight positions: Program development, community organizing, budgeting, compliance, supervision

Here’s a solid list of additional soft skills you might include:

Listing your education reverse-chronologically is the best way for recruiters to see your most recent level of experience. Depending on your highest level of education, the section will descend from Ph.D. to MSW to BSW.

Be sure to list any licensures, continuing education certifications, or specialized training, either in the education section or in a separate licenses/certifications section.

If you still need licensure, there are an array of licenses available to those entering the social work field. While license requirements vary by state, most require a bachelo’rs degree. Candidates can earn certifications as a licensed social worker (LSW), a licensed independent social worker (LISW), a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) in most states.

Each level requires more education and training, with the LSW being the least demanding and LICSWs being the most stringent and intensive.

Notice the easy-to-read reverse-chronological style highlighting an evolving education.

Should you add projects, interests, or hobbies?

You should omit these optional sections unless you are a recent graduate or applying for an entry-level position. These sections provide color to your resume, but they’re generally considered excessive for higher-level positions. Highlighting and quantifying your professional accomplishments is far more important to recruiters.

If you choose to include  hobbies on your resume , they should exhibit your suitability for the position. Social workers should also consider including relevant volunteer experience. If you’re applying for a school social work position, describing volunteer experience with a children’s literacy program would be more suitable than listing your participation in a food pantry.

Customize your resume to each job

Generic social worker resumes sent out for multiple jobs isn’t the way to go. Job postings are highly detailed and reflect the values and mission of their respective companies. As a result, you should tailor your resume directly to the open position.

Read job postings carefully to parse out the active verbs and terminology the recruiter will expect to see. You should  check your social worker resume  to ensure it mirrors their language and speaks directly to the company you wish to join.

Eliminate errors

Typos and grammatical errors can grab attention  as much as an excellent objective statement or well-crafted bullet points. Always double-check your resume for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

Ask relatives, friends, or classmates to review your social worker resume for misspellings, awkward phrasing, and punctuation errors. 

Go land your next job!

A resume that addresses your potential employer’s desired skills is your best chance to land an interview for your new social work position. While  crafting your social worker resume , be sure to:

• Strive for a logical and readable format that appeals to both recruiters and ATS
• Communicate your skills and achievements by highlighting how they directly relate to your desired position
• Quantify your performance whenever possible to show measurable achievements
• Customize your resume for each position to assure employers you are passionate about their business

When you’re ready to submit your resume to potential employers, it’s time to start learning how to write a resignation letter to plan a smooth exit from your current role and launch into your dream job.

Resume Guide for Social Workers

A solid resume is critical for success in the competitive social work field. Having an impressive educational background or extensive work experience does not matter if your resume does not inspire an employer to contact you. Professionals can employ simple techniques to differentiate their resumes. Keep reading to learn what information makes your resume stand out from the crowd.

How to Write a Social Work Resume

• Do Your Research: It is important to tailor your resume to each job, including social work internships for undergraduates. Study your potential employer’s website and social media accounts. Determine whether any licenses or certifications are required for the position. Ultimately, research helps you understand if a position is a good fit for you.
• List Key Points: After completing your research, create an outline by making lists to organize your education, computer skills, social work experience, memberships, and training. Include any licenses, degrees, social work internships, and volunteer work. Also note terminology, action verbs, and keywords you will incorporate into your resume. While making your outline, consider your strengths and weaknesses, and aim to highlight your strengths.
• Format Your Resume: A sloppy-looking resume will detract from your accomplishments and skills. Your final resume should be attractive, readable, and nicely organized. Pay attention to grammar and always proofread your writing. A well-formatted resume is organized with headers, bold font, and bullets. Social work resumes generally use Arial, Times, or Helvetica in 11-point font. Resume length should be one page, unless you are applying for a clinical position, in which case two pages is acceptable. Clinical-geared resumes also tend to feature educational information first, followed by social work experience.

Types of Resumes for Social Workers

To determine your ideal resume organization method, explore these three common resume formats for social workers.

Reverse-Chronological

This commonly used method shows your work history beginning with the most recent job. It is easy to skim and shows your career progression. On the negative side, the date-centered formatting exposes gaps in work history.

This style begins with a summary of your skills followed by a summary of your professional accomplishments. Your work history and educational background are listed at the bottom. This resume format benefits social workers just out of college or working professionals switching careers. On the downside, this style makes it harder for hiring managers to quickly scan your work background.

Combination

This resume merges the functional resume and chronological resume. It features a small timeline of your work history, but begins with a career summary. It is ideal for recent graduates or working professionals who have held several jobs. As a disadvantage, combination resumes are longer in length than chronological resumes.

Required vs. Preferred Qualifications

When you see the terms “required” and “preferred” qualifications, you may wonder about the difference. Jobs in social work typically require a bachelor’s or associate degree in social work. This means before a hiring manager calls you for an interview, you must hold the required qualifications. It is common to be asked to submit proof of your qualifications. For example, an employer may ask for a copy of your degree.

Preferred qualifications are those an employer hopes you have. Professionals with preferred qualifications are often put ahead of candidates without them, but those lacking preferred qualifications are not out of the running. Perhaps you have a lower-level degree, but more work experience. On the other hand, if you don’t have all, or most, of the required qualifications, chances are your resume will be discarded. Be sure to include all your required and preferred qualifications on your resume.

What Should I Include on a Social Work Resume?

Every social worker, regardless of experience, should include certain essential information on their resume. This also applies to professionals wondering how to find social work internships. Here’s what to include:

Education and Training

Under the educational header, always include degrees, certifications, licenses, and training in the social work field. Omit graduation dates. Showing that you recently graduated or graduated decades ago may work against you. If your GPA is impressive, list it. If not, leave it off your resume. College students should clearly indicate that their degree is pending.

In the experience section of your resume, include details, dates, and duties pertaining to your work experience. List your job experience in reverse chronological order. Each job should be offset from the others with bold font and bullets. The header contains your title, employer’s name, and the city and state.

For each job, describe the size and makeup of the client population you served. Be sure to include the treatments you administered. When describing your duties, use action verbs such as demonstrated, delegated, and orchestrated. Also use positive adjectives such as adaptable and compassionate to show your ability to relate to clients.

Your skills can be offset or incorporated into your work experience. Only mention skills relevant to social work and consider customizing skills to fit each job. The idea is to make your resume unique.

Licensure and Certifications

To obtain a clinical social work position, you must demonstrate that you are legally licensed. When listing your qualifications, spell out the full names and include your license number and expiration dates.

Awards, Accomplishments, and Affiliations

If you received a social work-related academic or professional award, note it in a separate section on your resume. Memberships to social work organizations are also noteworthy, so list your professional affiliations. This demonstrates you are actively involved in the field.

Volunteer Work

Include any volunteer work related to social work on your resume. This equals experience and is a plus on a resume unless the work is unrelated to the job.

What Should I Put on My Social Work Resume if I Don’t Have Any Experience?

Many hiring managers will take a chance on a less-seasoned candidate if they are willing to learn

Instead of focusing on your lack of on-the-job experience, brainstorm your other skills and qualifications, such as completing social work practicum. Consider any social work internships and volunteer work you completed. Though they may not be paid, undergraduates gain valuable experience through social work internships. If you possess licenses or certifications, that is an added bonus. Include any volunteer work or social work internships in separate category. These skills should be listed on your resume higher than your work experience. Skills unrelated to social work should also be included. Simply explain in your summary how you can transfer those skills to social work.

Keep in mind that many employers seek candidates who are motivated and willing to work hard. Many hiring managers will take a chance on a less-seasoned candidate if they are willing to learn.

What Is a Resume-Reading Robot?

What is ats.

Larger corporations and even some small companies use the applicant tracking system, or ATS, to screen resumes. The software finds keywords and scores your resume to see if you are qualified for the job. ATS also searches your social media account and scans your profile for job-related keywords. Here are a few techniques to get past ATS and get a human to read your resume.

Tips for Outsmarting an ATS

Follow these tips to outsmart ATS and get your resume read by a person.

• Simple Headers: The first step to avoid getting caught in ATS filters is to implement headers on your resume. Use clear-cut, bolded terms such as “Education,” “Skills,” and “Work Experience” to divide your resume.
• Clean Format: Choose a simple layout with commonly used fonts such as Arial, Times, and Helvetica. Skip the graphics and opt for a clean look.
• Keywords/Phrases: Software systems like ATS are designed to find keywords, so the more keywords you include, the better. “Clinical rotations,” “coordinate,” and “harm reduction” are smart keywords to include in your resume.
• Industry-Specific Terms: To show your familiarity and experience with social work, write your resume using industry-specific terms. ATS will identify these words and score your resume accordingly.

Resume Writing Tips for Social Workers

One small mistake on your resume can cost you an interview. Review the tips below for writing a great social work resume.

Tailor Your Resume

Instead of sending the same template resume to every job, customize your resume each time. Identify keywords in the job posting and include them in your resume.

Save Your Resume Under a Professional Name

It is a good practice saving your resume under a professional title such as: FirstNameLastName_Resume.doc.

Make it Easy to Read

Use basic fonts, a simple color palette, and no graphics. Do not distract from the content.

Include a Cover Letter

Do not overlook the importance of crafting a professional cover letter to accompany your resume.

Keep it to One Page

Write a one-page resume unless you are applying for a clinical-focused job, for which a two-page resume is acceptable.

Common Mistakes Social Workers Make on Their Resumes

Use this checklist to help eliminate resume errors.

Spell check won’t catch every typo, so run your resume through an online editor or get a second pair of eyes to review it.

Including Personal Information

Include your phone number and email address, but leave off your home address.

Including Salary Information

Revealing your previous salaries may prevent you from negotiating a higher salary or give the impression that you are underqualified.

Using Nicknames

Stick to your birth name on your resume as even relaxed employers have professional expectations.

Using an Unprofessional Email Address

A professional email address includes your first and last name.

First-Person Pronouns

Avoid first-person pronouns such as “I” and “me” as they are redundant.

Unprofessional Voicemail

A professional voicemail message is critical when employers contact you.

Social Work Resume Samples

Reviewing sample social work resumes gives you formatting and style ideas. You can also borrow social work terminology to include on your resume. Make your resume unique and avoid using standard templates. Here are three sample social work resumes:

• Sample 1: This chronological sample resume from Rutgers University includes great details such as the individual’s licenses, impressive GPA, and skillset.
• Sample 2: This combination example from the University of Michigan features nice organization with separate sections for clinical skills, administrative skills, and research. The three-page resume works for a clinical-focused candidate, but is likely too lengthy for anyone else.
• Sample 3: The last sample resume from the University of Texas, Austin features easy-to-read content. The job seeker also makes good use of action verbs. The lack of work experience, however, is clear since the dates are beside the jobs.

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• Career Blog

Social Work Resume Example and Writing Guide for 2024

When it comes to finding employment as a social worker, having a professional and well-crafted resume is crucial. Your resume is the first impression that potential employers will have of you, and it serves as a reflection of your skills, experience, and accomplishments.

In this article, we will delve into the importance of a professional resume in social work and explore what employers look for in a social work resume. Whether you are a newly licensed social worker looking for your first job or an experienced professional seeking a new opportunity, this guide will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to create an effective social work resume.

So, why is a professional resume important in social work? A well-written resume showcases your education, experience, and skills, providing hiring managers with a clear understanding of how you can contribute to their organization. Given the competitive job market for social workers, having a standout resume can make all the difference.

Employers in the social work field are looking for candidates who possess specific skills and experiences. They want to hire individuals who can effectively communicate with clients, work collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals, and exhibit a deep understanding of ethical and legal considerations.

Throughout this article, we will explore the key skills and experiences that employers are looking for in a social work resume. By following our writing guide and incorporating these elements into your resume, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job in social work.

Key Elements of a Social Work Resume

When crafting a social work resume, it is important to highlight specific elements that showcase your expertise and experience in the field. Here are some key elements to consider including in your social work resume:

Contact Information

Your contact information should be the first thing that appears on your resume. This includes your full name, phone number, email address, and mailing address. Make sure to keep your contact information up-to-date and professional.

Professional Summary

Your professional summary should provide an overview of your skills and experience as a social worker, showcasing your strengths and key qualifications. This should be a brief, well-written paragraph that catches the reader’s attention and entices them to read further.

Your education section should list your highest level of education first, and also mention any relevant honors or awards you received. Be sure to include the name of the institution, the degree you earned, and the year you graduated.

Work Experience

In the work experience section of your resume, you should list your previous employment (in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent position), your job title, name of the organization, and dates of employment. You should also include a brief summary of your duties and responsibilities.

Certifications and Licenses

Social work certifications and licenses are important for demonstrating your expertise and qualifications in the field. Be sure to list any relevant certifications or licenses you hold, including the name of the certification or license, the organization that awarded it, and the date it was awarded.

The skills section of your resume should list the specific skills you have that are relevant to social work. This can include communication skills, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, and more.

Volunteer Work

If you have volunteered in social work-related roles, be sure to include this information in your resume. This can show your commitment to the field and your dedication to helping others.

Professional Memberships

If you are a member of any social work-related professional organizations, be sure to include this information in your resume. This can show your dedication to the field and provide additional credibility to your qualifications.

Awards and Achievements

If you have received any awards or achieved any accolades in the social work field, be sure to include this information in your resume. This can showcase your level of expertise and demonstrate your commitment to excellence.

Your social work resume should include at least three professional references, including your name, job title, contact information, and a brief summary of your relationship to them. Make sure to ask permission before listing someone as a reference.

Formatting and Layout

As a social worker, your resume should be designed to showcase your skills and expertise while ensuring it is easy to read and visually appealing. Here are some key factors to consider when formatting and designing your resume:

Choosing the Right Format

There are three standard resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid. As a social worker, the chronological format may be the best choice since it focuses on your work experience and accomplishments. The functional format, on the other hand, highlights your skills and education, which may be more beneficial for recent graduates or those entering the field.

Font and Size

Choosing the right font and size is critical in making sure your resume is readable and professional-looking. Opt for a clean and simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman, and make sure the size is between 10 and 12 points. Avoid using decorative fonts that may be difficult to read or distract from the content of your resume.

Length of Resume

Keep in mind that recruiters and hiring managers often have limited time to review resumes, so it’s essential to keep yours concise and to the point. A one-page resume is generally recommended for those with little work experience or recent graduates, while a two-page resume may be suitable for those with extensive experience.

Use of Bullets and White Space

Using bullets and white space effectively can make your resume more visually appealing and easier to read. Utilize bullet points to highlight your accomplishments and skills, and break up longer paragraphs with white space to avoid overwhelming the reader. Keep in mind that too much white space can also make your resume appear sparse, so finding the right balance is key.

When formatting and designing your social work resume, choose a format that highlights your experience and skills, use an easy-to-read font and size, keep the length concise, and utilize bullets and white space effectively to make your resume visually appealing and reader-friendly.

Writing a Strong Professional Summary

A professional summary is a brief section at the top of your resume that highlights your most significant professional strengths and experiences. It serves as your elevator pitch, communicating your unique value proposition to potential employers. A strong professional summary can entice hiring managers to continue reading your resume and consider you as a top candidate.

To write a professional summary that stands out, follow these tips:

Tailor your summary to the job you’re applying for. Highlight the skills and experiences that align with the job requirements.

Keep it concise. Aim for a maximum of four to six bullet points that capture your most impressive accomplishments and skills.

Use strong action verbs and quantifiable metrics to communicate the impact of your work.

Avoid cliches and generalities. Instead, focus on specific examples that showcase your unique strengths.

Here are some examples of top-performing professional summaries:

“Dedicated and compassionate social worker with over 10 years of experience working with individuals and families in crisis. Proven ability to provide counseling and support in a variety of settings, including community centers, hospitals, and schools.”

“Licensed clinical social worker with expertise in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention. Strong track record of helping clients with a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Skilled in developing and implementing treatment plans that promote long-term success.”

“Passionate social work professional with experience in program development and implementation. Proven ability to collaborate with stakeholders and community partners to address key social issues, including poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.”

With a strong professional summary, you can show potential employers that you’re a top candidate for the job. Keep it concise, tailored to the job, and focused on your unique strengths and accomplishments.

Highlighting Education

When it comes to social work, education is essential. Therefore, emphasizing your degrees and certifications in your resume is highly important. Here is a list of relevant degrees and certifications that you should include in your social work resume:

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM)
• Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM)

In addition to degrees and certifications, you should also highlight your relevant courses and academic projects. This gives prospective employers a better understanding of your knowledge and expertise. Examples of relevant courses and academic projects include:

• Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• Social Work Practice with Groups
• Social Work Practice with Individuals/Families
• Social Work Research Methods
• Field Practicum or Internship

Depending on the position you are applying for, there may be additional courses and projects to include. Make sure that you tailor your resume to the job description.

Lastly, do not forget to mention any honors and awards that you have received. This highlights your accomplishments and sets you apart from other candidates. Honors and awards to consider including in your social work resume are:

• Dean’s List
• Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society
• NASW Student Scholarship Award
• Outstanding Student in Social Work Award
• Social Work Student of the Year

Remember, your education, relevant courses and projects completed, as well as any awards or honors received, can greatly impact the hiring process. Make sure that you showcase your education and accomplishments prominently in your resume.

Showcasing Work Experience

When it comes to crafting a social work resume, showcasing your previous work experience in the most effective way possible is vital. Highlighting your relevant experience can make all the difference when it comes to catching the eye of potential employers and securing an interview.

How to List Previous Work Experience

One important aspect of showcasing work experience is listing it in a way that is easy for potential employers to understand. Ensure that you list your previous employers, job titles, and job descriptions in a clear and concise way.

To achieve this, use bullet points to highlight your duties and responsibilities at each job position you’ve held. Consider using a chronological order, starting with your most recent position and working backward.

Quantifying Experience with Numbers

Adding numbers to your work experience can make it stand out even more. For example, rather than simply stating that you “worked with clients to develop treatment plans”, you might say “Developed individualized treatment plans for 50+ clients annually, resulting in a 30% increase in positive outcomes”.

These quantifiable achievements help potential employers understand the impact you’ve had in your previous roles and make your resume even more impressive.

Highlighting Relevant Internships and Volunteer Work

Your previous internships and volunteer work can also speak volumes about your experience and qualifications. Be sure to include them in your resume, especially if you do not have much paid work experience.

In particular, emphasize any internships and volunteer work that are relevant to the social work field. This can include experience in non-profit organizations, community programming, and social services.

Including Relevant Skills

Finally, listing your relevant skills is essential to showcasing your experience in a social work resume. This can include both hard and soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, and empathy.

When listing your skills, include examples of how you have used them in previous roles, such as “utilized strong communication skills to effectively manage cases and coordinate with other professionals”.

Showcasing your work experience in a social work resume can be a very effective way of highlighting your qualifications and experience. By following the tips listed above, you can create a resume that stands out to potential employers and sets you apart from other candidates.

Highlighting Certifications and Licenses

As a social worker, highlighting your certifications and licenses is crucial in emphasizing your expertise and credibility. Here are some tips on how to list your certifications and licenses on your resume:

How to List Certifications and Licenses

When listing your certifications and licenses, be sure to include the following information:

• Certification/License Name:  The full name of the certification or license you received.
• Certifying/Licensing Organization:  The organization that granted the certification or license.
• Date Received:  The date you received the certification or license (or the expiration date, if applicable).

For example:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State Board of Social Work Examiners, issued June 2015
• Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM), National Association of Social Workers, issued January 2018

Importance of Certifications and Licenses

Certifications and licenses demonstrate that you have met certain standards in your field, and can be a key factor in landing a job or advancing your career. They indicate that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job duties of a social worker safely and effectively.

Furthermore, depending on the state and type of social work you are involved in, certain certifications and licenses may be required by law. It is important to research and understand the specific requirements for your area of practice.

Examples of top certifications and licenses in social work

Here are some of the most respected and recognized certifications and licenses in social work that can give your resume an edge:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Enables social workers to diagnose and treat mental disorders through one-on-one therapy sessions.
• Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC): Demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills in the area of health care social work.
• Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS): Required for social workers in many school districts, and demonstrates expertise in working with children and families in educational settings.

By highlighting your certifications and licenses on your resume, you demonstrate your commitment to your profession and your ongoing effort to improve your skills and knowledge. Employers and hiring managers will take notice of these qualifications and consider you a more attractive candidate as a result.

Showcasing Skills

In the world of social work, skills are of utmost importance. As a social worker, you need to be equipped with a wide range of skills that enable you to provide compassionate care and support to those in need. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the importance of showcasing their skills when crafting their social work resumes.

In this section, we’ll explore how you can effectively showcase your skills in your social work resume by listing relevant skills, highlighting transferable skills and providing examples of top skills in social work.

Listing Relevant Skills

The first step to showcasing your skills is to list them out clearly and concisely. Consider including a section in your social work resume that outlines your relevant skills. Be sure to tailor your list to the specific job you’re applying for. Here are some examples of relevant skills that you may want to include:

• Active listening
• Communication
• Conflict resolution
• Time management
• Case management
• Problem solving
• Crisis management

Highlighting Transferable Skills

When crafting your social work resume, it’s important to highlight your transferable skills. These are skills that you’ve gained from previous experiences that can be applied to your role as a social worker. They can be skills you’ve acquired from other jobs, volunteer work or even personal experiences. Here are some examples of transferable skills that may be relevant to social work:

• Project management
• Resourcefulness
• Adaptability

Be sure to provide concrete examples of how you’ve applied these skills in your previous roles or experiences.

Examples of Top Skills in Social Work

Finally, here are some of the top skills that are highly valued in the social work industry:

Compassion: Social workers need to be caring, empathetic, and compassionate individuals who understand and respond to the needs of their clients.

Social perceptiveness: Understanding social cues, nonverbal communications, cultural differences, and other societal factors is essential to building rapport with clients.

Interviewing skills: Interviewing is a key part of a social worker’s job. Effective communication is crucial when gathering information from clients, interpreting it, and taking action accordingly.

Crisis management: Social workers may confront emergencies, and understanding techniques for addressing stressful or dangerous situations is critical to their success in helping their clients.

Advocacy: Social workers are often involved in advocating for their clients’ welfare, and they need to be skilled at communicating with others to ensure their clients’ needs are met.

Keep these skills in mind as you craft your resume and be sure to highlight any relevant skills and experiences you have that demonstrate your ability to apply them in your work. Remember that showcasing your skills is the best way to stand out from the competition and secure your dream job in social work.

Highlighting Volunteer Work

When it comes to creating a standout social work resume, highlighting volunteer work can be a powerful strategy. Including relevant volunteer experience can not only demonstrate your dedication to service but also highlight transferable skills that can make you a strong candidate for a social work position.

Types of volunteer work to include

When deciding what volunteer experience to include on your resume, consider the following:

• Relevance:  Choose volunteer work that is relevant to the social work field or the specific job you are applying for. This could include volunteering at a homeless shelter, community health clinic, or school counseling office, among other options.
• Duration:  Longer-term volunteer commitments can indicate a greater level of dedication and skill-building. Look for experiences that lasted several months or even years to showcase your commitment to service.
• Leadership:  If you held a leadership role in your volunteer work, be sure to mention this on your resume. This could include serving as a team lead, coordinator, or board member for a nonprofit organization.

Including volunteer work that meets these criteria can demonstrate valuable qualities and skills to potential employers.

How to highlight transferable skills through volunteer work

Volunteer work can provide an excellent opportunity to gain transferable skills that are relevant to social work positions. Here are some tips for highlighting these skills on your resume:

• Emphasize communication:  Volunteer work often involves interacting with diverse populations, communicating effectively, and collaborating with others. Use your volunteer experiences to highlight your communication skills, such as active listening, conflict resolution, and relationship-building.
• Showcase problem-solving:  Social work requires strong problem-solving skills, and volunteer work can provide opportunities to develop these skills. Highlight experiences where you had to navigate complex challenges, brainstorm solutions, and implement effective strategies.
• Demonstrate empathy and compassion:  Volunteer work often involves working with marginalized or vulnerable communities, providing an opportunity to develop empathy and compassion. Showcase experiences where you were able to demonstrate these qualities, such as providing emotional support to those in need.
• Highlight organizational skills:  Volunteer work can also involve managing events, coordinating schedules, and handling administrative tasks. Highlight experiences where you demonstrated strong organizational skills, such as managing budgets, coordinating volunteers, or overseeing initiatives.

By highlighting transferable skills gained through volunteer work, you can demonstrate your versatility, adaptability, and potential to succeed in a social work role.

Including relevant volunteer work on your social work resume can showcase your commitment to service while also highlighting valuable transferable skills. Use your volunteer experiences to demonstrate key qualities and skills such as communication, problem-solving, empathy, and organizational skills to help stand out as a strong candidate.

Professional Memberships and Awards

When it comes to social work, highlighting your professional memberships and awards can make a huge difference in your job search. Not only do they demonstrate your commitment to the field, but they can also showcase your achievements and expertise.

List of Relevant Professional Memberships

Listing your professional memberships on your resume can show that you are actively involved in the social work community and dedicated to staying up-to-date with industry trends and best practices. Some examples of relevant professional memberships include:

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• American Public Health Association (APHA)
• Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Be sure to include the name of the organization, your status (member or board member), and the duration of your membership.

How to Highlight Awards and Achievements

When highlighting your awards and achievements on your resume, it’s important to quantify them as much as possible. For example, instead of simply listing “Received award for outstanding performance,” try including specific details such as “Received 2019 NASW Award for Outstanding Performance in Child Welfare for reducing foster care placements by 50% through implementation of evidence-based interventions.”

Here are some tips for highlighting your awards and achievements:

• Use bullet points to make them stand out
• Quantify as much as possible (numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, etc.)
• Include the name of the award and the date it was received
• Explain what specifically you did to earn the award or achievement

Examples of Top-Achieving Social Workers

Jane Smith: Received the 2020 APHA Social Work Section Award for Excellence in Advocacy for her work in promoting policy changes to improve access to mental health services in underserved communities. She is also a board member of the NASW and holds a certification in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

John Doe: Received the 2018 SSWR Outstanding Dissertation Award for his research on the effectiveness of school-based mental health services for children with behavioral disorders. He is actively involved in the CSWE and is a member of several committees focused on advancing social work education.

Maria Hernandez: As the director of a non-profit organization serving homeless youth, Maria received the 2019 NASW Public Citizen of the Year Award for her tireless efforts to raise awareness and prevent youth homelessness. She is a member of the APHA and frequently speaks at conferences on the topic of youth homelessness.

These examples demonstrate the value of highlighting professional memberships and awards on your social work resume. They not only showcase your accomplishments but also your dedication to the field and your ongoing commitment to learning and improving.

Writing a Cover Letter

A cover letter is a crucial document that accompanies your resume in a job application. The cover letter provides an opportunity for you to introduce yourself and demonstrate your interest in the position. It also allows you to highlight how your qualifications align with the requirements of the job. A well-written cover letter can set you apart from other candidates and increase your chances of getting hired. Here are steps to write an effective cover letter:

Steps to write an effective cover letter:

1. research the company and the job position.

Before writing your cover letter, research the company and the job position. Understand the company culture, values, and goals. Analyze the job posting and identify the skills and qualifications required for the job.

2. Start with a strong opening

Begin your cover letter with a strong and attention-grabbing opening. You can start with an interesting fact about the company or highlight a specific achievement that caught your attention.

3. Customize your letter

Customize your letter based on the job position and the company. Use the information gathered during your research to tailor your letter to the specific company and job posting. Address the letter to the hiring manager if possible.

4. Highlight your skills and qualifications

In the body of your letter, highlight your skills, qualifications, and experiences. Explain how they align with the requirements of the job. Use specific examples to illustrate your abilities.

5. Show enthusiasm

Conclude your letter with a positive note. Express your enthusiasm for the job and your interest in working for the company. Provide your contact information and let the hiring manager know that you are looking forward to hearing from them.

Tips for tailoring cover letters to specific job postings:

1. use keywords.

Use specific keywords from the job posting in your cover letter. This shows that you have read and understood the requirements of the job. It also helps your letter pass through automated screening systems.

2. Address the job requirements

Address the job requirements in your letter. Explain how your skills and experiences match the qualifications required for the job. Provide specific examples to support your claims.

3. Research the company

Research the company and its culture. Show that you understand the company’s goals and values. Discuss how your values align with those of the company.

4. Keep it concise

Keep your letter brief and to the point. Do not exceed one page. Use simple and easy-to-understand language.

5. Proofread

Proofread your letter carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors. Ask someone else to review your letter as well.

A well-crafted cover letter can make a significant difference in your job application. Make sure to follow the steps outlined above and tailor your letter to the specific job posting and company.

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5 Social Worker Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Now that the pandemic has shaken the world, the question, “who is an essential worker” inevitably presents itself. social work has proven one of the most important jobs today. social workers enhance human well-being and are essential for the fight for social justice. we’ve curated sample resumes of social workers with details on how you can write your own..

A social worker is one of the most essential people in the labor market since they help meet people’s basic needs, relieve suffering, improve lives, and much more. Social work involves learning all about the progression of human suffering and breaking social barriers to relieve it, all while maintaining professionalism. As a social worker, you can expect to practice case management, counseling, connecting people to resources, teaching, and other tasks. 

In a social worker’s resume, you’ll find a degree in social work - an interdisciplinary approach to psychology, social and biological science, statistics, and more. You may also find several years of volunteering experience. Recruiters will be looking for a highlight of work in a local community or experience of the sort. Social workers could branch out into different roles: life coach, consultant, therapist, or essentially, social worker. 

In this article, we will examine the different types of social workers, some of their resume samples, and how you can create your own.

Social Worker Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• Child and Family Social Worker
• Social Work Teacher
• Mental Health Social Worker
• Clinical Social Worker

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Social Worker Resumes

Social Worker Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Related Other Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 5: Child and Family Social Worker Resume Example

A child and family social worker mediates instances of abuse and neglect as well as places children in safe environments. Being assigned such a role involves arranging adoptions and foster homes, assisting families through such processes, and reuniting dissected families and children. A skilled social worker keeps track of case files and notes improvements accordingly while understanding their clients’ needs and efficiently solving their issues. This resume illustrates a social worker of 5-year experience. It lists experience on a case-by-case basis with a success rate, a B.A. in the relevant field of social work, and the executions of each role - treatment programs, maintaining resources, and managing case files.

We're just getting the template ready for you, just a second left.

Tips to help you write your Child and Family Social Worker resume in 2024

   include metrics like participant and case success rates..

Notice how this resume highlights the number of cases dealt with as well as their participation and success rates. You should always include this information to show recruiters your efficiency in managing simultaneous case files as well as your work ethic in each one’s success rate.

   Highlight the specifics of each role.

Notice how this resume explains each responsibility in detail - “organized meetings / maintained community resources”. It is important that you list those to show that you understand the dynamics and nature of the work.

Skills you can include on your Child and Family Social Worker resume

Template 2 of 5: social work teacher resume example.

A social work teacher can range from specializing in social work and conducting academic positions to instructing teachers and officials on important responsibilities. This is executed by training them (or students) on important societal, cultural, or economic factors in the educational realm or the skill of identifying instances of abuse. A social work teacher focuses mainly on training people to include social work in their professions or their lives. This resume illustrates an experienced social work teacher. It lists their social work, their community development roles, and their teaching responsibilities. There is a highly strong base established with a B.S. in Psychology - with a minor in Counselling. The resume continues on a role-by-role basis and volunteering work is listed which shows recruiters their plan-to-action progression and initiative.

Tips to help you write your Social Work Teacher resume in 2024

   define the goals of each social assistance role..

Notice how this resume highlights the reason behind each initiative - “to prevent and resolve issues related to human behavior and relationships”. You should list these for recruiters to see your know-how and immersion in the work.

   List your tools and techniques.

Notice how this resume provides its tools and techniques. This shows recruiters your methodological diversity. You should include all the ways you employ to complete your goals.

Skills you can include on your Social Work Teacher resume

Template 3 of 5: mental health social worker resume example.

A mental health social worker is mainly responsible for spotting, treating, and preventing mental and behavioral issues. Such a social worker cultivates relationships with clients, provides coping tools, addresses urgent needs, and provides support. This resume is that of a mental health social worker. As seen, there’s a strong base of a B.S. in social work with highlights on individual and group treatments, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention. There’s sufficient experience in counseling and community. This resume portrays a strong work diversity and a success rate in treatment and progression.

Tips to help you write your Mental Health Social Worker resume in 2024

   underscore client-success results..

Notice how this resume underscores client relations and societal reintegration. You should list your involvement in clients’ success in conquering their mental health issues to show recruiters your capacity of helping, empathy, and improvement of peoples’ lives.

   Highlight the social categories of your clients.

Notice how this resume lists their diversity of working with clients - children, infants, and pregnant women. This shows a wide range of interpersonal skills and dynamic work needed for this role.

Skills you can include on your Mental Health Social Worker resume

Template 4 of 5: clinical social worker resume example.

As a clinical social worker, your role is about creating lasting change in the lives of those you serve. That said, your resume needs to reflect your ability to do just that. You'll want to showcase how your experiences have helped improve clients' overall well-being—physically, psychologically, and socially. These days, potential employers are heavily focused on evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care, and a multidisciplinary team approach. They're not just looking for someone who can counsel clients. They want candidates who can collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care. Writing a resume for this role can be tricky, particularly because you're dealing with sensitive, confidential information. You need to highlight your case management skills and therapeutic abilities without breaching client confidentiality. It's a tricky balance, but an important one to maintain.

Tips to help you write your Clinical Social Worker resume in 2024

   highlight specialized social work skills.

As a clinical social worker, you'll need more than just basic counseling and advocacy skills. Highlight specialized, role-specific skills such as diagnosing mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders, creating and implementing treatment plans, and knowledge of the latest therapeutic techniques.

   Showcase your multidisciplinary team experience

Clinical social workers often work as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with psychologists, psychiatrists, and nurses. Show that you can thrive in this type of environment by mentioning experiences where you've worked with other healthcare professionals to deliver holistic care.

Skills you can include on your Clinical Social Worker resume

Template 5 of 5: clinical social worker resume example.

A clinical social worker is focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and behavioral issues. Their work ranges from individual to group therapy. This role may seem similar to psychology but it’s more complex in that it deals with socioeconomic, cultural, and familial impacts on people. This resume portrays a highly qualified social worker, with several years of experience and an M.A. in Science. It begins with an internship and a volunteering capacity which shows drive and work ethic. 10 years of experience are listed in many areas ranging from mental health counseling to clinical social work.

   Mention any internship and volunteering experience, if applicable.

Notice how this resume highlights internships and volunteering capacity. You should include any extra work you’ve executed since this portrays the value of your capacity to take initiative.

   Highlight relationships with clients.

Notice how this resume mentions work with families and individuals alike. It emphasizes the continuation of communication and safety through upheld relationships. This shows recruiters the interpersonal and social skills that are needed for the job.

As a hiring manager who has reviewed countless social worker resumes from applicants at organizations like the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and local government agencies, I know what makes a resume stand out. The following tips will help you craft a strong social worker resume that grabs attention and lands you interviews.

   Highlight your specialization areas

Many social workers specialize in certain areas, such as child welfare, mental health, or substance abuse. Make sure to prominently feature your specialization(s) on your resume, as it shows your expertise and passion.

Compare these two examples:

• Worked with various populations, including children, families, and the elderly
• Specialized in child welfare, with 5+ years of experience serving at-risk youth in foster care and group home settings

The second example is much stronger because it clearly highlights a specific specialization and backs it up with years of relevant experience.

   Quantify your impact with numbers

As a social worker, you make a real difference in people's lives. Quantify that impact on your resume to paint a vivid picture for hiring managers. For example:

• Managed a caseload of 50+ clients per month, conducting assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
• Connected 25 homeless individuals with housing resources and support services, resulting in an 80% placement rate
• Facilitated 10 weekly group therapy sessions for adults with depression and anxiety, with 90% of participants reporting improved symptoms

Numbers jump off the page and really hammer home the scope and results of your work.

   Describe your crisis intervention skills

Social workers often deal with high-stress, crisis situations. Employers want to see that you have the skills to handle these challenges calmly and effectively.

A good resume might say:

• Responded to emergency hotline calls, assessing risk and providing crisis counseling and referrals as needed
• Conducted on-site mental health assessments for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or psychosis, collaborating with medical staff to ensure client safety

These examples show that the candidate has real-world experience intervening in crises and knows how to assess risk, de-escalate, and collaborate with others.

   Showcase your cultural competence

Social workers serve diverse populations, so cultural competence is a must. Show that you have experience working with different communities and understand their unique needs.

Instead of simply listing:

• Worked with diverse clients

Try something more specific, like:

• Provided culturally sensitive counseling to Latino immigrant families, conducting sessions in Spanish and English
• Developed and delivered diversity training for staff on LGBTQ+ competency, reaching 100+ employees

These examples demonstrate your ability to bridge cultural differences, communicate effectively, and promote equity and inclusion.

   Emphasize your collaboration skills

Social work is a team effort. You'll be collaborating closely with colleagues, other professionals (like doctors and lawyers), and community partners. Highlight successful collaborations on your resume.

You might say something like:

• Partnered with local schools to implement a truancy prevention program, resulting in a 25% decrease in chronic absenteeism
• Collaborated with law enforcement and victim advocates to support domestic violence survivors, providing crisis intervention and court advocacy

These examples show that you can build relationships, communicate effectively, and work with others to achieve positive outcomes for clients.

   Tailor your resume to the job posting

One-size-fits-all resumes rarely cut it. Take the time to customize your resume for each position you apply to. Mirror the language in the job posting, and emphasize your most relevant skills and experiences.

For example, if a job posting says:

"Seeking a social worker to provide individual and group counseling to adults with serious mental illness."

Make sure your resume includes things like:

• Provided individual therapy to 20+ adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, using CBT and DBT techniques
• Facilitated weekly skills training groups for adults with serious mental illness, covering topics like symptom management, social skills, and independent living

By tailoring your resume, you show the employer that you're the right fit for this specific role.

Writing Your Social Worker Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. emphasize your name and social work credentials.

Make sure your name is the most prominent element in your header, ideally on its own line. Use a larger font size than the rest of your header details. Right after your name, list your key social work credentials, such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Certified Social Worker (CSW).

Compare these examples:

• John Smith, 123 Main St, New York, NY, 555-555-5555, [email protected]
• JOHN SMITH, LCSW New York, NY | 555-555-5555 | [email protected]

2. Include your location, phone, and email

After your name and title, include your city and state, phone number, and a professional email address. Use separators like a vertical line (|) to keep these details concise on one line.

Here's an example of what to include:

• JANE DOE, MSW Chicago, IL | 555-123-4567 | [email protected]

Avoid listing your full mailing address, which is no longer expected and takes up valuable space:

• JANE DOE 123 Oak St, Apt 2B Chicago, IL 60007 555-123-4567 [email protected]

3. Showcase your specialization if applicable

If you specialize in a particular area of social work, consider incorporating it into your header after your name. This quickly conveys your niche expertise. Some examples:

• SARAH JOHNSON, LCSW Substance Abuse Counselor Miami, FL | 555-456-7890 | [email protected]
• MICHAEL BROWN, DSW Geriatric Social Worker Philadelphia, PA | 555-987-6543 | [email protected]

However, avoid listing multiple specialties or unrelated titles, which can confuse your professional focus:

SARAH JOHNSON, LCSW, Substance Abuse Counselor, Family Therapist, Case Manager

  Summary

A resume summary, also known as a professional summary or summary statement, is an optional section that can be included at the top of your resume. While it's not a mandatory component, a well-written summary can help you stand out from other candidates by highlighting your most relevant qualifications and experiences. It's particularly useful if you're changing careers or have a diverse background that may not be immediately apparent from your work history alone.

When crafting your summary, focus on your key strengths, skills, and accomplishments that align with the social worker role you're targeting. Avoid using an objective statement, which is an outdated approach that focuses on what you want from an employer rather than what you can offer them.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Social Worker resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Social Worker Resume Summary Examples , or Social Worker Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the specific social worker role

When writing your summary, it's crucial to align your qualifications with the requirements of the specific social worker position you're applying for. Research the job description and the organization to identify the key skills, experiences, and qualities they're seeking in a candidate.

For example, if the role emphasizes case management and client advocacy, your summary might look like this:

Licensed clinical social worker with 5+ years of experience in case management and client advocacy. Proven track record of developing personalized treatment plans and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to ensure optimal client outcomes. Skilled in crisis intervention, community outreach, and facilitating support groups.

By tailoring your summary to the specific role, you demonstrate your understanding of the position and show how you can contribute to the organization's mission.

2. Quantify your achievements and impact

When possible, use specific numbers and metrics to quantify your achievements and demonstrate the impact of your work. This helps employers better understand the scope of your responsibilities and the value you can bring to their organization.

Compare the following examples:

• Experienced in providing counseling services to clients
• Managed a caseload of clients with various needs

Instead, try quantifying your achievements like this:

• Provided counseling services to a diverse caseload of 30+ clients per week, addressing issues such as substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence
• Managed a caseload of 50+ clients, developing and implementing individualized treatment plans that resulted in a 75% improvement in client outcomes

By using numbers and metrics, you provide concrete evidence of your abilities and make your summary more compelling to potential employers.

3. Highlight your specialized skills and certifications

As a social worker, you may have specialized skills or certifications that set you apart from other candidates. Be sure to highlight these qualifications in your summary, especially if they're relevant to the position you're seeking.

For example:

Licensed master social worker (LMSW) with expertise in geriatric care and end-of-life support. Certified in gerontology and palliative care, with a strong background in facilitating family meetings and providing emotional support to clients and their loved ones. Fluent in English and Spanish, enabling effective communication with diverse populations.

By emphasizing your specialized skills and certifications, you demonstrate your unique value proposition and help employers quickly identify how you can contribute to their organization.

  Experience

The work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you'll highlight your relevant experience and accomplishments to show employers you have the background they're looking for in a social worker. Here are some key things to keep in mind as you write about your work history.

1. Highlight social work skills and specialties

Social work is a broad field with many specialties and skill sets. Highlight the ones most relevant to the jobs you're targeting. For example:

• Conducted psychosocial assessments and developed treatment plans for 50+ clients with mental health and substance abuse issues
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care for children and families involved in the foster system
• Provided crisis intervention and safety planning for domestic violence survivors

Think about key social work skills like case management, counseling, advocacy, and program development. Showcase how you've applied these in your past roles.

Not sure if your work experience section is highlighting the right skills? Try putting your resume through Score My Resume . It provides instant feedback on how well your resume showcases key skills employers look for.

2. Quantify your impact with metrics

Numbers jump off the page and quickly convey the scope and impact of your work. Whenever possible, include metrics to show the results you achieved. Here are some examples:

• Managed a caseload of 80+ clients, ensuring 95% of treatment goals were met within 6 months
• Secured $50K in grant funding to launch a new job readiness program serving 100 at-risk youth annually
• Supervised a team of 5 social workers and 2 interns, increasing client satisfaction rates by 30%

If you don't have hard numbers, estimates are okay. The goal is to give a sense of the scope and results of your work, not to have exact figures.

When you quantify your accomplishments, be strategic. Pick metrics that relate to the job you want. If an employer is looking for someone to manage large caseloads, highlight your caseload numbers.

3. Show progression and specialization

Employers like to see growth and progression. If you've been promoted, taken on leadership roles, or specialized in certain areas, make that clear. Compare these two examples:

• Social Worker, Agency X, 2018-2022
• Provided therapy, developed treatment plans, collaborated with other providers
• Promoted from Social Worker to Senior Social Worker in 2020
• Specialized in working with older adults experiencing depression and social isolation
• Supervised MSW interns and mentored new staff

The second example does a much better job showing career advancement and areas of expertise. It gives a clearer picture of the scope and trajectory of your social work career.

Applying for a job that requires specific experience you have? Check how well your resume highlights those key qualifications with Targeted Resume . It compares your resume to the job description and provides tailored suggestions.

4. Tailor your experience to the job

The best resumes are tailored to the specific job you're applying for. Review the job posting and identify the key qualifications and responsibilities. Then adjust how you describe your experience to highlight the most relevant aspects. For example, if a job emphasizes group therapy:

• Facilitated cognitive behavioral therapy groups for clients with anxiety, with 90% of participants reporting symptom reduction
• Developed and led an 8-week support group for new mothers experiencing postpartum depression

If it's more focused on community outreach:

• Conducted community needs assessments to identify gaps in mental health services and developed new programming to address them
• Built partnerships with 10+ community organizations to expand access to resources and referrals for underserved populations

The content is similar, but the emphasis shifts based on the job requirements. This customization helps employers quickly see you have the right experience for their role.

When tailoring your resume, look beyond the job title. Dig into the responsibilities and qualifications in the job description. Sometimes jobs with different titles have similar underlying skill sets, giving you more opportunities to showcase your relevant experience.

  Education

Your education section is a critical part of your social worker resume. It shows you have the necessary qualifications and training to excel in the role. Here are some key tips to ensure your education section stands out:

1. List your degrees in reverse chronological order

Start with your most recent or highest degree first. For each degree, include:

• Name of the degree (e.g. Master of Social Work)
• Name of the university
• Graduation year
• Relevant coursework, honors, or awards

Master of Social Work (MSW) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2020 Relevant Coursework: Clinical Social Work Practice, Social Welfare Policy, Human Behavior and the Social Environment

2. Highlight your social work licensure

As a social worker, your state licensure is crucial. Make sure to prominently list:

• The type of license you hold (LMSW, LCSW, etc.)
• The state you're licensed in
• Your license number, if required

Bad example:

Licensed Social Worker

Good example:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), New York License #1234567

3. Include relevant training and certifications

Social work often requires ongoing professional development. Highlight any relevant:

• Certifications
• Training programs
• Workshops or seminars

Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC), NASW Completion Date: May 2021

However, avoid listing generic training that's not directly applicable, like:

• CPR Certification
• Diversity and Inclusion Workshop

4. Tips for experienced social workers

If you have 10+ years of social work experience, your education section can be brief. Include:

• Advanced degrees (MSW, DSW, PhD)
• Licenses and specialty certifications

MSW, Columbia University LCSW, California Pupil Personnel Services Credential

• Graduation dates, to avoid potential age discrimination
• Details about your undergraduate degree, unless highly relevant

Action Verbs For Social Worker Resumes

Social work is known for being a demanding, active, and dynamic role. This is why you need to use these action words to begin sentences on your resume, specifically for work experience. Here are some examples of effective action verbs you can use to write your social worker resume. Social workers engage, collaborate, and empathize with people and human suffering which calls for action verbs that portray their humanity, emotional capacity, and work ethic.

• Consolidated
• Transformed

For more related action verbs, visit Healthcare Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Social Worker Resumes

Skills for social worker resumes.

In your resume, it’s important to include certain skills in a way that fits the concept and practice of social work and the demanding responsibilities it needs. 

Adjust and highlight qualities according to each job or field of social work that you apply for. Try to make your resume stand out for the qualification of each role.

• Psychotherapy
• Crisis Intervention
• Mental Health
• Group Therapy
• Case Management
• Mental Health Counseling
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Social Services
• Family Therapy
• Behavioral Health
• Motivational Interviewing
• Psychosocial
• Social Work
• Program Development
• Community Outreach
• Interventions
• Dual Diagnosis
• Discharge Planning

Skills Word Cloud For Social Worker Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Social Worker job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

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Is a good social work resume necessary?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the employment of social workers will grow 12% from 2020 to 2030.

Although this is below the national average of 14%, it still means that there will be more than 78,300 new jobs created in the field. T

The BLS expects many social workers to retire during this time period, leaving a large number of new positions open. Jobs will be available in all areas of the industry and there should be good employment prospects for social workers with a range of experience and qualifications.

In this thriving job market, without a professionally written resume, you don’t stand a shot at landing your dream job. So, in this blog, we will teach you the art of curating the perfect social work resume that will land you your dream job.

We have answered the following questions in this blog:

• Who is a social worker?
• How much money do social workers make?
• What is the correct format for the social worker resume?
• What sections should be included in a social work resume?
• How to write the social worker resume header section?
• How to create a professional summary for a social worker resume?
• How to add key skills section in the social worker resume?
• How to write the professional experience section of a social worker resume?
• What is the best way to add education experience in the social worker resume?
• How to add the certification section for the social worker resume?
• How to add the additional experience to the social worker resume?

Who is a Social Worker?

Social workers are those professionals who have devoted their life to the service of the ailing and the needy. They are often associated with NGOs, think tanks, and organizations that seek to bring about a momentum change in the lives of others and the community.

It is a profession that is marked with selflessness and genuine concern for the welfare of the people. For instance, they are often responsible for helping people cope with the problems that they are facing.

Individuals who are facing neglect, abuse, domestic violence, mental health, parental substance abuse, and a range of other issues are often helped by social workers who help them overcome these issues.

Social Work Salary Analysis: How much money do social workers make?

According to the figures quoted on various websites, social workers make an average of the below mentioned figures:

• Glassdoor : $37.4k – 69.7k per year
• Salary.com : $44.7k – 70.6k per year
• Payscale : $31.9k – 66.3k per year

Ideal Resume Format for your Social Work Resume

Every professional has different preferences when it comes to resume formats. For some, a chronological format is ideal, while others prefer a functional or combination format. Here are three common types of resumes you can use:

There are three types of resume formats:

• Reverse Chronological Resume Format
• Functional Resume Format
• Combination Resume Format

Reverse Chronological Resume

This type of resume highlights your work experience in reverse chronological order, from most recent to least recent. It gives an employer an overall view of your career history and helps them see how it all fits together. This type of resume is ideal for experienced professionals who want to highlight their most recent accomplishments first.

Functional Resume

This type of resume focuses on skills and accomplishments rather than dates and titles. It's helpful if you're changing careers or have gaps in your employment history because it allows you to focus on what matters most—your strengths—without having to explain why those gaps exist. However, this type of resume may not be appropriate if you don't have many years' worth of experience under your belt yet--or if you're trying to switch careers entirely!

Combination Resume

This type of resume combines both chronological and functional elements into one document so that an employer can understand both aspects at once

Also Read: What format to use in a resume in 2022? .

Why is the Reverse Chronological Resume Format best for you?

• The Reverse Chronological Format is universally acknowledged as the most preferred and ideal resume format.
• It approaches time from a reverse order i.e. from the most recent to the least recent.
• In this format style, your most recent work experience comes first followed by the second recent, and so on and so forth.

Your most recent work experience is your most relevant work experience, and by highlighting it first, this resume format sees to it that your social work resume is both relevant and meaningful.

Hiration Pro Tip : Use the Reverse Chronological Format to write a highly relevant, ATS-targeted social work resume to stand a better chance at getting the shortlist you deserve!

Social Work Resume Sections

You cannot write the ideal resume for social workers if you don’t know what to write in your resume in the first place!!

Here is a list of all the sections that you should mention in your social worker resume:

• Personal Information
• Profile Title
• Summary/Objective
• Professional Experience
• Certifications
• Additional Information/Volunteer Experience

Also Read: What are the different sections to add to a resume? .

Social Work Resume: Header

Like all the elements of your social work resume, your header is equally important. It gives your resume an individual identity and life of its very own.

This distinguishes your resume from all other resumes and protects it from getting mixed up.

Hiration Pro Tip : Don't write 'CV/Resume' on the top. Your full name should always feature as the resume header of your resume.

Here are some rules that you should follow to do justice to your resume header :

• Write your resume header on the extreme top of your social work resume
• Write your resume header in the font range of 16-20 font size
• Give a single space between your first name and last name
• If you have a middle name, the correct way to write it is mentioned in the next point:
• Write your first name, followed by a space, followed by the first initial of your middle name in capital letters, followed by a full stop, followed by a space, followed by your last name
• Example: If your name is Roseline Raymond Stark, write it on your resume header as Roseline R. Stark

Social Work Resume for Header

Also Read: How to write a perfect resume header in 2022?

Social Work Resume: Personal Information

The 3 important things that you should mention in the personal information section of your resume for social workers is mentioned below:

• Updated mobile number
• Professional email address

The personal information section of your social worker resume is the most basic element of your entire resume. It is easy to compose and does not demand a lot of your attention.

Hiration Pro Tip : Be extremely accurate when you fill the personal information section of your resume for social workers.

Updated Mobile Number

While composing your updated mobile number in the personal section of your social worker resume, there are certain standard rules that you should follow.

We have mentioned these rules below:

• Use your country’s ISD code as a prefix before your phone number
• Put a plus sign (+) before the ISD code
• Write your updated mobile number after the ISD code
• Eg: +1 65325 41981

E-mail Address

There are 2 types of people when it comes to writing email addresses.

• Person 1 : [email protected]
• Person 2 : [email protected]

You will observe that when you compare both the emails, person 1 has written his email more professionally as compared to person 2.

Person 2 has used childish nicknames as his email ID. This reflects unprofessionalism.

Our advice? Follow the email format followed by person 1.

Follow the guidelines below to impeccably write the location in your resume for social workers:

• In your resume, location means your current city of residence
• This should be written on the right most corner of your social worker resume
• You should never write your house address in your resume for social workers
• Do not mention the street name or locality name in your social work resume
• Write your city name and state name if you’re looking for a job in the same country
• Write your city name and country name if you’re looking for a job in another country

Also Read: How to compose the perfect personal information section?

Social Work Resume Sample for Personal Information

Social Work Resume: Profile Title

When you write your resume for social workers, there are some hard and fast rules that you should follow. We have mentioned them below:

• Your resume title should be written in the range of 14-16 font size
• It should be the second largest text in your resume after your resume header
• For example: If you are a social worker, your profile title should be written as “Social Worker” in 14-16 font size

Our below-mentioned social work resume example is the perfect example of what an ideal profile title should look like in your resume:

Social Work Resume: Key Skills

The key skills section is the second last section that you should compose when writing your resume for social workers. This is where your social worker resume skills should go.

This is the first section of your resume that the recruiter notices when he/she goes through your resume. So, in order to attract the attention of the recruiter, you need to perfect this section.

Mentioned below is a list of what you should to perfect this section of your resume:

• The key skills section endorses your social worker resume skills. This means that it is in this section that you should highlight your core skills as a professional
• To objectively single out your core skills, scan through your professional experience section to get a good sense of what your key performance areas are, and then list them down in the key skills section of your resume
• To attract the recruiter’s attention to this section, mark your key skills in bold
• To stand a good chance at getting shortlisted, analyze the keywords used by the recruiter in the job listing that he/she has posted and replicate them in the key skills section if it matches the roles & responsibilities that you have done in the past

Also Read: How to write the key skills section of a resume in 2022?

Social Worker Resume Sample for Key Skills

Social Work Resume Summary

Now, here comes the last section of your resume.

Mentioned below is a list of the things that you should do to curate the perfect resume for social work jobs:

• Ideally, you should write your social worker resume summary towards the end. By doing this, you will be able to quickly browse through your resume to pick out the best highlights and achievements of your professional life
• Identify the keywords that the recruiter has used in the job listing of your interest. After you have identified them, replicate them in your resume summary by drawing a connection between them and your past roles & responsibilities
• Do not write over 5 lines of social worker resume summary. If possible, try to stick to 3 lines
• Write a social worker resume summary if you have over 3 years of work experience
• Write a social worker resume objective if you have less than 3 years of work experience

Also Read: How to write a resume summary in 2022?

Social Work Resume Sample for Summary

Social Work Resume Objective

Mentioned below are the rules for writing a social worker resume objective :

• Write a social worker resume objective only if you have zero or less than 3 years of work experience
• As you have zero or very minimal work experience, your goal here is to sell your skills as convincingly as you can to the recruiter
• Emphasize any past internships and volunteer activities that you may have done. This will tell the recruiter that despite the lack of active work experience, you have the drive and the willingness that any good candidate should have
• Try to demonstrate through past experiences that you have the right skills that the recruiter is looking for in the applicant

Social Work Resume: Professional Experience

The professional experience section of your social work resume is the heart and soul of your resume. You have the best shot at striking gold with your dream job if you are able to impeccably manipulate this section to your advantage.

The professional section of your resume for social workers is ideal as it endorses your social worker resume skills.

This section covers the length & breadth of your social worker resume skills and leaves no stones unturned to communicate your skills as a professional.

This section is essential as it tells the recruiter where you worked, in what capacity you have worked, for how many years you have worked, and what skills you have cultivated over the years. Based on these parameters, a recruiter decides if you should get shortlisted or not.

Your job before you get the job is to ensure that you have done everything in your power to nail this section.

Here’s what you can do to accomplish this:

• Use the STAR format to structure your resume.
• Use points to communicate your roles & responsibilities.
• Use grouping & highlighting alongside points to maximize the impact of your resume.

STAR Format in your Social Work Resume

To professionally compose the work experience section of your social worker resume, use the STAR format.

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

For each project or responsibility, you have to mention:

• The situation you faced at a workplace.
• The task you were assigned.
• The action or the solution that you came up with.
• The result of your action in quantifiable figures.

The above points aka the STAR format establishes a cause-effect relationship.

By quantifying the results of your actions, you are able to express your achievements in figures. What this does is draw the recruiter’s attention to these figures and prolongs the amount of time a recruiter spends on assessing your resume.

This further helps in sustaining the recruiter’s interest which enhances your chances of a shortlist!

Framing Points in your Social Work Resume

To write an ideal social work resume, you need to nail the professional experience section.

To do this, your resume should be both readable and impactful.

To make your social work resume more readable, use points instead of paragraphs to talk about your roles & responsibilities.

Grouping & Highlighting in your Social Work Resume

Earlier, we have discussed that to write an impactful social worker resume, it needs to be both readable and effective/impactful.

Framing points takes care of the readability part while bucketing & bolding sees to it that your resume for social workers is impactful and effective.

Here are an example of work experience section of social work resume:

Vocational Training, Counseling & Referral Assistance Handled the intake and psycho-social assessments for 50+ patients on a weekly basis Administered referral assistance and individual counseling sessions to formerly homeless adults Provided vocational training to 200+ homeless adults to make them independent & employment-ready Coordinating Therapy Sessions & Welfare Programs Facilitated weekly therapy sessions to promote coping skills , emotional processing, and non-verbal expression Created programs to offer resources, training and rewards for healthy eating, exercise, and mindfulness practices

Also Read: How to write the work experience section of a resume in 2022?

Social Work Resume: Education

The education section of your resume for social workers should consist of the elements that we have mentioned below:

• School/university you have attended
• Courses you have pursued
• Location of your school/university
• Enrollment and graduation dates in month and year format

Take a look at our social work resume sample below to know what an ideal education section should look like:

Also Read: How to write the education section of a resume in 2022?

Social Work Resume: Certifications

The certifications section of your social work resume should include the elements that we have mentioned below:

• Name of the certification
• Name of the institution of affiliation
• Location of the certifying body
• Enrollment and completion date in month and year format

Arrange these points in the format that we have mentioned below:

{Name of certification} | {Affiliating Institution} | {Location} | {Date} (in month and year format)

List of Certifications for Social Worker

• Certification in Forensic Social Work
• Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
• Academy of Certified Social Workers Credential
• Certified School Social Work Specialist
• Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish
• Certified Application Security Engineer - Java
• Functional Aging Specialty Certification
• Diplomate in Clinical Social Work
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Certified Master Forensic Social Worker
• Child Development Associate
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
• National Clinical Supervision Endorsement
• Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work
• Certified Emergency Manager
• Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences

Also Read: How to write the certification section on a resume in 2022?

Social Worker Resume: Additional Information Section

In addition to the essential sections, you can add some additional sections on the resume as well, if you have the space.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer work is an excellent way to show that you are a team player and that you care about others. If you volunteer in your free time, it’s great to include this on your resume.

Also Read: How to add volunteer information on a resume in 2022?

Hobbies & Interests

If you have any hobbies or interests that are relevant to the position or industry, then it’s worth including them on your resume. For example, if you enjoy writing, then including it on your resume might help you get noticed by a potential employer.

Publications/Articles

If you have published articles in professional journals or newspapers then you can include this on your resume.

Social Work Sample Resume

Before we begin, take a look at our social work resume sample to know what an ideal social work resume should look like:

• Vocational Training
• Report Making
• Therapy Sessions
• Mental Health Assessments
• Case Studies
• Conducting Seminars
• Training & Mentoring
• Psycho-social Assessments
• Program Development
• Patient Education
• Developing Treatment Plans
• Record Keeping
• Child Care & Counseling
• Referral Assistance
• Handled the intake and psycho-social assessments for 50+ patients on a weekly basis
• Administered referral assistance and individual counseling sessions to formerly homeless adults
• Provided vocational training to 200+ homeless adults to make them independent & employment-ready
• Facilitated weekly therapy sessions to promote coping skills, emotional processing, and non-verbal expression
• Created programs to offer resources, training and rewards for healthy eating, exercise, and mindfulness practices
• Developed workable solutions and conducted seminars for 20+ bully victims with PTSD
• Educated families on community resources to address problems faced by their children in school
• Devised realistic treatment plans to improve care and well-being of 1000+ students in the school facility
• Organized mental health assessments in schools and home settings for children
• Maintained case history records and curated 100+ reports to track progress on a weekly basis
• Top 5 percentile of the class
• Top 10 percentile of the class

Key Takeaways

• Write the dates in month and year format across all sections in your resume for social workers
• Use reverse chronology order across all sections in your social worker resume
• Highlight your social worker resume skills in the key skills section of your resume
• Begin all the points in your work experience section with a power verb
• Write a social worker resume objective if you have worked for less than 3 years
• Write a social worker resume summary if you have worked for over 3 years
• Write the location in city/state format if you are applying for a job in the same country
• Write the location in city/country format if you are applying for a job in another country

We have reached the end of this blog

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10 Essential Tips for Your Amazing Social Work Résumé

by Valerie Arendt

Resume Crumpled

by Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP

(Editor's Note: After you read this article, be sure to see Valerie Arendt's 7 MORE Tips for Your Amazing Social Work Résumé .)

     Is your résumé ready to send out to employers? You have Googled example résumé templates, perfected your formatting, and added appropriate action words. Everything is in the correct tense, in reverse chronological order, and kept to two pages or less. What else should you think about for an amazing social work résumé? Whether you are a clinical or macro social worker, student, new professional, or have been in the field for 30 years, these essential tips will keep your résumé ready to send out to your future employer.

1. Objective or Professional Summary?    

     Let’s start at the beginning. I am not a fan of the objective, and neither are many hiring managers. If they are reading your résumé, they already know you are seeking a position with them. Generally, an objective is used by someone who has recently graduated or has very little experience. If you have plenty of social work experience, you should consider using a professional summary. This is one to three sentences at the beginning of your résumé that help describe the value you bring as a social worker through your skills and experience. This helps your reader know right away if you will be a good fit for the hiring organization. It is much easier for a hiring manager to find that value in a short paragraph than trying to piece it together from a lengthy history of professional experience and education.

DON’T: Objective: Seeking a social work position within a facility where I can utilize my experience to the benefit of my employer as well as gain knowledge and professional growth.

DO: Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 6+ years experience in medical and mental health settings, working with diverse populations in private practice, health care, outpatient, and inpatient treatment settings. Recently relocated to Georgia.

2. Don’t assume your reader already knows what you do.    

     This is one of the biggest mistakes I see when reviewing résumés. Write your résumé as if the person reading it has no idea what you do. Really? Yes! This will help you to be descriptive about your experience. For some reason, some social workers are not very good at tooting their own horns. Your résumé is exactly the place you need to brag about what an amazing professional you are. Don’t assume that because your title was “Outpatient Therapist,” the reader of your résumé will know exactly what you did. Be descriptive. Give a little information about the organization or program, the clients, and the type of therapy or work you performed. This can easily be done in three to five bullets if you craft thoughtful, complete sentences.

DON’T: Provide psychotherapy to clients.

DO: Provide group and individual outpatient therapy to adult clients at a substance abuse treatment center utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), psychoeducation, and motivational interviewing.

3. List your accomplishments.  

      If you worked in a position for five years but don’t list one relevant accomplishment, that is a red flag for a hiring manager. Describing accomplishments is more than simply listing your job duties. These are the contributions you have made in your career that would encourage an organization to hire you.    

     Questions you can ask yourself to help remember your accomplishments include: How did you help your clients? Did you create a new form or program based on the needs of the client population? Did your therapy skills reduce the relapse rate in your agency? Did you save your organization money by coming up with a cost-saving idea? Were you selected for special projects, committees, or task forces? Even if the only social work experience you have on your résumé is your field placement, you should be able to list an accomplishment that will entice the reader to want to know more.

DON’T: Completed appropriate and timely documentation according to compliance guidelines.

DO: Recognized need for updated agency forms. Developed 10 clinical and administrative forms, including no-harm contract, behavior contract, and therapist’s behavior inventory, which increased staff efficiency and productivity by 15%.

4.Quantify your accomplishments.    

     Numbers aren’t just for business professionals. Numbers also help with the bragging I mentioned that needs to happen on your résumé. The most convincing accomplishments are measurable and help your résumé stand out from the crowd. How many clients did you serve? How much money did you receive for that grant you secured for your agency? How many people do you supervise?  

DON’T: Wrote grants for counseling program in schools.

DO: Co-wrote School Group Experiences proposal, which received a $150,000 grant from State Foundation for Health, resulting in doubling the number of children served in group counseling from 120 children to 240 children, and increasing the percentage of minority children served from 20% to 50% of the total child population in group therapy.

5. Tailor your résumé to the specific job.    

     You have heard this over and over, and it should make sense. Still, not many social workers do this correctly or at all. Many big organizations, hospitals, and university systems use online applicant tracking systems to review résumés. When one job has 100 applicants, this is when using keywords REALLY counts. Look at the job description for keywords.

     For example, what words do they use to describe the clients? Patients, clients, residents, victims, survivors, adults, children? If you have worked with the same client populations, used the same therapy techniques, or provided the supervision listed in the job description, make sure these SAME words are in your résumé. Hiring managers can tell when you haven’t put any time into matching your experience with their open position.

DON’T: Provide in-home therapy for families.

DO: (Similar language from job description) Perform individual and family, agency, and home-based therapy for medically fragile children and their families (parents and siblings) with goal of maintaining intact families and improving family functioning.

6. Spell out all acronyms.    

     Social workers LOVE to use acronyms. Many social workers spend hours writing case notes, and to be efficient, they rely on acronyms to describe their work. For the same reasons you should use keywords, it is essential that you spell things out for the computer or human resources person who may not know what certain acronyms mean. I am a social worker with limited clinical knowledge, and I often have to Google acronyms when I review NASW members’ résumés. The reader responsible for finding the right candidates to interview will consider this a waste of his or her time and might move on to the rest of the résumés in the pile if he or she has no idea what you are talking about.

DON’T: Scored and analyzed clinical assessments to include SIB-R, CBCL, CTRF, or SCQ in packets for families scheduled for autism evaluations.

DO: Scored and analyzed clinical assessments for autism evaluations including Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Caregiver/Teacher Report Form (CTRF), and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ).

7. Bullets, bullets, bullets.    

     Most résumés I review are succinct and formatted very nicely by bulleting experience. But there are still some folks who use paragraphs to describe their experience. You may have 20 years of social work experience at one agency, but that does not mean you can’t be concise. I guarantee you that hiring managers are not going to read a paragraph that is 15 lines long to look for the experience that will fit the position they are trying to fill. Write your résumé in such a way that it is easy to scan and find the keywords in 30 seconds or less. Use three to eight bullets to describe your experience and accomplishments.

8. Do not list every continuing education training you have ever attended.    

     Whether or not you are licensed in your state, you should seek out continuing education in social work. Don’t forget, it is in the NASW Code of Ethics: Section 4.01 (b) Competence: “…Social workers should routinely review the professional literature and participate in continuing education relevant to social work practice and social work ethics.”  

     It is great to show your reader that you are up to date on the latest clinical information on your client population, but the section on your résumé for Continuing Education or Professional Development should only list the courses that are relevant to the job you are applying for. It is a great idea to keep a list of all your continuing education, for your own reference and for your license renewal. You just don’t need to list them all on your résumé.

9. Less is more.  

      I hope you are seeing a theme here. Recently, I have come across a few résumés that have all of the following sections:

• Professional Summary
• Relevant Social Work Experience
• Work Experience
• Additional Experience
• Summary of Skills
• Professional Affiliations
• Volunteer Experience
• Publications
• Relevant Coursework

     Every résumé is personal and different. You don’t need 10 categories on your résumé. Professional Experience and Education are musts. but after that, limit the places hiring managers need to search to find the information that will help them decide to interview you. Only put the information that is most relevant to the job to which you are applying.

10. Your references should always be available upon request and not on your résumé.  

      If the last line on your résumé is “References Available Upon Request,” this one is for you. It is not necessary to tell your reader that you have references. If you get far enough in the interview process, they will ask you for your references. Have them listed in a separate document.    

     Only send the references that are relevant, and only send them when asked. It is imperative that you inform your references that they may be contacted, and always send them a copy of the job description and your recent résumé, so they can be prepared when contacted. Nothing is a bigger turnoff to me than getting a call to be a reference for someone I supervised five years ago and I can’t remember exactly what their job duties were. It is great to get a heads-up and a reminder of what the person did under my supervision. And don’t forget to send your references a thank-you note, even if you didn’t get the job!

DON’T: References Available Upon Request

DO: (Separate document with your contact information at the top) References:

Jessica Rogers, MSW, LICSW, Director of Family Programs, Affordable Housing AuthorityChicago, ILRelationship: Former SupervisorPhone: [email protected] was my direct supervisor and is familiar with my clinical social work skills, my ability to work with diverse communities, and my aptitude for managing relationships with partner organizations. Jessica recognized my success in client outcomes and promoted me within 6 months of my hire date.

    Remember, your résumé is your tool to get an interview. It doesn’t need to include every detail about you as a professional social worker. Use your cover letter to expand on details that are specific to the job you are seeking. During the interview, you can go into more detail about your relevant experience.

RELATED ARTICLE : Read the sidebar to this article, Cover Letters for Social Workers: Get Yourself the Interview.

Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP, is the Associate Executive Director for the National Association of Social Workers, North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC). She received her dual degree in social work and public policy from the University of Minnesota and currently provides membership support, including résumé review, to the members of NASW-NC.  

More on your amazing social work résumé:

• 7 More Tips for Your Amazing Social Work Résumé

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Resume Guide for Social Workers

Resumes act as the first point of contact between a social worker and his/her potential employer, so it’s critical for resume writers to detail their professional experience and qualifications as effectively as possible. Aspiring social work employees should use their resumes to showcase their certifications or licensures, plus their supervised clinical hours and work experience. Social work resumes should also prove that a candidate is qualified to work with clients and has experience interacting with the people who will be in their care. On top of that, job applicants should tailor their resumes to fit the position for which they are applying.

How to Write a Social Work Resume

• Do Your Research: It’s important for a resume to reflect the skills and work experience required by the position in question. Before drafting their social work resume, applicants should research their potential new employer to learn about which skills they value, and tweak the resume as needed to highlights those skills.
• Write Down the Key Points: Start with an outline to organize the resume’s main points. Social work resumes should address a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses, and include details on how to overcome the specified weaknesses.
• Format Your Resume: These resumes should be professional and easy to read. Start with an online search for sample resume formats, choose an appropriate design, and go from there. Headlines should separate resume categories (work experience, education, and skills, for example). Arrange the categories to reflect the employer’s priorities.

Types of Resumes for Social Workers

Resumes provide an overview of a job candidate’s skills and experience, and there are many ways to organize this information. Some resumes highlight work history first, while others focus on educational credentials. Applicants can alter the format of their resume to best suit the position in question. For example, employers who work closely with the community might prefer to see a resume highlighting experience with outreach programs, while recruiters hiring for clinical positions might be more interested in educational background. The three primary resume formats are as follows:

• Reverse-Chronological: Reverse-chronological resumes start with the applicant’s most recent work experience, and work down to the oldest. This format is ideal for candidates with recent work experience in their desired field.
• Functional: Functional resumes focus primarily on practical experience and skills, and less on job history. This format works best for candidates who are changing careers, have taken time away from work, or are just entering the workforce. Volunteer and coursework experience may be included on a functional resume.
• Combination: A combination resume incorporates aspects of both the reverse-chronological and functional formats. Combination resumes typically lead with a description of qualifications and related skills, followed by a breakdown of work experience.

Required vs. Preferred Qualifications

In job postings, employers often list required qualifications and preferred qualifications separately. Required qualifications are deal-breakers when it comes to being considered for a position, while preferred qualifications give candidates some bonus points in the hiring process. Applicants who have some of the position’s preferred qualifications should make sure to include them on their resume, but even those without required qualifications should still apply if they are otherwise qualified for the role.

What Should I Include on a Social Work Resume?

Education and Training: Social work careers require some level of higher education. Some social work positions only require a bachelor’s, but many call for a master’s degree. Any social work application must show that the candidate has met the minimum education requirements. It should also detail their prior training and certifications. Applicants who earned high a GPA in college may include this information on their resume, but in most cases GPA information isn’t necessary.

Experience: Applicants with relevant job experience should list this information in reverse-chronological order, including the dates of employment, the number of clients seen, the types of treatment offered, and the general client population. Candidates should also break down each job’s specific duties on their resume. Using positive adjectives and action verbs to describe these duties, and highlight how they pertain to the position in question. If a job posting includes a list of required and preferred qualifications, address those points in this section. Use the job listing’s specific wording in case applications are reviewed by a resume-reading robot. Applicants lacking in relevant job experience should follow the functional resume format to highlight their other skills and qualifications.

Skills: Applicants can devote a resume section to their personal skills, which exist outside of work or education experience. It’s important to note how those personal skills can apply to a career in social work. Candidates can use this section to note unique skills that might set their resume apart from the others.

Licensure, Certifications: Most social work positions require some form of certification or licensure, usually at the state level. In many cases, a license is required to qualify for social work positions, while certifications might be optional. Either way, it’s crucial to include all licenses and certifications when applying for a social work job, and beneficial to include their expiration and renewal dates, as well.

Awards, Accomplishments, Affiliations: Members of professional organizations should list their affiliations in this section. Applicants should also list their awards or accomplishments that relate to the job in question.

Volunteer Work: Hiring managers take notice of candidates who donate their time, especially if they volunteer in the same field as their desired career. Applicants with social work volunteer experience would boost their resume by including information on their duties and responsibilities. Applicants who lack professional social work experience might include volunteer social work on their resume instead.

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What should i put on my social work resume if i don’t have any experience.

Some social work careers require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, meaning many applicants have only education, internships, and volunteer work under their belt. Entry-level social work resumes should include educational credentials, certificates, and licenses. Hiring managers might also take interest in unrelated work experience — for example, retail or service industry experience could indicate an ability to work well in high-pressure situations.

What Is a Resume-Reading Robot?

What is ats.

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) aim to streamline the recruitment process when employers receive an influx of mixed-quality applications. An ATS simplifies the candidate-screening process by scanning resumes for keywords and phrases that match the job description in question. This helps narrow down the application pile for hiring managers. Some ATS systems are even advanced enough to search a candidate’s social media profiles for relevant information.

Tips for Outsmarting an ATS

• Simple Headers: Chances are that any ATS will be looking for straightforward terms such as “education,” “skills,” and “professional experience.” Use these terms to boost the chances that a bot will store your information for employer review.
• Clean Format: ATS systems are more likely to select resumes with simple layouts and basic fonts. Some bots automatically reject certain fonts or added graphics. To be safe, avoid graphics and utilize common fonts such as Arial, Tahoma, or Verdana.
• Keywords/Phrases: Job postings often include descriptions of duties and applicant qualifications. These blurbs may use the same terms the employer’s ATS system is looking for, so work them into your resume when possible.
• Industry-Specific Jargon: Research terminology that’s commonly used in your desired position and work it into your resume. Industry jargon may make its way into an ATS system’s screening process.

Resume Writing Tips for Social Workers

• Tailor Your Resume: In applying to any job, it’s important to list your most relevant skills and experience first, to tailor your resume to the position in question.
• Save Your Resume Under a Professional Name: To play it safe and keep things professional, follow the format: “Firstlast_specialty_resume.doc” when you save your resume. This format makes sure an employer can clearly make out that the document in question is your resume.
• Make It Easy to Read: Social work resumes should stick to basic fonts such as Arial, Verdana, and Tahoma. These fonts are sans-serif and easily readable.
• Include a Cover Letter: Cover letters offer applicants a chance to express their personality and writing skills, and allow them to explain how seemingly irrelevant work experience might translate to a career in social work.
• Keep It to One Page: Hiring managers prefer resumes that are short and sweet, especially if they have receive a pile of applications. If you can’t fit all your relevant work experience on one page, consider including only the most valuable experience. Resumes with a clinical focus may be up to two pages long, since clinical positions usually call for more extensive experience.

Common Mistakes Social Workers Make on Their Resumes

• Typos: Proofread your resume for typos and grammatical errors, which could come off as laziness or lack of attention to detail.
• Including Personal Information: Remember to include an email address and phone number so the hiring manager can contact you if necessary. A home address, however, might not be necessary.
• Including Salary Information: It’s generally inadvisable to include current or previous salaries on a resume. Prospective employers may ask for salary information later in the hiring process.
• Using Nicknames: Nicknames are considered unprofessional on a resume. Employees may use them after the hiring process, but during recruitment, all documents (including the resume) should use their legal name.
• Using an Unprofessional Email Address: Professional email addresses should consist of your first and last name or initials.
• First-Person Pronouns: Avoid overusing first-person pronouns, since the nature of a resume assumes all information included pertains to the candidate in question.
• Unprofessional Voicemail: If you include your phone number on your resume, make sure your outgoing voicemail message is professional and includes your full name.

Social Work Resume Samples

Applicants can use online resources as a tool for formatting their resumes. Make sure to choose a template that highlights your most relevant experience in the most accessible way possible. The below examples might inspire applicants struggling for resume inspiration:

Sample 1 : This social work resume sample is in reverse-chronological format and includes work experience and education. It also opens with a short summary.

Sample 2 : The summary provided in this resume focuses more on the candidate’s goals rather than his/her skills. This social work resume sample fuses the functional format with the reverse chronological format, highlighting both skills and work experience.

Sample 3 : The resume in this sample includes certifications and licensure as a key feature, placing key skills at the bottom. This format is ideal for highlighting verifiable credentials, work experience, and education.

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• • Administered psychological evaluations and crisis interventions to over 200 individuals, resulting in improved mental health outcomes.
• • Developed and monitored treatment plans for 100+ clients, ensuring progress towards recovery.
• • Maintained accurate clinical records consistent with organizational standards, resulting in effective case management.
• • Performed 50+ 27-10 (M-1) 'mental health hold' evaluations, applying strong diagnostic techniques.
• • Managed caseload of 80+ youth, providing therapy and implementing individualized treatment plans.
• • Connected clients with appropriate community resources, facilitating optimum service utilization.
• • Served as key communication point between psychiatric team, enhancing collaborative care and treatment efficiency.
• • Actively aided in the psychological development, social development, and rehabilitation of 60+ individuals with persistent mental illness.
• • Worked with moderate to severe mentally ill populations, adapting to diverse needs and tailoring interventions accordingly.
• • Assisted in the supervision of student volunteers as determined appropriate, fostering learning and growth.

5 Clinical Social Worker Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your clinical social worker resume must highlight your educational background and licensure. Include your degrees, certifications, and state-specific licenses that qualify you for clinical practice. Demonstrate your experience with detailed accounts of your clinical interventions and client outcomes. Make sure to emphasize your proficiency in evidence-based therapies and your ability to manage a diverse caseload.

All resume examples in this guide

Resume Guide

Deciphering the best format for your clinical social worker resume, strategies for crafting your clinical social worker resume experience section, highlighting your clinical social worker skills, detailing your education and top clinical social worker certifications on your resume, summary or objective: maximizing the impact of the top third of your resume, additional clinical social worker resume sections for a personalized touch, key takeaways.

One challenge that Clinical Social Workers often face when creating resumes is effectively conveying the breadth and depth of their client-facing experiences, which can range from crisis intervention to long-term care planning. Our guide specifically helps address this issue by providing structured templates and actionable tips on how to articulate such experiences using concise, impactful language, while also highlighting relevant skills and accomplishments in social work.

Dive into our clinical social worker resume guide to:

• Explore top-tier resume examples, offering insights into the industry's best practices.
• Enhance sections like experience, education, and achievements with expert advice.
• Articulate your technical prowess and personal attributes, setting you apart from other candidates.
• Sharpen your focus on the distinct skills that make your clinical social worker resume resonate with recruiters.

Recommended reads:

• Physical Therapist Assistant resume
• School Social Worker resume
• Hospital Pharmacy Technician resume
• CVS Pharmacy Technician resume
• Social Work Student resume

To craft an impactful clinical social worker resume, start by thoroughly analyzing the job description.

Your chosen resume format should seamlessly align your experience with the role's requirements.

Consider these four pivotal elements:

• Present your experience effectively. If you boast a wealth of pertinent experience, employ the reverse-chronological resume format , listing roles by date, beginning with the most recent.
• Maintain brevity. Limit your resume to a maximum of two pages, focusing on your most salient attributes.
• Headers serve a purpose. A well-crafted header ensures recruiters can swiftly access your contact details and professional portfolio.
• Opt for PDF. Typically, submit your clinical social worker resume in PDF to preserve its layout. However, always adhere to specific job application guidelines.

Upload your resume

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

Choose a functional resume template that offers ample space to showcase your unique clinical social worker expertise.

Essential sections for a standout social work intern resume:

• The top section should combine your header—with accurate contact details—and a concise summary or objective that encapsulates your professional achievements.
• An experience section that chronicles your career trajectory and how each role contributed to your professional development.
• Highlight significant achievements that demonstrate the practical application of your skills, leading to tangible results.
• Include industry-recognized certifications to underscore your technical proficiency or interpersonal skills.
• Detail your educational background relevant to the field.

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Advanced degree and licensure: Evidence of a Master's in Social Work (MSW) and state licensure for clinical social work.
• Clinical Experience: Detailed descriptions of clinical practices, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and crisis intervention.
• Specialized training or certifications: Specific trainings or certifications in areas such as mental health, substance abuse, trauma, or children and families.
• Communication skills: Ability to communicate effectively with clients, families, and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ethics and confidentiality: Understanding of ethical guidelines and demonstrated commitment to maintaining client confidentiality.
• Types of Resumes

When detailing your clinical social worker resume experience , it's essential to pair responsibilities with tangible achievements.

Consider including:

• Key responsibilities, emphasizing their significance to your role, team, or organization.
• Experiences that have fostered your technical acumen or professional growth.
• Metrics that underscore your contributions and successes.
• Challenges you've addressed and the solutions you've implemented.
• Strategies you've devised and their measurable impact on growth.

Your experience section is pivotal in making a lasting impression on recruiters. To inspire you, we've curated real-world clinical social worker examples:

• Conducted individual assessments and developed treatment plans for diverse populations, resulting in improved mental health outcomes.
• Facilitated therapeutic group sessions addressing trauma, addiction, and interpersonal issues, fostering a supportive and healing environment.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate comprehensive care plans and ensure client needs were met holistically.
• Provided crisis intervention services to individuals experiencing acute mental health crises, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Implemented evidence-based treatment modalities, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, to support clients' emotional and behavioral growth.
• Advocated for clients' rights and connected them to community resources, increasing their access to essential services.
• Managed a caseload of 50+ clients, consistently meeting productivity targets while providing high-quality clinical services.
• Led a team of social work interns, providing supervision and guidance in their professional development.
• Developed and implemented a trauma-informed program for at-risk youth, reducing behavioral incidents by 30%.
• Conducted home visits and collaborated with families to assess and address child protection concerns, ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.
• Facilitated support groups for parents, offering psychoeducation and promoting healthy parenting practices.
• Advocated for children within the foster care system, ensuring their needs were met and their voices were heard.
• Provided counseling and crisis intervention services to survivors of domestic violence, empowering them to regain control of their lives.
• Collaborated with legal professionals to develop safety plans and secure protective orders for clients, ensuring their physical well-being.
• Implemented trauma-focused interventions, such as EMDR therapy, resulting in a significant reduction in clients' PTSD symptoms.
• Conducted comprehensive psychosocial assessments for individuals with complex mental health needs, informing treatment planning and intervention strategies.
• Provided clinical supervision to social work interns, supporting their professional growth and adherence to ethical standards.
• Developed and facilitated customized workshops on self-care and stress management for healthcare professionals, enhancing staff well-being and resilience.
• Delivered culturally competent counseling services to immigrant and refugee populations, addressing acculturation challenges and trauma-related issues.
• Collaborated with community organizations to develop and implement a mental health outreach program for underserved communities, reaching over 500 individuals annually.
• Conducted training sessions for healthcare providers on cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication, improving service delivery for diverse populations.
• Led a team of social workers in an acute psychiatric setting, ensuring the provision of timely and quality mental health services.
• Developed and implemented evidence-based treatment protocols for mood disorders, resulting in a 20% reduction in hospital readmissions.
• Collaborated with insurance providers to advocate for clients' coverage of necessary mental health treatments, increasing access to care.
• Provided crisis intervention and counseling services to individuals affected by natural disasters, facilitating their emotional recovery and resilience.
• Assessed community needs and coordinated disaster response efforts, partnering with government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
• Designed and implemented trauma-focused workshops for first responders, equipping them with tools to support survivors and mitigate secondary traumatic stress.
• Managed a specialized caseload of older adults with mental health issues, addressing age-related challenges and promoting independent living.
• Collaborated with geriatric healthcare providers to develop integrated care plans, enhancing coordination and continuity of services.
• Conducted educational presentations on mental health and aging for community organizations, reducing stigma and increasing help-seeking behaviors among seniors.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Include the number of patients you managed daily or weekly, demonstrating your ability to handle a demanding workload.
• Specify the size of the teams or groups you've supervised or worked within, showcasing your teamwork and leadership skills.
• Quantify improvements in patient outcomes that were directly related to your interventions, indicating your effectiveness and expertise.
• List the number of cases you've successfully handled, showing your experience and competency in social work.
• Report the percentage of case reports you submitted on time, illustrating your reliability and dedication to punctuality.
• Highlight the number of complex cases you worked on, which can reflect your problem-solving abilities and resilience.
• Detail any budgetary responsibilities you had, including the amount of funds you managed, demonstrating your financial acumen.
• Indicate how many multidisciplinary meetings or panel discussions you participated in, as this can display your communication and collaboration skills.

Lacking experience? Here's what to do.

Candidates with limited experience often fall into two categories:

• Recent graduates aiming for a clinical social worker role
• Professionals transitioning from a different field

Both can still land a job in the industry. Here's how to optimize the experience section of your clinical social worker resume:

• Highlight your strengths, especially if they align with the job requirements.
• Remove unrelated experiences. Your resume should tell a story that resonates with the clinical social worker role.
• Showcase your personality. Traits like ambition and diligence can make you an attractive candidate.
• Align your experience with the job requirements, ensuring your resume speaks directly to the role.
• Resume Buzzwords
• Resume Action Verbs

If your experience section doesn't directly address the job's requirements, think laterally. Highlight industry-relevant awards or positive feedback to underscore your potential.

Recruiters look for a mix of technical and personal skills in your clinical social worker resume.

Technical or hard skills are specific tools or software you use for the job. They're easy to spot through your education and work achievements.

On the other hand, soft skills like communication or adaptability show how you work with others. They come from both your personal and work life.

To showcase your skills:

• Have a skills section for technical abilities and another for personal strengths.
• Be clear about your skills. Name the exact tools you use and describe how you've used your soft skills.
• Avoid common terms like "Microsoft Office" unless the job specifically asks for them.
• Choose up to ten key skills and organize them in different sections of your resume.

Make your resume pop with top technical and personal skills that recruiters value.

Top skills for your clinical social worker resume

Clinical Assessment

Crisis Intervention

Case Management

Knowledge of Medical Terminology

Treatment planning

Psychotherapy

Behavioral Health Interventions

Knowledge of Mental Health Laws

Documentation Skills

Knowledge of Healthcare Systems

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Active Listening

Ethical Decision Making

Multitasking

Time Management

Don't go all over the place with your skills section by listing all keywords/ buzzwords you see within the ad. Curate both hard and soft skills that are specific to your professional experience and help you stand out.

Your education section can reflect a variety of skills and experiences relevant to the position.

• List post-secondary qualifications, noting the institution and duration.
• If you're currently studying, mention your expected graduation date.
• Exclude qualifications unrelated to the role or industry.
• If relevant, delve into your educational background, especially if it was research-intensive.

Including both relevant education and certifications on your clinical social worker resume can set you apart. It not only showcases your qualifications but also your commitment to the profession.

When listing these on your clinical social worker resume, make sure to:

• Highlight degrees and certificates relevant to the role.
• Mention the awarding institution for credibility.
• Include the start and end dates, or if the education/certification is ongoing.
• If relevant, incorporate a few keywords from the job advert within the description of the certification or degree.

If you have additional certifications not directly related to the role, consider placing them towards the end of your resume. This way, they can be viewed as personal interests rather than core qualifications.

For a quick update, check out our list of popular clinical social worker certifications curated by the Enhancv team.

Best certifications to list on your resume

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - National Association of Social Workers
• Certified Social Work Case Manager (C-SWCM) - National Association of Social Workers
• Clinical Social Worker in Gerontology (CSW-G) - National Association of Social Workers
• Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker (C-ACYFSW) - National Association of Social Workers
• Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS) - National Association of Social Workers
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) - The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

The reputation of the institution or organization granting your certification or degree can bolster your credibility. Prioritize recognized and respected credentials.

• Major Minor on Resume
• Incomplete Degree on Resume

The top third of your clinical social worker resume is crucial. It's often the first thing recruiters see and can set the tone for the rest of your application.

Whether you choose a resume summary or a resume objective , make it count. The former is great for showcasing career highlights, while the latter balances your achievements with your future aspirations.

Both should be tailored to the role, as there's no universal approach to crafting the perfect clinical social worker summary or objective. Use the examples below as a starting point.

Resume summary and objective examples for a clinical social worker resume

• Compassionate Clinical Social Worker boasting 10-year track record in managing mental health and substance abuse cases. MSW certified, demonstrating exceptional skills in crisis intervention and group therapy program development. Notable success in reducing homelessness in the San Francisco Bay area by 30% over a three-year period.
• Experienced Healthcare Professional transitioning into Clinical Social Work, bringing a deep understanding of patient advocacy from a decade-long career as a Registered Nurse. Equipped with strong interpersonal skills honed in high-pressure environments, aiming to leverage medical background to provide comprehensive psychosocial support and contribute positively to mental health outcomes.
• Eager to apply knowledge gained during a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in a Clinical Social Worker role. Passionate about improving community wellbeing and mental health, aspiring to utilize excellent communication skills and academic knowledge to provide empathic patient care and foster positive change.
• Dedicated Clinical Social Worker possessing over 15 years of experience in child welfare and family services. LCSW-certified professional with proven expertise in case management, mental health assessment, and individualized treatment planning. Led a community outreach program in New York, significantly reducing truancy rates by 40%.
• Former School Counselor keen on transitioning to Clinical Social Work, offering profound insights into adolescent psychology and behavioral challenges. Holds an MSW degree and aims to combine counseling proficiency with social work principles to build a healthier and safer environment for at-risk youth.
• Ambitious recent graduate with a Master’s degree in Social Work, seeking an opportunity to integrate academic learnings into practice. Aim is to leverage excellent active listening and problem-solving skills to assist individuals, families, and groups cope with problems they’re facing and improve their well-being.

To further personalize your clinical social worker resume, consider adding sections that reflect your unique qualities and achievements.

Popular choices include:

• Projects to showcase significant work achievements.
• Languages to indicate proficiency levels.
• Awards to celebrate industry recognitions.
• Hobbies and Interests to share personal passions.
• Keep your clinical social worker resume clear and organized with key sections.
• Only include relevant details. Space is limited.
• Support your achievements with both hard and soft skills.
• Detail your experience, focusing on your industry expertise.
• Highlight the most relevant certifications to show your dedication to the field.

Looking to build your own Clinical Social Worker resume?

• Resume Examples

Negotiating a Salary Increase for a New Job: What to Expect and How to Ask

How to create a combination resume (+6 unique hybrid resume examples), 10 career paths to take after graduation, targeted resume: 3-step process to win any recruiter over, how to answer the, "do you have any questions for me" interview question, parts of a job-winning resume: how to choose resume elements.

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