resume format for social worker

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11 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 eleven 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 .

Hospital Social Worker Resume

• For instance, tossing in a LICENSE or CERTIFICATIONS section in your masterpiece could be just the ticket to nudging the hiring manager’s decision in your favor. After all, who doesn’t love someone who goes the extra mile in their craft?

Hospice Social Worker Resume

• Begin every resume bullet point with punchy action verbs like harnessed, managed, negotiated, or persuaded rather than the all-too-familiar phrases like tasked with and responsible for. The point? To paint a vivid picture of your direct contributions to company goals—why would you even risk coming across as a sideliner?

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

Tailor Your Social Worker Resume to Match the Needs of Your Clients

No one knows the demands of your job as well as you do. Working with people who often really need your help is no easy feat, which is why the list of job responsibilities in your field might seem endless. How do you pick the ones that your future employer cares about the most?

The answer is simple: follow the job description! Here are some of the most sought-after job responsibilities you’ll find when searching for a new social worker job.

• Cooperate with the care manager during the care planning process, including setting goals, establishing interventions and milestones, and monitoring client success
• Assess the members enrolled in various care programs on a regular basis and provide detailed reports
• Facilitate monthly support groups and outreach programs
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss cases with providers, primary care physicians, pharmacists, and care management staff
• Design and implement new tools, groups, programs, and services
• Respond to phone and email requests from families interested in being enrolled in programs

Adding skills to your social worker resume

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.

ATS and readability

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  AI 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!re

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 using a resume maker , 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.

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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.

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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

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Social Worker Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

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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Social Worker Resume Template and Examples for Job Applications (2024)

October 30, 2024

Being a social worker requires compassion, strong communication skills, and the ability to handle complex emotional and social situations. Social workers help individuals, families, and communities cope with a wide range of personal and societal challenges, making it essential for your resume to showcase these critical abilities to stand out in job applications.

In this article, we’ll cover social worker resume examples and resume samples, detailing what makes a resume effective in this field. You’ll also find downloadable resume templates that you can customize and use in your job search.

Looking for general resume tips and tricks? Check out Bandana’s 101 guide to writing the perfect resume .

Social Worker Resume Examples

Social workers play an essential role in helping vulnerable populations navigate challenging situations. They provide support in a variety of settings, including schools, healthcare facilities, and social service agencies. The job requires strong interpersonal skills, active listening, empathy, and an understanding of policies and procedures that affect those in need.

Successful social workers are able to manage casework, advocate for clients, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. They must be organized, patient, and highly adaptable, given the varied nature of the issues they address.

A well-crafted resume is crucial for social workers, as it highlights your ability to balance multiple cases while offering client-centered solutions. In the next section, we’ll explore resume examples and downloadable templates that cater to different experience levels.

Ideal Social Worker Resume Example:

This resume is a strong example for someone with relevant experience in the social services field, showing a well-rounded mix of skills, experience, and education.

• Strong professional summary : The professional summary clearly highlights 3 years of social work experience, directly reflecting the candidate’s understanding of client assessment and care plans.
• Diverse work experience : The work experience section demonstrates a range of responsibilities, from managing client portfolios to coordinating community outreach, showcasing the ability to handle both casework and large-scale initiatives.
• Clear skills and certifications : The skills section offers a balance of hard and soft skills, like "care planning" and "problem-solving," making it clear that the candidate is well-prepared for various social work responsibilities.

Overall, this resume stands out due to its clarity, structured format, and well-documented experience in key areas of social work.

DOWNLOAD THIS EXAMPLE: Click to download this specific example social worker resume.

Experienced Social Worker Resume Example:

This resume is a great fit for a social worker with significant experience, even if not all of it directly matches the exact role, because it highlights versatility and the ability to manage diverse responsibilities.

• Demonstrated leadership in case management : The resume highlights managing caseloads of up to 100 clients and achieving a 20% improvement in service delivery, proving the candidate's ability to handle large-scale responsibilities.
• Strong focus on community impact : In the role as a case manager, the candidate shows success in collaborating with community organizations and developing personalized care plans, emphasizing their focus on community engagement and individualized support.
• Advanced certifications : The addition of a certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy stands out, showing that the candidate is committed to ongoing professional development and specialized care.

This resume effectively combines extensive experience with a clear focus on community impact, making it ideal for experienced social workers looking to further their careers.

Less Experienced Social Worker Resume Example:

This resume works well for someone with limited experience in social work, showcasing relevant internships and entry-level roles that align with the responsibilities of the position.

• Clear progression in roles : Starting from internships to a junior social worker role, the resume illustrates growth and a clear focus on gaining practical experience through hands-on work with clients.
• Strong academic background : The educational section emphasizes the candidate's academic foundation, with a master's degree in social work, which is critical for roles requiring theoretical knowledge paired with practical application.
• Valuable soft skills : The resume highlights soft skills like "empathy" and "adaptability," which are essential in social work, complementing the technical knowledge gained through training.

This resume stands out by effectively balancing educational credentials with the early stages of professional experience, making it a good fit for less experienced candidates.

No Experience Social Worker Resume Example:

This resume is effective for someone with little to no prior experience in social work, as it highlights internships and volunteer work that demonstrate a commitment to learning and growing in the field.

• Strong internship experience : The resume shows involvement in internships where the candidate gained hands-on experience, such as working with case managers and assisting in personalized care plans.
• Community-focused outreach : The community outreach role emphasizes the candidate’s ability to collaborate with nonprofits and organize events, showcasing interpersonal skills and a focus on community service.
• Commitment to learning : The proactive learning about social services laws and regulations reflects the candidate’s dedication to understanding the field and growing into the role.

This resume stands out because it leverages internships and volunteer experience to build a foundation for a future career in social work, making it an excellent example for those just starting out.

How to Further Improve Your Social Worker Resume

Start your resume introduction strong.

The introduction to your resume is crucial because it sets the tone for the rest of your application. A strong resume introduction should clearly indicate why you’re applying to the job and highlight your professional achievements. It also gives a quick overview of your most relevant skills in connection to the job description.

Your introduction should be concise, ideally three to four sentences, and provide a snapshot of your qualifications. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your passion for the social worker role, share any standout accomplishments, and briefly mention key skills, like case management or client advocacy, that directly relate to the position you're applying for.

Include only the most relevant work experience

When listing your work experience, it's important to highlight the roles that are most closely aligned with the job you're applying for. Including your most recent position, especially if it’s in the same field, allows employers to quickly see your relevant expertise. Make sure to emphasize any direct experience with social services, client advocacy, or community outreach, as these are key components of a social worker's role.

Even if you have past roles that are not directly related, you can still include them if they showcase transferrable skills like communication, problem-solving, or team collaboration. These experiences help illustrate your adaptability and well-roundedness, both of which are valuable in a social worker’s position.

List your education & certifications details clearly

It’s essential to include your educational background and certifications prominently in your resume. For social worker roles, a degree in social work is typically a key requirement, so listing your qualifications clearly will ensure employers know you meet this baseline criterion. Additionally, any certifications, such as trauma-informed care or counseling certifications, can make you a more appealing candidate.

Don’t forget to include other relevant skills, both hard and soft, like knowledge of social service laws, client management, and empathy. Also, listing your interests, such as volunteering or community involvement, can reflect your dedication to social service work and help you stand out.

Preparing Your Social Worker Resume for Job Applications

By using the examples and templates provided in this article, you can tailor your resume to match the specific requirements of the social worker role, increasing your chances of landing the job. Remember to customize each section to highlight your skills, experience, and passion for helping others.

Ready to continue your job search for social worker jobs or other positions? Check out Bandana job search — the best way to find a better job.

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