Social Work Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jessica Boak
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 First Street, Durham, NC 12345
Profile
Certified Master Social Worker focused on helping children and adolescents. Use active listening methods to determine each client’s needs and suggest appropriate community resources. Committed to providing support for those struggling with issues related to domestic violence and substance abuse.
Key Skills
- Client Relations & Communications
- Team Collaboration
- Case Management
- Active Listening Methods
- Client Needs Assessment
- Reporting & Documentation
- Crisis Intervention
Education
Master of Social Work
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Bachelor of Psychology
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Professional Experience
School Social Worker, Durham School District, Durham, NC
January 2021 to Present
- Counsel students with personal or psychological issues affecting their school behavior or academic performance
- Provide treatments and resources to ensure students have every opportunity to succeed
- Communicate with parents, educators, and administrators about ways to address each student’s challenges
- Maintain reports on students’ progress
- Offer support and guidance to students with disabilities, past trauma, or potential behavioral issues
Social Work Intern, Teen Parent Support, Chapel Hill, NC
September 2020 to December 2020
- Assessed needs of and connected teen parents to relevant community resources
- Facilitated group therapy sessions for new teen parents
- Maintained detailed records of all client treatment
- Co-developed viable case management and treatment plans
Credential
- Certified Master Social Worker, State of North Carolina, 2018
Anika Patel
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Second Street, Cleveland, OH 12345
Profile
Social Worker with 10 years of experience supporting clients and patients in hospital and home-care settings. Demonstrated success advocating for clients from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Draw on strong listening skills to determine each client’s needs and recommend helpful resources. Master’s Degree in Social Work.
Key Skills
- Active Listening Methods
- Client Confidentiality
- Case Management
- Complex Problem-Solving
Professional Experience
Medical Social Worker, Northern Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
April 2016 to Present
- Work closely with patients, family members, healthcare team, and community organizations to set a realistic discharge plan
- Coordinate smooth transfers to rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities
- Build and maintain positive relationships with healthcare providers and government regulators
- Ensure utmost client health data accuracy and confidentiality
Social Worker, Alpha Assisted Living, Dayton, OH
June 2012 to March 2016
- Performed psychosocial assessment of new residents to determine level of services needed, and collaborated with other staff to set a personalized care plan
- Provided individual counseling to help residents adjust to their new living situation
- Educated residents and family members about their rights, and advocated for clients to ensure their needs were met
- Advised administrators and other staff members on the impact of social issues on resident care
Education
Master of Social Work
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Bachelor of Sociology
University of Michigan, Detroit, MI
Credential
- Licensed Social Worker, State of Ohio, 2018
Jose Santos
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Third Street, Pittsburgh, PA 12345
Profile
Clinical Social Worker with 13+ years of experience focused on issues related to substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence. Highly organized and efficient managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Doctorate in Clinical Social Work from University of Pennsylvania.
Key Skills
- Conflict Management & Resolution
- Crisis Intervention
- Community Outreach Development
- Individual & Group Therapy
- Case Management
Professional Experience
Clinical Social Worker, Beta Services, Pittsburgh, PA
February 2012 to Present
- Manage a patient caseload of newly arrived adult and adolescent refugees
- Develop measurable treatment plans, and adapt as needed
- Connect clients to appropriate community services, protective services, and resource agencies
- Hold both individual and group therapy sessions
- Show sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic needs of each individual
Clinical Social Worker, Omega Guidance Services, Philadelphia, PA
July 2009 to January 2012
- Helped families set adolescent care plans integrating resources for education, mental health, and substance abuse treatment
- Facilitated group therapy sessions for teens struggling with substance abuse
- Built positive relationships with educators, family members, social services, and community partners to coordinate care across all sectors of the adolescent’s life
- Evaluated clients for risk of abuse, neglect, self-harm, or suicide
- Compiled documentation for court hearings, and presented findings in court
Education
Doctorate in Clinical Social Work
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Social Work
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor of Science (BS) — Psychology
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Credential
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of Pennsylvania
Tips for Writing a Better Social Work Resume
Drop the phrase “strong communication skills”
For the field of social work, good communication skills are key. But when you put a phrase like “strong verbal and written communications skills” on your resume, it fails to impress hiring managers. That’s because (a) countless other applicants say this on their resumes, and (b) the phrase is pretty vague by itself.
Try to get more specific. How have you applied your communication skills? With whom have you communicated in your past positions, and to what end? By answering these questions, you can generate more tangible keywords and phrases that will help your resume stand out.
Example
- Work closely with patients, family members, healthcare team, and community organizations to set a realistic discharge plan
Find the relevance of your non-social work jobs
Although you must outline your recent work history on your resume, you don’t have to (nor should you) give more than the basic details on any job that doesn’t pertain to your current goals.
Keep this tip in mind when drafting your work history, so you don’t type out lengthy descriptions of jobs that won’t speak to your target employers. Often a great resume strategy for unrelated jobs is to focus your description on the “soft skills” you gained there that now complement your overall skillset.
Example
Administrative Assistant / Receptionist, MCO Corp., New York, NY | August 2015 to September 2017
- Gained strong early experience in customer relations and careful procedure documentation
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Social Work Resumes
| Key Skills | |
|---|---|
| Active Listening Methods | Case Management |
| Client Confidentiality | Client Needs Assessment |
| Client Relations & Communications | Community Outreach Development |
| Complex Problem-Solving | Conflict Management & Resolution |
| Crisis Intervention | Diplomacy |
| Individual & Group Therapy | Reporting & Documentation |
| Resource Coordination | Task Prioritization |
| Team Collaboration | Time Management |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Advise |
| Advocate | Analyze |
| Assess | Build |
| Communicate | Coordinate |
| Counsel | Create |
| Document | Engage |
| Enhance | Evaluate |
| Generate | Improve |
| Interact | Listen |
| Maintain | Organize |
| Persuade | Prioritize |
| Set | Solve |
How to Align Your Resume With a Job Posting
One thing unique to most job postings is the description of the hiring organization, so you can enhance your resume by tailoring it based on any organization details that resonate with you. Follow these four steps:
Step 1: Jot down a few notes on the type of work environment you like best. For instance, you may prefer an environment that’s:
— Client-focused
— Collaborative
— Dynamic
— Fast-paced
— Forward-looking
— Process-oriented
— Quality-focused
Step 2: When you find a job posting that intrigues you, look for any details about the hiring organization or its work culture.
Step 3: Compare those details against your preferred work environment, and highlight any overlap.
Step 4: Add a line or two to your Profile emphasizing that similarity. For example, say you prefer a work environment that’s client-focused. You find a posting that says “We are an organization that places client support and communications at the center of everything we do.” You can then add a Profile line such as:
“Thrive in client-focused work environments.”
“Committed to helping build positive long-term relationships with clients.”
This simple exercise can make your resume more accurately show why you’re a great fit for the role, and why the hiring manager should call you for an interview.