What should a social worker put on a resume?

Before jumping into writing your resume, we recommend that you first check the job description. Take note of any keywords and skills mentioned. Then reflect on your own attributes that align with what the employer is looking for.

To get started, you should lead with a strong profile summary or objective. In one to four sentences, introduce yourself as a social worker and highlight a key skill or accomplishment.

For example, "Empathic LCSW skilled in counseling and developing treatment plans. As a volunteer social worker at Big Brothers, Big Sisters, I coached two at-risk children for two years."

Next, you should elaborate on the specific experiences related to working as a social worker. Here, try to convey your experiences through your achievements using action verbs. For example, "Provided interventions to a caseload of 32 clients. Worked with each client to create a list of goals, with 85% meeting or exceeding goals within nine months."

If you're just starting out your career as a social worker, be sure to take advantage of the education and certification sections to highlight some of your skills and qualifications via your academic achievements and relevant coursework.

If you don't have much work experience, consider including sections on volunteer work or other relevant organizations or projects that you are involved in.

Finally, be sure to include a customized list of skills. Include no more than ten hard and soft skills that not only reflect your own abilities as a social worker but also align with those mentioned in the job description.