One particular CV challenge you may face as a social worker is effectively showcasing your diverse skill set and experience in a concise yet impactful manner. Our guide provides targeted advice and examples to help you articulate your qualifications and demonstrate your unique value to potential employers clearly and effectively.
Land the job of your dreams with our bespoke guide on how to:
- Design and format your professional social worker CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading social worker CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your social worker CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Resume examples for social worker
Explore additional social worker cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Social Worker Supervisor
- Structured clarity with emphasis on leadership - The CV is clearly structured, starting with an informative header that sets the professional tone, followed by a well-organized summary that underscores leadership capabilities in crisis management and mental health. This layout ensures the reader quickly grasps the candidate's core competencies and leadership focus.
- Consistent career progression in mental health sector - Matilda's career trajectory shows a steady rise from a Social Worker at St Mungo's to a Team Leader at Turning Point, highlighting both depth and growth in the mental health field. This progression, through roles at reputable organizations, showcases her evolving expertise and increasing responsibilities over time without industry shifts.
- Quantifiable achievements with strategic impact - The CV effectively uses quantifiable achievements to demonstrate Matilda's impact on organizational success. With accomplishments such as reducing client recidivism by 30% and enhancing service delivery efficiency by 25%, Matilda’s contributions are linked to strategic improvements, emphasizing her role in advancing business objectives.
Senior Social Worker
- Clear Projections of Success - The CV excellently breaks down complex accomplishments into quantifiable metrics, demonstrating Alice Barnes' capability in improving service outcomes. For example, increasing adult wellbeing outcomes by 30% showcases her ability to translate social work skills into measurable success.
- Consistent Career Growth - Alice's career trajectory shows a clear progression from Assistant Social Worker to Senior Social Worker. This upward movement indicates not only her dedication and capability to grow but also her increasing responsibilities, such as leading teams and implementing successful strategies.
- Specialization in Risk Management - Unique industry-specific elements like comprehensive risk assessments and intervention plans, which reduced incidents by 20%, highlight her specialized skills. This indicates strong technical depth in social work practices, further supported by advanced courses in risk assessment.
Social Worker Manager
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - This CV is well-organized, presenting information in a manner that is easy to navigate and understand. The use of bullet points within each section allows quick access to key achievements and responsibilities, while headings clearly denote different sections, ensuring that the reader can effortlessly follow the candidate's professional journey.
- Consistent Career Growth and Development - The progression from Social Worker to Care Management Supervisor at reputed organizations such as NHS Trust and Priory Group highlights a strong career trajectory. This upward movement reflects the individual’s commitment to their field, demonstrating their ability to take on greater responsibilities and make significant impacts within their teams.
- Demonstrable Impact Through Achievements - Each role showcases impactful achievements with numbers that underscore the candidate's contribution to organizational success, such as improving team productivity by 20% or achieving a 98% patient satisfaction rate, which not only supports operational efficiency but also enhances patient experiences and healthcare outcomes.
Social Work Director
- Strategic Career Growth - The CV effectively showcases a seamless career trajectory from Account Executive to Senior Social Media Manager, highlighting consistent promotions and increased responsibilities over a decade. This progression reflects not only cumulative experience but also a continued commitment to mastering industry shifts and challenges, positioning the candidate as a poised leader in social media strategy.
- Innovative Achievements with Broad Impact - What distinguishes this CV is not merely the quantifiable metrics of success but the narrative of innovation behind those numbers. Achievements such as leading a team to win the Cannes Lions Award and pioneering strategies that raised engagement rates by 40% exemplify how Noah Jones converts creative ideas into impactful outcomes, enhancing both brand presence and industry reputation.
- Technical Depth in Social Media Strategy - The CV delineates a deep engagement with industry-specific tools and methodologies, such as paid social campaigns and targeted data analysis, which demonstrate Noah Jones' technical acumen. By highlighting proficiency in campaign optimization and ROI improvement, the CV speaks to their ability to use complex systems to drive strategic goals in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Entry Level Social Worker
- Structured career progression and leadership roles - The CV meticulously outlines Oliver Smith's growth trajectory, moving from Community Care Social Worker to Lead Social Worker, which underscores his increasing responsibilities and leadership capabilities, particularly evident in his recent role at the British Red Cross.
- Emphasis on achievements with clear impact - Each experience entry concisely presents achievements with measurable outcomes, such as reducing hospital discharge times by 25% and boosting patient satisfaction by 40%, reflecting Oliver's focus on improving operational efficiencies and patient care quality within the organizations he's been part of.
- Implementation of industry-specific methodologies - The CV showcases Smith’s expertise in using the strength-based approach, Care Act 2014 assessments, and psycho-social support interventions, indicating a deep understanding of methodologies crucial to enhancing patient outcomes and service delivery in the social work sector.
By Role
Child Protection Social Worker
- Structured yet comprehensive experience presentation - The CV efficiently organizes the candidate’s career with distinct sections for each role, company, and responsibilities. Each position is broken down with bullet points that distinctly narrate key accomplishments, demonstrating a clear career history with a focus on child safety and family support.
- Demonstrates consistent career progression - Lucas Adams' career trajectory is shown through gradual advancement from a Family Support Worker to a Senior Social Worker. This upward trend highlights professional growth and a dedication to developing expertise in child protection and family services.
- Industry-specific methodologies and strategies - The CV includes details on specific risk assessment frameworks and the integration of digital systems, both of which are essential methodologies in modern social work. It illustrates a thorough understanding of the technical aspects necessary to enhance child safety and family support processes effectively.
Mental Health Social Worker
- Structured and Concise Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized, presenting information in a clear and structured manner. Different sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements are distinctly laid out, making it easy to navigate. Key accomplishments are summarized succinctly, providing concise yet comprehensive snapshots of the candidate's career highlights.
- Progressive Career Trajectory in Healthcare Management - Lucas Adams exhibits a steady career progression within the healthcare industry, advancing from a Healthcare Service Administrator to a Quality Service Manager over several years. Each role showcases increasing levels of responsibility, reflected in his leadership role at Nuffield Health, where he manages a team and oversees significant operational improvements.
- Achievements with Concrete Business Impact - The CV highlights achievements that demonstrate significant business impact, such as increasing patient satisfaction by 25% and reducing service errors by 40%. These accomplishments underscore Lucas's ability to implement process improvements and enhance patient care, showcasing how his efforts directly contribute to broader organizational goals.
Substance Abuse Social Worker
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - The CV is well-organized with clear headings and bullet points that make it easy to navigate. Each section is concise yet comprehensive, allowing the reader to quickly absorb the relevant information, which is crucial for hiring managers who often skim through multiple CVs.
- Career Growth and Consistency - Lily's career trajectory demonstrates steady growth and specialization in substance abuse counseling and social work. The progression from a Community Support Worker to a Substance Abuse Counselor highlights a clear focus and dedication to advancing within a specific niche in social work, which signals commitment and reliability to potential employers.
- Focus on Evidence-Based Methodologies - The CV emphasizes the use of evidence-based practices such as motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care, underscoring Lily's adherence to modern, research-backed methods. This focus on technical depth and the ongoing professional development in these areas makes her stand out in the field of social work.
Geriatric Social Worker
- Clarity and Conciseness in Content Presentation - The CV showcases excellent clarity through structured sections that are easy to navigate. Key roles and achievements are highlighted in bullet points, making it simple to understand the candidate's main contributions and skills without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.
- Impressive Career Growth and Leadership - Alexander Jackson demonstrates significant career progression from a Therapist to a Senior Rehabilitation Therapist, illustrating not only growth in technical skills but also in leadership as evidenced by leading teams and implementing advanced therapeutic techniques.
- Industry-Specific Technical Expertise - The CV underscores unique methodologies and innovative tools used in rehabilitation. It mentions expertise in advanced technologies and therapeutic interventions, which are vital in improving patient recovery rates—a niche expertise that adds significant value in healthcare environments.
School Social Worker
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - Alice Barnes' CV is well-organized, offering a concise summary of her professional journey. Each section, from experience to education and skills, is clearly delineated, facilitating easy navigation and understanding of her qualifications and professional milestones.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Throughout her career, Alice has progressed from a Family Support Worker to a Social Worker, and then to a Child Protection Officer. This upward trajectory demonstrates her commitment to her profession and her ability to take on increasing levels of responsibility in the social work sector.
- Industry-Specific Methodologies - Alice's CV highlights her proficiency in developing tools and protocols specific to social work, such as designing a new risk assessment tool and enhancing child safety protocols, which underscore her technical depth and innovative approach in addressing complex social issues.
Clinical Social Worker
- Excellent clarity and structure - The presentation of this CV is exceptionally clear and structured, with each section distinctly highlighted, making it easy for the reader to identify key information quickly. This ensures that important achievements and credentials stand out without the need for excessive detail.
- Consistent career progression - Scarlett Murphy's career trajectory demonstrates significant growth and dedication to the healthcare sector over more than a decade. She has progressively taken on more responsibility, moving from a Social Services Coordinator to a Senior Clinical Social Worker, reflecting her ongoing commitment to professional development and industry expertise.
- Impactful achievements with quantifiable outcomes - The CV is abundant with achievements that go beyond mere duties, emphasizing measurable outcomes. For example, reducing patient readmission rates and launching a successful community program are not only impressive numerically but indicate strong strategic planning skills with a direct impact on organizational success.
Family Social Worker
- Well-structured and logically sequenced content - Ivy Ward’s CV is expertly organized, presenting each section in a logical order that facilitates easy reading. The header provides crucial contact details and a succinct summary follows, clearly delineating her identity and core competencies. Experience, education, skills, and additional qualifications are methodically laid out, enhancing clarity and accessibility for the reader.
- Impressive career trajectory with clear growth - From starting as a Mental Health Social Worker, Ivy has advanced to a Senior Social Worker role within a prestigious NHS Foundation Trust. This upward mobility, marked by increasingly significant responsibilities and leadership roles, demonstrates her dedication, professional development, and recognized contributions within the sector.
- Application of advanced methodologies in social work practice - Ivy’s CV showcases expertise in innovative social work methodologies, such as cognitive group therapy and solution-focused brief therapy. Her ability to implement advanced crisis intervention techniques and execute psychosocial assessments highlights her technical depth and adherence to industry standards, setting her apart in the field.
Community Social Worker
- Strong Career Progression - Poppy Griffiths' CV showcases a noteworthy career progression from a Social Work Associate to a Senior Social Worker. This trajectory demonstrates increasing responsibilities and expertise across different areas of social work, highlighting her ability to grow professionally within the field.
- Emphasis on Impactful Outcomes - The CV effectively communicates Poppy's impact on her various positions through quantifiable achievements. For instance, her initiative in implementing comprehensive patient support plans resulted in a 30% increase in family engagement, showcasing her capability to deliver concrete improvements in service delivery.
- Community and Family-Centric Expertise - Her experience highlights the intimate knowledge of community resources and family counseling, making her uniquely suited for roles that require a deep understanding of family dynamics and support systems. The reduction in emergency room visits and increased client satisfaction reinforce her commitment to creating supportive environments for families.
Youth Social Worker
- Structured Career Progression - The candidate's career trajectory is marked by steady progression in the field of youth justice and social work. With roles growing from a social worker to a youth justice officer, it reflects a dedicated path with increasing responsibilities in child welfare advocacy.
- Holistic Approach to Youth Justice - This CV emphasizes a comprehensive and methodological approach by highlighting collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, risk assessment, and personalized intervention planning. These industry-specific elements demonstrate a depth of understanding and innovation in reducing reoffending rates and enhancing community safety.
- Impactful Achievements with Tangible Results - The CV effectively uses achievement highlights such as a 25% reduction in reoffending rates and a 60% increase in mental health service access. These statistics not only reveal the candidate's success in implementing strategic interventions but also underscore their significant contribution to societal betterment and family stability.
Veteran Social Worker
- Well-structured and concise presentation - The CV is neatly organized into sections that are easy to navigate, such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each section provides succinct yet comprehensive details, offering a clear snapshot of Daisy Shaw's professional background and qualifications.
- Significant career growth and progression - Daisy's career trajectory shows clear growth, moving from a Junior Developer at Accenture to a Senior Developer at Capgemini. This advancement highlights her ability to take on increased responsibilities and showcase leadership skills as her career progresses.
- Technical depth in agile and modern methodologies - The CV highlights Daisy's expertise in agile methodologies, automated testing, and API integration, which are critical for her role as a Senior Developer. This demonstrates her technical proficiency and commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technologies to drive efficiency and innovation.
Hospice Social Worker
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is well-organized into clear sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements, making it easy to navigate. It succinctly presents complex information, ensuring that important details like responsibilities and accomplishments are easily digestible for hiring managers.
- Demonstrated Career Progression and Leadership - Archie Clark shows a strong trajectory of career growth, beginning as a Care Coordinator and advancing to a Senior Social Worker position at Marie Curie. This progression illustrates both increased responsibility and leadership capabilities, highlighting his ability to manage teams and lead complex palliative care initiatives successfully.
- Achievements with Tangible Impact - The CV doesn’t just list duties; it emphasizes significant achievements that directly impacted patient care and organizational efficiency. For example, increasing patient satisfaction by 30% and reducing distress calls by 25% are clear indicators of improved services and impactful work, which are crucial metrics in the healthcare and social work sectors.
Social Work Case Manager
- Compelling Content Structure - The CV is well-organized, with each section clearly defined, allowing for effortless navigation. The presentation features concise bullet points that highlight key achievements and responsibilities, ensuring that essential information is easily accessible.
- Consistent Career Advancement - Oscar's career trajectory illustrates a clear pathway of growth and responsibility within the social work and youth advocacy sector. Beginning as a Youth Support Worker and progressing to the role of Lead Social Worker, each position highlights an increase in leadership and impact.
- Quantified Achievements with Clear Impact - The CV stands out due to its emphasis on quantifiable achievements, such as a 35% reduction in juvenile delinquency and a 50% reduction in re-offending rates. These figures not only demonstrate Oscar's effectiveness but also underscore the significant social impact of his work.
Palliative Care Social Worker
- Structured and Detailed Content Presentation - The CV is well-organized with clearly defined sections, which give it clarity and coherence. Each role is effectively articulated with concise bullet points that highlight specific responsibilities and accomplishments. This structured presentation enables the reader to quickly grasp crucial aspects of the candidate's career path.
- Clear Career Progression and Specialization - Poppy Griffiths demonstrates a focused career trajectory in the field of social work with an emphasis on palliative care and patient advocacy. Her movement from a general healthcare social worker role to more specialized positions in hospice and palliative care highlights commitment and growth within her chosen niche, indicating a deepening of expertise over time.
- Achievements with Significant Impact - The CV underscores significant business relevance by providing quantifiable achievements, such as achieving a 25% reduction in hospital readmissions and a 30% increase in patient satisfaction. These metrics not only reflect Poppy's capabilities but also her tangible impact on organizational goals, which is pivotal in assessing her effectiveness as a professional.
Forensic Social Worker
- Content Presentation - The CV is structured with clarity and conciseness, making it easy to follow the candidate's professional journey. Each section is organized methodically, providing a clear view of their career progression and noteworthy achievements without unnecessary filler content, which ensures the reader's focus remains on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
- Career Trajectory - Grace Bailey's career path showcases significant growth from a Social Work Practitioner to a Senior Social Worker. This progression highlights her increasing responsibility and expertise, particularly in forensic settings. Each role is built upon her previous experience, indicating a deliberate and focused career development within the social work sector.
- Achievements and Their Impact - The CV features impactful achievements that extend beyond mere statistics. For example, Grace's initiatives have led to a 25% increase in recovery rates and a 30% reduction in report documentation time, both of which directly contribute to improved patient care and institutional efficiency. These successes underscore her ability to make meaningful, business-relevant contributions to her field.
Structuring and formatting your social worker CV for an excellent first impression
The experts' best advice regarding your CV format is to keep it simple and concise. Recruiters assessing your CV are foremost looking out for candidates who match their ideal job profile. Your white space, borders, and margins. You may still be wondering which format you need to export your CV in. We recommend using the PDF one, as, upon being uploaded, it never alters your information or CV design. Before we move on to the actual content of your social worker CV, we'd like to remind you about the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS). The ATS is a software that is sometimes used to initially assess your profile. Here's what you need to keep in mind about the ATS:
- All serif and sans-serif fonts (e.g. Rubik, Volkhov, Exo 2 etc.) are ATS-friendly;
- Many candidates invest in Arial and Times New Roman, so avoid these fonts if you want your application to stand out;
- Both single and double column CVs can be read by the ATS, so it's entirely up to you to select your CV design.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a social worker CV
- Professional Summary showcases your commitment and expertise in social work practices.
- Relevant Social Work Experience details your hands-on experience with diverse client groups.
- Education and Qualifications highlight your specialised training and knowledge base in social work.
- Key Skills and Competencies reflect the unique abilities needed to succeed as a social worker.
- Licenses and Certifications demonstrate your professional recognition and legal authority to practice.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your experience with diverse client groups to show your ability to handle the varied challenges faced by social workers, including specifics such as ages, backgrounds, or issues such as substance abuse or mental health.
- Emphasise your interagency collaboration skills, mentioning any particular success you've had in working with schools, healthcare providers, or community organisations to support client welfare.
- Detail your proficiency in case management and relevant IT systems, giving examples of how you've effectively managed case loads, maintained accurate records, and utilised software for client benefit.
- Include any specialised training or certifications such as child protection, domestic violence, or crisis intervention to showcase your commitment to continuing professional development within the social work field.
- Illustrate your communication skills, both written and verbal, with examples of reports you have compiled, meetings you have facilitated, or complex information you have successfully conveyed to clients and their families.
Recommended reads:
What information should you include in your social worker CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their social worker CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for social worker:
- Community Engagement Coordinator | Youth Empowerment | Safeguarding Specialist | BSc Social Work | 5+ Years Experience
- Senior Social Worker | Mental Health Advocate | Crisis Intervention | MA in Social Policy | 8+ Years Expertise
- Child Welfare Officer | Adoption and Fostering | MSc Child Psychology | HCPC Registered | 10 Years Dedicated Service
- Clinical Social Worker | Substance Abuse and Recovery | CBT Certified | MA Social Work | 12 Years Professional Practice
- Social Services Manager | Disability Support Expert | Policy Development | BA Social Sciences | 15+ Years Leadership
- Licensed Social Worker | Elderly Care Specialist | End-of-Life Planning | MSW | 6 Years Commitment
Your social worker CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
social worker candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you social worker CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a social worker job:
- With over a decade of dedicated service in child and family social work, I bring a wealth of case management expertise, skilled in therapeutic intervention strategies and adept at navigating complex family dynamics. Recognised for spearheading a community integration program that reduced re-homing rates by 40%.
- Armed with 8 years of experience in mental health support, I excel in crisis intervention and the development of personalised care plans. Instrumental in launching a peer support network that increased patient self-sufficiency by 50%, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to client empowerment.
- Former healthcare professional transitioning into social work, bringing 5 years of experience in patient advocacy and a profound understanding of medical and psychological terminology. Led a cross-functional team to improve patient discharge procedures, reducing readmission rates by 25%.
- Experienced educator eager to pivot into social work, offering strong interpersonal skills and an extensive background in youth mentoring. Successfully established a school-wide anti-bullying program that decreased reported incidents by 30% and fostered a safer learning environment.
- As a recent graduate with comprehensive knowledge in social welfare policies and a fervent desire to contribute to community development, I seek to apply my academic insights and volunteer experience in family support services to further develop my professional capabilities.
- Embarking on a career in social work, I aim to leverage my psychology degree and hands-on volunteer experience with at-risk adolescents to advocate for mental health and foster positive outcomes in a dynamic professional setting.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your social worker CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Conducted comprehensive assessments of clients' needs to develop tailored support plans, ensuring alignment with legal frameworks and ethical standards in social work.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare professionals, educators, and counsellors, to provide coordinated care for clients and their families.
- Managed caseloads efficiently, with attention to detail in documentation and adherence to data protection legislation, to deliver timely interventions and follow-up.
- Advocated on behalf of clients to access community resources, secure housing, and obtain benefits, highlighting strong negotiation and communication skills.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions to support clients dealing with mental health issues, substance abuse, domestic violence, or homelessness.
- Facilitated support groups and workshops, demonstrating expertise in fostering group dynamics and enabling peer support for diverse client populations.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of social policy changes and their implications for service delivery, ensuring practice is current and responsive to societal needs.
- Provided crisis intervention and support during emergencies, exhibiting calmness under pressure and the ability to make critical decisions with compassion.
- Engaged in ongoing professional development and reflective practice to enhance the quality of service delivery and contribute to the wider knowledge base of social work.
Work Experience
Senior Social Worker
Family Support Services Ltd
01/2019-Ongoing
- Orchestrated a community mental health programme catering to over 200 individuals with collaborative care strategies, resulting in a 30% improvement in patient-reported mental health outcomes.
- Led a multidisciplinary team to implement a child welfare initiative that reduced case resolution times by 25% through the application of solution-focused brief therapy techniques.
- Enhanced family support services by training staff in culturally sensitive practices, increasing positive feedback from service users by 40%.
Work Experience
Child Protection Social Worker
Safeguarding Children Alliance
04/2016-12/2018
- Conducted over 500 home visits for child protection cases, providing crisis intervention and referrals to appropriate agencies for additional support.
- Developed and delivered a successful grant application for £100,000 to support a new foster care programme aimed at older children.
- Initiated a collaboration with the local police department, improving response times to critical cases by 35%.
Work Experience
Substance Abuse Social Worker
Community Outreach Services
07/2013-03/2016
- Led a task force to tackle substance abuse that connected over 150 individuals with recovery services and reduced local drug-related crime rates by 20%.
- Established a peer mentoring program for at-risk youth, seeing a retention rate of 90% and overall improvement in school attendance of 15%.
- Implemented a program evaluation system that tracked service user progress and informed policy changes, securing continued funding of approximately £250,000 annually.
Work Experience
Mental Health Social Worker
MindWell Mental Health Trust
06/2012-06/2013
- Implemented an innovative case management system that reduced paperwork by 50% and increased time spent with clients.
- Provided specialised support for over 80 individuals suffering from severe mental health issues, facilitating their integration into community-based care settings.
- Established a monthly workshop series for the family members of service users which fostered understanding and support for mental health challenges within the community.
Work Experience
Domestic Violence Social Worker
Safe Haven Support Centre
09/2009-05/2012
- Spearheaded a collaborative project with local law enforcement to address the needs of domestic violence survivors, resulting in the establishment of a 24-hour crisis hotline.
- Facilitated over 300 group therapy sessions specializing in trauma, helping participants to regain a sense of personal agency and resilience.
- Pioneered a data-driven approach to case allocation which improved service delivery efficiency by 20%.
Work Experience
Social Worker for Homeless Services
Shelter Network Foundation
04/2014-11/2017
- Coordinated with local housing agencies to secure stable accommodation for over 100 homeless individuals each year, enhancing their opportunity for social reintegration.
- Developed and implemented an innovative life-skills program which saw a participant job placement rate increase by 25% within the first year.
- Managed a budget of £150,000, ensuring efficient allocation of resources for maximum impact on service user outcomes.
Work Experience
School Social Worker
City Education Trust
02/2011-08/2014
- Collaborated with school staff to provide targeted behavioural interventions for over 60 students annually, decreasing school truancy rates by 18%.
- Facilitated the launch of a community-based after-school program that offered tutoring and recreational activities to improve the well-being and academic performance of children in disadvantaged areas.
- Successfully advocated for additional local government funding, securing an extra £50,000 per year for expansion of youth services.
Work Experience
Geriatric Social Worker
Golden Years Social Care
03/2010-01/2014
- Managed care plans for elderly clients with dementia, resulting in a 20% increase in reportable quality-of-life metrics over a two-year period.
- Coordinated with healthcare providers to implement a holistic health approach, cutting hospital readmission rates for our elderly clientele by half.
- Developed a volunteer program to provide companionship to isolated older adults, effectively doubling community engagement within the program's first year.
What to add in your social worker CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your social worker CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your social worker CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your social worker CV:
HARD SKILLS
Case Management
Psychosocial Assessments
Crisis Intervention
Knowledge of Social Work Theories
Child and Adult Safeguarding
Mental Health Support
Substance Abuse Counseling
Group Facilitation
Community Outreach Coordination
Familiarity with Social Welfare Policy
SOFT SKILLS
Empathy
Communication
Active Listening
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Interpersonal Skills
Organization
Critical Thinking
Advocacy
Stress Management
PRO TIP
Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your social worker CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional social worker CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
