Are you a social worker looking for a way to grab employer’s attention with your CV? Learn how by following these 9 steps and check out our free templates too!
As a social worker, your resume is more than just a document – it’s a reflection of your skills and experience that can make or break your social worker job application. Creating a well-written and effective social worker CV or a role with transferable skills requires careful planning and attention to detail.
Your CV should showcase your essential skills while highlighting your relevant experience, education, and key achievements. In this blog post, we’ll outline nine steps to writing the perfect social worker CV and provide free templates to help simplify the process.
Step 1. Understand the job description and criteria
Before you begin writing your social worker CV, take some time to review the job description and criteria for the position you’re applying to. This will give you a better idea of the core skills and the experience that the hiring manager is looking for. Use this information to tailor your CV towards the specific role, highlighting your key skills.
Step 2. Start with a Strong Personal Statement and Contact details.
Your Statement should be a brief summary of your skills and experience and a statement of your career objective. This should be tailored to the job in question, and should ideally fit into a single sentence.
Also, don’t forget to include your contact details so you don’t miss out on any opportunities. Let your statement do the talking and make a great impression.
What to include in Contact information:
Begin with your full name, correct contact details (phone number, email address), and professional title (e.g., Social Worker). Optionally, include your professional website or LinkedIn profile.
An example of a Personal Statement & Contact Details:
“As a dedicated and compassionate social worker, my primary goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families facing challenging circumstances. With a strong background in social work and a genuine passion for helping others, I am committed to promoting social justice, advocating for vulnerable populations, and empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.”
Step 3. Detail your Relevant Experience
Your work history should be presented in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position going back through your previous positions. Make sure to highlight your relevant experience, including any experience in community outreach programs, health and social care, and any volunteer work you’ve done in the past.
Examples of Relevant Experience:
Volunteer Social Worker – ABC Charity, London August 2020 – Present
Supported individuals experiencing homelessness by conducting assessments, providing crisis intervention, and facilitating access to housing and support services.
Collaborated with the outreach team to engage with vulnerable individuals and connect them with essential resources, including healthcare, financial support, and legal assistance.
Advocated for clients’ rights, ensuring their voices were heard and respected in decision-making processes.
Assisted in organising and facilitating support groups and workshops focused on mental health, addiction recovery, and life skills development.
Social Worker – Dudley Borough Council, July 2017 – August 2020
Assisted social workers in conducting assessments, preparing care plans, and coordinating discharge planning for patients.
Supported patients and their families in navigating the healthcare system, providing emotional support and information about available resources.
Collaborated with healthcare professionals to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to community-based care.
Assisted in organising and facilitating psycho-educational groups for patients, focusing on coping skills, self-care, and community reintegration.
Step 4. Showcase your Hard Skills
When it comes to social work, there are certain hard skills that are essential to add on your skills section. These are teachable abilities that can be measured and are typically acquired through training, education, or experience. Here are two examples of these skills that are relevant for a social worker:
The ability to effectively manage and coordinate client cases, including conducting assessments, developing care plans, and monitoring progress.
The skill to accurately and concisely document client information, assessments, interventions, and progress.
Step 5. Highlight your Soft Skills
Social workers also require a range of these skills, these are are personal qualities and attributes that enable individuals to effectively interact and communicate with others. Here are two examples of soft skills that are important for a social worker:
Skilled in establishing and maintaining open lines of communication with clients, colleagues, and other professionals. Proficient in active listening, empathy, and conveying information in a clear and compassionate manner.
I demonstrate a deep understanding and respect for diverse cultures, backgrounds, and identities. Proficient in providing culturally sensitive and inclusive care.
Step 6. Add Relevant Qualifications and Certifications
Include as much detail as possible in your education section, including your expected graduation date if you’re currently studying. Detail relevant qualifications that you have earned in health and social care through your career.
An example of your qualifications/certifications section:
Social Work England Registered
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BA/BSc) from Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Master’s Degree in Social Work (MA/MSW)
Step 7. Use bullet point and action words
When describing your experience and achievements, use bullet points and action words to make your medical CV more readable and engaging.
This will also help to highlight your key achievements and responsibilities. For example:
Successfully mentored two junior social workers, helping to develop their skills and confidence
Implemented a new system, reducing errors by 20%
Consistently received positive feedback from clients for the quality of care provided
Step 8. Styling
When it comes to styling, the general rule is to keep things professional. Stick to clear, white background, easy-to-read fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and avoid using fancy graphics or too many colours along with a white background.
Keep your CV to two pages or less and make sure it’s easy to read by using plenty of white space. Try to keep your formatting consistent so that employers can quickly find the information they need.
Step 9. Use Free CV Templates
To make the process of creating an effective social worker CV easier, make use of free CV templates that are available online. These can be customised to suit your own relevant skills, and can help guide you on how to present the information to the hiring manager.
To help you get started, take a look at the examples created by CVLocum below, simply click the link and have a polished gem in as little as 10 minutes!
Conclusion:
Creating an effective social worker CV requires careful planning and attention to detail. Make sure to tailor your CV to the specific job criteria and use bullet points to highlight your skills. Detail your relevant experience in reverse chronological order and use free CV templates to streamline the process. By following these seven steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating an effective social worker CV that can help you land your next job in this rewarding field.
Ready to take your Social Work career to the next level? Look no further than our job board, featuring hundreds of exciting Social work openings just waiting for someone like you. Don’t miss this opportunity to land your dream job and make a difference in the healthcare industry. Start browsing now!
