For entry-level social work roles, include any licensure or certifications you have, such as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or training in mental health first aid. These qualifications make you stand out.

Also, include any coursework or special projects related to social work you completed during your degree. This shows your dedication and readiness for this field.

Volunteer experience is critical for entry-level social workers. Include any volunteer work you did related to social services, mental health, or community work.

Detail your role and the impact you made in these volunteer positions. This demonstrates your hands-on experience and commitment to helping others, crucial traits for a social worker.

You want employers to see you are a good fit for a social worker role. To do this, your resume must show your skills and experiences that match what the job needs. When you make your resume job-specific, it tells employers you understand the work and are ready to do it.

• Include internships or volunteer work that gave you experience in counseling, case management, or community outreach.
• Mention coursework or projects related to social issues, social policy, or human behavior to show your knowledge base.
• If you have worked in a different field, highlight tasks that involved helping others, teamwork, and communication, like managed a support team or developed client relationships.

When you are creating your resume for a social work position, it's important to use strong action verbs. These words help you show your skills and experience in a clear way. They make your resume stand out to hiring managers. Use verbs that match the tasks of social workers. This will help you show that you understand the job and have the right skills.

Here is a list of action verbs that are good for someone applying to be a social worker. These words are simple and clear, making them great for your resume.

• To show that you can work with clients, use assessed, supported, facilitated, counseled, engaged.
• To show how you work with others, use collaborated, coordinated, referred, advocated, mediated.
• To demonstrate your problem-solving skills, use resolved, addressed, analyzed, identified, intervened.
• For tasks that involved planning or organizing, use developed, planned, organized, implemented, administered.
• When describing your ability to help clients improve their situation, use empowered, educated, guided, assisted, supported.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Implemented, Achieved, Clean, Worked on, Analyze.

When crafting your resume, it's important to highlight skills that show you're ready for a social work role. Your skills section should reflect the job you want, without overwhelming the reader with an exhaustive list. Here are some specific skills to consider:

• Crisis intervention
• Case management
• Individual assessment
• Group facilitation
• Community outreach
• Client advocacy
• Behavioral health knowledge
• Record keeping
• Knowledge of social policies
• Program development

Include these skills in a dedicated section or throughout your resume to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). ATS are used by many employers to filter resumes. They scan for relevant skills, so using the right terms is essential.

Remember, focus on the skills you have and the ones most relevant to social work. If you have experience with certain social work software or specific therapeutic techniques, include them. However, don't feel pressured to list every skill. Tailor your resume to the position and organization, showing how your abilities align with their needs.

When you're starting your career in social work, showing any leadership experience is key. Even small examples can make a big difference. Think about times you guided others or took charge of a project.

Here are ways you might have shown leadership:

• Did you lead a group project in college? Describe how you managed tasks and brought the team together.
• Were you a part-time supervisor at a job? Share how you supported and directed your coworkers.

Also consider promotions. They show you're capable of growth. Reflect on experiences where you started in one role and moved up to a higher position, even if it was in a volunteer setting or internship. Here are examples to include:

• Started as a volunteer and later coordinated a community program.
• Interned at an agency and then hired as a part-time staff member.