773.508.7716 www.luc.edu/career LSC/WTC
Resumes for
Social Workers
Before you begin writing your resume, you need to learn these 10 strategies
that will help you create the most effective and successful marketing tool!
10 Effective Strategies
1. Know thyself- your strengths, your skills, and your homerun stories.
2. Write your resume for the job you want, NOT the job you’ve had.
3. Be clear about your value- “Sell your stories, don’t tell your stories.”
4. Use key phrases and key words related to your profession.
5. Think BIG! Focus on how your work impacted the company, team, and mission.
6. Include relevant information only to prompt curiosity and an interview!
7. Make it easy! Format, align, and design for the best readability.
8. Focus on Achievements- connect your tasks/functions with evidence of accomplishment.
9. Be honest! You’ll need evidence to demonstrate what you write.
10. Be confident! YOU are unique- focus on your special approach, passion, and experience.
#1 Know thyself
You know why you chose to study Social Work as an undergraduate or graduate but the field offers
many career possibilities. Are you interested in counseling? Case management? Program
development? Administration and Supervision? Non Profit management? What populations do you
enjoy working with? Narrow your scope to narrow your search and target your resume. Also, ask
yourself these questions:
1. How would my colleagues, friends, faculty and supervisors describe me?
2. What do I love about Social Work? What am I best at?
3. What is my typical role on a team? Leader? Supporter? Motivator? Initiator? Planner?
4. What am I proudest of? What top 5 stories exemplify my skills, passions, and strengths?
5. What energizes me?
The answers to these questions are part of your personal brand or in other words- the value that you
bring to an employer or company. You can’t sell (yourself) a product to anyone if you don’t
understand its value. You will not find the right job if you don’t know yourself and why you are the
best fit.
773.508.7716 www.luc.edu/career LSC/WTC
#2 Write for the job you want
Your resume is about the future NOT the past. Where do you want to land? If you don’t know where
you are headed then you MUST spend more time on Strategy #1! Your resume will lack focus if you
lack focus. Don’t just tell the employer who you WERE- tell them why your previous roles or
functions prepared you for this next step- your future job! If you are changing careers, focus on the
high level transferrable skills that you learned in a previous role that you can apply to this new field.
Example: Account Manager to Social Worker.
Account manager
Social Worker
Built trusted relationships with industry
leaders, clients and team members.
Developed relationships and built rapport
with a caseload of 10 weekly clients using
active listening and client centered
counseling techniques.
Ensured resources were available for teams to
accomplish project goals.
Collaborated with treatment team to assess,
diagnose, and develop an effective treatment
plan for the client.
Delegated tasks within projects, and
monitored work-flow across internal Client
Service team.
Monitored client progress toward treatment
goals to ensure appropriate clinical
interventions and adjustments to overall plan.
#3 Sell your stories
It’s simple. You strike up a conversation with someone at a party and they say, “I work at Catholic
Charities- with kids. It’s okay, keeps me busy.” What do you think? Where can the conversation go
from there? Is this person impressive? Do you walk away and immediately tell someone else about
the sparkling person you just met? No. But….what if they said, “I work with teenagers who have
struggled with some tough life situations. They chose to use alcohol and drugs to cope and now
they’re working with to learn how they can get back into life- find a passion- find some hope.”
What’s your response now? SELL your stories!
#4 Key Words/Key Phrases
Whether you are a new grad with 1-3 years of experience, career changing into the field, or
progressing with a new MSW, you need to talk the talk. Here are some common key words and
phrases to know and insert into your resume. Remember, this is just a beginning! Review job
descriptions and websites to add to this list and engage like a Social Worker!
Advocacy
Behavior Modification
Case Management
Chronically/Terminally ill
Clinical intervention
Community
Resources/Services
Counseling
Crisis Management
Diagnostician
Discharge planning
DSM-V (diagnoses)
Dual diagnosis
Evidenced based practices
Group Therapy
High-risk families
Intakes/Assessments
Medicaid, Medicare, DCFS,
HUD
Mental health counseling
Mentored
Patient centered
Plan of Care
Populations (low income, at-
risk, under-served)
Psychosocial interventions
Psychotherapy
Strengths based approach
Trauma survivor
Treatment planning
773.508.7716 www.luc.edu/career LSC/WTC
Resumes for
Social Workers
#5 Think Big!
What was the result of your overall role? Did you improve a process? Increase retention of clients? How did you
impact the company, employer, or overall BIG picture?
Sample: Increased client retention in the hospital’s intensive outpatient program through initiating weekly
“check-in chats” in addition to facilitating individual and group therapy sessions.”
#6 Prompt your interviewer
Don’t include every little detail- leave some room for the interviewer to ask you- How? Why? Or Tell me more!
Sample: Identified gaps in programming; designed 3 new therapy groups that increased client base by 25% and
expanded practice into new area of specialty.
Follow up Question: What specialty? Tell me more about how you managed to break into a new area?
#7 Make it easy
There is no 1 way to format a resume. There are several ways to make it clean, visually appealing, and easy on
the eyes. Think SIMPLE. Scan across the page and notice:
1. Can my eyes take a break between headings/ sections and positions?
2. Am I squinting to read the text?
3. Do I feel rushed? Cramped? Or like I’m floating through vast space?
4. Should I use bold, underline, italics, all caps, AND font style for emphasis? (NO!)
5. Have I reviewed samples online to see a variety of styles and formats to choose from?
6. Good thing I didn’t use a template! (never use one)
#8 Focus on achievements
I DO want to know that you used your expertise in crisis management to approach a tough situation. But what I
REALLY want to know is how it all turned out. What was the result? What did you accomplish by using your
strengths and skills?
Sample 1: Facilitated developmentally appropriate psycho-educational groups for young mothers with the AIDS
virus that resulted in increased adherence to treatment plans and adjunct service recommendations.
Sample 2: Aggregated previous forms and designed new client assessment that streamlined the intake process
and resulted in a reduction in paperwork and improved services.
#9 Be honest
There is no need to exaggerate your skillset or create false numbers or statistics on your resume. After all, what
does that say about your confidence? You HAVE strengths and you HAVE the skills and experience required for
the position or you would not be applying right? Relationships of all sorts start with authentic connections.
#10 Be confident
Shine. Sparkle. Now that you KNOW your value- accurately convey it on your resume.
Dull: “Assisted the lead therapist in leading groups for clients with borderline traits.”
Sparkling: “Developed diagnostically relevant exercises and co-facilitated 3 weekly therapy groups for clients
with borderline personality disorder traits.”
773.508.7716 www.luc.edu/career LSC/WTC
Resume Sample #1: New graduate (MSW) with 1-2 years of experience, 1 page
Linda S. Perking
11330 Meadowland Drive • Chicago, Illinois 60611 • 773.658.3266
PROFILE
Recent MSW graduate with experience in client centered counseling, bio-psycho-social assessments,
trauma informed care and LBGTQ affirmative models. Self-directed early career clinician interested in
collaborating with a team of holistic psychotherapists. Strengths include:
Facilitating strengths based assessments and clinical interventions
Developing and leading process therapy groups for women trauma survivors
Providing psycho-education on mind-body integration and mindfulness practices
EDUCATION
Loyola University Chicago, IL May 2014
Masters of Social Work (MSW)
Specialization: Mental Health Counseling
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI May 2011
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology
Minor: Women and Gender Studies
SOCIAL WORK EXPERIENCE
HOWARD BROWN HEALTH CENTER, Chicago, IL Jan. 2014 – May 2014
Counseling Intern
Provided weekly individual counseling sessions for LGBTQ youth ages 14-22 using person-centered,
CBT, and psychodynamic approaches
Developed and led successful new weekly process group for lesbian trauma survivors
Ensured accurate case notes and confidential client files and coordinated team to submit timely
insurance reimbursement forms
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES, Chicago, IL Aug. 2013 – Dec. 2014
Case Management Intern
Managed caseload of 25 clients with dual diagnoses by providing housing, public assistance, and
healthcare referrals
Initiated new client record keeping process that decreased inefficiency and improved
administrative operations for team of 32 staff
CHICAGO LAKESHORE HOSPITAL, Chicago, IL Summers 2010-2013
VALEO Volunteer
Completed registration of new clients entering the VALEO Program that focuses on Gender/Sexual
Identity Issues with Adults, Adolescents and Children
Conducted extensive research and co-developed new department manual on LGBTQ Affirmative
Models and patient care best practices
773.508.7716 www.luc.edu/career LSC/WTC
Resume Sample #2: Career Changer – Graphic Designer to Social Worker (MSW), 2 pages
Rachel S. Stern
EDUCATION Master of Social Work May 2014
Health Concentration
Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work/ Chicago
BFA in Communication Design May 1980
Parsons, The New School for Design / New York
SOCIAL WORK Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center Sept. 2013- Present
EXPERIENCE Supportive Oncology Department Chicago, IL
Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Prentice Women’s Hospital
Oncology Intern
Provide individual counseling to adult patients coping with cancer, loss,
family and end-of-life issues
Complete weekly case consultations to discuss patient care strategies including
treatment recommendations, patient progress, and effective interventions
Co-facilitator of monthly “Caregivers’ Networking” support group that focuses on
self-care, survivors’ guilt and coping skills for the caregiver
Facilitate weekly caregiver sessions for the Northwestern Brain Tumor Support
Group that provided 15 members with resources and social-emotional support
Mercy Housing Lakefront May 2012- Dec. 2012
Case Management Intern Chicago, IL
Provided vocational training, individual counseling, and referral assistance to
formerly homeless adults, ages 25- 75 with mental illness, physical disabilities, and
co-morbid disorders
Completed intake and psycho-social assessments for an average of 30 weekly clients
entering the residential facility
Created and facilitated weekly art therapy group sessions to promote coping skills,
emotional processing, and non-verbal expression
Developed the new “Feel Better Challenge” program that offered residents
resources, training, and rewards for healthy eating, exercise, and mindfulness
practices
Prentice Women’s Hospital Jan. 2010- June 2013
Oncology Volunteer Chicago, IL
Provided emotional support for patients and families during chemotherapy
treatments
Created a nurturing, safe, and welcoming environment for new patients to minimize
stress and increase treatment efficacy
Imerman Angels Cancer Support June 2005- Present
Mentor Angel Chicago, IL
Offered emotional support, resource referrals, and psycho-education to an
average of 6 weekly patients diagnosed with breast cancer
773.508.7716 www.luc.edu/career LSC/WTC
Rachel S. Stern
BUSINESS Blackbird Design 1994- Present
EXPERIENCE Creative Director/ Principal Chicago, IL
Provide consultation to non profit and for profit clients on annual reports,
branding, marketing, and advertising: from concept and art direction to design.
Clients Included:
Anixter Center Lynn Sage cancer Research Foundation
Boys & Girls Club of Chicago Massachusetts 4-H Foundation
Casa Central National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
Chicago Foundation for Women OCHIN
Entertaining Company Ounce of Prevention Fund
ESI Sports Marketing Source of Style
The Field Museum Weizmann Institute of Science
Greater Chicago Food Depository YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
Kathy Schaeffer & Associates
Chicago Portfolio School Jan. 2010- Oct. 2010
Adjunct Faculty- “Design Fundamentals” Chicago, IL
Taught a 10 week post-graduate course on the foundation and principles of
graphic design to 15 students
Developed new syllabus to incorporate latest technology, trends, software and
applications
East West Creative Sept. 1984- Aug. 1993
Creative Director, Principal Chicago, IL
Directed branding, marketing, and advertising projects for non profit client projects
Cultivated and increased client base by 30% through relationship management and
consistent delivery of quality campaigns
Hired, interviewed, and trained a staff of 4 designers and 2 administrative staff
Coordinated with outside vendors that included illustrators, photographers,
freelancers, copywriters, and printers to meet deadlines and deliverables
PROFESSIONAL National Association of Social Workers, Member (NASW) Aug. 2012- Present
AFFILIATIONS Association of Oncology Social Workers, Member (AOSW) Sept. 2013- Present
PROFESSIONAL 20 Hour Advanced Elder Care Mediation Training Aug. 2013
TRAINING Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
40 Hour Basic Mediation Skills Certification April 2013
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
20 Hour Relaxation Training for Cancer Survivors Jan. 2013
Gilda’s Club, Chicago, IL
