Social Work Skills
These are the key hard and soft skills required for a job in social work in 2024 based on our database of over 10 million real job listings.
Optimize your resume
Social work skills include managing cases, coordinating crisis intervention, and collaborating with community services to help clients. They can be used in hospitals, non-profit organizations, schools, or private practice.How we got the data
We collected the data for this report from Jobscan’s massive database of over 10 million job descriptions and 17 million resumes. We analyzed the job descriptions to see which skills employers are looking for the most. Then, we analyzed the resumes to see which skills appear most frequently.
By knowing which skills are in high demand, job seekers can tweak their resumes and cover letters to showcase the most important skills for each job they apply for.
top 10 social work Hard Skills
top 10 social work Soft Skills
top 10 social work Skills on Resume with High Match Rate
- Professional
- Social Work
- Case Management
- Intervention
- Communication
- Mental Health
- Planning
- Problem-Solving
- Counseling
- Computer
Top 10 social work skills
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Employed active listening and de-escalation tactics to manage and resolve over 100 crisis situations, leading to a 90% decrease in escalated incidents among clients.
- Led crisis resolution efforts by problem-solving under pressure, which involved coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to secure resources and support for affected clients.
- Conducted workshops for 100+ staff members on crisis intervention strategies, enhancing the overall capabilities of the organization to handle emergency situations effectively.
- Designed and implemented customized safety plans for high-risk clients, significantly reducing the occurrence of repeat crises by 40% over a 12-month period.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Led stress management workshops for clients, introducing techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation exercises, resulting in reported stress reduction by 40% among participants.
- Demonstrated empathy by effectively supporting a diverse client base of over 50 individuals, tailoring communication and intervention strategies to meet varied emotional needs.
- Coordinated with healthcare providers and community services during crisis situations to ensure comprehensive care and safety for clients in high-risk scenarios.
- Integrated narrative therapy into treatment plans for clients with PTSD, helping over 70% of participants achieve significant improvement in symptoms within six months.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Navigated complex community resource networks to secure necessary services for clients, increasing resource access by 50% through strengthened partnerships with local organizations.
- Advocated for and secured additional support services for marginalized populations, leading to a 40% improvement in long-term outcomes for those clients.
- Efficiently managed a caseload of up to 80 clients at a time, implementing a digital tracking system that reduced paperwork by 25% and increased time spent on direct client care.
- Facilitated weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss client progress and care plans, enhancing team collaboration and improving client satisfaction rates by over 35%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Mastered and applied advanced therapeutic communication techniques, boosting client’s ability to articulate feelings and challenges, which enhanced treatment outcomes.
- Facilitated client problem-solving sessions that helped over 100 clients identify and navigate personal challenges, increasing their resilience and problem-solving skills.
- Guided clients through the process of setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals, with over 80% of clients reporting significant progress toward their stated goals within the first year.
- Resolved interpersonal conflicts among clients using tailored conflict resolution strategies, decreasing incidents of violence in community housing projects by 50%.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Delivered presentations on client care strategies at national conferences, enhancing the communication protocols for over 30 social work teams across the country.
- Enhanced client intake processes by incorporating advanced active listening techniques, resulting in a 25% increase in accuracy of client assessments.
- Authored detailed case notes that were commended for clarity and thoroughness, improving the efficiency of case transfers by 20%.
- Successfully advocated for policy changes that improved access to mental health services for underserved populations, impacting over 1,000 clients annually.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Conducted comprehensive assessments for over 100 clients, identifying key psychological, social, and environmental needs and formulating tailored intervention plans.
- Utilized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents, achieving a 30% improvement in reported symptoms over 6 months.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including psychiatrists, nurses, and educators to create comprehensive, client-centered care plans.
- Developed and delivered psychoeducational materials and workshops on topics such as stress management and mindfulness to over 300 clients, significantly enhancing clients’ self-management techniques.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Managed and organized over 100 client files, maintaining an efficient filing system that facilitated quick access to necessary information.
- Utilized electronic health record (EHR) systems to document client assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes efficiently.
- Consistently updated client records and case notes within 24 hours of client interactions, ensuring real-time accuracy of information.
- Meticulously documented client interactions and treatment plans, ensuring accuracy and compliance with agency standards.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Continuously monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of care plans, resulting in a 15% reduction in relapse rates and a 10% increase in client goal achievement over six months.
- Developed long-term strategic plans for client care, considering potential challenges and opportunities to achieve sustainable outcomes.
- Identified and coordinated with 20+ community resources and services, increasing client access to necessary support by 30% and reducing wait times for assistance by 15%.
- Managed a caseload of 40 clients simultaneously, maintaining a 95% on-time completion rate for case plans and interventions.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Advocated for clients’ needs and rights, successfully securing housing, healthcare, and social services for 90% of clients within three months of case opening.
- Coordinated access to community resources and services for over 75 clients, resulting in a 20% increase in resource utilization and support.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare providers, educators, and legal professionals, to develop and implement comprehensive care plans for clients.
- Resolved service coordination issues promptly, reducing delays in service delivery by 25% and ensuring timely support for clients.
Examples of how to write this skill on your resume:
- Utilized medical knowledge to interpret patient health records, ensuring accurate understanding of diagnoses and treatments for effective care planning.
- Coordinated comprehensive healthcare services for 50+ patients, resulting in a 25% improvement in patient compliance with treatment plans.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary healthcare teams, including doctors and nurses, to develop coordinated care plans that improved patient outcomes by 20%.
- Educated patients and families on health conditions, treatment options, and self-care practices, leading to a 30% increase in patient self-management and satisfaction.
Tips for writing social work skills on your resume
Create a bulleted resume skills section
Use a simple, clean format that highlights your skills and experiences. Focus on readability by using bullet points and short phrases to present your skills. Properly organize your resume into education, experience, and skills sections.
“Adding a skills section to your resume is a great way to draw the recruiter’s attention to your most relevant strengths and competencies.”
– Ashley Watkins, NCRW, NCOPE, Job Search Coach
For example, a social worker’s bullet points might look like this:
- Managed case documentation and records for all clients, ensuring compliance with state regulations and agency standards.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments for over 150 clients, identifying their needs and linking them to appropriate community resources.
- Facilitated weekly support groups for adolescents dealing with mental health issues, providing a safe environment for sharing and growth.
Hitting all the top requirements with your skills list will help you rank highly for a keyword search within an applicant tracking system. But don’t stop there. Add context for every skill elsewhere in your work experience.
Highlight skills and accomplishments in your work experience section
As you list your responsibilities, it’s also important to highlight your major accomplishments wherever you can.
“For soft skills, it’s often more effective to demonstrate them in the context of your past work experience. Instead of merely stating “excellent team player”, you are better off saying “collaborated with a cross-functional team of 6 on a new product launch that boosted sales by 30% in one year”. Examples of specific accomplishments or business outcomes speak louder than buzzwords.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
For example, if you successfully managed a complex caseload be sure to mention the accomplishment.
Instead of saying,
“Managed a complex caseload with home visits.”
You could say,
“Managed a complex caseload of 34 minor children and performed monthly home visits with families.”
This demonstrates your level of expertise with the skills you listed. It gives the recruiter more reason to be interested in you as a result.
Break resume skills sections into categories
If you’re applying for a role requiring a broad skillset, categorize your skills.
“If you opt to include a designated skills section on your resume, include up to 10 of your core competencies. Excessive skills lists are overwhelming and sometimes confusing to the reader.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
For example, someone applying for a role as a social worker might benefit from segmenting their skill list as follows:
Core Skills:
- Cultural Competency
- Case Management
- Professional Ethics
Interpersonal Skills:
- Empathy
- Relationship Building
Technical Skills:
- Telehealth
- Social Welfare Policy Knowledge
Quantify your achievements
Use numbers to quantify your achievements wherever possible. This helps potential employers understand your abilities and the impact you can have on their organization.
“Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for relevancy of how and when you applied those skills, so provide examples of this in your experience section. Bonus tip: Don’t just insert the skill like a task–include results.”
– Kelli Hrivnak, Marketing and Tech Recruiter
Instead of saying,
“Advocated for client’s needs within community support organizations.”
You could say,
“Advocated for client’s needs within community support organizations which contributed to favorable outcomes for clients in 70% of cases.”
By using numbers, you give hiring managers a better sense of your value.
Tailor your resume to the job description
Read the description carefully and emphasize the relevant skills and experiences. Highlight the skills that the employer seeks and provide examples of how you’ve used those skills in your previous roles. Doing so can demonstrate that you’re a strong fit for the position and increase your chances of being invited to an interview.
“The ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work when it comes to your resume. For every job application, tailor your skill set to match the job description. Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter candidates based on keywords and skills listed in the job description. So, research the role you’re applying for and distill the skills required.”
– Ana Lokotkova, Career Coach and Advisor
In order to do this, “you must first understand what skills are most important for the target role,” says Ashley Watkins.
Here’s an example of how to tailor a social worker’s resume to a job description:
Job Title: Social Worker II
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.
- Registration with the College of Social Work.
- Experience with capacity assessment processes.
- Experience with financial assessments and complex placement processes.
Tailored Resume Description:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from XYZ University and registered with the College of Social Work.
- Conducted over 50 capacity assessments annually, ensuring accurate evaluation of clients’ ability to manage personal affairs and make informed decisions, resulting in a 95% approval rate from supervisory reviews.
- Performed detailed financial assessments for 100+ clients, developing tailored support plans that led to a 30% improvement in clients’ financial stability and resource utilization.
- Successfully managed complex placement processes for over 70 clients, coordinating with healthcare providers, family members, and community resources, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate among clients and their families.
“Focus on the sought-after and in demand skills. A great way to figure out what is currently in demand is by researching current job openings from your preferred companies and reading through the posting. Pay close attention to the preferred requirements section and build your skills section based on this list.”
– Chelsea Jay, Career & Leadership Development Coach – Seasoned and Growing
Bonus Tip: Use action verbs
Start each bullet point with an action verb. An action verb expresses an action, such as “create,” “build,” “manage,” “lead,” or “implement.”
Action verbs grab the reader’s attention and paint a vivid picture of what you accomplished at work.
Action verbs make your resume more interesting to read. They also show the kind of can-do attitude that employers are looking for.
FAQs
Social workers rely on a broad set of skills to effectively support and advocate for clients, like:
- Empathy
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Interpersonal Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Cultural Competency
- Advocacy
- Problem-Solving
- Professional Ethics
- Resilience and Stress Management
These skills are interdependent and are often used simultaneously to provide comprehensive support and services to clients.
Soft skills are critical in social work, as they fundamentally shape how professionals engage with clients, colleagues, and communities. Some of these soft skills include:
- Empathy
- Communication
- Interpersonal Skills
- Adaptability
- Problem-Solving
- Conflict Resolution
- Cultural Competence
- Self-awareness
- Resilience
- Teamwork
Social workers play a variety of roles in their efforts to support and empower individuals, families, and communities. Their roles can vary widely depending on their area of practice, but here are some of the common roles they fulfill:
- Case Manager: Social workers often act as case managers, coordinating care and resources for clients. They assess clients’ needs, create plans to meet those needs, and monitor progress, adjusting plans as necessary.
- Counselor: Providing counseling and support is a central role for many social workers. They help individuals and groups manage and overcome mental health issues, emotional challenges, and personal crises.
- Advocate: Advocacy involves promoting the interests or causes of individuals and groups. Social workers advocate for clients to access necessary resources, services, and rights. They may also engage in advocacy at the policy level to influence laws and regulations for the benefit of their clients.
- Mediator: Social workers often help resolve conflicts between individuals, families, or within community groups, facilitating communication and negotiation to find mutually acceptable solutions.
- Educator: Social workers provide education to clients, families, and communities on various issues, such as health education, parenting skills, and life skills. They also raise awareness about resources and social issues.
- Administrator: Many social workers take on administrative roles in social service agencies, helping to manage programs, develop policies, and oversee the delivery of services.
- Researcher: Some social workers engage in research to improve practice, develop better interventions, and contribute to the evidence base that informs social work practice.
- Community Organizer: Social workers may help communities identify their needs, plan and implement solutions, and connect with resources. This role involves mobilizing community members and resources to address local issues.
Social workers should highlight their skills on a resume by:
- Creating a Skills Section: List key skills relevant to the job, such as active listening, empathy, crisis intervention, and advocacy.
- Quantifying Achievements: Include metrics and specific examples of how they utilized their skills to achieve positive outcomes.
- Tailoring Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application, focusing on the skills and experiences that match the job description.
- Using Action Verbs: Start bullet points with strong action verbs, such as “implemented,” “developed,” “advocated,” and “counseled.”
- Highlighting Relevant Experience: Include details of past roles where skills were demonstrated, such as case management, community outreach, or therapy sessions.
Cultural competence is the ability to understand, respect, and work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. It is important in social work because it ensures that services are inclusive, respectful, and tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, thereby reducing barriers to effective service delivery.