Social Services Resume Examples
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Additional top-requested social services resume examples are for volunteer, case manager and counselor. If you’re looking for another job title, scroll on, we have many more great examples below.
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Job Outlook
Employment demand for community and social service occupations is expected to increase 12% by 2029.
So, if you’re looking to make a difference, there should be a lot of opportunity for you.
However, if you want to land that perfect role in social services, make sure your resume is in top-form by following our professional resume tips.
3 Tips for Writing Social Services Resumes
Choose the right format for your resume
As you know from your work in social services, organization can be a lifesaver.
When it comes to resumes, the organizational structure is called the format and choosing the right one can mean the difference between getting the job or not.
There are three main resume-format types: chronological, functional and hybrid.
The main difference between the three formats is where the primary focus is placed on your resume, whether it’s more weighted toward your skills or toward your work history.
Chronological formats work best for social service workers with years of experience because they put the emphasis on roles you’ve held, duties you’ve performed, and show a career progression. If you’ve got five years’ or more experience, this should be your go-to format.
However, if you’re fresh out of school or transferring from a different industry, you should choose a different format that better suits your experience level.
Functional formats put greater emphasis on your skills and education which takes attention away from your newness to the field. If you have less than two years’ experience as a social services professional, this format is ideal.
A hybrid format is a combination of the functional and chronological formats and gives a more even balance between your work history and skills. If you’ve worked for more than two years in social services, but less than five total, use this format.
Promote your skills
While every role in social services may have its own set of required skills, here’s a list of useful skills that can be applied across the spectrum of social service jobs.
Try to include six-to-eight important skills that you bring to the table to feature in your resume.
Desired skills often-include:
- Attention to detail
- Compassion
- Positivity
- Active listening
- Emotional intelligence
- Relatability
- Organization
- Self-determination
- Record keeping
- Computer skills
- Communication
- Community codes and regulation knowledge
- Problem-solving
- Planning
- Inner strength
- Self-awareness
- Patience
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Self-care
- Positive reinforcement
- Group activities
- Community presentations
- Tolerance
- Setting boundaries
- Coping with pressure
Pay close attention to the job posting or ad — the phrases and the keywords listed are your best indication of exactly what the position needs in a candidate.
Show that you listen by echoing back some of those key skills with similar phrasing the employer uses when they apply to you.
Use a template to make sure your resume looks outstanding.
One of the most stressful things about creating a resume is making sure that it is both readable and that its design pops to employers.
After all, your specialty is dealing with human emotions, not setting margins and keeping up-to-date with resume-design schemes.
That’s why you should use a resume template to ensure that your resume gets noticed by hiring managers.
A template is just a preformatted document created by a designer to look sharp, professional, and to help you create a resume in just minutes.
All you have to do is select one that you like and fill in your personal info. Once you save it you’re ready to start applying to jobs.
JobHero has some great resume templates that you can use.
Better yet, JobHero features Resume Builder that allows you to choose from a selection of templates and takes the automation a step further.
The builder auto-suggests phrases to describe your work history that are tailored to the specific job title that you’re applying for.
JobHero’s Resume Builder is like having a resume expert look over your shoulder to guide you through the process.
FAQ
How much does a job in social services get paid?
In 2019, the average salary for a role in community and social services got paid $46,090 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Of course, anyone who works in social services knows, the big reward comes from the positive impact made on individuals and communities.
Part of the reason that jobs in social services tend to pay a bit above the median average for U.S. jobs is the fact that many roles in this field require advanced degrees.
As with all resumes, you will need the five main sections: contact information, professional summary or objective statement, skills, work history and education.
The main selling points of your social services resume should be found in your skills and work experience sections. Those are the main spaces where you have to show employers that you’re the right person for the job.
It’s also good practice to try to include some numbers on your resume to give a scope of your work to hiring managers.
It’s important that you have a portfolio ready to showcase strong examples of your work in addition to your resume. Today, most writers keep websites that serve as online portfolios for the ease of sharing with employers.
Work in social services may be harder to quantify than some careers, but think of ways that you can paint a clearer picture of what your workload and responsibilities looked like.
For example, a social worker could include figures like this to better convey the impact and breadth of their work:
Integrity is a huge part of being a social worker, so while you want to use numbers that communicate the power of your work, never lie or fluff up numbers on your resume.
How do I list education on a social services resume?
Social services provide a lot of vital and important resources to people in need. Social service providers often need to handle very difficult situations.
That means education is really important for many social services roles — above the volunteer level, many employers may require advanced degrees or certifications.
It’s important that you include all education starting with your highest degree attained by listing the name of the institution, its city/state, the degree you obtained (if any) and your major(s) if applicable.
It should look something like this:
Hunter University Racine, WI
Masters, Social Work
Lawrence College Green Bay, WI
Bachelor’s, Sociology
If you have attended college, don’t list any education prior to that such as high school.
Also, times have changed: It used to be customary to list the year that you graduated from university, but including a date with your degree can indicate your approximate age which can lead to potential hiring bias.
Many qualified social services professionals also attend seminars and do coursework to earn specializations and certifications.
It will help you to include this on your resume: Create a special section to list these achievements called “Licenses and Certifications.”
What kind of work experience should I put on a social services resume?
Try to keep all the work experience you include in a resume focused on social services.
The more your work history aligns with this new role, the more hiring managers are apt to give you serious consideration.
Try to include details about your previous roles that you believe will be useful in this new role, for example, anything involving planning, social justice, therapy, motivational speaking, community work, caretaking or education.
If you’re fresh out of school or new to social services, including unpaid and volunteer work on a social services resume is important to add.
There is no shortage of opportunities to volunteer and get experience. Many charity and nonprofit organizations have tight budgets and can provide roles that carry great responsibility and plenty of opportunity.
Should I include a cover letter with my social services resume?
Yes. It’s the professional expectation in social services that you always include a cover letter when you submit your resume. It could greatly hurt your chances of getting a callback if you don’t.
You also don’t want to miss this opportunity to really sell your skills and what you bring to the table in helping people.
More than most professions, social services can be a much more anecdotal field to describe the effects you’ve made working with people. Tell a story that talks of the people or groups you’ve positively impacted.
Yes. It’s the professional expectation in social services that you always include a cover letter when you submit your resume. It could greatly hurt your chances of getting a callback if you don’t.
To get started writing your own impactful letter, check out JobHero’s social services cover letter examples. There’s a great selection of well-written categories for many jobs in the social services field.
If you want a bit more instruction, JobHero also has a step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter that will break it down for you.
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II - October 28, 2024
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.
