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Free resume exampleUpdated September 2026

🫢 Social Worker resume example

A social worker resume example built to pass agency applicant tracking systems and read well to a clinical director. It names the exact licensure level, specialization, and documentation systems agencies filter for, and every bullet pairs an intervention with a caseload or outcome.

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This example contains 35 of 60 ATS keywords employers use for Social Worker roles.

Keywords come from the same dictionary the 22skills ATS checker scores against. Matched terms are shown in green.

Example resume

Fictional example. Name, employers and numbers are invented; the structure and keywords are real.

Jasmine Coleman

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Child & Family Services

Grand Rapids, United States

About

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 9 years of experience in child welfare and family services, licensed in the State of Michigan. Skilled in Case Management, Client Assessment, and Crisis Intervention for a caseload of 25 to 30 clients. MSW (Master of Social Work) graduate who builds Treatment Planning around a Trauma-Informed Care framework and coordinates closely with schools, courts, and healthcare partners.

Experience

  • Willowbrook Family ServicesΒ· Licensed Clinical Social WorkerGrand Rapids, MI2020-09 – Present
    • Manage a caseload of 25 to 30 clients through Case Management and Client Assessment for Child Welfare cases.
    • Provide Crisis Intervention and Safety Planning for clients in urgent situations, including Risk Assessment documentation.
    • Deliver Individual Counseling and Treatment Planning using a Trauma-Informed Care framework.
    • Coordinate Referral Coordination to housing and mental health resources, documenting each case in Electronic Health Records (EHR).
    • Lead Community Outreach events and maintain HIPAA Compliance across all Client Documentation.
  • Riverside County Department of Family ServicesΒ· Social WorkerGrand Rapids, MI2017-06 – 2020-08
    • Applied a Strengths-Based Approach and Motivational Interviewing techniques with clients in Mental Health Services programs.
    • Maintained Progress Notes and followed Mandated Reporting requirements for a caseload of 20 children and families.
    • Practiced Crisis Management and Boundary Setting while supporting clients through Family Counseling sessions.
  • Community Support NetworkΒ· Case Manager (BSW)Grand Rapids, MI2015-08 – 2017-05
    • Began as a case manager with a BSW (Bachelor of Social Work), providing Needs Assessment support for homeless and low-income families.
    • Advanced to full case management responsibilities after one year and completed initial licensure supervision hours.

Education

  • Wayne State UniversityΒ· Master of Social Work (MSW)Social Work2017-09 – 2019-05
  • Grand Valley State UniversityΒ· Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Social Work2011-08 – 2015-05

Certifications

  • LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) Β· State of Michigan (2020)
  • CPR Certification Β· American Red Cross (2023)

Why this example passes the ATS

  • Skills are grouped into clinical practice, specialization, systems, and licensure, matching how agency ATS filters scan for both credentials and hands-on skills.
  • Licensure is listed with the full name and abbreviation together, for example LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), so both forms match a search.
  • Bullets state caseload size, such as managing 25 to 30 clients, which shows scope that a generic "provided support" line cannot.
  • The specialization, Child Welfare, is named directly rather than left implied, which matches how agencies post very specific openings.
  • The career path from a BSW-level case manager to an MSW and LCSW is shown clearly through separate roles and education entries, which reads as a real licensure track record.

Social Worker ATS keywords in this example

Grouped the way the checker groups them. Green terms appear in the example above; grey ones are in the dictionary but not used here.

Clinical & Case Management Skills

10/13
  • Case Management
  • Client Assessment
  • Needs Assessment
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Treatment Planning
  • Individual Counseling
  • Family Counseling
  • Safety Planning
  • Risk Assessment
  • Referral Coordination
  • Group Counseling
  • Client Advocacy
  • Discharge Planning

Specializations

4/11
  • Child Welfare
  • Family Services
  • Mental Health Services
  • Community Outreach
  • Substance Abuse Counseling
  • Geriatric Social Work
  • Medical Social Work
  • School Social Work
  • Domestic Violence Advocacy
  • Foster Care Services
  • Housing Assistance Services

Systems & Documentation

5/9
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR)
  • Client Documentation
  • Progress Notes
  • HIPAA Compliance
  • Mandated Reporting
  • Case Management Software
  • Service Plan Documentation
  • Data Tracking Systems
  • Confidentiality Standards

Certifications & Licenses

4/8
  • LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
  • MSW (Master of Social Work)
  • BSW (Bachelor of Social Work)
  • CPR Certification
  • LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker)
  • Motivational Interviewing Certification
  • Trauma-Informed Care Training
  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention Training

Programs & Frameworks

3/9
  • Trauma-Informed Care
  • Strengths-Based Approach
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Person-Centered Planning
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Techniques
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Community Resource Navigation
  • Interagency Collaboration
  • Cultural Competency

Soft Skills

9/10
  • Empathy
  • Active Listening
  • Communication Skills
  • Crisis Management
  • Boundary Setting
  • Advocacy
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Problem Solving
  • Resilience
  • Time Management

How to adapt this example to your own experience

  1. 1State your own licensure level and state, such as LMSW or a different state's LCSW, since agencies filter for licensure by exact name.
  2. 2Name your specialization, whether Medical Social Work, School Social Work, or Substance Abuse Counseling, to match specific postings.
  3. 3Quantify caseload size and population served wherever you can, since this is one of the first things a hiring supervisor looks for.
  4. 4List the frameworks you actually use, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Techniques or Solution-Focused Therapy, instead of Trauma-Informed Care if it differs.
  5. 5Keep the current role longest with four to five bullets, and compress an early case manager role to two.

Questions about the Social Worker resume

How long should a social worker resume be?

One page for early career social workers, up to two pages for licensed clinicians with a decade or more of experience across multiple agencies. Keep licensure and specialization visible on the first page either way.

Should I list my licensure number on my resume?

It is not necessary on the resume itself. State your licensure level and the issuing state, and be ready to provide the license number during the application or verification process.

What if I have a BSW but not yet an MSW?

List your BSW clearly and describe your case management experience in detail. Many agencies hire BSW-level case managers directly, and you can note if you are pursuing an MSW.

How do I handle a gap for licensure supervision hours?

List the supervised role during that period, such as a case manager or social work associate position, rather than leaving a gap. Supervised hours are a normal, expected part of the path to full licensure.

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