Social Work Cover Letter Example

Text Format

[Today’s Date] [Hiring Manager’s Name] [Company Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Telephone No.] [Hiring Manager’s Email]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I’m excited to apply for your newly announced social worker position as advertised on [Website Name]. Combining 8 years of experience with a master’s degree in social work, I’m confident I would be an ideal candidate for this job opening.

Throughout my career, I’ve demonstrated an ability to provide superb emotional support and guidance to children, adolescents, and victims of domestic violence. Presently, I provide consultation, assessment, and treatment planning for children with complex psychological needs.

I’ve accumulated valuable hands-on experience in many facets of social work as demonstrated by the following accomplishments:

Orchestrated more than 200 crisis interventions, achieving a 94% success rate over a period of 4 years
Recipient of the 2017 Future of Social Work Award from the NASW Pennsylvania Chapter
Currently managing an average caseload of 47 patients per month, with 42 making significant improvement during the last 3 months

My credentials, track record, and volunteer experience all show my unwavering dedication to social work. I truly love helping people overcome seemingly insurmountable predicaments, and it would be my honor to continue doing so as a member of your team.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy. I look forward to meeting you and discussing how I can contribute to [Company Name]’s vision in providing world-class psychological support services to teens nationwide. You may contact me at 895 555-555 or youremail@gmail.com to arrange an interview.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Social Work Cover Letter Tips

Learning how to put together a cover letter for the specific job(s) you want will help you land more interviews.

Social workers help vulnerable people navigate challenging circumstances by providing guidance and referring them to the right resources.

Show employers you’re the right person for the job by showcasing your skills in an outstanding cover letter.

Follow these three tips to write a social work cover letter that’s sure to stand out:

Highlight social work skills

As a social worker, you’ll spend most of your time assessing needs, preparing treatment plans to help clients, and following up to ensure an improvement in their situations.

In your cover letter, highlight key social worker skills to show employers you’re committed to supporting the well-being of others.

For example, patience, compassion, and adaptability are vital skills for an effective social worker.

Here’s a list of hard and soft skills to highlight in your social work cover letter:

Empathy
Interpersonal skills
People skills
Active listening
Observational skills
Critical thinking
Decision-making skills
Problem-solving skills
Crisis management
Stress management
Knowledge of human behavior and intervention techniques
Therapy and counseling
Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and Outlook)
Medical software (Social Solutions/Bonterra ETO and MEDITECH software)

Show your passion for helping others

Because your main responsibility as a social worker is helping others overcome their challenges, employers need to know you can provide compassionate counseling and guidance to individuals or families.

In your cover letter, show your dedication to helping others to demonstrate you have the skills and passion to advocate for vulnerable groups.

For example, talk about your experience working as a high school counselor, or how you started an afterschool program for teens to provide resources to those who require support.

Emphasize your communication skills

Social workers work closely with vulnerable groups with diverse histories, so strong communication skills are essential. Besides interacting with clients and their families, social workers also communicate with various professionals to ensure vulnerable people receive adequate assistance.

Emphasize your communication skills in your cover letter to show employers you can maintain professional relationships, address sensitive topics with clients, and collaborate with other social workers to develop treatment plans.

For example, discuss your experience as a child and family social worker and how you’ve helped families receive additional support by reaching out to your network.