Social Work Cover Letter Example

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 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.