Social Work Cover Letter Example

Learn how to land a fulfilling role as a social worker by drawing inspiration from our social work cover letter sample. Your next job is just a cover letter away.

August 23, 2024

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Entry Level

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Mid Level

Social work cover letter — example and template for a social worker

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Senior Level

An example cover letter for an experienced social worker.

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Social Work Cover Letter Template

Copy-paste Social Work Cover Letter (Text Format)

Entry
Mid
Senior

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

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

I am writing to apply for the entry-level Social Worker position at Springfield Community Services, as advertised on your organization’s website. As a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Illinois State University, I am excited about the opportunity to begin my career serving our community’s most vulnerable populations.

During my academic journey, I developed a strong foundation in social work principles, ethics, and practices. My coursework and internship experiences have prepared me to hit the ground running in this role:

Internship: Completed a 400-hour internship at Sunshine Youth Center, where I assisted in case management for at-risk teens, developed and facilitated group therapy sessions, and contributed to the center’s outreach programs.
Relevant coursework: Excelled in classes such as Social Work Practice, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and Community Organization, maintaining a 3.8 GPA in my major.
Volunteer work: Dedicated over 200 hours to the local homeless shelter, gaining firsthand experience in crisis intervention and resource allocation.
Research project: Conducted a community needs assessment for my senior thesis, focusing on access to mental health services in rural areas, which honed my research and analytical skills.

What draws me to Springfield Community Services is your holistic approach to addressing social issues and your commitment to promoting social justice. Your recent initiative to provide integrated support services for families affected by the opioid crisis particularly resonates with me, as it aligns with my passion for substance abuse prevention and family support.

Thank you for considering my application. I am very excited about the prospect of joining the dedicated team at Springfield Community Services and contributing to the vital work you do in our community. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and passion align with the needs of your organization.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

[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]

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

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

I am writing to express my interest in the Senior Social Worker position at the Chicago Community Health Alliance. With over a decade of experience in clinical social work and a proven track record in program development, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to your innovative community health initiatives.

Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to improving the lives of diverse populations, with a particular focus on integrating mental health services into primary care settings. In my current role as Lead Social Worker at Urban Wellness Center, I have:

Developed and implemented a successful integrated behavioral health program, resulting in a 40% increase in mental health screenings and a 30% reduction in emergency room visits for our patients with chronic conditions
Supervised a team of 8 social workers and 3 case managers, providing clinical oversight and fostering a culture of continuous learning and evidence-based practice
Secured a $500,000 grant to launch a community-based substance abuse prevention program, which has reached over 5,000 at-risk youth in its first two years

What particularly excites me about the Chicago Community Health Alliance is your commitment to addressing social determinants of health through innovative, cross-sector partnerships. Your recent initiative to integrate housing support services with primary care aligns perfectly with my belief in holistic, person-centered care.

I am eager to bring my combination of clinical expertise, leadership experience, and passion for community health to your team. I am particularly interested in contributing to the expansion of your integrated care model and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my background could support the alliance’s strategic goals.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how I can contribute to the vital work of the Chicago Community Health Alliance in improving the health and well-being of our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Average social worker salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.

Average social worker annual salaries by state

States	Salary / Year
California	$65,840
New York	$67,370
Texas	$50,380
Florida	$47,490
Pennsylvania	$50,140
Illinois	$59,220
Ohio	$48,250
Georgia	$46,330
North Carolina	$50,820
Michigan	$57,210
National Average	$54,238

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:

1. 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)

2. 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 after school program for teens to provide resources to those who require support.

3. 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.

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Written by

Corissa Peterson

A dedicated member of the Resume Genius team with a passion for the career space, Corissa is always looking for ways to create useful resources for job seekers, from writing job-specific resume samples to crafting in-depth articles on how to ace interviews. Corissa graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Philosophy and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. Corissa’s articles have been published on Diversity Jobs, Recruiter.com, Teachstone, and Jobillico, among others, and her career advice has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, GOBankingRates, and UpJourney. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.