Geriatric Social Worker Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Geriatric Social Worker resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Geriatric social workers are a unique breed of social worker who specialize in providing services to older adults. They work with clients to identify their needs and goals, then help them navigate the healthcare system, find affordable housing options, and connect with other community resources.
If you’re passionate about helping older adults live the best lives possible despite physical or mental challenges, or if you want to help families navigate the complex world of end-of-life care, a job as a geriatric social worker could be the perfect fit for you.
Before you can land your dream job, however, you need a resume that will impress hiring managers. Here are some tips and an example to help you write yours.
How to Write a Geriatric Social Worker Resume
Here’s how to write a geriatric social worker resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can use your bullet points to tell a story about how you helped a client or patient. For example, rather than saying you “provided counseling services to elderly patients in long-term care facilities,” you could say you “provided counseling services to elderly patients in long-term care facilities, resulting in a 20% decrease in depression symptoms and an increase in quality of life as reported by residents and their families.”
The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of what you did and the results of your work. And it provides a specific number to demonstrate the level of impact you had.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job, your resume is usually entered into an applicant tracking system (ATS) that scans it for certain keywords. The ATS looks for keywords related to the position like “end-of-life care” or “home care” in order to determine whether your skills and experience are a match for the job opening. If your resume doesn’t include enough relevant keywords, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of commonly used geriatric social work keywords to help you optimize your resume:
- Gerontology
- Social Work
- Mental Health
- Case Management
- Psychotherapy
- Mental Health Counseling
- Interventions
- Community Outreach
- Crisis Intervention
- Working with Adolescents
- Group Therapy
- Healthcare
- Program Development
- Working with Veterans
- Psychosocial
- Behavioral Health
- Social Services
- Healthcare Management
- Patient Safety
- Mental Health Evaluation
- Clinical Supervision
- Hospitals
- Clinical Research
- Health Education
- Public Speaking
- Microsoft Access
- Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Team Leadership
- Research
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a geriatric social worker, you will need to be proficient in a number of software programs and systems in order to effectively do your job. This might include familiarity with case management software, electronic health records (EHR) systems, and social media platforms. Additionally, you will need to be able to use technology to communicate with other members of the healthcare team, including doctors, nurses, and other social workers.