A social work career in gerontology requires a thoughtful balance of empathy and analytical thinking. Prospective social workers must show potential employers that they have the compassion and patience required to work with older adults and the technical knowledge needed to understand their challenges. Working as a senior social worker can involve many different tasks depending on your role. These responsibilities may include case management, advising families and caregivers on estate planning or financial assistance programs, coordinating services from healthcare professionals such as physical therapists or speech therapists, and providing crisis counseling for individuals with depression or other mental health issues. To stand out among other applicants, you must include several specific sections when creating your resume: Education and Training, Experience, Skills, References, and Additional Documents.
Geriatric Social Worker Resume Example
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Education and Training
As a prospective social worker, choosing your degree program carefully is crucial. Look for a school with a proven track record of placing students in the field, such as the If you want to work with older adults; you will likely want to pursue a BSW with a gerontology specialization. If you are interested in working with children, you might choose a BSW with a field in child welfare. Because geriatric social workers must be skilled in financial planning, you may also want to consider a BSW specializing in financial planning. Remember that you can always add a financial planning or gerontology specialization later. If you are attending a university, check whether they have a particular program or curriculum in gerontology.
Experience
As a new social worker, you may find it challenging to secure a job. Therefore you will want to consider different options to add experience to your resume as soon as possible. The advantage of an internship is that it gives you valuable on-the-job experience while also displaying your commitment to the profession. You will likely be assigned a mentor and can utilize the opportunity to network with experienced social workers. Another option is to work as a volunteer. Your local senior center or home share organization may have regular tasks that do not require a license. If you have a family member or close friend diagnosed with a chronic disease, you might consider becoming their caregiver and documenting your experiences.
Skills
Social workers must be compassionate and empathetic individuals. If you want to work with older adults, you must be able to put yourself in your clients’ shoes and be patient with their challenges. If you want to work with children, you must be patient and empathetic, but you must also be firm when the situation calls for it. Social workers often help clients with financial planning. You will need to be technically competent in understanding basic investment types, financial planning for retirement, and long-term care insurance. To work with individuals with mental health disorders, you must have the emotional intelligence to help them cope with their challenges while maintaining your professional boundaries.
References
You probably do not have many references as a new social worker. However, you can still include them on your resume. In addition, you can ask your former professors or advisors to write you letters of recommendation or list individuals you plan to ask later. If you have friends or family members who work in the same field, you can ask them if they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. If you are an older student and have been out of school for some time, you may want to approach your former employers for letters of recommendation. If you completed an internship, you may find that your supervisor would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation.
Additional Documents
If you have the opportunity to present your resume to a potential employer in person, you may not need to include your resume and cover letter. However, if you are applying for a job remotely, you must submit both documents. You should also include any letters of recommendation that you have received. You may also want to consider attaching a copy of your transcript to show that you have met all graduation requirements. Finally, you may wish to submit any licenses or certifications you have earned. If you have worked as a volunteer, you may also want to include a brief description of your work history.
Conclusion
The world is growing older, and there is a growing need for senior social workers. This is an excellent career path for compassionate individuals comfortable with a high level of responsibility. If you are interested in improving the lives of older adults, you will want to pursue a degree in social work. As you progress in your education, be sure to choose a program specializing in gerontology. If you want to work with children, there are also many options. For example, you can use your skills in child welfare to help younger individuals, or you can explore a different specialization in social work. Once you have graduated, you will need to find ways to add experience to your resume as soon as possible. You can also look for volunteer positions or internships to gain valuable on-the-job experience.