How to Write a Social Work Job Cover Letter

A social work job can be in a variety of settings with multiple purposes. Many hospitals and clinics offer social work for family or individual therapy, bereavement counseling, crisis and suicide intervention and vocational counseling. Social workers also work as independent therapists or in alliance with a psychiatrist or psychologist. A well-written cover letter is essential to getting an interview in the highly competitive social work market.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Highlight Your Skills in Social Work

1. Use the first paragraph of a cover letter to explain why you are applying for a social work position. Identify the job and location by name. This is the place to indicate your interest in working for the company or in a specific medical group.
2. Write the second paragraph to cover the skills required for the job and how your qualifications meet or exceed the stated requirements. If the position is for family counseling, relate any experience you have working with children. This could be in social work, or you can make reference to any volunteer work you may have done assisting children with social issues. Make your experience relate to the job.
3. Close your cover letter with a courtesy paragraph. Express thanks for the time and consideration of your resume. Clearly state the best way to get in contact with you. Let the personnel manager know that you will give a follow-up call in a few days to confirm she has received your application.

Write a Social Work Job e-Cover Letter

4. Respond to a social work job opening with an electronic cover letter and application only if it is acknowledged in the job posting. Acceptable protocol to write an e-cover letter is slightly different from standard mail. Electronic response is much shorter. Consider 1 or 2 paragraphs (about 150 words) to be sufficient.
5. Make good use of the subject line by putting a title that will pique the interest of the office manager or hiring personnel. Use keywords that highlight the job description.
6. Include 2 or 3 sentences in the main body of the e-cover letter about how your skills and experience meets the requirements in the job description. Make sure your phone contact number is included in the closing paragraph.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if a cover letter is not requested, your chances of getting an interview are greatly improved if you provide a concise, informative cover letter with your resume.
• Use left-justified margins in an e-cover letter and put a blank line between paragraphs.

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