Action Verbs for Your Social Work Résumé

by Regina Praetorius, MSSW, GSW, and Laura Lawson, MSW, GSW   

     These are verbs that we suggest you use on your résumé. Please note that many of these verbs fall into multiple categories. Also, for positions you are still working in, use the present tense.

Administrative

• Budgeted
• Charted
• Collected
• Coordinated
• Compiled
• Documented
• Managed
• Organized
• Planned
• Prepared
• Reviewed
• Solicited
• Supervised
• Trained

Advocacy

• Advocated
• Arranged
• Composed
• Demonstrated
• Developed
• Implemented
• Motivated
• Organized
• Participated
• Utilized

Assessment

• Attended
• Assessed
• Collaborated
• Conducted
• Defined
• Diagnosed
• Established
• Gathered
• Identified
• Interviewed
• Probed

Counseling

• Assisted
• Co-facilitated
• Counseled
• Designed
• Determined
• Discussed
• Educated
• Explained
• Facilitated
• Fielded
• Intervened
• Linked
• Located
• Referred
• Served
• Supported

Research

• Analyzed
• Collected
• Designed
• Developed
• Interpreted
• Presented
• Published
• Researched
• Wrote