As a case manager, effectively showcasing your diverse skill set and caseload management experience on a resume can be a daunting challenge. Our guide provides you with structured advice and examples that help you articulate your expertise and achievements, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.
- Which sections do you need to include in your resume to meet recruiters' requirements;
- How to write your case manager resume experience section - even if you have don't have little to no work experience;
- Real-life professional examples to guide you how to write the most important case manager resume sections;
- Adding even more sections so your case manager resume stands out with professionalism and your personality.
We've also selected some of the best (and most relevant) resume guides for the case manager role you're applying for:
Optimize your case manager resume format to pass the recruiters' assessment
You may be wondering just how much time you need to spend on designing your case manager resume.
What recruiters are looking for is systematised content that is clear and coherent. Thus, your case manager resume needs to answer requirements and why you're the best candidate for the role from the get-go.
Often, a clear layout consists of:
- Sorting your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your most recent and relevant roles. This is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals;
- Writing your contact information (e.g. personal phone number and email address) and your portfolio or LinkedIn link in your case manager resume header. If you're wondering to include a photo or not, always make sure that it's appropriate for the country you're applying in;
- Use the basic, most important case manager resume sections - your experience, education, summary, etc. Use your resume's real estate wisely to tell a compelling, professional story and match job description's keywords;
- Don't go overboard with the length of your resume. One page is absolutely fine if you happen to have under a decade of relevant experience.
Are you still wondering if you should submit your case manager resume in PDF or Word format ? The PDF has a few more advantages, as it doesn't change the format and the text can't be altered upon application.
Format matters most when your case manager resume is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS).
The ATS parses resumes, looking for specific keywords, skills or experience that match the job description.
P.S. We recently did a study on how the ATS works and were able to demystify three of the biggest misconceptions about how it assesses candidate resumes.
To pass the ATS evaluation, select any of the serif or sans-serif fonts. Popular choices that would help your case manager resume stand out include Raleway, Exo 2, Montserrat, etc.
Most traditionalists go for Arial or Times New Roman, but it's often the case that many candidates choose these fonts, and you'd thus lose points on the uniqueness front.
Different markets have specific resume formats – a Canadian resume could vary in layout.
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PRO TIP
If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.
Ensure your case manager resume stands out with these mandatory sections:
- Header - the section recruiters look to find your contact details, portfolio, and potentially, your current role
- Summary or objective - where your achievements could meet your career goals
- Experience - showcasing you have the technical (and personal) know-how for the role
- Skills - further highlighting capabilities that matter most to the case manager advert and your application
- Certifications/Education - staying up-to-date with industry trends
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Demonstrated experience in case management, showcasing the ability to develop and manage case plans effectively.
- Knowledge of relevant laws, ethical standards, and regulations that guide case management practices.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with emphasis on communication and empathy, to liaise with clients, families, and other healthcare professionals.
- Experience with case management software and administrative skills to maintain accurate records and reports.
- Proven problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills to navigate complex cases and advocate for the needs of the clients.
What is the resume experience section and how to write one for your past roles
The experience section in a case manager resume is critical for your profile and overall application. It should not only display your work history, but also highlight your achievements in previous roles.
Many candidates either simply list their duties or provide excessive details about past, irrelevant jobs. A more effective approach involves first examining the job advertisement for keywords - specifically, skills essential for the role. Then, demonstrate these key requirements throughout different parts of your resume, using accomplishments from your roles.
Format each bullet point in your experience section by starting with a strong action verb. Follow this with a description of your role and its impact on the team or organization.
Aim to include three to five bullet points for each role.
Finally, gain insights into how professionals have crafted their case manager resume experience sections by exploring some best practice examples.
- Managed a caseload of over 70 clients, providing comprehensive care plans that reduced hospital readmission rates by 30% within a year.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams across different departments to ensure the delivery of holistic and client-centered services.
- Pioneered a community outreach program that connected additional 200 clients with vital services, improving overall community health benchmarks.
- Orchestrated the implementation of a new client tracking system that improved record accuracy and boosted staff efficiency by 25%.
- Conducted training sessions for new case workers, effectively reducing onboarding time from 3 months to 6 weeks.
- Authored and secured a grant proposal for $500,000 to fund a mental health program for underserved populations.
- Led a team of 15 case managers, streamlining processes and reducing average case resolution time from 90 to 60 days.
- Established partnership agreements with 5 local nonprofits to extend services to clients, ensuring a 20% increase in successful case closures.
- Developed an annual departmental budget that cut unnecessary expenditures by 10% without compromising on service quality.
- Spearheaded a pilot program focused on cognitive behavioral therapy which increased patient satisfaction scores by 35%.
- Developed and executed individualized treatment plans for high-risk clients resulting in a 40% reduction in crisis episodes.
- Facilitated weekly interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress, challenges, and coordinate care interventions.
- Successfully managed complex cases for over 100 patients annually, focusing on chronic conditions and ensuring a 20% improvement in patient adherence to treatment plans.
- Integrated evidence-based practices into client care strategies, which led to a 15% increase in recovery rates over a two-year period.
- Participated in the roll-out of a new electronic health record system, providing critical feedback that shaped user interface design for case managers.
- Streamlined patient discharge processes, effectively reducing the average hospital stay by 1.5 days and enhancing bed availability.
- Liaised consistently with insurance providers to negotiate care coverage for patients, securing on average 90% of the requested funds.
- Introduced a patient education initiative that bolstered self-management practices and decreased emergency room visits by 25%.
- Oversaw case management services within a community setting, supporting over 50 clients with accessing housing and employment opportunities.
- Coordinated with local law enforcement to develop a safety plan for clients in high-risk situations, resulting in a significant reduction in incident reports.
- Implemented a feedback system for clients, which informed service improvements leading to a 95% client satisfaction rate.
- Directed care coordination for patients with complex needs, significantly improving compliance with treatment protocols by spearheading a new case management app.
- Negotiated cost-effective care plans with providers, saving the company an estimated $200,000 annually in healthcare costs.
- Chaired a cross-functional committee to develop a new health and wellness program that was adopted company-wide and led to a 10% improvement in employee health metrics.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for case manager professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Case Manager:
- Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.
- Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.
- Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.
- Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.
- Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.
- Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.
- Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in community to meet community needs and to ensure that services are not duplicated.
- Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.
- Research and analyze member or community needs to determine program directions and goals.
- Implement and evaluate staff, volunteer, or community training programs.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Highlight the number of clients managed simultaneously to demonstrate efficiency and organizational skills.
- List the percentage of cases successfully closed or resolved to show effectiveness and outcome orientation.
- Mention specific amounts of funding secured through grants or other resources to illustrate financial acumen and resourcefulness.
- Quantify the scale of programs developed or managed, such as the number of participants, to indicate leadership and project management capabilities.
- Detail the reduction in case processing time achieved through improvements or interventions to reflect problem-solving skills.
- Indicate the number of cross-functional teams collaborated with to exhibit teamwork and communication strengths.
- Document any percentage increase in client satisfaction scores to demonstrate a commitment to service excellence.
- Specify the number of training sessions or workshops conducted to highlight expertise and a dedication to professional development.
Action verbs for your case manager resume
Experience section for candidates with zero-to-none experience
While you may have less professional experience in the field, that doesn't mean you should leave this section of your resume empty or blank.
Consider these four strategies on how to substitute the lack of experience with:
- Volunteer roles - as part of the community, you've probably gained valuable people (and sometimes even technological capabilities) that could answer the job requirements
- Research projects - while in your university days, you may have been part of some cutting-edge project to benefit the field. Curate this within your experience section as a substitute for real-world experience
- Internships - while you may consider that that summer internship in New York was solely mandatory to your degree, make sure to include it as part of your experience, if it's relevant to the role
- Irrelevant previous jobs - instead of detailing the technologies you've learned, think about the transferable skills you've gained.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.
Bringing your case manager hard skills and soft skills to the forefront of recruiters' attention
Hard skills are used to define the technological (and software) capacities you have in the industry. Technical skills are easily defined via your certification and expertise.
Soft skills have more to do with your at-work personality and how you prosper within new environments. People skills can be obtained thanks to your whole life experience and are thus a bit more difficult to define.
Why do recruiters care about both types of skills?
Hard skills have more to do with job alignment and the time your new potential employers would have to invest in training you.
Soft skills hint at how well you'd adapt to your new environment, company culture, and task organization.
Fine-tune your resume to reflect on your skills capacities and talents:
- Avoid listing basic requirements (e.g. "Excel"), instead substitute with the specifics of the technology (e.g. "Excel Macros").
- Feature your workplace values and ethics as soft skills to hint at what matters most to you in a new environment.
- Build a separate skills section for your language capabilities, only if it makes sense to the role you're applying for.
- The best way to balance case manager hard and soft skills is by building a strengths or achievements section, where you define your outcomes via both types of skills.
There are plenty of skills that could make the cut on your resume.
That's why we've compiled for you some of the most wanted skills by recruiters, so make sure to include the technologies and soft skills that make the most sense to you (and the company you're applying for):
Top skills for your case manager resume:
Case Management Software
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Systems
Data Analysis Tools
Microsoft Office Suite
CRM Software
Project Management Tools
Legal Research Databases
Assessment Tools
Telecommunication Systems
Resource Management Software
Communication
Empathy
Problem-Solving
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Conflict Resolution
Interpersonal Skills
Organizational Skills
Team Collaboration
Cultural Competence
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for case manager professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Case Manager’s resume:
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- FileMaker Pro
- Microsoft Access
PRO TIP
List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
Certifications and education: in-demand sections for your case manager resume
Your academic background in the form of certifications on your resume and your higher degree education is important to your application.
The certifications and education sections pinpoint a variety of hard and soft skills you possess, as well as your dedication to the industry.
Add relevant certificates to your case manager resume by:
- Add special achievements or recognitions you've received during your education or certification, only if they're really noteworthy and/or applicable to the role
- Be concise - don't list every and any certificate you've obtained through your career, but instead, select the ones that would be most impressive to the role
- Include the name of the certificate or degree, institution, graduation dates, and certificate license numbers (if possible)
- Organize your education in reverse chronological format, starting with the latest degree you have that's most applicable for the role
Think of the education and certification sections as the further credibility your case manager resume needs to pinpoint your success.
Now, if you're stuck on these resume sections, we've curated a list of the most popular technical certificates across the industry.
Have a look, below:
The top 5 certifications for your case manager resume:
- Accredited case manager (ACM) from the American Case Management Association (ACMA)
- Certified case manager (CCM) from the Commission for case manager Certification (CCMC)
- Case Management Administrator Certification (CMAC) from the Center for Case Management
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) from the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)
- Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA)
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for case manager professionals.
Top US associations for a Case Manager professional
- American Counseling Association
- American Nurses Association
- American Public Human Services Association
- American Society for Public Administration
- Catholic Charities USA
PRO TIP
If you failed to obtain one of the certificates, as listed in the requirements, but decide to include it on your resume, make sure to include a note somewhere that you have the "relevant training, but are planning to re-take the exams". Support this statement with the actual date you're planning to be re-examined. Always be honest on your resume.
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Deciding between a resume summary or objective for your case manager role
Understanding the distinction between a resume summary and an objective is crucial for your case manager resume.
A resume summary, typically three to five sentences long, offers a concise overview of your career. This is the place to showcase your most pertinent experience, key accomplishments, and skills. It's particularly well-suited for those with professional experience relevant to the job requirements.
In contrast, a resume objective focuses on how you can add value to potential employers. It addresses why they should hire you and outlines your career expectations and learning goals. Therefore, it's ideal for candidates with less experience.
In the following section of our guide, explore how resume summaries and objectives differ through some exemplary industry-specific examples.
Resume summaries for a case manager job
- Seasoned case manager with over 8 years of experience in mental health care, adept at developing patient-centric plans and implementing treatment protocols. Utilized exceptional communication skills to coordinate with interdisciplinary teams, resulting in a 30% increase in patient adherence to treatment plans at Sunnyside Behavioral Health.
- Dedicated social work professional transitioning to case management, bringing 5 years of experience advocating for underprivileged families. Expertise in resource allocation and navigating complex social systems has empowered clients to achieve self-sufficiency, demonstrated by successful closure of 85% of cases at Community Outreach Partners.
- Former hospital administrator with a decade's worth of experience in healthcare operations seeks to leverage organizational and strategic planning skills as a case manager. Proven ability to coordinate with medical personnel and manage patient flow, leading to a 15% improvement in hospital efficiency at MedEx Health Systems.
- Passionate individual entering the field of case management with a strong academic background in psychology and public health. Brings hands-on volunteer experience with diverse populations, exceptional research abilities, and a keen understanding of behavioral health strategies, aiming to deliver comprehensive support to clients in need.
- Enthusiastic recent graduate with a Masters in Social Work aiming to apply theoretical knowledge and internship experience in case management. Eager to contribute to client-centered solutions and driven to learn from seasoned professionals in a dynamic care setting, with a special interest in family and child welfare services.
- Dynamic professional with over 12 years of experience in corporate project management shifting focus to human services case management. Purpose-driven leader with a proven record of accomplishments in project delivery and team building, seeking to apply transferable skills to make meaningful impact in individuals' lives through attentive and tailored case administration.
Average salary info by state in the US for case manager professionals
Local salary info for Case Manager.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $77,030 |
| California (CA) | $78,580 |
| Texas (TX) | $72,380 |
| Florida (FL) | $67,140 |
| New York (NY) | $94,250 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $77,710 |
| Illinois (IL) | $73,010 |
| Ohio (OH) | $69,170 |
| Georgia (GA) | $71,040 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $67,910 |
| Michigan (MI) | $79,370 |
Bonus sections for your case manager resume
Looking to show more personality on your case manager resume? Then consider including a couple of extra sections.
They'd benefit your application by highlighting your most prominent:
Key takeaways
- The logic of your resume presentation should follow your career highlights and alignment with the role;
- Curate information within different sections (e.g. summary, experience, etc.) that helps highlight your strengths;
- Exclude from your resume irrelevant experience items - that way you'd ensure it stays no longer than two pages and is easy to read;
- Dedicate space within the summary, experience, and/or achievements to highlight precisely why you're the best candidate for the role via your previous success;
- Both your technical and people capabilities should also play a crucial role in building up your case manager application. Prove your skill set in various resume sections.
