5 Kane Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Department of Transitional Assistance
600 Washington Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Dear Employment Coordinator,
A friend of mine who works at Department of Transitional Assistance has informed me that the DTA is seeking to fill the position of Benefits Eligibility and Referral Social Worker A/B. I am aware of the important work this division of Massachusetts government does in helping people who are going through difficult times get back on their feet. Having studied at the College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit institution, I was challenged to consider, as outlined by the College’s mission statement, “basic human questions: . . . What are our obligations to one another? What is our special responsibility to the world's poor and powerless?” I wish to fulfill m special responsibility to the world’s poor and powerless through your program, and I have the necessary experience and attitude to be an essential component of your team.
Ways in which I engaged in social issues on campus included writing articles for two of the College’s student news publications, Part of the way in which I engaged in social issues at Holy Cross was through one of the college’s multicultural student organization, the Multicultural Peer Educators, which specializes in hosting campus events that foster discussion around such topics as race, gender, and disability. This kind of background has opened me up to the struggles of the wider world, and equipped me with the ability to interact with the culturally diverse population at the Department of Transitional Assistance. I was an intern at both Governor Patrick’s Western Massachusetts Regional Office, where I wrote emails on Microsoft Outlook and Word, edited documents and newsletters, and conducted research on state laws, and the Department of Transitional Assistance in Springfield. It was at these internships where I aided in filing, used a photocopier, and directing constituents at the front desk to the appropriate channels for acquiring emergency housing and food stamps. One such case I handled involved a woman who had recently lost her brother, and was dealing with harassment from her husband.
I may be contacted via email at or by phone at (413)-561-8452. I look forward to scheduling an interview.
Sincerely,
Terrence Smith
Qualifications:
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCE: At least two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional or paraprofessional experience in social work or social casework, claims adjudication, job placement, recruitment, employment counseling, vocational or rehabilitation counseling, credit investigation, educational counseling, legal advocacy, or legal counseling.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- A Bachelor's or higher degree may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of two years of education for one year of experience.
- One year of education equals 30 semester hours. Education toward a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
LICENSES: Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent from another state.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Fluency in English; fluency in a second language is desirable.
• Knowledge of the principles and correct usage of the English language for effective written and spoken communication including: grammar, spelling, sentence structure, word meaning and punctuation.
Written for Unlisted, the Crusader, the Holy Cross Advocate, and edited documents and emails for Elizabeth Cardona.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
Been an interviewee numerous times.
• Ability to assess, prioritize and organize many tasks.
• Knowledge of the social and economic problems of the diverse client population and the related impact on employability and self-sufficiency, for example, employment challenges of minorities and the economically disadvantaged and behavioral issues which may form barriers to employment.
• Ability to read, interpret, apply and explain the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing agency operations and assigned unit activities.
Researched laws at Governor’s Office.
• Ability to read, interpret and apply Federal, State and local social services programs, laws, statutes and regulations that affect eligibility for financial assistance, such as: worker's compensation, social security and unemployment insurance.
DTA
• Ability to gather and assemble items of information in accordance with established procedures, such as, through questioning and observing individuals and by examining records and documents.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, such as, giving written and oral instructions in a precise, understandable manner, accurately recording information provided orally; and writing concisely with a clear expression of thoughts and the development of ideas in logical sequence.
• Ability to maintain accurate records on information provided either orally or in writing.
• Ability to determine the applicability of client data, to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to deal tactfully and establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others, including, for example, working in a team setting, functioning successfully in group situations, establishing rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or economic backgrounds, interacting with and demonstrating empathy to people who are under physical and/or emotional stress and maintaining a calm manner in stressful and/or emergency situations.
Multicultural Peer Educators
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, including the exercise of discretion in handling confidential information. Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills.
• Ability to work under adverse working conditions.
• Ability to use multiple personal computer (PC) based systems and applications.
Microsoft Word, Excel, Office, Windows, Linux