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Social worker CV Example [2024 Guide & Tips]

Are you looking to write your perfect social worker CV ? Social work is a profoundly impactful field, focused on helping individuals and communities navigate through various social challenges and improve their quality of life.

Crafting a well-structured CV is vital in showcasing your qualifications, experience and achievements. Your CV is your initial opportunity to make a strong impression on potential employers so it has to highlight your dedication to making a difference in people’s lives.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a complete step-by-step guide, valuable tips and real-world examples to assist you in creating a compelling CV and securing more job interviews.

Let’s get started!

• Social worker CV example
• Download CV template (Word format)

How to format your CV

• How to write a perfect CV (a step-by-step guide)
• Personal profile statement example
• Duties to add to your CV
• Useful skills to add to your CV
• Tips on making your CV more effective

Maria Smith

I am an experienced, mature, and caring Graduate Social Worker with a firm commitment to social care. My experience is rooted in a rock-solid background of working with young and vulnerable people from all backgrounds and differing life circumstances. I have dealt with social work in both the public and private sectors, and am adaptable to any situation which comes before me. I am comfortable in both solitary and group situations, and have excellent communication skills which are useful in times of contact with external organisations. I also have excellent observational and listening skills which are highly effective when interacting with vulnerable people, as does my extensive training in “Working with Young People and Families”.

• Local Social Worker of the Year Award (Southampton, 2013)
• Graduated with a First Class degree in Sociology & Public Policy

Relevant Modules:

• Understanding Cultural Diversity
• Exploring Disabilities in Western Societies
• The Family as an Agency
• Understanding Social Issues and Social Policy
• Community Justice and the Police
• Understanding Social Inclusion and Social Policy

Main duties performed:

• Working in partnership with external organisations such as the local hospital, schools and GP surgeries to cross-check and discuss any people of concern who may need monitoring and/or extra supervision from Social Services
• Performing routine home visitations in the local communities, particularly to families with vulnerable young children, to ensure the care provided is sufficient and meets Health and Safety standards
• Help plan and facilitate discharges
• Documenting the progress of the families under my supervision and regularly updating my superiors on any changes which may call for action
• Contributing to multidisciplinary team meetings
• Handling referrals to counselling
• Working with families in crisis situations
• Working with children in care who need foster parents or homes for adoption.
• Working with the care home staff to increase the chances of the children in their care to get fostered or adopted
• Regular home visitations and scheduled appointments
• Working with the local council and other authorities such as schools and General Practitioners to monitor any people who were in difficult situations
• Reaching out to the local area to raise awareness of issues such as domestic violence and child abuse, through carefully constructed community campaigns
• Working in conjunction with the local city council to provide support and advice to families in financial, social or emotional difficulties.
• Home visits and routine check-ups on vulnerable people in the local community
• Offering support and advice in a professional and considerate manner
• Physically helping vulnerable people in their daily routines and activities
• Providing mental comfort and companionship for vulnerable people
• Keeping the progress and changing circumstances of the people in my care documented physically and electronically, with habitual overviews.

Attended various workshops such as:

• Supporting Parents-Supporting Children (2012)
• Equality and Justice Training (2012)
• Disabilities and Mental Health Training (2011)
• Keen observational and listening skills, which are vital during my regular home visitations and conversations with vulnerable people
• Excellent interpersonal skills, which are called upon frequently during liaisons with other authorities to discuss cases of interest/concern
• Natural ability to bond with young and vulnerable people, which builds a relationship of trust and disclosure
• A logical and analytical mind which harmonises with the demands of my profession (e.g. objectivity, professionalism)
• The ability to be friendly and approachable while also maintaining an investigative attitude.

My interests are rooted in the world of social care; I volunteer in the local youth club on irregular weekends to spend time with the children in my community – many of whom I am familiar with from home visits. When I’m not working, I enjoy going out on days out with my family and having fun with friends. I am also a passionate reader, and I look forward to writing a book one day in the future.

What makes this CV good and effective?

• This CV is well presented, follows a conventional format, contains only relevant information and does a great job of introducing the candidate as a strong contester for the role of a social worker.
• The personal profile statement is effective because it clearly outlines the individual’s experience, adaptability, and commitment to social care, which are all crucial qualities for a social worker. The profile also highlights the individual’s strong communication, observational and listening skills, as well as their specific training in working with young people and families.
• The candidate has incorporated relevant keywords from the job description to increase their CV’s visibility to applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• The CV is achievement-focused and everything is backed up with real-life examples, facts and figures.
• The employment section comprehensively outlines the candidate’s work experience, showcasing their extensive knowledge and experience in social care.
• The skills listed closely match the skills required for the job.

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How to save your CV as a PDF document:

• Click on File > Save As > Select “PDF” from the drop-down menu.
• Utilise a Clean and Professional Layout: Begin by choosing a clean, professional template that is easy to read. Use clear headings and consistent formatting throughout your CV.
• Craft a Compelling Profile Statement: Start your CV with a powerful, concise profile statement that encapsulates your skills, experience and passion for social work. For example, “Dedicated social worker with 5+ years of experience in child welfare and a commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children.”
• Use Bullet Points for Clarity: Employ bullet points to make your CV scannable and easy to navigate, especially when listing your responsibilities and achievements in each role.
• Keep it Concise: Limit your CV to two A4 pages, focusing on the most relevant and impactful information. Omit any irrelevant personal details and outdated information.
• Make it Visually Appealing: Use minimal design elements like bold headings, columns and bullet points to enhance visual appeal while keeping the focus on content.

How to write a Social worker CV (a step-by-step guide)

Personal details.

Your CV’s personal details section is where you provide essential information about yourself. It should contain your full name, phone number, email address and home address. You may also include a link to your LinkedIn profile and portfolio website (if you have one).

• Sophie Brown
• 14 Almond Street, Birmingham, B3 1PJ
• Mob: 07890 987 654       Email: [email protected]

Personal profile

Think of the personal profile as your professional “elevator pitch.” It’s crucial because it’s your first opportunity to grab the employer’s attention. In this section, you’ll briefly mention your personal characteristics, skills and experiences. This helps the employer quickly understand who you are and what makes you a strong candidate for the job.

Social worker personal profile example:

As an experienced social worker, I have devoted over a decade to improving the lives of at-risk children, consistently achieving positive outcomes. My expertise in family counselling has led to reuniting numerous families through effective intervention strategies. I am dedicated to providing unwavering support to vulnerable populations, as evidenced by my successful management of a caseload of 30+ families, helping them overcome challenges and build brighter futures.

Achievements

The achievements section in your CV is where you list some of the impressive things you’ve achieved in your work or studies, such as awards, promotions and high grades.

• Promoted to Senior Social Worker within two years of joining the team.
• Trained and mentored junior social workers, improving their case management skills.
• Led a support group for at-risk youth in the community.

Employment and work experience

In the employment section of your CV, you should list your previous jobs and what you did in them. Start with your most recent job and work backwards. For each job, describe your main responsibilities and accomplishments, using action words to make it clear and compelling.

Main duties and responsibilities performed:

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of children and families in need of support.
• Develop and implement personalised care plans in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Provide therapeutic counselling to children and adolescents to address emotional and behavioural challenges.
• Manage a caseload of 30+ clients, ensuring their well-being and adherence to care plans.
• Facilitate support groups for parents to enhance their parenting skills and support networks.
• Participate in regular team meetings to review cases and share best practices.

Social worker duties to add to your CV

• Conducting comprehensive assessments of clients to identify their needs and challenges.
• Developing and implementing individualised care plans to address clients’ specific issues.
• Providing counselling and emotional support to young people dealing with various life challenges.
• Collaborating with other professionals, such as psychologists and medical staff, to coordinate comprehensive care.
• Offering crisis intervention and support during emergency situations.
• Conducting home visits to assess living conditions and safety for at-risk individuals.
• Assisting clients in accessing financial assistance, housing and healthcare services.
• Offering guidance and education on mental health, substance abuse and parenting skills.

Education and training

The education section of your CV should be written in reverse chronological order, meaning you start with your most recent qualification and work backwards. Include your university or school, the type of qualifications you obtained, like degrees, A-levels, GCSEs or diplomas, and the dates you attended or graduated. This section helps employers see your educational background and how well-qualified you are for the job.

Subjects studied:

• Social Work Practice
• Child and Family Welfare
• Ethics and Professionalism in Social Work
• Research Methods and Applications in Welfare and Care

Qualifications

In this section, you can list your professional qualifications and training, in addition to your formal education. Be sure to include the name of the qualification, the issuing institution or training provider, and the date of completion if applicable.

• Level 5 Diploma in Social Work – University of Social Sciences
• Safeguarding Children Training – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
• Child Protection Training – NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
• Mental Health First Aid Certification – Mental Health First Aid England (2022)

The skills section of your CV is where you highlight the specific abilities and qualities that make you an effective social worker. It should contain a mix of technical skills, like case management and knowledge of relevant software, as well as soft skills, such as empathy, active listening and strong communication.

• Active Listening: Employed active listening techniques to establish rapport with clients and provide empathetic support.
• Crisis Intervention: Successfully de-escalated high-stress situations, ensuring the safety of clients and reducing emotional distress.
• Assessment and Evaluation: Conducted thorough client assessments, resulting in accurate needs analysis and tailored care plans.

Useful social work skills to add to your CV

• Providing Protection: Helping to protect vulnerable people from harm or abuse.
• Family Mediation: Facilitated constructive dialogues within families to resolve conflicts and improve family dynamics.
• Substance Abuse Counselling: Provided evidence-based counselling to individuals struggling with addiction, resulting in successful rehabilitation.
• Mental Health Assessment: Conducted comprehensive mental health assessments, leading to accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment plans.
• Time Management: Managed a demanding caseload, consistently meeting deadlines and prioritizing critical cases.

Hobbies and interests (optional)

The hobbies and interests section of your CV is where you can show a bit of your personality and what you enjoy outside of work. It should contain activities or interests that reflect positively on you and can demonstrate skills or qualities relevant to social work, such as empathy, teamwork, or a commitment to helping others. For example, you might include hobbies like volunteering, participating in support groups, or being involved in community service, as they highlight your dedication to making a positive impact on people’s lives.

The references section of your CV is where you provide the names and contact information of people who can vouch for your qualifications and character. Referees can include current and former employers, teachers and supervisors. You must include their full names, job titles, the name of their organisation or institution, their phone number and email address.

Note: If you do not wish to disclose your references on your CV, you should write, “References are available upon request.”

Tips to make your CV more effective

• Tailor for the Role: Customise your CV for each job application by aligning your qualifications with the specific requirements of the role. For example, if the job emphasises child welfare, focus on your experiences and training in that area.
• Showcase Caseload Management: Demonstrate your ability to manage large caseloads effectively and maintain quality care for clients.
• Quantify Achievements: Use specific numbers and outcomes to highlight your impact. For instance, “Reduced case response time by 20%.”
• Action Verbs: Use action verbs like “implemented,” “advocated,” and “counselled” to describe your duties and accomplishments.

This is the end of our comprehensive guide on crafting the perfect social worker CV . By following the expert advice and studying the example provided, you now have the tools to create a standout CV that showcases your skills and experience and secure a job in this vital and rewarding job. Good luck with your job hunt!

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5 Social Worker CV Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

Ready to become a social worker this article helps you craft your cv to shine in the pile. by using real-life samples and easy-to-fill templates, we'll make your qualifications speak loud and clear. don't guess what to put on your cv. learn what hiring managers like me look for and appreciate in social worker applicants. knowledge is power, so let's get started..

As a hiring manager, I see many roles, but being a Social Worker is truly unique. Rooted in compassion, tenacity, and a keen problem-solving spirit, the role demands to blend empathy with pragmatism. This potent mix of attributes must shine through when one pens down a CV. You aren't just listing credentials, you're shaping a narrative revealing your ability to mentor, guide, and positively influence lives. The standard career path for a social worker involves starting from the ground as caseworkers or mental health assistants. Over time, with added experience and perhaps a degree or two, they climb the ladder to become clinical social workers or administrators. The landscape of this profession has been rapidly changing, thanks to advancements in technology and the fresh challenges posed by the digital era. We anticipate more virtual counselling jobs surfacing in 2024, and specialized roles targeting cyberbullying and online mental health issues. Now, some confusion often arises around CVs and resumes in the field of social work. In truth, the difference is merely in name, influenced by geographical conventions. In the UK, Europe, and Australia, they lean towards the term 'CV', but you should treat it like a standard resume. Yes, you may stumble upon the suggestion that a CV is a longer, more detailed document, but that applies primarily to roles in academia or research. As a social worker, keep your CV crisp, concise, and within 1-2 pages. In this article, as a career coach, I'll strive to shine a light on effective CV templates for aspiring social workers in 2024, key skills to emphasize, and the finer nuances of crafting a CV that sets you apart.

Social Worker CV Templates

Jump to a template:

• Child and Family Social Worker
• Social Work Teacher
• Mental Health Social Worker
• Clinical Social Worker

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Social Worker CVs
• Action Verbs to Use
• Related Other CVs
• Similar Careers to a Social Worker
• Social Worker Resume Examples

Template 1 of 5: Child and Family Social Worker CV Example

Being a Child and Family Social Worker is a rewarding but challenging profession. You essentially become the lifeline for children and their families during struggles. Your CV should convey your innate ability to empathize, problem-solve, and adapt. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can demonstrate resilience and critical thinking skills. Given the emotional weight of the job, hiring managers also appreciate seeing evidence of self-care and stress management strategies. Moreover, the field is growing in its reliance on tech-based solutions for case management. Hence, any tech proficiency, such as familiarity with digital case management systems, is a definite plus on your CV.

Tips to help you write your Child and Family Social Worker CV in 2024

   show evidence of your resilience.

In your work history section, share instances where you navigated high-stress situations effectively. This will demonstrate your resilience and emotional stability, critical qualities in this field.

   Display your tech proficiency

As the field becomes more tech-reliant, it's beneficial to show your ability to adapt to this shift. In your skills section, include any software or digital tools you’re comfortable with, especially those relevant to case management.

Skills you can include on your Child and Family Social Worker CV

Template 2 of 5: social work teacher cv example.

As a Social Work Teacher, you're teaching students about the profession of social work. This role is different because it requires both substantial real-world experience and the ability to effectively impart knowledge. It’s crucial to mention your experience from the field, as well as your education when crafting your CV. It's also worth noting the current trend of inter-disciplinary learning in teaching social work. Subsequently, you must demonstrate your ability to engage with diverse subjects that intersect with social work, such as psychology, sociology, law, and other relevant disciplines. The CV needs to show the breadth of your knowledge and your ability to facilitate learning across these areas.

Tips to help you write your Social Work Teacher CV in 2024

   include specific relevant certifications.

Since this is a teaching role, it's important to include any teaching-related certifications you've obtained. This might be something like a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). It assures potential employers of your teaching competency.

   Detail specific modules or courses taught

If you've taught social work previously, make sure you detail the specific modules or courses that you've handled. This gives prospective employers an idea of your areas of expertise and your experience in teaching these areas.

Skills you can include on your Social Work Teacher CV

Template 3 of 5: mental health social worker cv example.

As a Mental Health Social Worker, your line of work is both challenging and rewarding. You engage with clients dealing with mental health issues, developing personalised treatment strategies for them. When crafting your CV, remember it's a key tool in illustrating your commitment to this field. You’re not like accounting or sales professionals who deal with numbers and targets. You deal with people's lives. It’s crucial to convey this human aspect of your work, as well as demonstrating your ability to stay up-to-date with evolving trends in mental health practices. Over the past few years, there's been an increasing emphasis on early intervention and community-based support in this field. It's important to showcase any experience or skills you have in these areas. At the same time, remember recruiters will be looking for evidence of your resilience and emotional strength, as these are core to a Mental Health Social Worker’s role.

Tips to help you write your Mental Health Social Worker CV in 2024

   showcase knowledge in early detection and intervention.

There's a growing trend towards early detection and intervention in mental health. You should include any training, qualifications, or practical experience you have in this area on your CV. Demonstrate how you’ve made a difference using these skills to support clients.

   Highlight your ability to work in community-based support

Your CV should reflect any work you've done within community-based mental health support. Discuss the various cases you've handled, the strategies you've employed, and the outcomes of those interventions. Be sure to maintain client confidentiality when describing your past work.

Skills you can include on your Mental Health Social Worker CV

Template 4 of 5: clinical social worker cv example.

As a Clinical Social Worker, you're no stranger to complex demands and unique responsibilities. From carrying out therapeutic interventions to working with healthcare professionals, it's all in a day's work. But, when it comes to your CV, it's not just about listing these duties. It's about communicating your blend of empathy and professionalism, and demonstrating how you've made an impact in your roles. Recent trends show candidates are increasingly showing off their cross-sector experience, as employers value the versatile skills you've gained. So, when shaping your CV, remember: you're not just a case manager, you're a crisis controller, a negotiator, a consultant.

Tips to help you write your Clinical Social Worker CV in 2024

   demonstrate your understanding of the sector.

Your CV should reflect a deep understanding of the social care sector. Make sure to include specific examples of how you navigated through complex cases, showing your knowledge of various protocols and legislations in your field.

   Show off your interdisciplinary collaboration skills

As a Clinical Social Worker, you're often the link between various professionals. Illustrate this by providing examples where you've successfully collaborated with healthcare providers, families, or community resources to deliver the best possible care outcomes.

Skills you can include on your Clinical Social Worker CV

Template 5 of 5: clinical social worker cv example.

As a clinical social worker, you are the cornerstone of the mental health field. You help alleviate distress and facilitate change by providing direct counseling, therapy, and support to people navigating life's challenging situations, especially in the healthcare sector. Now, when it comes to your CV, bear in mind it's not just about your qualifications and experience. It's your first opportunity to demonstrate your empathy, resilience, and commitment to making a positive impact on people's lives. Recently, we've seen a significant trend in hiring managers looking for candidates with teletherapy experience due to the rise of remote healthcare services. So, be sure to highlight any relevant experience in this area.

   Include a section on teletherapy experience

If you have gained experience in teletherapy or remote counseling, it's critical to emphasize this on your CV. Include any specific platforms you've used, types of clients you've served remotely, and outcomes of your remote counseling.

   Discuss your caseload management skills

As a clinical social worker, you will likely manage several cases simultaneously, so it's beneficial to depict your caseload management skills on your CV. Show how you've efficiently juggled multiple cases, while ensuring each client received the care they needed.

Skills For Social Worker Resumes

As a social worker, your life revolves around helping others. This key part of your role needs to shine bright on your CV. Effective communication and empathy are talents employers search for. To jump the hurdle of automated filters, make sure you include these skills in your CV’s skills section or in your work experience. For example, you can say, "Used strong communication and empathy to aid families during difficult times." Your CV should sound like you. Don't shy away from showcasing your skills. Parse the job description for important skills, and plug them into your CV. If the job posting lauds strong problem-solving skills, mirror this in your CV like so: "Deployed problem-solving skills to develop beneficial service plans." Software skills matter too. Let's say you often use "MS Office" in your work; slip it into your CV. For example, "Used MS Office to accurately record case details." In a nutshell, let your CV speak your language. Let it tell your story of aiding change.

• Community Outreach
• Social Services
• Case Management
• Family Therapy
• Social Work
• Discharge Planning
• Motivational Interviewing
• Psychotherapy
• Program Development
• Mental Health Counseling
• Behavioral Health
• Interventions
• Mental Health
• Group Therapy
• Crisis Intervention
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dual Diagnosis
• Psychosocial

Skills Word Cloud For Social Worker CVs

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Social Worker job descriptions and CVs. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Action verbs for social worker resumes.

Being a social worker is often about showing care, speaking up, and paving the way to change. This can be reflected in a CV by using action verbs that shake hands with the heart of this role. You don't just 'do' things, you 'advocate', 'negotiate', 'mediate', or 'guide'. This offers a clear picture of your work style and impact. Consider, for example, a line that reads "Provided support to families facing hardships". While this isn't bad, it can be boosted with the right action verb. Try something like "Empowered struggling families with needed resources". Here, 'empowered' changes the image from simply offering help to being a source of strength. Or another example, "Talked with communities about needed services" could become "Bridged gap between local communities and social services". The verb 'bridged' paints a vibrant picture of connection and change. That's what can make your social worker CV stand out.

• Coordinated
• Implemented
• Facilitated
• Interviewed
• Rehabilitated,Provided
• Communicated

For more related action verbs, visit Healthcare Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective CV action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

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• Child and Family Social Worker CV Example
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• Skills and Keywords to Add
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• Social Worker Cover Letter
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9 Social Worker Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Social Worker Resume

• Social Worker Resumes by Experience
• Social Worker Resumes by Role

Writing Your Social Worker Resume

Social workers protect vulnerable populations, support families, and help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, all within different settings.

Since social workers support numerous communities, work in various environments, and develop different scopes based on their licensure, creating your social worker resume  to target the right job for your career goals can be challenging. (It’s also why  social worker job descriptions  tend to be rather vague.)

We’ve analyzed hundreds of social worker resume samples from all populations, environments, settings, and licenses to  attract the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter so you can get more interviews in 2024 . We created nine resume samples to help you  build an eye-catching resume  and  check your resume  using AI-powered tips. 

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Make sure to mention the facility settings where you’ve worked, whether it’s a hospital, school, rehabilitation center, group home, or community facility, so hiring managers see your expertise.
• Social workers typically have high volumes of cases to manage, so you should highlight the number of cases you managed per day/week/month.
• If your case management included court documentation and appearance, be sure to discuss this in your social worker resume. 

Social Work Student Resume

• As a social worker, you’ll interact with people from all walks of life. List any experiences that exposed you to diverse backgrounds on your social work student resume to show that you’re prepared to work with complex clients.

Social Work Intern Resume

• An advanced degree in social work and volunteer involvement prove that you chose this career mindfully.

Entry-Level Social Worker Resume

• In your  resume skills section , include skills like “verbal communication,” “case assessment,” “and counseling” to reassure employers of your abilities.
• If you’ve participated in any internships, include those over other positions. The goal is always to include the most relevant experience if at all possible.
• Don’t discount any administrative or supportive tasks; hiring managers understand (and want to see) that everyone starts somewhere.  

Associate Social Worker Resume

• Consider including work-related projects, activities, or  hobbies on your resume  to demonstrate your abilities.
• Start strong with a  resume objective  that immediately shows the reader who you are as a professional.
• If you choose to use an objective, always tailor it to the specific role and  job description .

School Social Worker Resume

or downloand as PDF

• In your work experience bullets, mention your areas of expertise ( for example, ADHD, grief counseling, teenage pregnancy) to create a targeted  school social worker resume  that will gain a recruiter’s interest.
• Within the experience of your school social worker resume, be sure to focus on the programs you implemented or supported. This will support the statements made in your resume objective.

Clinical Social Worker Resume

• Be sure to discuss how your responsibilities and leadership abilities resulted in  positive changes  at your workplace.
• If you have a license designation, put it after your name in your contact header so recruiters can immediately see your expertise. 
• Your  resume summary  should list also the settings where you’ve worked or the clinical settings you want to target for your next clinical social worker role. 

Nursing Home Social Worker Resume

• Include the patient types you worked with, such as end-of-life/hospice or memory care patients, and mention how you demonstrated collaboration and communication in your work experience since those are vital skills for nursing home social workers.
• Highlight your experience educating patients and their families, as well as any community initiatives you implemented, to improve the nursing programs you supported.  
• Be sure to  check your resume  to ensure there aren’t any grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors so you can put your best foot forward. 

Medical Social Worker II Resume

• Only include three to four positions in your work experience, and focus on your expertise from the most recent ten years of jobs and training.
• If you can, keep your bullet points solely about achievements or responsibilities that benefited the company.
• It should be just two or three sentences long to keep it brief. Include the name of the company to which you’re applying, and finish strong with a closing sentence tying directly to the role you’re targeting.

Related resume guides

• Social work cover letter
• Medical Receptionist

A  well-formatted resume  is your first impression to potential employers, so formatting is your golden ticket to securing an interview. Hiring managers sift through countless applications daily, so readable and  comprehensive resumes  have the best chance of moving forward.

Present your achievements, competencies, and education in a logical way that responds to your prospective employer’s criteria. When  crafting your social worker resume , you must consider:

• Reverse-chronological, functional, or combination/hybrid formatting
• Contact information and header presentation

ATS and readability

Reverse-chronological format, functional format, and combination/hybrid format

There are several acceptable ways to present your professional experience like a narrative. Hiring managers accept the following  resume formats :

• The reverse-chronological format lists your employment experience, achievements, and education, beginning with the most recent.
• The functional format emphasizes your skills instead of your work experience. You place the most relevant achievements or skills near the top to highlight your abilities for the position you’re pursuing.
• A hybrid format blends the reverse-chronological and functional approaches. If you’ve changed industries or have ample parallel experience, you should present the most recent relative aspect toward the top of your resume.

Within the social work industry, recruiters respond best to the reverse-chronological format because it highlights the evolution of your career through progressive acquisition of skills and professional development.

Contact info and header

Your social worker resume explains your qualifications and credentials for the job you’re seeking, but if recruiters don’t know how to contact you, nothing you write will matter. As a result, you need to write and format your contact header effectively. This section should include:

• Title of the position you’re applying for (taken directly from the job description)
• Your city and state

Notice the customized header that lists the job posting title below the name.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are computer programs that filter out low-quality, irrelevant, and unreadable resumes. However, they’re not infallible. Sometimes they toss out relevant resumes based on a lack of keywords. Adhering to a few simple conventions, which our  resume builder  helps with, will ensure you pass the inevitable ATS filter. 

Beat the ATS with a few simple tips.

• Fonts and font sizes: ATS systems need to be able to scan your resume easily, so keep fonts simple and sizes consistent.
• Header: Adding headers makes your resume easier for the ATS to read.
• Save your resume in multiple formats and confirm that each version looks correct.
• Names: Your name must appear prominently with the associated contact info to make it beyond the ATS.
• Skills: the ATS scans for keywords, so you need to carefully read the job description to include the right terminology.
• Logical Order: A reverse-chronological order is the easiest for the ATS to scan; other formats may be misread.
• Length: Typically, the ATS will toss any resume that’s longer than one page.

How to write your social worker resume

Social workers require licensure, soft skills, and clinical abilities to perform their jobs effectively. Presenting that breadth of experience in an easy-to-read and tight  resume format  can be challenging.

Luckily, you’re familiar with tricky situations. So, assess your experience and determine your desired job competencies to help you write an effective resume.

Consider the following aspects of your social worker resume:

• A resume objective or summary

Work experience

Crafting your bullet points.

• Quantifying your impact with numbers and statistics
• Top social worker skills

Education, licenses, and specialized training

• Adding projects, interests, or hobbies
• Customizing your resume each job
• Eliminating errors

When to include a resume objective or summary in your social worker resume

Resume objectives  and  resume summaries  are optional, but they can be an eye-catching aspect of your social worker resume. If used effectively, they can be a deal-breaker that grants you an interview.

They should sell your value to the company within two to three sentences. This is the first section of the resume, so it must be compelling and informative to justify its inclusion.

• Above all, your objective should convey how your skills and abilities align with your prospective employer’s mission.
• “I hope to obtain a position to grow and utilize my education. I want to leverage my skills to help clients.”
• This objective is generalized, which isn’t helpful to any employer.
• Instead, tailor your objective to each job to which you apply.
• It should highlight your abilities and show off your specializations to prove you can make the next step in your career.
• “My current and former positions have enabled me to grow as a clinician and widen my knowledge base. I have progressive experience that qualifies me to supervise.”
• This summary is bland and provides no insight into the applicant’s experience or details about their qualifications.
• “LCSW-R with 10+ years of experience working with homeless populations, seeking opportunity with Seek and Save. I designed a job skills program to help clients develop interview skills. It helped 1,200 individuals obtain entry-level employment.”
• This summary highlights the applicant’s licensure and depth of experience, while noting a quantifiable achievement and mentioning the targeted employer by name.

Employers will notice you’ve taken the time to mention their company by name, as seen here.

You should be comprehensive, but use space wisely. Generally speaking, focus on recent jobs relative to the work you’re seeking: limit your positions to the last two to four jobs you’ve held. This provides enough space to give substantive details about your accomplishments.

Each bullet point in your social worker resume tells the story of your experience and qualifications. To make sure your bullet points are effective and easy-to-read,  choose active verbs  that are specific to social work,  use a consistent tense , and  use sentence fragments  without ending punctuation. 

Examples of bullet points include:

• This uses a generic verb and provides no detailed insight into the client population.
• There is no information to describe the scope or extent of this achievement.
• This fails to highlight particular clinical skills or describe the client population.
• This specifies exactly what the applicant did and the community they served.
• This highlights specific skills applicable to social work and quantifies their volume.
• This highlights a soft skill with an active verb and specifies the nature of the work.

Quantify your impact with numbers and statistics

Recruiters value statistics because they’re tangible proof of your performance and accomplishments. However, quantifying results in social work is difficult, and it doesn’t always reflect the humanistic nature of the practice. So, include metrics and statistics when you can, but don’t stress about including them in every bullet point. A good rule of thumb is to have 60 percent of your bullet points include metrics.

• Saw 25 clients weekly for CBT and check-ins
• Designed and implemented a revised onboarding system for new client intake with file integration in 6 weeks
•   Completed and submitted necessary documentation tracking for patient reimbursement at a 100% conversion rate

Top social worker skills to mention

Social work positions require very specific skill sets, like particular diagnoses, treatment methods, and clinical theories. Review the job description carefully to see what skills they need for the position and thus, what you should include on your resume. Use these terms throughout your social worker resume (when they’re applicable) to catch the eye of any recruiter.

Top social work skills in 2024 include:

• Soft skills: Empathy, active listening, collaboration, critical thinking
• Clinical positions: CBT, evidence-based practice, intake, assessment, treatment planning, discharge
• Management/Oversight positions: Program development, community organizing, budgeting, compliance, supervision

Here’s a solid list of additional soft skills you might include:

Listing your education reverse-chronologically is the best way for recruiters to see your most recent level of experience. Depending on your highest level of education, the section will descend from Ph.D. to MSW to BSW.

Be sure to list any licensures, continuing education certifications, or specialized training, either in the education section or in a separate licenses/certifications section.

If you still need licensure, there are an array of licenses available to those entering the social work field. While license requirements vary by state, most require a bachelo’rs degree. Candidates can earn certifications as a licensed social worker (LSW), a licensed independent social worker (LISW), a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) in most states.

Each level requires more education and training, with the LSW being the least demanding and LICSWs being the most stringent and intensive.

Notice the easy-to-read reverse-chronological style highlighting an evolving education.

Should you add projects, interests, or hobbies?

You should omit these optional sections unless you are a recent graduate or applying for an entry-level position. These sections provide color to your resume, but they’re generally considered excessive for higher-level positions. Highlighting and quantifying your professional accomplishments is far more important to recruiters.

If you choose to include  hobbies on your resume , they should exhibit your suitability for the position. Social workers should also consider including relevant volunteer experience. If you’re applying for a school social work position, describing volunteer experience with a children’s literacy program would be more suitable than listing your participation in a food pantry.

Customize your resume to each job

Generic social worker resumes sent out for multiple jobs isn’t the way to go. Job postings are highly detailed and reflect the values and mission of their respective companies. As a result, you should tailor your resume directly to the open position.

Read job postings carefully to parse out the active verbs and terminology the recruiter will expect to see. You should  check your social worker resume  to ensure it mirrors their language and speaks directly to the company you wish to join.

Eliminate errors

Typos and grammatical errors can grab attention  as much as an excellent objective statement or well-crafted bullet points. Always double-check your resume for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

Ask relatives, friends, or classmates to review your social worker resume for misspellings, awkward phrasing, and punctuation errors. 

Go land your next job!

A resume that addresses your potential employer’s desired skills is your best chance to land an interview for your new social work position. While  crafting your social worker resume , be sure to:

• Strive for a logical and readable format that appeals to both recruiters and ATS
• Communicate your skills and achievements by highlighting how they directly relate to your desired position
• Quantify your performance whenever possible to show measurable achievements
• Customize your resume for each position to assure employers you are passionate about their business

When you’re ready to submit your resume to potential employers, it’s time to start learning how to write a resignation letter to plan a smooth exit from your current role and launch into your dream job.

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CV Tips for Entry Level Social Workers

• Highlight Your Education and Certifications : Mention your degree in social work and any relevant certifications such as Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Certified Social Worker (CSW). If you've completed any specialized coursework or training, like child welfare or substance abuse, include these as well.
• Showcase Your Internship and Volunteer Experience : Detail your hands-on experience in social work settings, emphasizing the skills you've gained and the impact you've made. Use specific examples and numbers where possible, such as "Managed a caseload of 20+ clients in a community mental health setting".
• Customize Your CV for the Role : Tailor your CV to the specific social work role you're applying for. Highlight relevant experiences and skills, whether it's case management for a hospital role or community outreach for a non-profit position.
• Detail Your Knowledge of Social Work Theories and Practices : Demonstrate your understanding of key social work concepts, such as human behavior, social justice, and policy. Mention any experience with specific therapeutic techniques or intervention strategies.
• Emphasize Your Soft Skills : Social work requires empathy, resilience, and excellent communication skills. Provide examples of how you've used these skills in your work, such as "Facilitated difficult family meetings with sensitivity and respect".

The Smarter, Faster Way to Write Your CV

• Implemented a new case management system, improving efficiency and accuracy in tracking client progress, leading to a 30% increase in successful case closures within the first six months.
• Developed and facilitated a series of mental health workshops for at-risk youth, resulting in a 20% decrease in reported behavioral issues within the community.
• Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to create individualized care plans, resulting in improved client satisfaction scores by 25%.
• Coordinated with local community resources to provide comprehensive support services for clients, leading to a 15% increase in successful community reintegration.
• Conducted comprehensive assessments for over 50 clients, identifying their needs and matching them with appropriate services, improving their quality of life by 20%.
• Advocated for clients' rights and needs at care plan meetings, resulting in more personalized and effective care plans for over 70% of represented clients.
• Provided crisis intervention services to over 100 clients, deescalating situations and connecting individuals with necessary resources, reducing emergency service calls by 30%.
• Facilitated weekly group therapy sessions for clients dealing with substance abuse, leading to a 40% increase in participants maintaining sobriety.
• Managed a caseload of 30 clients, providing counseling and support services, resulting in a 50% decrease in clients' reported stress levels and a 35% increase in their coping skills.
• Case Management
• Mental Health Support
• Team Collaboration
• Community Resource Coordination
• Client Advocacy
• Crisis Intervention
• Group Therapy Facilitation
• Counseling and Support Services
• Needs Assessment and Service Matching
• Program Development and Implementation

Entry Level Social Worker CV Template

• Worked with [teams/individuals] to provide [type of support, e.g., emotional, financial, educational], demonstrating strong [soft skill, e.g., empathy, communication, problem-solving].
• Managed [case load number], effectively [task or process, e.g., developing treatment plans, coordinating services] to improve [client outcome, e.g., mental health, family relationships, living conditions].
• Implemented [program or initiative, e.g., group therapy sessions, community outreach], resulting in [quantifiable benefit, e.g., 20% increase in client engagement, reduced hospital readmissions].
• Played a pivotal role in [project or initiative, e.g., child welfare cases, substance abuse interventions], leading to [measurable impact, e.g., successful family reunifications, improved client sobriety rates].
• Conducted [type of assessment, e.g., psychosocial, risk], utilizing [assessment tools/methods] to inform [decision-making/action, e.g., treatment planning, crisis intervention].
• Key contributor to [task or responsibility, e.g., interdisciplinary team meetings, case management], ensuring [quality or standard, e.g., client-centered care, ethical practice] in all social work activities.
• Major: Name of Major
• Minor: Name of Minor

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CV personal statement examples

If you want to secure job interview, you need a strong personal statement at the top of your CV.

Your CV personal statement is a short paragraph which sits at the very top of your CV – and it’s aim is to summarise the benefits of hiring you and encourage employers to read your CV in full.

In this guide I have included 17 CV personal statement examples from a range of professions and experience levels, plus a detailed guide of how to write your own personal statement that will get you noticed by employers

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17 CV personal statement examples

To start this guide, I have included 10 examples of good personal statements, to give you an idea of how a personal statement should look , and what should be included.

Note: personal statements are generally used by junior candidates – if you are experienced, check out our CV profile examples instead.

Graduate CV personal statement (no experience)

Although this  graduate has no paid work experience, they compensate for it by showcasing all of the skills and knowledge the have gained during their studies, and demonstrating how they apply their knowledge in academic and personal projects.

When you have little or no experience, it’s important to draw out transferable workplace skills from your studies and extracurricular work, to showcase them to employers.

Graduate CV personal statement (part time freelance experience)

This candidate has graduated with a degree in biochemistry but actually wants to start a career in digital marketing after providing some digital freelance services to fund their studies.

In this case, they haven’t made much mention of their studies because they aren’t relevant to the digital marketing agencies they are applying to. Instead they have focused their personal statement around their freelance work and passion for the digital field – although they still mention the fact they are degree educated to prove their academic success.

School leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate is 16 years old and has no work experience whatsoever, but they compensate for this by detailing their academic achievements that relate to the roles they are applying for (maths and literacy are important requirements in finance and accountancy roles).

They also add some info on their extracurricular activities and school work-placements, to strengthen this student CV further.

    Top tips for writing a CV personal statement

• Thoroughly research the jobs and companies you are planning to apply for to identify the type of candidate they are looking for – try to reflect that in your personal statement
• Don’t be afraid to brag a little – include some of your most impressive achievements from education, work or personal life
• Focus on describing the benefits an employer will get from hiring you. Will you help them to get more customers? Improve their workplace? Save them time and money?
• If you have no work experience, demonstrate transferable workplace skills from your education, projects, or even hobbies

School leaver CV personal statement (part time experience)

Although this person has only just left school, they have also undertaken some part-time work in a call centre alongside their studies.

To make the most of this experience, they have combined their academic achievements with their workplace exposure in this personal statement.

By highlighting their GCSE results, summer programme involvement, work experience and expressing their ambitions to progress within sales, this candidate really makes an appealing case for hiring them.

College leaver CV personal statement (no experience)

This candidate has left college with good grades, but does not yet have any work experience.

To compensate for the lack of workplace exposure, they have made their A level results prominent and highlighted skills and experience which would benefit the employers they are targeting.

Any recruiter reading this profile can quickly understand that this candidate has great academic achievements, a passion for IT and finance and the ability to transfer their skills into an office environment.

College student CV personal statement (freelance experience)

As this student has picked up a small amount of freelance writing work during their studies, they have made sure to brag about it in their personal statement.

They give details on their relevant A level studies to show the skills they are learning, and boost this further by highlighting the fact that they have been applying these skills in a real-life work setting by providing freelance services.

They also include key action verbs that recruiters will be looking for , such as creative writing, working to deadlines, and producing copy.

Academic CV personal statement

Aside from junior candidates, the only other people who might use a personal statement, are academic professionals; as their CV’s tend to be more longer and detailed than other professions.

This candidate provides a high level overview of their field of study, length of experience, and the roles they have held within universities.

School leaver CV personal statement with and sports experience

Although this person has no work experience, they are still able to show employers the value of hiring them by selling their other achievements and explaining how they could benefit an organisation.

They expand on their sports club involvement to demonstrate their teamwork, leadership skills, communication and motivation, which are all important traits in the workplace, and will be looked upon favourably by recruiters and hiring managers.

They also draw upon their future plans to study business studies and take a part time job, to further prove their ambition and dedication.

History graduate CV personal statement

This history graduate proves their aptitude for both academic achievement and workplace aptitude by showcasing valuable skills from their degree and voluntary work.

They do this by breaking down the key requirements for each and showing how their skills could be beneficial for future employers, such as listening, communication, and crisis management.

They also describe how their ability to balance studies alongside voluntary work has not only boosted their knowledge and skills, but also given excellent time management and organisational skills – which are vital assets to any employer.

Law graduate CV personal statement

This legal graduate makes the most from their work university work placements by using it to bulk out the contents of their CV personal statement.

They include their degree to show they have the necessary qualifications for legal roles, which is crucial, but more importantly, they showcase how they applied their legal skills within a real-life work setting.

They give a brief overview of the types of legal professionals they have been working alongside and the type of work they have been carrying out – this is all it takes to get the attention of recruiters and show employers they have what it takes to fulfil roles in the legal sector.

Medical student CV personal statement

This medical student proves their fit for the role by showcasing the key skills they have gained from their studies and their work experience placements.

In just these few sentences, they are able to highlight the vast amount of experience they have across different disciplines in the industry, something which is particularly important in the medical sector.

As they have not graduated yet and are still studying, they have provided proof of their most recent grades. This can give the recruiter some indication as to the type of grade they could be graduating with in the near future.

Masters student CV personal statement

This masters student has started by specifying their area of study, in this case, accounting, and given details about the specific areas of finance they are most interested in. This can hint towards their career goals and passions.

They have then carefully listed some of the key areas of accounting and finance that they are proficient in. For example, business finance, advanced corporate finance and statistics.

They have also outlined some of the transferable skills needed for accounting roles that employers will be looking out for, such as communication, attention to detail and analytical skills.

Finance student CV personal statement

As this finance student has recently undertaken some relevant work experience, they’ve made sure to shout about this in their personal profile.

But more than this, they have included a list of some of the important finance skills they gained as a result of this work experience – for example, financial reporting, processing invoices and month-end reconciliations.

Plus, through power words and phrases such as ‘prevent loss’ and ‘ improve upon accuracy and efficiency’, they have also showcased how they can apply these skills in a workplace setting to benefit the potential employer.

Internship  CV personal statement

This digital marketing professional has started their personal profile by outlining their most relevant qualifications and work experience, most notably their freelance role as a content manager.

They have also provided examples of some of the key marketing skills that potential employers might be looking for, including very detailed examples of the platforms and tools they are proficient in – for example, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.

They have then closed their statement by giving a detailed description of the type of role or opportunity they are looking for. In this case, an in-house position in a marketing company.

Graduate career changer personal statement

Switching careers as a graduate can be tough. Especially when it comes to writing a personal statement that will attract employers in your new chosen field.

This candidate is looking to move from history teaching into journalism, so they have created a statement which briefly mentions their current workplace, but mainly focuses on highlighting transferable skills which are relevant to journalism. They achieve this by discussing the writing skills they use in their current role, and mentioning their hobby of writing – including some publications they have been featured in for extra brownie points.

Business management graduate personal statement

This business management proves their ability to work within a junior business management position by swiftly highlighting their impressive degree (to ensure it is not missed) and summarising some of the real-life experience they have gained in management during their university placements and volunteering. They do not let their lack of paid work experience, stop them demonstrating their valuable skills.

PhD graduate

PhD graduate roles attract a lot of competition, so it’s important that your CV contains a personal statement that will quickly impress and attract recruiters.

This candidate provides a short-but-comprehensive overview of their academic achievements, whilst demonstrating their exceptional level of knowledge in research, languages and publication writing.

By highlighting a number of skills and abilities that are in high-demand in the academic workplace, this CV is very likely to get noticed and land interviews.

How to write a personal statement for your CV

Now that you’ve seen what a personal statement should look like and the type of content it should contain, follow this detailed guide to one for your own CV – and start racking those interviews up.

Guide contents

What is a CV personal statement?

Cv personal statement or cv profile, personal statement format, what to include in a cv personal statement.

• Personal statement mistakes

How to write persuasively

A personal statement is a short paragraph at the top of your CV which gives employers an overview of your education, skills and experience

It’s purpose is to capture the attention of busy recruiters and hiring managers when your CV is first opened – encouraging them to read the rest of it.

You achieve this by writing a tailored summary of yourself that explains your suitability for the roles you are applying for at a very high level, and matches your target job descriptions .

One question candidates often ask me is , “what is the difference between a personal statement and a CV profile?”

To be honest, they are almost the same – they are both introductory paragraphs that sit at the top of your CV… but there are 2 main differences

A personal statement tends to be used more by junior candidates (graduates, school leavers etc.) and is relatively long and detailed.

A CV profile tends to be favoured by more experienced candidates , and is shorter in length than a personal statement.

Note: If you are an experienced candidate, you may want to switch over to my CV profile writing guide , or example CV profiles page.

To ensure you grab recruiters’ attention with your personal statement, lay it out in the following way.

Positioning

You need to ensure that your personal statement sits at the very top of your CV, and all of it should be totally visible to readers, without the need to scroll down the page.

Do this by reducing the top page margin and minimising the space taken up by your contact details.

This will ensure that your whole personal statement can be seen, as soon as your CV is opened.

We have a Word CV template which can help you to get this right.

Size/length

Your personal statement needs to contain enough detail to provide an introduction to your skills and knowledge, but not so much detail that it bores readers.

To strike the right balance, anything between 8-15 lines of text is perfect – and sentences should be sharp and to-the-point.

As with the whole of your CV or resume , your personal statement should be written in a simple clean font at around size 10-12 to ensure that it can be read easily by all recruiters and employers.

Keep the text colour simple , ensuring that it contrasts the background (black on white is best) and break it into 2 or even 3 paragraphs for a pleasant reading experience.

It should also be written in a punchy persuasive tone, to help you sell yourself and increase your chances of landing interviews , I cover how to do this in detail further down the guide.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional CV templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Once you have the style and format of your personal statement perfected, you need to fill it with compelling content that tells recruiters that your CV is worth reading.

Here’s what needs to go into your personal statement…

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s crucial that you research your target roles to find out exactly what your new potential employers are looking for in a candidate.

Run a search for your target jobs on one of the major job websites , look through plenty of adverts and make a list of the candidate requirements that frequently appear.

This research will show you exactly what to include in your personal statement in order to impress the recruiters who will be reading it.

Education and qualifications are an important aspect of your personal statement, especially if you are a junior candidate.

You should highlight your highest and most relevant qualifications, whether that is a degree, A levels or GCSEs. You could potentially go into some more detail around modules, papers etc. if they are relevant to the roles you are applying for.

It’s important that you discuss the experience you have gained in your personal statement, to give readers an idea of the work you are comfortable undertaking.

This can of course be direct employed work experience, but it doesn’t have to be.

You can also include:

• School/college Uni work placements
• Voluntary work
• Personal projects
• Hobbies/interests

As with all aspects of your CV , the content should be tailored to match the requirements of your target roles.

Whilst discussing your experience, you should touch upon skills used, industries worked in, types of companies worked for, and people you have worked with.

Where possible, try to show the impact your actions have made. E.g . A customer service agent helps to make sales for their employer.

Any industry-specific knowledge you have that will be useful to your new potential employers should be made prominent within your personal statement.

For example

• Knowledge of financial regulations will be important for accountancy roles
• Knowledge of IT operating systems will be important for IT roles
• Knowledge of the national curriculum will be important for teachers

You should also include some information about the types of roles you are applying for, and why you are doing so. Try to show your interest and passion for the field you are hoping to enter, because employers want to hire people who have genuine motivation and drive in their work.

This is especially true if you don’t have much work experience, as you need something else to compensate for it.

CV personal statement mistakes

The things that you omit from your personal statement can be just as important as the things you include.

Try to keep the following out of your personal statement..

Irrelevant info

Any information that doesn’t fall into the requirements of your target roles can be cut out of your personal statement. For example, if you were a professional athlete 6 years ago, that’s great – but it won’t be relevant if you’re applying to advertising internships, so leave it out.

Generic clichés

If you are describing yourself as a “ dynamic team player with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm” you aren’t doing yourself any favours.

These cliché terms are vastly overused and don’t provide readers with any factual details about you – so keep them to a minimum.

Stick to solid facts like education, skills , experience, achievements and knowledge.

If you really want to ensure that your personal statement makes a big impact, you need to write in a persuasive manner.

So, how do you so this?

Well, you need to brag a little – but not too much

It’s about selling yourself and appearing confident, without overstepping the mark and appearing arrogant.

For example, instead of writing.

“Marketing graduate with an interest in entering the digital field”

Be creative and excite the reader by livening the sentence up like this,

“Marketing graduate with highest exam results in class and a passion for embarking on a long and successful career within digital”

The second sentence is a much more interesting, makes the candidate appear more confident, throws in some achievements, and shows off a wider range of writing skills.

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Your own personal statement will be totally unique to yourself, but by using the above guidelines you will be able to create one which shows recruiters everything they need.

Remember to keep the length between 10-20 lines and only include the most relevant information for your target roles.

You can also check our school leaver CV example , our best CV templates , or our library of example CVs from all industries.

Good luck with the job hunt!

Politics latest: Yousaf quits as Scotland's first minister

Humza Yousaf has announced his resignation as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister following the fallout from his decision to end the SNP's powersharing agreement with the Scottish Greens.

Monday 29 April 2024 14:00, UK

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• Yousaf quits as Scottish FM after ending powersharing deal
• Outgoing SNP leader admits he 'underestimated' hurt caused
• Analysis: The biggest political miscalculation of Yousaf's career
• Explained: How did we get here - and what happens next?
• Analysis:  Tories expect elections pounding - but Labour may have harder job
• Watch in full: Trevor Phillips interviews the prime minister
• Tap here to follow Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Live reporting by Samuel Osborne

Holyrood is in a "terrible situation" following the resignation of Scotland's first minister, one of Humza Yousaf's predecessors has said.

Henry McLeish, who was first minister under Labour from 2000 until 2001, said while Mr Yousaf had shown "a bit of grace" and "humility" by quitting today - there was "no way he could continue in office".

He told Sky News his decision to end the SNP's powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens was more evidence of how "politically divided" Scotland had become.

Mr McLeish told Sky News his homeland is in desperate need of some "unity" and called for all parties to start thinking like a "coalition", even if not in practice.

Labour's call for an immediate election at Holyrood is - like their demand for one at Westminster - not likely to go anywhere, he added.

Humza Yousaf has announced he is standing down as Scotland's first minister and SNP leader.

Our Scotland reporter Jenness Mitchell reports on some of the potential contenders who could step up to lead the country:

Former SNP leader John Swinney has said he is giving "very careful consideration" to standing to replace Humza Yousaf after he announced his resignation as first minister of Scotland.

Mr Swinney said: "I've been somewhat overwhelmed by the requests that have been made of me to do that, with many messages from many colleagues across the party.

"So I'm giving that issue very active consideration. And it's likely I'll have more to say about that in the days to come."

He added: "I'm very sorry that the first minister has decided to stand down.

"He's been a pioneer as first minister, the first person of colour to hold the office of first minister of Scotland.

"He's led our country with empathy, with care and with an emphasis always on bringing people together, so I very much regret the fact he's felt it necessary today to stand down."

 It is "bizarre" that some SNP MSPs would rather see Humza Yousaf resign as Scotland's first minister than do a deal with the pro-independence Alba Party, Ash Regan has said.

Ms Regan's support may have been needed to get Mr Yousaf over the line in a confidence vote.

The former SNP politician, who leads Alba in Holyrood and is the party's first MSP, said: "The irony will not be lost on many that the event that has cost Humza Yousaf his job was removing the Greens from government - something most people in Scotland agreed with.

"Alba Party were willing to work in the best interests of Scotland to put independence back at the heart of government, protect the rights of women and girls, and to get the government back on to a competent footing.

"The Greens were willing to vote with the Tories and bizarrely some forces in Humza Yousaf's own party would rather see him resign than deal with a party who really want to advance independence."

Humza Yousaf "doesn't have the X factor" and was right to stand down as Scotland's first minister, the former deputy leader of the SNP has said.

Jim Sillars said: "Humza has been what I would describe as a follow-up, not a leader.

"And that came through when he was a candidate for the leadership, when he described himself as the continuity candidate - in other works Nicola Sturgeon Mark II.

"And he was never able to rid himself of the Sturgeon legacy because he actually saw nothing wrong with it, which was actually mess and mediocrity.

"Nice man though he is, Humza never had what was required."

He said he thought former SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes was the "outstanding candidate" to take over as leader.

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned in the face of two confidence votes after he dramatically brought the power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens to an end.

How did we get here?

The Bute House Agreement - signed back in 2021 and named after the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh - brought the Green Party into government for the first time anywhere in the UK.

It gave the SNP a majority at Holyrood when the votes of its MSPs were combined with those of the seven Green members, and also made Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater junior ministers.

Without it, the SNP would need to have operated as a minority administration at Holyrood.

What caused the relationship to sour?

There had been mounting tensions between the largest party at Holyrood and their junior partners in government.

The Greens were angered at the SNP-led administration's recent decision to ditch a key climate change target.

That, combined with the decision to pause the prescription of new puberty blockers to under-18s at Scotland's only gender clinic, resulted in the Greens announcing they would have a vote on the future of the power-sharing deal. 

What brought things to a head?

Mr Yousaf decided to pull the plug on the agreement - arguing it had "served its purpose" - prompting a major fallout with his former allies, who vowed to back a no-confidence motion in his leadership proposed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.

What happens next?

Mr Yousaf said he will continue as first minister until his successor is elected ( see 12.07 post ).

Potential successors include:

• Kate Forbes, former SNP leadership contender;
• Stephen Flynn, leader of the SNP in Westminster;
• Neil Gray, health secretary;
• Jenny Gilruth, education secretary;
• Shona Robison, finance secretary;
• John Swinney, former deputy leader;
• Mairi McAllan, wellbeing economy, net zero and energy secretary.

Humza Yousaf's decision to sack the Green Party from his coalition ultimately triggered a series of events that sealed his political fate, our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reports.

"It was the biggest political miscalculation of his career that sealed the fate of the first minister," he said, speaking after Mr Yousaf announced he will step down ( see 12.04 post ).

Ending the three-year powersharing deal at Holyrood was a "fatal mistake" which saw the "walls come closing in".

Those close to Mr Yousaf had suggested that agreement "had become a liability within government and many in the SNP were uneasy about how many strings they were pulling".

"So he got rid of them and that triggered a set of events in motion that ultimately led to this moment and ultimately led to his demise."

No confidence votes

No confidence motions were looming at the Scottish parliament later this week, and he was facing wipeout and a backlash of "no" votes from the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, who were furious. 

"And then at that stage there was a suggestion that the ALBA party, Alex Salmond's party, would prop up the SNP government with their one MSP, Ash Regan," Gillies added. 

"That was just a step too far. Allies and sources close to Scotland's first minister said, 'look, that would be like doing a deal with the devil'. 

"So, there was only one other option and that was to resign."

Stepping in for Sturgeon

Gillies added an "interesting" element to this is how Mr Yousaf said to Sky News just 48 hours ago he would defy that vote of no confidence.

"On a human level, this is a man who is well-liked within the SNP," Gillies said. 

"He is a man who stepped up to the plate when Nicola Sturgeon stepped down last year, and he was always going to have a battle ahead."

But even his closest of allies, Gillies said, would realise "he was not Nicola Sturgeon, and he did not command her authority".

Humza Yousaf gave an emotional end to his resignation announcement.

"I bear no ill will and certainly no grudge against anyone. Politics can be a brutal business," he says.

"It takes its toll on your physical and mental health. Your family suffer alongside you."

Becoming emotional, he adds: "I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife, my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years.

"I'm afraid you'll be seeing a lot more of me from now. You are truly everything to me."

Mr Yousaf continues: "I am so grateful. I'm so blessed for having the opportunity afforded to so few to lead my country, and who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland? Thank you very much."

Mr Yousaf says he is "incredibly proud" to have a "fair tax system", which he hails as "the most progressive in the UK".

"I've always been guided by my values," he says. 

"As first minister, I'm incredibly proud to have a fair tax system, the most progressive in the UK. 

"But those who earn the most, contribute the most, and it will always be my core belief that a country as rich as ours wealth must be far more evenly distributed." 

He added he has "no doubt at all" that whoever takes over "will continue the Scottish government's drive to reduce child poverty".

"I'm proud that through our actions, an estimated 100,000 children are expected to be lifted out of poverty this year," he claimed.

He also said he will "continue to champion… the rights and the voices of those who are not often heard", including those suffering the "most horrific humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

Humza Yousaf says he is stepping down at a time when Scottish independence "feels frustratingly close".

"As the world watches on, let me say to my SNP family, I will always be with you," he says.

"I will always campaign alongside you. We have had setbacks in our movement, but we have overcome them, and we will do so again.

"Independence feels frustratingly close. Believe me, no one feels that frustration more than the leader of the SNP.

"For the last few miles of the marathon are always the hardest, and we have run this race as a team and I now will prepare to pass the baton to a successor who I'm absolutely certain will lead us over the finish line."

Giving a message to his successor, Mr Yousaf says: "First ministers get to meet countless inspirational people and communities across Scotland working to make life better for those around them.

"First ministers get to see first-hand many of the exciting businesses and industries that will power Scotland's future.

"And whenever first ministers set foot beyond Scotland's shores, no matter where they go in Europe or across the world, they encounter friends and admirers of our nation.

"If only every person in Scotland can be afforded the opportunity of being first minister for just one day on the very next day. It's my belief that they would vote for independence with both their head and their heart."

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Tabloid Publisher Testifies Trump Asked Him to ‘Help the Campaign’

The jury heard testimony about what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to bury negative news, including a porn star’s claim of a sexual encounter with Donald Trump. The longtime publisher of The National Enquirer will resume his testimony on Thursday.

• Share full article

Jesse McKinley and Kate Christobek

Five takeaways from the sixth day of Trump’s criminal trial.

Tuesday’s session of Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial began with a heated clash between Justice Juan M. Merchan and Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer over a gag order . It ended with an insider’s look into a tabloid newspaper practice known as “catch and kill.”

Prosecutors said that Mr. Trump had “willfully and blatantly” violated a gag order barring him from attacking jurors and witnesses, among others. They said he had done so in comments outside the courtroom and online and should be found in contempt of court.

Mr. Trump’s top lawyer said in response that Mr. Trump was simply defending himself from political attacks. Justice Merchan did not rule, but he scolded the lawyer, Todd Blanche, saying, “you’re losing all credibility with the court.”

A former ally of Mr. Trump, David Pecker, the ex-publisher of The National Enquirer, later testified to buying and burying unflattering stories about Mr. Trump during his 2016 run for president, an arrangement he called “highly, highly confidential.”

Mr. Trump, 77, faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, made to cover up a sex scandal that threatened to derail his campaign. Ms. Daniels, who may testify, has said that she and Mr. Trump had a brief sexual encounter in 2006, something the former president denies.

Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, the former president — and presumptive Republican nominee — could face probation or up to four years in prison.

Here are five takeaways from Mr. Trump’s sixth day on trial:

Pecker describes “catch-and-kill.”

Taking the stand for a second day, Mr. Pecker outlined a decades-old friendship with Mr. Trump, a relationship that he said deepened in 2015.

It was then, Mr. Pecker said, that he, Mr. Trump and Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, met at Trump Tower in Manhattan to hatch a plan to write promotional stories about Mr. Trump and negative stories about his political opponents.

Mr. Pecker said he acted as the campaign’s “eyes and ears,” notifying Mr. Cohen about possible scandals, particularly regarding women in Mr. Trump’s life.

Mr. Pecker on Tuesday walked through one of the “catch-and-kill” deals. He said that The National Enquirer learned that a doorman who had worked at a Trump building was looking to sell a story about Mr. Trump fathering a child out of wedlock. The tabloid discovered that the story was apparently false, but paid $30,000 anyway, “because of the potential embarrassment” it could have caused Mr. Trump, Mr. Pecker said.

Who Are Key Players in the Trump Manhattan Criminal Trial?

The first criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump is underway. Take a closer look at central figures related to the case.

Pecker paints a portrait of a bygone era.

Mr. Pecker’s testimony depicted an anachronistic New York, with landlines, powerful supermarket tabloids and must-see network television, including “The Apprentice,” which made Mr. Trump nationally famous.

It also shed light on Mr. Pecker’s editorial tactics, including getting tips from Mr. Trump about who was getting kicked off “The Apprentice,” in line with Mr. Trump’s penchant for feeding dirt to tabloids.

Mr. Pecker said that he called Mr. Trump “Donald,” and that they had “a great relationship,” adding that he went so far as to start a magazine called Trump Style. When he proposed the magazine, Mr. Pecker said, Mr. Trump’s biggest question was, “Who’s going to pay for it?”

Trump’s short leash could get shorter.

Christopher Conroy, a prosecutor with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, argued that Mr. Trump had repeatedly violated the gag order that the court imposed on him. One alleged violation included a nine-minute diatribe outside the courtroom on Monday during which he attacked Michael Cohen, his former fixer and a key witness against him.

“He did it right here,” Mr. Conroy said.

But Mr. Blanche said that the former president was “facing a barrage of political attacks” from several potential witnesses and needed to strike back.

“He’s running for president,” Mr. Blanche said. “He has to be able to respond to that.”

Justice Merchan has chastised Trump once so far, for muttering in front of a prospective juror. If he holds him in criminal contempt, it will mark a serious escalation. For their part, prosecutors said they were not seeking to jail Mr. Trump, but wanted him to be fined.

A frustrated Trump

Mr. Trump sat stoically while prosecutors argued that he violated the gag order. But he grew animated during the interplay between Mr. Blanche and Justice Merchan. On several occasions, the former president sharply turned to his other lawyers and whispered.

When Mr. Blanche finished his argument, Mr. Trump immediately beckoned him over before he snatched a piece of paper off the defense table.

Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social right after the hearing, accusing Justice Merchan of taking away his “right to free speech” and claiming that he was “not allowed to defend myself.”

Thursday will be a big day for Trump in two courts.

Court is not in session on Wednesday, but prosecutors will continue their direct examination of Mr. Pecker on Thursday.

While Mr. Trump is expected to be in court in Manhattan that day, he may be a little preoccupied: In Washington, some of his other lawyers will be arguing in front of the Supreme Court that Mr. Trump should receive presidential immunity from prosecution in a federal election interference case.

Mr. Trump had sought to take a day away from his New York case to watch those arguments, but Justice Merchan denied his request.

Matthew Haag and Michael Rothfeld

This is how The National Enquirer quashed a doorman’s Trump tip.

David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, revealed during Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial on Tuesday how a team of reporters chased down a potentially explosive news tip called into the publication in 2015 that evolved into a catch-and-kill deal.

Dino Sajudin, a former doorman at a Manhattan building managed by the Trump Organization, called the tabloid’s tip line late in 2015 and said he had overheard other employees claiming that Mr. Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock with a woman who previously worked for him.

While the claim appeared to be false, the allegation could have damaged Mr. Trump during the campaign if it ever became public, Mr. Pecker testified in Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday.

“I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it would have to the campaign and Mr. Trump,” Mr. Pecker said, adding that it was important to have it “removed from the market.”

The Enquirer initially reached a deal with Mr. Sajudin that would pay him $30,000 if the tip turned into a story. A contract with Mr. Sajudin was shown to the jury on Tuesday, featuring the words “Donald Trump’s illegitimate child.”

Mr. Pecker did not immediately alert Mr. Trump or his longtime fixer, Michael D. Cohen, about the tip, but instead dispatched a team of reporters to investigate the claim. They returned saying that it appeared totally false, in part because the child strongly resembled the man she knew as her father, a Trump Organization driver.

Mr. Cohen eventually heard about the allegation and called the tabloid’s editor, angry that its reporters would even consider the claim had merit. Mr. Pecker testified that Mr. Cohen also called him to say that Mr. Trump had offered to take a DNA test and could not be the child’s father.

The original deal with Mr. Sajudin was nonetheless amended to pay him the $30,000 whether the story was published or not, and adding a confidentiality provision requiring him to pay the publisher $1 million if he disclosed the tip elsewhere.

According to Mr. Pecker, Mr. Cohen told him that “the boss would be very pleased.”

Mr. Sajudin was released from the confidentiality agreement in December 2016, a month after Mr. Trump won the election, which prosecutors say reveals the deal’s true objective.

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Nate Schweber

A day after Trump issued a call for more supporters to gather outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, the number reached its nadir. The number of identifiable Trump fans across the street in Collect Pond Park on Tuesday sank to the mid-single digits, after hovering at about a dozen for a week.

Trump continues to receive favorable treatment from the New York City Police Department. For a week, a large N.Y.P.D. dump truck has parked in the intersection of Hogan Place and Centre Street, with a uniformed driver sitting inside. Minutes before Trump's arrival each morning, the dump truck has pulled a half-car length forward, blocking news photographers’ views of him entering the side door of the courthouse. And this afternoon, like those before it, the driver did the same maneuver for Trump’s 2:37 p.m. departure.

Jim Rutenberg

The National Enquirer’s help for Trump broke norms, even for a tabloid.

The National Enquirer was more than a friendly media outlet for Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. It was a powerful, national political weapon that was thrust into the service of a single candidate, in violation of campaign finance law.

The tabloid’s former publisher, David Pecker, testified nonchalantly on Tuesday about how the tabloid operated in tandem with the Trump campaign, “catching and killing” potentially damaging stories and running elaborate and false hit pieces on Mr. Trump’s opponents. But its practices were unusual even in the wild supermarket tabloid news game.

By the admission of The Enquirer’s own publisher — first made to federal prosecutors years ago during the prosecution of Mr. Trump’s fixer, Michael Cohen — the tabloid was operating with the full intention of helping Mr. Trump’s campaign.

Under the First Amendment, newspapers are permitted to support candidates. But The Enquirer’s support went beyond journalism: The publication paid $150,000 for a story a Playboy model, Karen McDougal, was preparing to tell about an affair she said she had with the candidate. Then, it published nothing.

That sort of deal is not unusual in the tabloid news trade, even if it violates journalistic standards followed by mainstream American outlets like this one, which have rules against paying sources.

But before 2016, there had never been a known catch-and-kill deal to aid a presidential campaign. In that context, The Enquirer’s payment violated federal campaign laws prohibiting corporations from donating to presidential candidates — who are limited to receiving direct donations of $4,400 per person — and forbidding them to coordinate election-related spending with campaigns.

As The Enquirer’s parent company at the time, American Media, admitted in a “non-prosecution” deal with the federal government in 2018: “AMI knew that corporations such as AMI are subject to federal campaign finance laws, and that expenditures by corporations, made for purposes of influencing an election and in coordination with or at the request of a candidate or campaign, are unlawful.”

The deal helped secure Tuesday’s testimony.

(The Federal Election Commission later hit The Enquirer’s parent company with fines of $187,000; Mr. Trump’s campaign escaped sanction .)

The Enquirer was also providing a hidden value to Mr. Trump: By giving over its cover to his political needs, Mr. Pecker gave him the equivalent of free advertising space at most major supermarket checkout lines in the country, where the tabloid had long ago secured prime placement.

One expert said at the time that such exposure could be worth as much as $3 million a month.

Worth potentially even more: The Enquirer’s agreement to keep from the checkout line not only Ms. McDougal’s story but the cache of Trump dirt it had in its own files — “tabloid gold” that would never see the light of day.

Jonah Bromwich

We end the day without a final decision from the judge on whether Trump will be held in contempt and fined for violating his gag order. Justice Merchan could issue a written ruling at any point, or rule from the bench on Thursday or later. There is no deadline.

Michael Gold

Trump, speaking in the hallway outside the courtroom, says he thinks the gag order is unconstitutional. He’s holding a stack of printed articles that he says he’s not sure he’s allowed to share because of the gag order, which only pertains to a limited set of issues. While in the middle of talking to reporters, he says, “I’d love to talk to you people, I’d love to say anything that’s on my mind, but I’m restricted.”

He again criticized the trial as an attempt to interfere with his presidential bid. He complained that President Biden was free to campaign while he was stuck in a courtroom, “sitting up as straight as I can all day long.”

David Pecker is done testifying for the day. The judge gives jurors customary warnings, as well as one we haven’t heard before, about reporting anyone who seeks to violate jury integrity — making it sound almost as if someone has approached a juror inappropriately. Then they leave the courtroom.

Karen McDougal, by the way, was selling a story of having had an affair with Trump. Pecker concluded the day’s testimony by saying that Michael Cohen was becoming increasingly agitated as The National Enquirer editor, Dylan Howard, traveled to hear her story. “It looked like he was getting a lot of pressure to get the answer, like, right away,” Pecker says of Cohen.

David Pecker tells the courtroom that he asked Dylan Howard, the former editor of The National Enquirer, to investigate Karen McDougal’s story and that he told Cohen he had done so. He seems to indicate his conversations with Cohen soon increased in frequency and the two men began to talk multiple times daily. Cohen said they should communicate over Signal, an encrypted app, which is often used for conversations that a person wants to keep private.

Maggie Haberman

The jury is quite alert for this portion of Pecker’s testimony.

Kate Christobek

Trump’s body language changed when Pecker started testifying about the catch-and-kill deal involving McDougal. He started moving his head, squinting and pursing his lips, and then crossed his arms over his chest.

Pecker says he advised Trump to purchase McDougal’s story directly. “I think you should buy it,” he recalls having said to Trump, who was then a candidate for president. He says Trump said he’d think about it and have Cohen call Pecker back.

Matthew Haag

David Pecker laid out how he helped Trump’s campaign.

David Pecker, a former publisher of The National Enquirer, on Tuesday testified about the mutually beneficial relationship between Donald J. Trump and the supermarket tabloid that started decades ago and buoyed Mr. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr. Pecker said that the pivotal moment was an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan. “I received a call from Michael Cohen telling me that the boss wanted to see me,” Mr. Pecker said, adding that he did not know the nature of the meeting before he showed up.

Mr. Trump had announced his presidential campaign a few months before in the same place, and Mr. Pecker said he arrived to meet not just Mr. Trump but also Mr. Cohen, his fixer at the time.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen asked him how he could “help the campaign,” according to Mr. Pecker, underscoring prosecutors’ argument that the hush-money payments were made to help Mr. Trump get elected.

An outcome of that Trump Tower meeting were negative headlines attacking Mr. Trump’s rivals and positive stories that promoted him. Prosecutors said that negative coverage included stories about Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio while they were seeking the Republican Party’s nomination.

During the campaign, Mr. Pecker said he worked closely with Mr. Cohen, who would feed him information. Mr. Cohen would call him after Republican debates and ask for negative coverage to be directed at whichever candidate had been most successful onstage.

In turn, The Enquirer would “embellish” the stories, Mr. Pecker said, essentially confessing that it published “fake news” to help Mr. Trump.

Mr. Pecker also said that the tabloid arranged to suppress negative information, especially pertaining to “women selling stories” about Mr. Trump, who Mr. Pecker said was known as “the most eligible bachelor and dated the most beautiful women.”

We are fifteen minutes — at most — away from the end of the day. Steinglass, the prosecutor, appears to be putting a bow on the story of the doorman who sought to sell Trump’s story. But he moves on immediately to the second catch-and-kill deal, which involved the former Playboy model Karen McDougal. She, too, had a story about Trump to sell.

Prosecutors like to end the day with the most intriguing question-and-answer series they can. I’d expected Steinglass to finish with the doorman, and perhaps allow the jurors to leave early. But by moving onto this next deal, he could be setting up a nice cliffhanger to leave jurors with, that he'll pick back up when we return Thursday morning.

Steinglass, the prosecutor, is asking Pecker why he paid so much for this story. “I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it would have to the campaign and Mr. Trump,” Pecker responds. This is catch-and-kill in a nutshell and Pecker just said several times in different ways that he was acting on Trump’s behalf.

Regardless of whether the allegation about Trump fathering the child was true or not, the jury is now being shown a contract the National Enquirer reached with Dino Sajudin, the doorman, in which the words “Donald Trump’s illegitimate child” feature prominently. Things like that can leave a mark.

Pecker says Cohen called him furiously denying that the child in question was Trump's, saying that he offered to take a DNA test and that because he was German-Irish and the woman was Hispanic, it was impossible for the child to be his.

To be clear, Pecker appeared to be saying that Cohen indicated that a child with a Hispanic mother couldn’t be Trump’s.

Trump has often talked about “good genes” and blood lines. While running for president, he has denigrated immigrants from Latin American countries and said undocumented immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.”

On the other hand, Pecker did not clarify whether “the woman” he was referring to was the mother of the child or the child herself, who by then was in her 20s.

Pecker is now being asked about Dino Sajudin, a doorman who worked at a Trump building and looked to sell a story — which was apparently false — about Trump fathering a child out of wedlock. This is the first of three catch-and-kill deals that Pecker is expected to describe and we will likely get a fair amount of detail on each of them.

This story clearly bothers Trump. Just like yesterday when it came up during opening statements, he frowned and shook his head.

Pecker says the love child story would have been a big story, and he believed it was important to have it “removed from the market.” Cohen told him “the boss would be very pleased.”

To catch you up, David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, has been testifying for nearly two hours, detailing a mutually beneficial relationship between Trump and his publication. Pecker said that at the direction of Trump and his fixer, Michael Cohen, The Enquirer published negative coverage about Trump’s political rivals and positive stories that promoted him. The National Enquirer benefited too, with increased newsstand sales. The tabloid also arranged for negative stories about Trump to be suppressed through “ catch-and-kill ” schemes.

The symbiotic relationship existed for years, Pecker said, stretching back to when Trump hosted the reality television show “The Apprentice.” But it picked up during the presidential campaign after Trump, Cohen and Pecker met at Trump Tower in August 2015.

Trump pulls down the lapels of his jacket sharply and walks out, again looking frustrated. To me, he’s looked far angrier yesterday and today than he did during all of last week, during jury selection.

Trump’s lawyers have objected all along to prosecutors couching Trump’s relationship with Pecker and Michael Cohen as a conspiracy — after all, Trump is not facing a conspiracy charge. But Joshua Steinglass, one of the prosecutors, just noted for the first time in court that one of the election statutes the case is based on does in fact have a conspiracy provision. That could prove important later when the jury is instructed on the laws they must consider in reaching a verdict.

We are taking a short break, though the lawyers and Trump are staying put. From our perspective, it seemed as if the jurors needed it. A few looked like they were flagging. We have no lunch break today — usually it’d be about a half hour away — and this is a lot of information to absorb. Jurors often feel a special responsibility to understand what they’re being told, given their role. It can be very tiring, regardless of the subject matter.

Pecker is now being asked about being introduced to Steve Bannon, Trump’s top campaign strategist, in October 2016. He recalls Trump saying, “I believe you and Steve would get along really well.” Bannon told Pecker that he went through some of the Enquirer articles and liked them, and had some other ideas. Pecker said he would give him old issues to study.

It’s worth recalling that this happened around the same time as the Wikileaks email dump, after a hack of Clinton’s top adviser John Podesta’s account, and the Trump team used that material frequently.

Prosecutors just showed several examples of the negative headlines about Trump's opponents, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Marco Rubio.

Pecker is being asked about an infamous Enquirer story linking Ted Cruz’s father to the John F. Kennedy assassination. He says it originated with Dylan Howard, The Enquirer’s editor.

Pecker said that after the Republican debates, Cohen would call him and direct him to focus the negative coverage on whichever candidate had been most successful onstage.

It should be pointed out that Pecker’s testimony isn’t just damaging to Trump. He is, in effect, laying waste to his own professional career by going through headline after headline and suggesting he attacked Trump’s rivals to aid Trump.

Pecker is asked about the nature of Cohen’s relationship to the Trump campaign. Pecker says Cohen always said he didn’t work for the campaign, and that he was instead “Mr. Trump’s personal attorney.” But jurors just heard that Cohen was central to feeding the tabloid negative information about campaign opponents.

“Michael was physically in every aspect of whatever the campaign was working on,” Pecker says. He adds that because Cohen wasn’t officially employed by the campaign, he may have heard things “informally” or “injected himself into it.”

Pecker finally says something mildly helpful to the defense. He says he doesn’t know who Cohen spoke to, and adds that Cohen may have essentially been freelancing, acting of his own volition as he tried to get more involved with the campaign.

Now, we are discussing negative headlines attacking three of Trump's Republican opponents in 2016, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, which prosecutors argue illustrate the outcome of the agreement reached during the Trump Tower meeting. Pecker says that Cohen would feed him negative information and that The National Enquirer would “embellish” and add onto it.

Trump jumped on the negative coverage of Ted Cruz, especially about his father, in 2016. The campaign promoted it like it had come about organically and Trump was simply responding to it.

Trump just leaned in toward the monitor in front of him and squinted to look closer at a collection of headlines from The National Enquirer that praised him. They included: “Donald Trump — Cruzin to victory! Ted endorses Donald” and “Obama’s Half Brother — Cheering on Donald at Debate.”

Prosecutors call Trump’s echo of a Fox News host’s remarks ‘troubling.’

As prosecutors argued Tuesday that former President Donald J. Trump had repeatedly broken a gag order, they called one episode “very troubling” — his sharing of a commentator’s quote disparaging prospective jurors as clandestine operators for the left.

Mr. Trump posted the remark by Jesse Watters, a Fox News commentator, on his social media site Truth Social last week, as jury selection was underway in his hush-money trial. Mr. Trump quoted Mr. Watters as saying, “They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.”

Mr. Trump’s post embellished the actual remarks made by the commentator, adding the phrase “in order to get on the Trump Jury” when Mr. Watters had not said that on air. A few hours later, however, Mr. Watters posted on X the exact statement as shared by Mr. Trump.

No juror or potential juror has been identified as a liberal activist.

In that Fox News segment, Mr. Watters also shared personal details about the jurors in his segment. The day after that post, the judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, ordered reporters to withhold some information that could identify jurors.

“What happened here was exactly what this order was meant to prevent and the defendant doesn’t care,” a prosecutor, Christopher Conroy, said in court Tuesday.

A lawyer for Mr. Trump, Todd Blanche, argued that Mr. Trump was simply sharing a quote, a common argument used by Mr. Trump to put distance between him and reposts of other people’s comments.

Judge Merchan did not appear to buy that argument. “It’s not passive,” Mr. Merchan said about how a post is published on Truth Social.

Mr. Conroy said the timing of the “liberal activists” post was important. The next morning, a juror came into court and asked to be excused, saying that friends and colleagues had been able to identify her as a member.

Mr. Watters hosts the nightly program “Jesse Watters Primetime” and is a co-host on “The Five,” a weekday afternoon chat show. He rose to prominence on Fox News for his ambush-style interviews on the street, which included a 2016 segment in which he mocked Asian people in New York City’s Chinatown that was widely seen as trafficking in stereotypes and veering into racism.

Pecker asked that the “catch-and-kill” arrangement be kept secret. Steinglass asks him to explain why. Pecker says he was helping the campaign, and didn’t want it to “leak” that his publication was aiding Trump. He wanted it “very confidential,” he says. Steinglass, satisfied, moves on.

A hearing turns heated as judge considers citing Trump for contempt.

The judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s trial in Manhattan held a fiery hearing on Tuesday about whether to find Mr. Trump in criminal contempt for repeatedly violating the provisions of a gag order.

While the judge, Juan M. Merchan, did not issue an immediate ruling, he engaged in a heated back-and-forth with one of Mr. Trump’s lawyers, scolding him for his failure to offer any facts in his defense of the former president.

“You’ve presented nothing,” Justice Merchan told the lawyer, Todd Blanche, adding soon after: “You’re losing all credibility with the court.”

Justice Merchan’s rebuke came moments after prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office had complained that Mr. Trump willfully violated the gag order by making 10 public statements on social media and on his campaign website that attacked two likely witnesses and the jury.

The prosecutors pointed to Mr. Trump’s attacks on Michael Cohen, a lawyer who had helped Mr. Trump arrange hush payments to a porn star to stop her from speaking about a sexual encounter she said she had had with Mr. Trump. The prosecutors also told Judge Merchan that a post Mr. Trump had made going after the woman, Stormy Daniels, violated the gag order.

Prosecutors flagged another post for Justice Merchan, saying it was even more troubling. In it, Mr. Trump had quoted a Fox News commentator, Jesse Watters, denigrating potential jurors in the case as “undercover liberal activists.”

Justice Merchan imposed the order on Mr. Trump in late March, barring him from public statements about any witnesses, prosecutors, jurors or court staff. But within a week, after Mr. Trump had found a loophole in the order and repeatedly attacked the judge’s daughter, Justice Merchan expanded it to cover the relatives of court staff members and relatives of lawyers working on the case.

Christopher Conroy, a prosecutor, told Justice Merchan on Tuesday that Mr. Trump had broken the order “repeatedly and hasn’t stopped.” Mr. Conroy added that the former president had made statements violating it even “right here in the hallway” outside the courtroom.

“He knows what he’s not allowed to do,” Mr. Conroy said of Mr. Trump, “and he does it anyhow.”

Mr. Blanche rejected that argument, telling the judge that Mr. Trump had never willfully violated the order. Mr. Blanche instead tried to paint his client’s statements as legitimate responses to “a barrage of political attacks.”

“Mr. Cohen in particular, and also Ms. Daniels, have ramped up their political attacks and their attacks on him as candidate in the weeks leading up to the trial,” Mr. Blanche said. His argument to Justice Merchan was that Mr. Trump should be allowed to respond.

The judge was skeptical, all but pleading with Mr. Blanche at one point to make a more substantive legal argument.

“I hate to keep coming back to this, but you’re not offering me anything to support your argument,” he said.

Prosecutors have asked Justice Merchan to fine Mr. Trump $1,000 for each of his violations of the gag order. They have also asked the judge to warn Mr. Trump that if he continues to violate the order, he could face jail time.

Matthew Haag and Alan Feuer

New York’s court system is publishing daily transcripts of Trump’s trial.

If you want to follow Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial in detail but can’t make it to the Lower Manhattan courthouse in person, you can still read every word of the proceedings.

The New York State Court system will publish a transcript of each day’s court action by the end of the following day on its website. The transcripts can be found here under People v Donald J. Trump (Criminal).

The trial is not televised nor is there live audio, so the transcripts provide the only way to read what is said in the courtroom, word for word.

The court system does not normally release daily transcripts for public consumption and in most cases, seeing transcripts for a court proceeding can be costly. But the court system’s chief administrative judge, Joseph A. Zayas , believed it was the right thing to do.

“This measure is in the interest of the public good and aligns with the court system’s commitment to judicial transparency and its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to, and understanding of, the courts and justice system,” said the judge, who made the decision to publish the transcripts.

In addition to the transcripts, the court website also includes various documents from the hush-money trial, including the 42 questions asked of prospective jurors during jury selection. The site also includes some documents from Mr. Trump’s civil fraud case as well as the previous criminal fraud case against Allen Weisselberg , the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.

Jonah E. Bromwich and Ben Protess

Here’s the latest on the trial.

A key witness in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial pulled back the curtain Tuesday on what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election, describing how he used his tabloid to aid Mr. Trump’s campaign.

The witness, David Pecker, the longtime publisher of The National Enquirer, described a 2015 meeting with Mr. Trump and his fixer at the time, Michael D. Cohen. Prosecutors described the meeting, which took place at Mr. Trump’s Midtown Manhattan headquarters, as the “Trump Tower conspiracy.”

Prosecutors say that meeting is where the trio hatched their efforts to conceal several sex scandals during the 2016 campaign. One of those efforts, a $130,000 hush-money payment Mr. Cohen made to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, is at the heart of the case.

Before court adjourned for the day, Mr. Pecker testified that Mr. Cohen and Mr. Trump had asked him what he and his magazines could do “to help the campaign,” a crucial statement that supports the prosecution’s argument that the men were not just protecting Mr. Trump’s personal reputation, but aiding his presidential bid.

“I would be your eyes and ears,” Mr. Pecker recalled telling them, as he explained the tabloid practice of “catch and kill,” in which an outlet bought the rights to a story, only to never publish it.

Mr. Pecker is expected to return to the stand when the trial resumes on Thursday. Court will not be in session on Wednesday.

During roughly three hours of testimony on Tuesday, the tabloid publisher described how Mr. Cohen communicated with him to protect Mr. Trump from negative stories, including a doorman’s apparently false claim that Mr. Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock. Mr. Pecker testified that Mr. Cohen had told him “the boss would be very pleased” to have that story suppressed.

Mr. Pecker also described working with Mr. Cohen to generate negative coverage of Mr. Trump’s political rivals, saying that Mr. Cohen would feed him information and that The National Enquirer would sometimes “embellish” and add onto it.

Mr. Pecker also said that Mr. Cohen was “physically in every aspect of whatever the campaign was working on.” But, in what may have been a positive moment for the defense, he testified that Mr. Cohen, who always insisted that he was not a campaign employee but Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, may have “injected himself” into the campaign at times.

Mr. Trump, who repaid Mr. Cohen for the hush money, is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records. Each charge reflects a check, invoice or ledger that prosecutors say disguised the true purpose of his reimbursement of Mr. Cohen, who is expected to be a key witness against him.

Mr. Pecker’s testimony on Tuesday came after a bruising hearing for Mr. Trump and his legal team, as prosecutors argued that Mr. Trump’s attacks on witnesses and jurors posed a “threat” to the trial. They urged the judge to hold him in contempt of court over what they said were 11 violations of the gag order barring him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and court staff, as well as their relatives.

A prosecutor, Christopher Conroy, rattled off various statements from Mr. Trump that the district attorney’s office believes crossed the line, including calling Mr. Cohen and Ms. Daniels “sleaze bags” and reposting an attack on the jury pool, which came the night before a juror who had already been seated asked to be excused.

“What happened here was exactly what this order was meant to prevent, and the defendant doesn’t care,” Mr. Conroy said.

Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, argued that Mr. Trump’s posts were political in nature, and said they did not violate the order because he was simply responding to “a barrage of political attacks,” including from Mr. Cohen.

Prosecutors have asked the judge, Juan M. Merchan, to fine Mr. Trump $1,000 for each violation. Justice Merchan, whose daughter has been among Mr. Trump’s targets, did not immediately rule.

But he appeared skeptical of the defense’s claims. At one point, after Mr. Blanche told the judge that Mr. Trump was trying to comply with the order, Justice Merchan replied, “You’re losing all credibility with the court.”

Here’s what to know on Day 6 of the trial:

The hearing over the gag order was heated at times, with Justice Merchan scolding Mr. Blanche for his failure to offer any facts in his defense of the former president. “You’ve presented nothing,” he said. Read more about the hearing.

One key issue in the hearing involved Mr. Trump echoing the remarks of a Fox News commentator , Jesse Watters, in a social media post. The full quote, as shared by Mr. Trump, said: “They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury.”

Yesterday, in its opening statement, the prosecution accused Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen and Mr. Pecker of plotting to bury negative stories about Mr. Trump ahead of the 2016 election. Mr. Trump’s lawyer proclaimed that “President Trump is innocent.” Here’s a look back at the day in court.

Five takeaways from the fifth day of Trump’s criminal trial.

Monday marked another key moment in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump: opening statements, during which the former president listened quietly to the prosecution’s allegations of crimes, and the defense’s counterargument that he was a simple man, wrongly accused.

The jury that will decide Mr. Trump’s case concentrated intently on the statements, which began the presentation of what will be weeks of testimony and other evidence, all in a tense courtroom in Lower Manhattan.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee once more, Mr. Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying 34 business records in an attempt to cover up a payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, in the days before the 2016 election. Ms. Daniels, who may testify, says that she and Mr. Trump had a sexual encounter in 2006, a claim the former president denies.

Mr. Trump has also denied the 34 felony charges, calling them orchestrated by Democrats; if convicted, the former president could face probation or up to four years in prison.

Here are five takeaways from Mr. Trump’s fifth day on trial:

The prosecution has a big story to tell.

The charges faced by Mr. Trump may sound bland — “falsifying business records” doesn’t really set the heart racing — but the prosecution made clear on Monday that it plans on painting a much broader picture.

Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor, laid out in his opening statement a tale that touched on tabloid journalism , tawdry affairs and covertly recorded phone calls . Jurors will likely be told about events inside fancy hotel rooms, Trump Tower and even the Oval Office. And the stakes? The presidency.

All that suggests that the case will keep jurors wide-awake during the six or so weeks it is projected to take. Indeed, when asked if they wanted paper and pens to take notes, more than half of the people in the jury box (12 jurors and six alternates) raised their hands.

The defense wants to destroy prosecution witnesses.

Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, used his opening statement to cast Mr. Trump’s actions leading to this case as run-of-the-mill business, and said that Mr. Trump is defending himself at trial, just as “any of us would do.”

He argued that the use of a nondisclosure agreement — the document Ms. Daniels signed after receiving the payment — was typical among the wealthy and the famous and “nothing illegal.” He continued that there was nothing wrong with trying to influence an election, adding: “It’s called democracy.”

Mr. Blanche also attacked Mr. Cohen, a former lawyer and fixer for Mr. Trump. He said Mr. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance crimes in 2018, was a “criminal” who “can’t be trusted.” He added that Ms. Daniels was “biased” against Mr. Trump and made a living off her story about the sexual encounter.

He called the heart of the prosecution case just “34 pieces of paper” that don’t involve Mr. Trump.

Trump was muted during the abbreviated day in court.

On Mr. Trump’s way into the courtroom on Monday, he addressed reporters for about three minutes and blasted a range of perceived enemies, including New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, and the judge in a recent civil fraud case that resulted in a $454 million judgment against him.

But Mr. Trump’s behavior during opening statements reflected that he understood the gravity of the moment.

Mr. Trump made no outbursts during the prosecution’s opening statement, although he occasionally showed displeasure: He shook his head slightly at arguments that he orchestrated a scheme to corrupt the presidential election and then more strenuously when prosecutors said he was guilty of felonies.

During his own side’s opening statement, Mr. Trump sat largely motionless and expressionless watching his lawyer Mr. Blanche. Mr. Trump’s behavior was muted compared with his volatility during past Manhattan court appearances.

But at the conclusion of the trial day, Mr. Trump took his preferred spot in front of a television camera in the hallway, and spoke for more than nine minutes, attacking the prosecutor’s case — once again — as unfair.

David Pecker used to live on celebrity news. Now, he is the news.

Prosecutors’ first witness was David Pecker, the longtime publisher of The National Enquirer . He ambled to the stand and promptly gave a lesson in the ways of tabloid journalism, including the purchasing of articles — anything more than $10,000, he had to approve — and the significance of putting a famous face right out front.

“The only thing that was important is the cover of a magazine,” Mr. Pecker testified.

In about 30 minutes of testimony, Mr. Pecker also laid out trade secrets on sourcing, saying hotel workers and limo drivers could be a font of information on the rich and famous.

He seemed at ease: laughing at a prosecutor’s jokes, and sometimes directly addressing the jury just a few feet away.

We’re moving right along.

Over the past five trial days, the judge overseeing the case, Juan M. Merchan, has shown that he is eager to keep this trial on schedule. He seems serious about keeping his word to the jurors that the trial will last six weeks.

On Monday, truncated by a juror’s dental emergency and the Passover holiday, he decided to start with the first witness — Mr. Pecker — despite having only half an hour left on his schedule.

On Tuesday, the court will first consider a prosecution motion to hold Mr. Trump in contempt over recent comments that they say violated a gag order meant to keep him from attacking participants in the trial and their families.

Then, Mr. Pecker will continue on the stand, probably diving deeper into the “catch-and-kill” scheme used to buy up — and cover up — unflattering stories, a central element of the prosecution’s narrative.

Court will end early again, at 2 p.m., for further observance of Passover and then will have its weekly Wednesday break.

But there is little indication that as the weeks pass, Justice Merchan will let the pace slacken.

Michael Rothfeld

A look at how tabloids used ‘catch-and-kill’ to trade on the secrets of celebrities.

“Catch-and-kill” is a term coined by old-time tabloid editors for buying the exclusive rights to stories, or “catching” them, for the specific purpose of ensuring the information never becomes public. That’s the “killing” part.

Why would anyone want to spend money on a story that it never intends to publish? In the world of tabloid journalism, where ethical lines are blurry, deciding what to publish and why is often a calculus that covers favors doled out and chits called in.

David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, who also oversaw other tabloids such as Star and lifestyle publications such as Men’s Fitness, was a master of the technique , according to people who have worked for him.

In 2003, Mr. Pecker’s company, American Media Inc., bought several muscle magazines founded by a mentor of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilding legend and movie star. When Mr. Schwarzenegger, who was often featured in those magazines, jumped into the recall election to replace California’s governor, Mr. Pecker ordered his staff to buy up negative stories about him in order to protect his investment, former employees said.

Staff members called it “the David Pecker Project.” American Media paid $20,000 to a former mistress of Mr. Schwarzenegger so that she would not speak about their affair — though news of it had previously been published. The company paid another $1,000 to her friend and $2,000 to a man who had a video of Mr. Schwarzenegger dancing lewdly in Rio de Janeiro 20 years earlier. Mr. Schwarzenegger was elected governor.

Mr. Pecker’s publications made deals with other celebrities as well, though not always for money. He traded away dirt about the golfer Tiger Woods in exchange for an exclusive interview in Men’s Fitness in 2007, according to people with knowledge of that episode.

And, according to the prosecutors in the Manhattan trial of Donald J. Trump, Mr. Pecker employed “catch-and-kill” tactics in the 2016 presidential election, paying a doorman and a Playboy model to suppress negative stories about Mr. Trump and boost the candidacy of his longtime associate.

The Links Between Trump and 3 Hush-Money Deals

Here’s how key figures involved in making hush-money payoffs on behalf of Donald J. Trump are connected.

Who is David Pecker, the trial’s first witness?

The first witness in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial is David Pecker, who was the publisher of The National Enquirer, and had traded favors with Mr. Trump since the 1990s.

Mr. Pecker, who was sometimes referred to as the “tabloid king,” had long used his publications to curry favor with Mr. Trump and other celebrities, in exchange for tips or for business reasons. Staff members called Mr. Trump, like other favored stars who were off limits, an “F.O.P.” — “Friend of Pecker.”

Mr. Trump and Mr. Pecker, along with Mr. Trump’s former fixer Michael D. Cohen, hatched a plan in August 2015 to boost his upstart presidential campaign, prosecutors say. The former Trump allies are each expected to take a turn on the witness stand, giving testimony that could help make him the first president convicted of a felony.

Prosecutors for Alvin L. Bragg , the Manhattan district attorney, will try to show that the hush money payment to a porn star at the center of the trial was part of a larger effort to suppress negative news about Mr. Trump to sway the election. That scheme, they will contend, includes two other deals, both involving Mr. Pecker.

Mr. Trump had announced his presidential campaign in June 2015. The plan the men laid out two months later was simple, according to court documents, interviews with people involved in the events or familiar with them, private communications and other records.

Mr. Pecker would use The Enquirer to publish positive stories about Mr. Trump’s campaign and negative stories about his rivals. He would alert Mr. Trump, through Mr. Cohen, when The Enquirer learned of stories that might threaten Mr. Trump. The Enquirer could buy the rights to those stories in order to suppress them, a practice known in the tabloid world as “catch and kill.”

In late 2015, Mr. Pecker’s company paid $30,000 to suppress a claim by a former doorman at a Trump building who said he had heard Mr. Trump fathered a child out of wedlock — a rumor that was apparently untrue.

Then in August 2016, The Enquirer’s parent company paid $150,000 to a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, to keep her account of an affair with Mr. Trump quiet. Two months later, Mr. Pecker and The Enquirer’s editor helped Mr. Cohen negotiate a $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, the former porn star who also said she had sex with Mr. Trump. He has denied both women’s claims.

Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance crimes in 2018.

The Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., made a deal that year to avoid federal prosecution, acknowledging that it had illegally tried to influence the election .

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Iranian authority undermined after death sentence for rapper sparks global protests

Regime has hit a wall in its efforts to exploit crackdown on US unrest over Gaza as an abuse of human rights after its treatment of Toomaj Salehi

An Iranian court’s decision to pass the death sentence against Toomaj Salehi, a popular Iranian rapper and regime opponent, has led to international protests and damaged Iran’s fledgling efforts to exploit crackdowns on unrest in US university campuses over Gaza as an abuse of human rights.

Crowds gathered in the US, Europe and Canada on Sunday to support Salehi, while dozens of political prisoners in Iran’s Ghezel Hesar prison issued a statement condemning the death sentence, calling it “the culmination of gross human rights violations in Iran”. Salehi has also won the support of major US rappers, as well as human rights groups.

The Iranian press has been closely following the campus unrest in the US and France, including reports that 900 American students have been detained in April. The social media account of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said: “See what is happening in the world. In western countries, in England and France, and in states across the US itself, people are coming out in huge numbers to chant slogans against Israel and America. US & Israel’s reputation has been ruined. They truly have no solution.”

But even some reformist Iranian newspapers said the regime’s propaganda in the international arena had suffered reputational damage as a result of the surprise decision to issue the death sentence against a singer associated with defiance, but not violence against the regime.

Ever since he shot to prominence, Salehi has been distinguished by his personal bravery and determination to help unite the Iranian Women, Life, Freedom movement.

Salehi was arrested in October 2022 in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province after making public statements in support of the nationwide protests caused by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman arrested for allegedly wearing an “improper” hijab.

After reports by UN experts that he had been beaten in jail, in July 2023 he was handed a jail sentence of six years and three months.

In November last year, after more than a year in jail including more than 200 days’ solitary confinement, the supreme court released him on bail due to a technical flaw in the sentencing – only for him to be arrested again by plainclothes officers two weeks later. He had recorded a song outside the jail in which he had been held, claiming he had been tortured in jail including through adrenaline shot injections.

In a surprise move last week the Isfahan revolutionary court raised his punishment to the death penalty, a decision that has been described as unprecedented. In what may be a sign of a power struggle between the two courts, he was sentenced for “corruption on Earth”. He has 20 days to appeal.

The Iranian actor Nazanin Boniadi told a rally at the weekend: “When he takes to the streets, when he puts pen to paper, when he uses his voice, the regime trembles. Why? Because he speaks for the people. Things that the people do not dare to say, he says.”

Kaveh Shahrooz, a Canadian activist in Toronto, said he was personally blown away by Salehi’s courage. “There are people outside Iran in this city who are scared of talking and Toomaj was talking about them inside. His talent and his empathy and social conscience are hard to deny and his courage is hard to believe and his courage is contagious.”

Iran is in the throes of a new crackdown against women deemed to be flouting the Islamic dress code and is also increasing executions, the number of which, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights, has already reached 147 this year.

Salehi has previously said that Iranians “are living somewhere horrific. You are dealing with a mafia that is prepared to kill an entire nation in order to keep its power, money and weapons.”

His uncle in Germany Iqbal Iqbali said Iran was “at a stage where the explosion of the anger of the Iranian people against boundless tyranny is imminent”.

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