Question

To what degree do I feel prepared to work in human services, especially in my area of interest?

Answer 1

Are you considering a career in human services but not sure if it’s the right career for you? There are many reasons people choose a social work career. We’ve compiled our top ten reasons below:
You like working with people. Social workers are almost always interested in helping people, either individually or on a big picture level.
You or a loved one have been helped by a social worker in the past, so you became interested in their work.
You or a loved one have experienced a hardship such as addiction or abuse and you would like to help others overcome similar challenges.
You have an interest in a field commonly addressed by social workers such as poverty, mental health, or community organizing.
You would like to work in a certain environment, such as a hospital or a school, but you are more interested in providing clinical or case management services than healthcare or education.
You have a strong interest in working with a certain population such as children, the mentally ill, or older adults.
You enjoy volunteer work and making a difference and are interested in extending your passion into a career in non-profit management, program development, or direct social services.
You enjoy working in a fast-paced environment addressing crisis situations while managing a large number of tasks.
You are interested in a flexible career in an ever-changing field allowing you to work in different settings, each with their own goals and challenges, but with a shared purpose of serving the common good.
You want to have a career focused on helping people and making the world a better place.
How do I become a social worker?
Most social workers have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, but those who are interested in entry-level social work may be able to get a job with an associate’s degree in social work. Most states require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work to obtain licensure, and many require a master’s degree in social work to be licensed. To work as a clinical social worker, a master’s of social work (MSW) is required. Check with your state’s licensure requirements for more information.
What jobs can you get with a social work degree?
The career options for social work graduates are broad. Some people who get a degree in social work are looking to work directly with clients, as licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) or child, family, and school social workers, while others want to work at the macro level, working to promote change on a larger scale, such as in public policy. Other possible social work jobs include community social worker, healthcare social worker, and research assistant. Read more about micro, mezzo, and macro social work careers above, and decide which area interests you most before choosing a professional path for your career.
What hours do social workers typically work?
Social workers do not have “typical” hours. Depending on the type of social work job you have, many social workers, especially those at the micro and mezzo levels, have to be available after normal working hours for client visits and meetings. According to a recent article from The Guardian, social workers reported working an average of 45.9 hours per week, which is higher than their contracted hours (37.2). The same study reported that social workers tend to spend more time completing administrative tasks than face-to-face time with clients. If you are considering a career as a social worker, you should expect that you may have to work a varied (and sometimes challenging) schedule.