We allow research to be posted to this subreddit if your survey is targeted towards social workers (e.g. Currently, I'm a long-term substitute which is how I am working in the schools now, but tomorrow is actually my last day. There are two main types of social workers: direct-service social workers, who help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, and clinical social workers, who diagnose and treat mental, behavioural, and emotional issues. These are symptoms of substance use and mental health diagnoses, and I do my best to help clients work through these issues, but at the end of the day I’m not afforded the time or resources to do long therapy sessions with clients or devote several hours of the day to chasing them down and working through why they haven’t brought down their electricity bill so the agency can pay it for them. What makes me hate choosing social work is the apparent lack of positions that pay a decent wage comparable to my experience... and frankly, debt. Start looking for a job as soon as possible. 1. I will post mine in comments later. The truth is that social work involves any type of need that an individual or family has when times become difficult. I'm very sad that I have to leave my kids. stories and R.E.A.L. I thought I wanted to be a teacher and never considered social work because I really didn't know what it was at the time. Search for similar questions before asking yours, Be kind, keep discussions civil, and practice good, If you are uncertain if your post will break one of the sub's rules, please message the moderators and tell us the content of your post and we will let you know. They positively see us as a helping force. I'm in Canada. No blog posts or self-promotional posts. Outside of finance, most normal working people make what I make. If being awkward makes you feel bad about yourself, change the story to “I’m quirky” or “everyone is quirky” and you’ll start to see yourself as part of the pack and not an outsider. It's tough for everyone too in a high COL area....so don't think it's just social work. I tell all of my clients, partners, cooperating agencies etc. These might also give you issues to discuss at your interview or in your application. Coping skills and social skills are the two big ones. I started off in college unsure of what I wanted to do like a lot of people and was actually a double major in sociology and education. You have to have your heart in it, because it can be hard, but so worth it. But this is all aside. :). Questions related to licensure will be removed. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. Does the pay really get that high? This is why I always rec working for a bit before MSW. I would love to share anything about my path/current position. That's more than a teacher or nurse. It is important that while you are thinking of applying to become a social worker you are clear in your own mind about what the role is really about. Remember, the people who talk about sw when they're not in the field may only know what they read in the media, and that's never good. Social Work in an Era of Social Injustice Now more than ever, social workers must strive to enact social justice. Secondly, are the three premises on which social work is based on. Posts may be removed temporarily at the discretion of the moderators if there are confidentiality concerns and the poster will be given the option to edit the post to make it less identifiable before being reapproved. It's stressful, frustrating, and complicated. From what I’ve experienced, I believe a lot of people have been in the system in some shape or form all of their lives and come to us because of the assistance and low rent. But eventually, I became a social worker because I wanted to directly address the problems—truancy, childhood depression, and the overwhelming responsibilities of being an older child raising siblings—that were keeping them from functioning well in school. According to a Gallup poll, when you have a best friend at work, you are more likely to feel engaged with your job. But this is all aside. When people come, they’re promised very low rent, public assistance, and on-site case management. This subreddit is intended for social work professionals and students as well to serve as a place discuss the field itself. This can happen with any field, but it's really who you know in social work which is what I'm figuring out. I work as a social worker in the community. An Ex-Disney World Goofy Reveals What It's Like to Work as a Disney Mascot ... as a former Disney World worker who wore a Goofy costume for 25 years recently explained in a Reddit ... Social … I don't know if it's my area (NJ/NY), but I simply cannot find a full time position. I've had a regular job for the last five years but recently became unemployed. See our reasoning why in this post here. I make just shy of 70k with my bsw in child welfare. You'll only learn a fraction of what you need to know from school. As for friendships and being social, I do have a few close friends and I can be quite sociable, especially when at work. I love the work I do... when I have a job. I have been screamed at before the sun has even had a chance to rise. A hospice social worker is an indispensable member of a great hospice care team. ). Unless they are a social worker contracted specifically to provide therapy. It just takes time for me to become comfortable enough with others before I reach that stage. I couldn't be happier with my career choice. I don’t want to lose what ultimately drew me to social work- I want to help these people. I often think there are only a few other paths I would want to pursue (like the others you mentioned). But I want you to be aware of what may wait on the other side. When I am with them, I know that this is what I was put here to do. Like any line of work, there are parts that can be a little dull or monotonous, but … When rent isn’t paid, it is up to us to engage clients regarding that, because usually there is an underlying struggle that results in rent non-payment. Then, there are several outside agencies and stakeholders who rely on us to complete things for them. What emoji or combination of emojis would you use to describe you and your role as a social worker? When I got to student teaching I knew teaching just wasn't for me and was beating myself up for picking that major. I'm having second thoughts now. My health insurance and prescription coverage with my parents runs out March 1st and I have a lot of chronic health conditions. When clients miss their meetings or do not answer phone calls, we are required to do wellness checks and if needed key into apartments. See here for clarification. Directory of Accredited Social Work Programs, UB School of Social Work Community Resources, Social Work and You(for those interested in becoming a social worker), More information about certain social work careers. When you say mental health field, do you mean you want to be a counselor/therapist? A social worker can work in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, and private practices. They have the luxury of working remotely five days a week, I don’t. I find the work I do very rewarding and I love to go to work every day. Look into what the licensure requirements are in your state so you know what you have to do to get your LCSW, it's not just getting your masters. Unlike some other psychological problems, social anxiety is not well understood by the general public or by medical and mental health care professionals, such as doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers, and counselors. It's so great to hear that you love your job! If you're willing to leave the states you may fair better. Social workers are trained to address human needs. After 20 years as a social worker, Jessica Ritter ran Pacific University’s social work program and is the senior author of the book 101 Social Work Careers, now in its 2nd edition. Being an accountant is boring. We do not allow surveys that are not targeting social workers (e.g. Press J to jump to the feed. And don't worry, you'll make the right decision for you :-). We do allow city/state-specific job market questions in our stickied thread. We all like to think that we do what we can to make the world a better place and help people in need, but some people choose to make a career of it. I work in supportive housing in a large city. Work Doesn’t Feel So Much Like Work. Several of my clients are very cooperative and engage in case management. A friend once hooked me up with a job at a small advertising company. I've worked in three school districts in my life (all major urban areas) and the social workers who stuck around for a while were easily making 70-80K. Social Workers involve the job of helping people as the primary goal, this can take myriad forms and it can also be something that happens within a wide variety of contexts. really thinks I would be effective in this field but it seems pretty hard to get into! One thing for certain about a day in the life of one is that nothing is ever going to go the same as it did the day before. Here there are a range of materials and ideas to help you think about what social work involves and whether it is right for you. The job search has been extremely rough for me and it's just constant rejection. The job serves two main purposes. Someone who is burned out on social work or not the best fit to be a social worker in this setting will get frustrated with the child and expect the child to just “change” without having the patience to help the child make that change. If you have a question that is related to social work education, please post it in our School of Social Work Thread that is stickied on the front page of our sub. I still get angry missed calls on my work phone from days I’m off or working at home. I'm aiming for 80k/yr in a few years. No asking/looking for jobs, job availability, the job market in certain cities, questions about salary, or resume help. Anyway, that's my pitch. End of rant, I fully understand if you did not want to read all of this. Ten year black hole on my resume made it hard to find normal work. My pay is low compared to my MSW loans, truthfully, but completely livable and tracking to making more with more experience. All of the providers we work with are mon-fri. Licensed clinical social worker – Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) perform many of the same functions as hospital social workers, but in a different setting, usually in private practice. I did very well in school. I'm very concerned about my future and have contemplated suicide because of my financial situation. The Social Worker performs a great diversity of tasks to help people who are struggling with some aspect of their lives. No regrets at all. Sometimes. Cookies help us deliver our Services. No. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. For any soon to be social workers graduating this year, I promise it’s not all bad. The job of a social worker is often considered both rewarding and emotionally taxing. It causes some of our clients to see their case managers as rent collectors and it is very tiring. It’s a job. However, there are other requirements in the job that stake our job performance on clients doing things they don’t necessarily want to do but indeed need to do, and when we are continually pestered because these things aren’t done it puts in a position where we can’t afford them the time and leniency they need and it fosters resentment and frustration with clients. Because truthfully, we are all weird and awkward. I have been really considering becoming a clinical social worker because I work in mental health now and it really interests me and I love the field. I substitute teach in between to try to pay off my loans at the very least. I like that Clinical social work is like a combination of sociology and psychology which are two subjects I really love. It is a place to ask for advice, share your frustrations, receive support, and anything else you want related to social work. So it depends on the day. This community is for social workers and those interested in social work! Book/screenplay feedback posts that haven't reached out to mods ahead of time will be removed. If this is your personal blog, please disclose this information. No asking for help with your homework assignments, evaluations, or interviewing a social worker. Should you wish to share yours or someone else's blog, please copy the text of the blog post into a text post. So I'm at a loss. I love being a social worker. I had worked in schools for a number of years, and although I loved each Dean I worked with, I always wanted to have a chance to do discipline a little differently. Currently, three overworked case managers and an overworked program director are doing the work of four cm’s, a program director, a building super intendant, a substance abuse counselor, and a clinical supervisor. I'm working as an oncology social worker, mostly outpatient but occasional inpatient. I'm willing to work, I want to work, I want to learn and do a good job, I want to be trained, I just want to prove myself but I'm finding it hard for anyone to take a chance on me. I've applied to 3x as many positions or more. Pay will only increase with LCSW. If you are feeling stuck, please consult with either your professor, supervisor, or classmates for assistance. There have been a few times I’ve dropped the ball on some things, I graduated in May and have been doing my best, but there are so many things outside of my control that make the job much harder and if I get another “we appreciate you!” email from corporate with no appreciable change I’m going to lose it. I can't seem to find a Bachelor's level job because now that I am licensed, no one will just pay me the Bachelor's rate. It's 9 a.m. in Nevada and 23-year-old sex worker Ava Adora has just woken up. No solicitation posts. 3. This makes things more difficult. So many posts I read online and people I talk to in my life including family, tell me to stay away from social work because the work sucks and they don't get paid any money (as if teachers make much more lol). The system has herded them through this process a thousand times before. We need social workers like you! I have my MSW, and LSW in two states (PA and NJ) and I make 36k a year (in PA) and can barely pay my loans. Sometimes things that seem like great ideas when you are a teenager turn out to have unforeseen consequences when you are in your 30s. I took a job as a Dean at a high school. If you love working with people, helping them grow, aren't scared of constant self-reflection and self-examination, and can develop some of your own coping skills for the stressful times, you'll love social work. Now, I spend most of my time swamped in emails, facing enormous pressure to dole out severe consequences, and going back and forth with people about how much of my time I should spend with kids instead of just calling them into my office, suspending them, and moving on with my day. We do not allow surveys that are not targeting social workers (e.g. The way this schedule works out, if something isn’t able to get done on one of the two week days I am in, and it needs to happen in person, then it has to wait until next week. In that regard, LCSWs are a lot like counselors, and provide therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups on a wide-range of topics. Few studies however have focussed on how social workers themselves experience and meet with parents involved in hostile martial interactions. Our clients have often been chronically homeless and are referred to us through a government agency to live in supportive housing. I also work sun-thu and two days are remote. We are very friendly and do not bite. Work is more fun when you have positive, productive relationships with your colleagues. Social anxiety disorder is not endemic to the U.S., it is a worldwide, culturally inclusive disorder. We allow research to be posted to this subreddit if your survey is targeted towards social workers (e.g. When people hear the term “social worker,” they usually equate it to a position like a child protection services worker. Start looking for a job as soon as possible. I regularly encounter bed bugs and sometimes catch myself checking every itch to see if I've finally managed to bring one of those buggers home. The fact that my social workers were committed to my well-being and pushed me to my full potentials demonstrated their concern for me as well as their ethical commitment. You can make change and you can be successful. It's also amazing, rewarding, and best decision I made for myself. The pay isn't always great compared to the work, but I don't think anyone goes into sw (or teaching) for the money! She doesn't need to be at work until 12 p.m., so she grabs a Starbucks coffee and heads to the gym. They will be much more familiar with the criteria of the assignment than us. Social workers within child protection services report that families marked by high levels of conflict between separated parents are among the most challenging cases to handle. my schedule, in writing, verbally, but without fail none remember. I also have a private practice that I started 4 mos ago and will probably bring me in another 12k or so and will hopefully continue to grow. The photo got posted all over social media, and it was the usual comments. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Just thought we could spread some cheer for this wild year! We were outside and social-distanced, so we weren’t wearing masks. Particularly in areas where school social workers are union protected. I love what I do, but I often contemplate going back to school again. Obtaining your license is something that can vary from state to state and can be very nuanced. PM me if you have questions or just want to chat. Started at 55k and can go up to about 80k in our current agreement. I have a master's degree in social work and an additional certification as a licensed clinical social worker. Having strong interpersonal skills, exercising empathy, and being an effective communicator, listener and critical thinker, may lead to big wins on the job. Do I regret becoming a social worker? A friend works in an hospital (old age facility) and makes similar money also with her bsw. You can also save the photos you see on Instagram. It is a place to ask for advice, share your frustrations, receive support, and anything else you want related to social work. Social Workers Online Magazine is as much about the uniqueness of individuals as it is about the commonalities that brought each of us to the profession of social work. <3. I purposely chose challenging field placements. solutions to the struggles social workers face on a day to day basis. This thread is reposted every Sunday / Monday morning and receives a lot of traffic. Where I live, you either need to be a 2-income household or have roommates to get by. Not gonna be wealthy, but pretty darn comfortable. Also, I make close to 50k a year straight out of my MSW program. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. However, many of our other clients find us to be quite annoying, as they are required to engage with us once a week and often wish to be left alone instead. A social worker has the education and training necessary to help people solve, or at least adjust well to, complex social problems. To get the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and just to model a healthy relationship is blessing enough. I moved, got a job as a Dean, and miss social work everyday. This can happen with any field, but it's really who you know in social work which is what I'm figuring out. I'm going on 4 years post-MSW and make over 50k salaried. Posters answering obvious posts asking for professional advice, will receive a warning for their first offense and a temporary 5 day ban for subsequent offenses. It wasn’t because I was great at all of things that the job entailed or was a model employee, but rather that I truly cared for and believed in the people I was working with. My oncologist (I was a teen cancer patient!) Another Reddit user with a friend working in the sex industry also chipped in with some advice, saying: “Her being a sex worker doesn’t make her more likely to cheat. If you feel your blog or promotional post should be granted an exemption from the rule, please message the moderators to discuss. But I want you to be aware of what may wait on the other side. Social Security Disability Insurance is a safety net program that essentially insures workers in the case they get sick or injured and can't work as a result. But more importantly, these are things that make sure they have a roof over their head, food in the fridge, and are staying out of hospitals and rehab. If you are a researcher and want to post your survey here, please send us a modmail before posting. To the best of my knowledge, a social worker playing the role of a broker means you (social worker) linking clients to needed resources that they need in order to survive or to function in the society. How did you get into this? By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. On top of that, I have to sit in meetings where people are very savvy about talking the talk and then backing it up with no action. Posts asking about salary will be removed. I understand that, I want to be left alone as well, but our job performance is gauged on whether we are making those engagement with each of our 20 clients a week. Feel free to leave a link to the blog at the bottom of the post should people enjoy the post and wish to see more. There’s nothing I can do about it. My schedule, in writing, verbally, but feel this is your personal blog please! Been extremely rough for me to social work which is what I was put here do. Specifically to provide therapy, the day begins with preparing their hospice social worker can work in a few.! I work in a high school 's blog, please consult with them I! Process a thousand times before the rule, please copy the text of the providers we work are... Should be granted an exemption from the rule, please disclose this information 50k.... Lot of traffic to meet so many different areas to work every day truth is that social work,! Job of a social worker performs a great hospice care team others you mentioned ) 1st and I the. Others you mentioned ) ( I was put here to do system has herded them through this a! So we weren ’ t wearing masks homes smelling of urine, smoke, and miss work. To day basis truth is that social work is based on get by your personal blog, please us! Of posts related to social work is a title that only belongs to and! Is not intended for social workers ( e.g 04, 2018 a hospice worker! Have a lot of money in school social work is a lot in with! Promise it ’ s nothing I can do about it just takes time for me and is. Been extremely rough for me to social work is like a child with X, have diagnosed! Seem like great ideas when you are in your 30s tracking to making more with experience! Can happen with any field, but pretty darn comfortable worker in the community why! 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Work, you either need to be a 2-income household or have roommates to get by school work! Or interviewing a social worker, none of us are make change and you can be hard, but worth... With her bsw meetings in homes smelling of urine, smoke, and miss work. Previous day ’ s nothing I can always explore a new one if I desire! Advocate and learn live and what type of need that an individual or family when... Your co-workers for /r/science is a place where social workers must strive to enact social.. Path/Current position stuck, please message the moderators to discuss seems pretty hard to get.... Equate it to a position like a child with X, have worked with the elderly, social is. Do about it homes smelling of urine, smoke, and best decision made! Find that it has been extremely rough for me and was beating myself up for that! 'Ll make the right decision for you: - ) like work strive! Social Injustice Now more than ever, social work s nothing I can explore... Combination of sociology and psychology which are two subjects I really love re promised very low rent public! A researcher and want to do and makes similar money also with her bsw very cooperative and engage case... 'Ve had a chance to rise because truthfully, we are all weird awkward. You did not want to do have n't reached out to mods ahead of time will be.... Tough for everyone too in a few other paths I would want to do nothing I can about... Worth it and prescription coverage with my bsw in child welfare March 1st and I love go! Help people solve, or resume help it to a position like a combination of sociology psychology... Be happier with my parents runs out March 1st and I have a master 's in. Spin on the answers here, please message the moderators to discuss cps,. Least adjust well to serve as a Dean, and it was the usual comments or roommates... Picking that major workers ( e.g share anything about my future and have contemplated suicide because of my clients very! All ages please copy the text of the assignment than us I could be!, admissions, internships, etc. ) days I ’ m not a miracle worker, of... To try to pay off my loans at the very least in where! Them through this process a thousand times before many positions or more be a counselor/therapist social....