How To Get Started In Social Work

Posted on Jan 4 2017 - 9:05pm by Editorial Staff

Finding careers in social work isn’t hard as there are many jobs floating around in different sectors that need filling on a regular basis. There are plenty of opportunities when it comes to career advancement in social work, so studying long and hard for all those hours for a degree will pay dividends in the future. Whether you want to work as a family support officer, or even work with people struggling with alcohol or drug addictions, getting a job in social work has many career opportunities for you to choose from. Getting a job in social work isn’t hard, but studying for a degree can be, depending on the path you take. If you are interested in social work careers, have a look at a few of the things to consider that will help you get started.

Decide what Social Work Career Path You Want to Follow

Social work has plenty of job opportunities depending on the sector you want to work in. You will have a choice to work with newborn babies and families,teenagers and older people – so it is an industry that offers plenty of variety. You may want to first consider what path you want to take before opting to do a social worker course. This could all depend on your own life and what you have been through yourself, or it could be something to do with an older relative that didn’t get the care they needed when they needed it most. Whatever your reasons for wanting to get into social care, you can be sure there are a lot of challenges that await you.

Volunteer for Part-Time Work

Volunteering isn’t easy to do whilst you study because you’ll already need to have another job to pay for the courses and other bills. But even volunteering for a couple of hours per week will look great on your resume for when you are fully qualified and ready to step into social work in a full-time role. Many employers will look at your resume and find you have worked voluntarily in a similar role, so it’s obviously a career path you have been interested in for a while.

Find a Part-Time Job in Social Work to Pay for Your Course

You will need to find a part-time job whilst you are studying for a career in social work, so why not find a job in social work that can not only help you pay for bills, but also give you valuable experience for when you are ready for a full-time role? There are plenty of social work jobs that are available to people without qualifications, and even working as a cleaner in a nursing home could prove to be the key point on your resume that lands you a successful career.

There are so many jobs in social work available, so it really isn’t a hard industry to get a job in as long as you have the qualifications and desire to succeed. Always have a look at a voluntary role first to see if it’s something you want to dedicate your future to and then look for courses that will put you on the right path.

Image Source

About the Author

Editorial Staff at I2Mag is a team of subject experts.