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It can take a while to decide what career path is right for you. It is a decision that everyone must make, though, and once you define both what your traits are and what fulfills you, you will have an easier time choosing the right profession.
For some, that career is social work. It is a rewarding career that allows you to leave work each day knowing you made a positive impact in people’s lives, making it perfect for someone whose life goal is to bring positivity to the world. So, whether you are a recent graduate or you are ten years into a career you no longer find satisfying, here are nineteen reasons social work is your true calling.
- You Genuinely Care About People
The single most important trait for social workers is compassion. Not only will it help you maintain patience throughout the working day, but it will also ensure your patients are well looked after. While some compassion can be learned, most social workers naturally care about people already, and that is what makes them so brilliant at their job. After all, when you have a genuine passion, you are far more likely to put in everything you have.
- You Want to Advance Your Studies
Most social work careers require a master’s degree, so if you are the type of person who wants to advance your studies, with social work, you can.
If you are already a working professional but want to pursue your master’s in social work, there are part time MSW programs that will help you reach your goals. By going part time, you won’t have to worry about quitting your day job. Plus, having the entire course online means less money and time wasted on transport. There are plenty more benefits to studying part time MSW programs online, so do not give up on your dream of being a social worker just because you can’t give up your current career while studying.
- You Dislike Being Bored
Some people enjoy a day job that is repetitive and monotonous, but some people find those kinds of careers mind-numbingly dull. If you prefer excitement in your day-to-day life, then a career as a social worker will provide just that. From the moment you start your part time MSW programs to the moment you retire from your career, there will never be a dull moment. Even the quieter days look exciting compared to some other jobs!
- You Want to Meet Likeminded Individuals
From creating online study groups during part time MSW programs to meeting your co-workers as a social worker, you will meet plenty of like-minded individuals who, similarly to you, want to give back to the world by caring for those who need it. Social workers are some of the greatest people to be friends with, as they are often patient, kind, and not frightened of being blunt when necessary.
- You Are Great at Problem-Solving
Social work requires a lot of problem-solving skills. During your shift, you are likely to encounter several difficult situations where you have to provide a solution quickly. So, if you can think of solutions as fast as they appear, you would thrive as a social worker.
- Your Interpersonal Skills Are Excellent
Most careers require communication skills, but social work, and other similar healthcare roles, require a little more than that. Suppose you are spending your career speaking and getting through to people on such a personal level. In that case, you need to be able to communicate in an empathetic and kind manner while also maintaining a sense of humor. To some people, this comes naturally. If that sounds like you, then your skills would be put to great use working as a social worker and improving people’s lives.
- You Prefer a Flexible Schedule
While part time MSW programs and other degrees might provide a rigid schedule, you will find social working is often flexible, and no two weeks ever look the same. For this reason, those who enjoy flexibility in their day-to-day lives are better suited to social work. This can appeal to those who have young families, too, as you are more likely to find you can schedule your hours around your family than with other careers.
- You Are Interested in Human Behavior
Do you pick up on things in others no one else notices? Have you always been endlessly interested in human behavior? If so, social work could be the perfect career for you. As a social worker, your role isn’t just to provide solutions to people’s problems, but it is also to understand their behavior and help them work through it. If you are already interested in this, then you are more likely to thrive.
- You Have Considered Working in Healthcare
Many people who have dreamed of working in healthcare their entire lives find that social work is their true calling. Plus, some social work often involves healthcare, especially if you work with disabled or mentally ill patients. So, if you have ever considered working in healthcare, why not shift your focus to social work? It provides a lot of the same benefits, including job satisfaction and the ability to help people.
- Your Current Career Isn’t Rewarding Enough
It is a common story – people decide on a career when they are a teenager, only to discover ten years later that it is not what they want to do with the rest of their lives. If your current role is not for you, and you have always been interested in helping people as a career, social work could be the direction that’ll give your life meaning. Plus, part time MSW programs allow you to carry on with your current career until you are fully qualified and licensed as a social worker, so you don’t have to sacrifice a single paycheck.
- You Know How to Look After Yourself
Self-care is a vital part of life. It is especially important for people in the social work and healthcare industry, as the workdays in those jobs can take a lot out of you. If you take self-care seriously by getting enough sleep, making time for yourself, and saying no when you feel overwhelmed, then you are much more likely to excel as a social worker.
The ability to look after yourself well won’t only benefit you, though – it’ll also help your patients, as you’ll know the best ways to make someone feel better. Plus, you’ll be able to give better self-care tips!
- You Enjoy Research
If you can’t stand the thought of a career that requires no more learning after graduation, then social work will not disappoint. Yes, you will need to do plenty of research during your bachelor’s and part time MSW programs, but it won’t end there. Throughout the career, you will find new studies, resources, and information becoming available, some of which might impact your social policies and treatment programs. It is important, then, for social workers to keep up-to-date with the latest findings, which is perfect for those who enjoy constant research.
- The Number of Opportunities Appeals to You
When applying to part time MSW programs, you don’t need to know the exact social work field you are going into. The opportunities after graduation are plentiful, so if that excites you, then it could be the path for you. Just some of the career options include:
- Case Manager
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Clinical Social Worker
- Social Worker Teacher
- Social Work Administration
- Substance Abuse Social Worker
The chances are that you’ll come to learn which area of social work you want to go into during your years of study.
- You Want the World to be a Better Place – for Everyone
If social justice is your thing, social work might just be, too. After all, at its core, social work is about bettering society as a whole. You’ll get to work with families, individuals, and communities to ensure the space you live in is as positive and welcoming as possible. By having a genuine passion for making the world a better place, you will surely thrive at this.
- You Work Well with Others
As a social worker, it’s not just patients you’ll have to work with; it’s your co-workers, too. Often, you’ll find you must work with someone else on a case, which means having excellent teamwork skills. While working well in a team doesn’t necessarily mean social work is your ultimate path, if it is in conjunction with wanting to help people and genuine care for others, you might just find social work has been your dream job all along.
- You are Organized
Do you always wake up at the same time every day? Do you have no issues meeting deadlines and attending appointments on time? If so, these skills would come in very handy as a social worker. When working with vulnerable individuals, there is no time for disorganization. It takes a highly organized person to meet patient’s expectations and properly prioritize tasks, so if that sounds like you, consider applying to part time MSW programs.
- You Keep Your Cool in Difficult Situations
Nobody will ever tell you that social work is an easy career. No one who goes into social work does so expecting an easy ride through life – with all the unsettling situations and difficult patients that social workers come across, it takes someone strong, resilient, and calm to get through each day. Few people can stand such high-tension situations the same way social workers can. If you can, then your calm and collected nature would serve a social work career extremely well.
- Others Describe You as Patient
Much like keeping your cool, you must also be patient to effectively deal with your patients and clients. That doesn’t simply mean being able to keep your frustrations inside during difficult or time-consuming situations; it also means actively listening and giving as much attention to the situation as you did at the beginning. Patience isn’t easily taught, so if you have it naturally, the chances are you would make an excellent social worker.
- You Want to Be a Social Worker
Passion is one of the most important factors when considering a career. If you have no real desire to become a social worker, then there is no point in looking at part time MSW programs or job openings. If the thought of being around people, providing assistance, and being an advocate for positive change thrills you, however, then it is a sure sign that social working is a career that will bring joy to your life.
How to Become a Social Worker
If you have decided you want to spend your career improving people’s lives, then there are a few steps you will need to take. For those who don’t hold a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue a bachelor’s in social work to give yourself a foundation of knowledge. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, don’t worry, as you can always apply for a master’s in social work with the degree you already have.
Next, it’s time to apply for your masters. If you are currently in full time work, part time MSW programs will provide you with flexibility and time. If not, you can look around for full time master’s programs.
After that, it is a case of applying for your state licensure before applying to job openings. Fortunately, social work is a growing field, which means that you are likely to encounter plenty of career opportunities following graduation. To ensure you find the perfect job for you, though, you should write an excellent resume, ask the right professionals for recommendations, and work on upping your interviewing game.
Social work is both tiring and challenging, and it is not for everyone. For the right person, though, it can also be endlessly rewarding and even life-changing.
