Are you planning to kickstart your career as a social worker? Do you think whether this is the right career for you? If you possess all the leadership skills and love to help people or animals, then don’t think twice. Social work is the path for you.
Social work gained emphasis in modern society in the late 19th century. Before the announcement of it being a career choice in universities, all the elder-care and family issues were tackled by teachers, doctors, or professionals. Since that time onwards, all organizations, including private companies, charitable businesses, and the public sector, have joined hands to tackle societal issues.
A social worker’s job is to ensure that every living thing in their community has a helping hand to live a secure and happy life.
To let you know, the very first woman to receive a Nobel Prize was a social worker herself. So yes, the rewards can be endless. Below we have listed all the possible pros of being a social worker that is sure to convince you.
Before we commence, I have also mentioned a few minor details.
Types of Social Work
You can classify social work in different ways; however, micro (or mezzo) and macro are commonly used terms in this regard.
Micro or mezzo refers to social working on an individual level where you work on a smaller scale, usually a few families. Macro, on the other hand, classifies social job on a broader spectrum. It’s more professional as you have to work on an organizational level like institutes, communities, and even global policies.
Education
If you plan to become a professional social worker, the minimum educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree. If you have already passed that stage, try getting a masters, the rewards tend to multiply with a higher degree. To save time and effort, an online master of social work will suffice and enhance your skills.
Now, getting back to the rewards.
Bringing a Positive Change to the Families in the Community
Sometimes social workers are the last resort in terms of help or defense to keep the families intact. As a social worker, you have to offer resources to guardians or parents who have struggled to make ends meet.
You have to work tirelessly around the clock to bring a smile and a sigh of relief to these families. Working longer hours, being available 24/7 on call in case of emergencies, and spending more time with these families is part of your job.
Social work is restricted to humans; you can even work as a social worker to protect animals as well. Many large organizations work 24/7 to ensure that the animals and trees are safe from human violence.
Coming across Different Situations as a Social Worker
Every day, every story is a challenge; they rarely do the same thing every day. Various responsibilities need fulfilling like health planning issues, administrative work, and safety or emergency interventions.
Visiting the families you work with once a month or even more is part of the list since you need to keep tabs on their living status. You can’t just help them once and make a run for it. It’s like you are linked to the family, and now it’s your responsibility to take care of them. People and families might not be that welcoming, but it is your job to keep them satisfied.
More Career Opportunities within Social Work
There are many fields within this field. When you think about social work, you think about a person wearing a flashy jacket with a logo, going from house to house to help mostly the poor.
With this being a genuine perception, you can even keep in mind that you can also work voluntarily as a doctor, educator, lawyer, or even a counselor. You can decide the field as per your liking.
Being a community leader can also be termed as a social worker since it would be your responsibility to care for everyone.
Ease of Student Loans
Now, this is something big. The stress that every student has is how he or she will pay up all the student loans. Social work, however, can be a lifesaver in this regard.
A social worker may be eligible to qualify for getting the student loans forgiven. According to the College Cost Reduction Act 2007, working in public service, be it government or non-profit, can reduce the loan burden. If you have worked for ten consecutive years and have proof of paying some student loans on time, you can get it forgiven.
Even some employers tend to be kind enough to pay some amounts of the loan.
The PayScale is Satisfying.
A question that troubles everyone at the back of your mind; am I going to be paid enough?
The answer is yes. In the United States, a social worker can earn an above-average salary, more than what their state wage median suggests, especially in the public sector. Social working on a macro level can get you up to $55,000 – $60,000 a year. For a micro level, it would be around $40,000 annually.
According to the BLS, the predicted growth rate by 2028 of social work is around 11 percent.
Self-Satisfaction
Often, you think about opting for a career path that keeps you self-satisfied. Several jobs can be rewarding in terms of maybe money, but satisfaction is not present.
A social worker helps people survive all the challenges in the community, and seeing them happy is the most significant satisfaction you can get. People will be seeing you as a role model and will try to fit in your shoes.
Conclusion
As a social worker, you are required to sacrifice a lot, but seeing your efforts becoming fruitful makes it all worth it. You can not only take social work as a career where you can utilize your leadership skills and achieve satisfaction as well. We hope this is convincing enough to start your social work career.
Ayesha completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry and started her career as a College Lecturer in 2013. Today, she’s a happy mom of 2 Kids in the field of digital marketing. She loves reading books, spending time with her family, and making delicious food for her husband.
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