Want a Job as a Social Worker? Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should
Social work is a gratifying profession that will always be in demand. Helping some of society’s most vulnerable, social workers provide an invaluable service. It’s not a role without its challenges, but there are so many fantastic reasons why it’s a worthwhile professional pursuit, and we wanted to highlight five of them.
1. Make a (Genuine) Difference
One of the main reasons people get into social work in the first place is to make a tangible difference. Whether that’s with children in care, adults with substance abuse problems, those in abusive households, or any other number of vulnerable situations, social workers can have a meaningful impact.
Social workers can help on both an individual, granular level and a more macroscopic level, too. The higher social workers rise within their profession, the more influence they wield to shape policy and inform the structures that govern and protect society’s most at-risk populations.
All of which is to say that whatever stage of social work you occupy, there’s the opportunity to enact worthwhile and purposeful change. There aren’t that many professions that offer that kind of chance.
2. Social Workers Will Always Be Needed
Social workers work with vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and communities. Sadly, there are almost certainly always going to be structural inequalities in society, which result in some groups being more at risk than others. That means a social worker’s work is never really done, not truly.
Therefore, social work will always be needed as a profession. Whilst no social worker will be able to rectify all the challenging situations they’re presented with, rather than this being discouraging, it can actually make for a highly motivating vocation – it means there’s always somebody else they can help.
3. No Two Days Are the Same
If you want a varied role that keeps you on your toes, then look no further than social work. One day, you might be conducting a home visit, the next might be spent engaging in community outreach, whilst the day after that might be spent on a crisis intervention. The kinds of people you work with are very varied, too.
From the elderly to people with mental health problems, from refugees and asylum seekers to children in foster care – and many more besides – a social worker’s role is truly multifaceted and varied. So, if you’re after a job where you can help the people who need it most and one that will bring new challenges each day, then consider a career in social work.
4. Learn How to Handle More Intense Emotions
Few roles challenge you as social work does; you see high highs, but equally, you experience low lows, and you need to be able to navigate both whilst remaining level-headed all the while. It requires objectivity, the ability to think on your feet, problem-solve and stay calm.
Social workers have to be able to handle these intense ends of the spectrum without letting it get to them. This stands them in particularly good stead in other areas of their life and gives them a great understanding and perspective on how to handle their emotions when things become challenging in their own lives.
5. Social Work Offers Flexibility
Social work roles are often flexible, and the chances are you’ll be able to find a type of social work that works around your individual requirements. Desk-based social work can be done from anywhere, meaning that home working is a viable option, whilst those social workers looking for part-time work or contract work rather than a full-time option will also be able to find what they’re looking for.
Final Thoughts
Social work offers a chance to make a difference, a chance to help shape lives, and a chance for a career like no other. If you’d like to learn more about the kinds of social work roles we offer, then we’d love to hear from you – get in touch today!
