Social Work?

I'm an accountant/consultant with a successful career at a large firm but due to some recent personal issues, I've decided this life isn't for me. The long hours, the pressure, etc.

I know very little about what it takes to get into a MSW program---how would someone who is 31 who has a good degree and good grades from college (though 10 years ago) get started in the industry?

Re: Social Work?

IMO, it's not really hard to get in most social work schools (a place like Hunter may still be a different story since it's the cheapest), however, to be totally honest, the field, especially in this area, has gotten extremely flooded over the past several years.

It is VERY hard to find a good job, even with a TON of experience. This has been what I have found personally here on LI.

Keep in mind that you may need to start out at the very, very bottom, often competing with people with just a BA or less and the salaries are often quite pitiful for the amount of responsibility you would potentially have (think like 20K or 30K a year if you are lucky). Note that a lot of employers also don't count "internship" experience as real working experience either, and a lot of agencies don't really focus on supervision, which most new MSWs (even those who have been working in other industries) really need to be successful and satisfied with their job.

I have been working in the field since the late 90's and over the past couple of years, have applied to several hospital systems where the "good" jobs are known to be, and have not gotten so much as a response that my resume has been received.

I know I sound very negative, but I really would have to encourage anyone considering going into this field to think very long and hard before making the sacrifice. You will be required usually to put in 2 year-long internships for FREE in most cases.

You also will still be working very long hours at times, under very stressful conditions. It's not all the time, but many people I work with often do their paperwork and other things related to the job at night or on the weekends to get it done and maintain deadlines.

The clientele has gotten much more difficult IMO since I first started out and the resources have gotten even more scarce. Social workers in many environments have the weight of the world on their shoulders-----we go through a lot of the same issues as well that you hear teachers and similar helping professionals complain about ;).

I also have people older than me with more "experience" as well as credentials (i.e. LCSW) under their belt taking on basic case management positions since there's not a lot out there job-wise, and they are having a tough time handling the client problems and responsibilities they get handed.

If you have any other specific questions, feel free to FM.

I am in my mid-30s and often feel I am getting "too old" to handle this kind of work!!!

Message edited 3/8/2012 6:17:43 PM.

Re: Social Work?

I agree with the PP as far as getting into schools. When I went, there were plenty of 30-somethings who had careers completely unrelated to social work before they decided to go back to school, and got accepted with no problems.

What type of social work do you want to do? That's something you should think about before even starting. I always knew that I wanted to do counseling. My internships involved case management, and I learned right away that I was not interested in that. My current job (my third since graduating in 2008) is completely counseling, and while I dislike the people I work with, I love what I do.

There is rarely any money in this field. You do it because you want to help people and because it's something you enjoy. A benefit of social work is that there are so many avenues you can take, from working in a school or hospital, to being a director of an agency, to advocating for foster children or abused women.

Graduating with an MSW does limit the job bank, but once you get your license, there are some more options. Ultimately, people go for the LCSW, which allows you to do private practice and a lot more of the clinical based jobs. Honestly, it's an expensive education for a job that will never pay, but I wouldn't change my choice of fields for anything. I always tell people that I get paid in my heart :)

Feel free to FM any questions!

Re: Social Work?

Re: Social Work?

I have had my masters in social work and my license for a bout three years now. I have 10+ years of experience in human services and im struggling to get a really good social wor job. If money is not an issue then go for it, if you need to make a alot then dont. I started at the bottom and am now a supervisor, but it took forever to get here and I still don;t make nearly enough money

as for schools, adelphi is easy to get in, they just want money, they are very clinical based, which isn't for me, but I got a great educaiton and it was close enough to home.60+ thousand for a masters though

Post has a new program, stoneybrook is good also.

Hunter and NYU are awesome but hard to get into

Molloy/Fordum is a great program, not sure about price or how hard it is or isn't to get in

I love what I do and wouldn't trade it, but it can be hard with no money, lol

Re: Social Work?

oh and if you do go to school you will need to intern so pick internships that are close to what you think u want to do'

if ur into clincal so psych placements, if u want to work in a school u almost always must have exprence interning in a school.

I agree its good to get out of your comfort zone too, but if you want to dive into a certain area you must get some experience in it to get a leg up on others.

Re: Social Work?

my husband is a social worker and yes if you need money then dont do it. he says he should have gotten into car sales or something like that if he wanted money lol

but if you want to get super stressed out, cry alot and need alot of therapy for yourself...then definately go to school for social work

i think its an amazingly noble career adn i am so proud of my husband....but if you are a person who truly cares and wants to make a difference in the world....just be prepared for ALOT of road bumps and frustration in this career as fulfilling as it can be......

goodluck in whatever you decide! xoxo

Re: Social Work?

Re: Social Work?

Posted by prunepie

my husband is a social worker and yes if you need money then dont do it. he says he should have gotten into car sales or something like that if he wanted money lol

but if you want to get super stressed out, cry alot and need alot of therapy for yourself...then definately go to school for social work

i think its an amazingly noble career adn i am so proud of my husband....but if you are a person who truly cares and wants to make a difference in the world....just be prepared for ALOT of road bumps and frustration in this career as fulfilling as it can be......

goodluck in whatever you decide! xoxo