Social Work Careers

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Descriptive Career Information

Creating YOUR Social Work Career
The article presents advice by the authors related to building one's social work career. The advice is based on "Creating YOUR Social Work Career," a framework designed by them. The authors say that college graduates should identify their career purpose before they start searching for a job. According to them, the graduates must try to gain insight into their personality and what motivates them. They add that it is important for a person to obtain information about the social workers which inspire him or her.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - Career Overview
This page includes general information about the social work field, maintained by the primary association representing social work professionals in the U.S. Topics covered include: descriptions of social work careers, standards of the field, salaries, education, licensing, and other requirements, and supplementary resources.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - Careers in Social Work
This informative document, prepared by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), outlines careers in social work including areas of specialization.

50 Ways: Social Work Blog
"Developed by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in collaboration with the nation’s schools of social work, this website was created to educate prospective social workers about the scope and vitality of the profession."

Occupational Outlook Handbook - Social Workers
Overview of the profession from the U.S. Department of Labor. Includes information about: General nature of the work, working conditions, employment, training and qualifications, job outlook, earnings, and related occupations.

The Social Work Career Center
By NASW, this site has a 'Find A Job' section as well as "Explore The Social Work Profession," "Professional Development And Training," and "Employers."

What can I do with this Major?: Social Work
This site created by the University of Tennessee and provided by the Career Education Center at Simmons College allows you to click on MAJORS of interest to see outlines of common career areas, employers, and strategies designed to maximize career opportunities. Choose LINKS to find a list of websites that provide additional information.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Children's Room
The mission of The Children’s Room is to help grieving children, teens, and families in our communities to go on living and loving fully. Children and their families who have suffered the death of a loved one are embraced by a safe and caring community that they can rely upon to help them cope with the grieving process. Consider volunteering at The Children’s Room in Arlington or Framingham. There are many ways to volunteer at The Children’s Room. We need help with public relations, graphics, website, office work and fundraising.

Mass NARAL
Our mission is to develop and sustain a grassroots constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children and choosing safe, legal, accessible abortion.

Peace First
Peace First empowers students to create their own safe classrooms and communities by forming partnerships with elementary schools, families, and young adult volunteers.

Samaritans of Boston
Samaritans’ purpose is to alleviate despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings among individuals in our community, 24 hours a day; to educate the public about suicide prevention; and to reduce the stigma associated with suicide. We accomplish this through services that emphasize confidential, nonjudgmental, and compassionate listening.

Volunteers of America - Massachusetts
VoA - Massachusetts runs nine programs in the state: At-Risk Youth, Adult Substance Abuse, Senior Communities, Family and Mental Health, Veterans Services, Boston Action Team, and Operation Backpack. The organization relies on the assistance of volunteers to help run their programs.

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Graduate School Information

Brain Track
This directory provides profiles on over 10,000 higher education institutions in 194 countries, including information on programs, tuition, financial aid, number of degrees awarded, athletic financial aid, student demographics, admissions, and similar schools. Also includes career descriptions for a variety of fields.

MassCIS Graduate School
The Massachusetts Career Information System (MassCIS) is available to Massachusetts residents and includes an Education & Training section. Click on "Graduate School Sort" to create a list of schools matching your preferences.
Note: a username and password are not necessary to enter the site. Click on 'Adult' to get to the login page. Then simply fill out the bottom half of the login page with a town, zip code, and type of user.

Peterson's Online Resources
Searchable database of graduate school programs by location, subject, keyword, etc.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - Directory of Accredited Programs
Search by school name, state, or program type.

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Fellowships, Grants, and Scholarships

American Cancer Society
Funding opportunities for Social Work training, research, and career development.

Community of Science (COS) Funding Opportunities
A database of available funding for disciplines including social sciences, health & medicine, and arts & humanities.

Federal Grants
Government website with information on applying for grants and database of available grants.

Foundation Center
foundationcenter.org

Why look here?

This website provides resources and information on nonprofit management, fundraising, grants and grantmakers.

What's included?

MassCIS Financial Aid
The Massachusetts Career Information System (MassCIS) is available to Massachusetts residents. Once in the site, click on 'Financial Aid'.
Note: a username and password are not necessary to enter the site. Click on 'Adult' to get to the login page. Then simply fill out the bottom half of the login page with a town, zip code, and type of user.

NASW Foundation
NASW Foundation listing of Fellowship, Scholarship and Research Awards.

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Professional Certification and Licensure

NASW - Careers
This page has a section on Educational and Licensing Requirements.

NASW, Massachusetts Chapter - Licensing and Continuing Education Information
Includes NASW-MA Licensing Test-Prep Course, Licensing Fact Sheet, Continuing Education Fact Sheet, Important Licensing Board Policy Update, Help Studying for the Social Work Licensing Exam.

The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Work
239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
T: 617-727-3064
Email: Erin.E.Murphy@state.ma.us

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Resumes, Cover Letters and Curriculum Vitae

Social Work Sample Resume
Provided by jobweb.com.

Social Work Resumes
Includes goal statements, sample resumes, and resume resources for social workers.

Resumes for social service careers
Career Resource Library - Social Services/Non Profits
Resume tips and advice. Has sample cover letters and nearly 100 sample resumes.

Resumes for social service careers, 3rd Edition
Career Resource Library - Social Services/Non Profits
Resume and cover letter samples and resume advice.

Real-resumes for social work & counseling jobs : including real resumes used to change careers and transfer skills to other industries
Career Resource Library - Social Services/Non Profits
Has many sample resumes for specific job titles. Also has several example that are tailored to career changers.

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Job Hunting

International Careers

AIESEC
This not-for-profit organization offers exchange programs for university students and recent graduates. There are several internship types including social work.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)- Career Center
View recent job postings, create a "job seeker" account, and create job alerts.

GoAbroad.com
Find international social work jobs by clicking "Jobs Abroad Programs" and then selecting "Social Work."

Idealist.org
Search the "Find Jobs" section by location, and other categories. Includes many countries from around the world. Allows for keyword searching, and includes "social enterprise" as an area of focus and job category. Also allows for specification of education level.

NASWJobLink
The Social Work Career Center from NASW allows for job searching by US state, Canadian province, or International (outside US or Canada).

National Association of Christians in Social Work
The NACSW JobNet Career Center has a job search which allows for Canadian as well as International (outside the U.S. and Canada)searching. The site also has U.S. jobs.

UK Pro
"An international leader in social service placement".

USAjobs
The American government is a large employer of social workers. For a list of U.S. and International opportunities, try a search by typing "social worker" into to Search Jobs box (note: the quotations are important).

U.S. Department of State - Intern Programs
The Department is looking for students of various educational backgrounds, including Social Work. Student Internships (Spring, Summer, Fall). Some students work in Washington, D.C. while others work at an embassy overseas.

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Job Banks

Boston Resource Net
Resource directory connecting Boston's human and social service agencies.

Boston University: SSW Career Job Posting
Job listings maintained by Boston University.

Care Provider
Online recruitment for social and human service providers dedicated to strengthening and preserving communities, families, youth care, groups, organizations and schools.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)- Career Center
View recent job postings, create a "job seeker" account, and create job alerts.

Department of Veterans Affairs
Social workers contribute to a multidisciplinary team providing mental health care to America's veterans.

Doctoral Program Job Postings
From the University of Michigan's School of Social Work. Includes fellowship opportunities.

Military.com
Search for "social worker" jobs.

Simmons School of Social Work (SSW) Job Board
Lists current local job and volunteer openings, as well as fellowship opportunities.

SocialService.com
The place to start looking for a social service or social work job, whether in mental health, substance abuse, children and youth, medical social work, criminal justice, domestic violence, counseling, community organizing and outreach, homelessness or a variety of other human service areas.

Social Work Job Bank
Online Career Center of the New Social Worker featuring social work jobs for all professional levels internationally.

Social Work P.R.N
Meant to serve both agencies and social workers, this is a good resource for social work job placement, both temporary and permanent.

Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care
Social work postings are listed here at the 'Career Opportunities' section of their website.

The Social Worker's Marketplace
For NASW members.

University of Michigan's School of Social Work Career Services
A site packed with information and links to over 50 job sites for social workers and related fields.

Washington University in St. Louis Career Services - Social Work and Social Services Jobs Online
Lists some jobs by location and offers links to other job sites, as well as links to other professional resources.

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Jobs by State

Department of Veterans Affairs
Social workers contribute to a multidisciplinary team providing mental health care to America's veterans.

NASWJobLink
The Social Work Career Center from NASW allows for job searching by US state, Canadian province, or International (outside US or Canada).

University of Southern California, School of Social Work
Their job bank lists postings for various kinds of social work, many of which are in California.

University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work
The DiNitto Center: Employment Bulletin posts employment opportunities for the following degrees: BSW, MSSW, PhD, Non Social Work Degree, plus summer employment. Many of these positions are in Texas, but there are others throughout the country.

USAjobs
The American government is a large employer of social workers. For a list of U.S. and International opportunities, try a search by typing "social worker" into to Search Jobs box (note: the quotations are important).

Washington University in St. Louis Career Services - Social Work and Social Services Jobs Online
Lists some jobs by location and offers links to other job sites, as well as links to other professional resources.

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Opportunities with Loan Forgiveness

Massachusetts State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP)
From the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this program intends to attract health professionals in certain public or not-for-profit health care settings. Click on the link for more information, including a link for instructions on how to apply.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - Loan Forgiveness
Information on loan forgiveness advocacy and legislation affecting social workers as well as information on existing loan forgiveness programs.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LPR) offers fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community-based site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that has applied to, and been approved by, the NHSC as a service site.

FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid
Information on different loan forgiveness programs.

SallieMae
Listing of different programs that offer loan forgiveness.

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Networking

Associations

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
AFSCME is a multi-disciplinary union of 1.6 million people who share a common commitment to public service.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
ASWB is the association of boards that regulate social work. ASWB develops and maintains licensing examinations and is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
CSWE is the only accrediting council for social work programs.

International Association of Schools of Social Work
IASSW promotes the development of social work education throughout the world, develops standards to enhance quality of social work education, encourages international exchange, provides forums for sharing social work research and scholarship, and promotes human rights and social development through policy and advocacy activities.

National Association of Black Social Workers
NABSW advocate for social change, justice and human development of Africa people in the United States and throughout the world by sponsoring continuing education programs and conferences.

National Organization of Forensic Social Work
NOFSW provides: training programs, forums, panels and lectures, annual conferences, networking opportunities, and political advocacy.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
NASW, with 145,000 members, works to enhance the professional growth and development of members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.

North American Association of Christians in Social Work
North American Association of Christians in Social Work is a nondenominational, faith based organization.

School Social Work Association of America
Association specifically for social workers working in a school setting.

Society for Social Work and Research
SWR works collaboratively with a number of other organizations that are committed to improving support for research among social workers. Members include faculty in schools of social work and other professional schools, research staff in public and private agencies, and masters/doctoral students and come from various countries..

Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care
Social work postings are listed here at the 'Career Opportunities' section of their website.

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Market Trends

List of careers in human services (Ehow.com)
http://www.ehow.com/list_5950614_list-careers-human-services.html

Community and social services occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5/09)
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes210000.htm

Social and human service assistants (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition)
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos059.htm

National Study of Licensed Social Workers
Conducted in the Fall of 2004 by the National Association of Social Workers, in partnership with the Center for Health Workforce Studies. Takes a look at the demographic characteristics of profession social workers, practice setting and work locations, activities and tasks, education and training, current compensation and benefits, attitudes by social workers about their profession, and perceptions about the social work job market.

Workforce Study: Social Workers and Educational Debt
This blog from the National Association of Social Workers links to a 2004 report by NASW entitled, "In the Red: Social Workers and Educational Debt". The study looked at licenced social workers' roles and work environments, as well as factors that might contribute to their recruitment and retention. 15 responses to the study are included.

Workforce Study: Social Workers and Stress at Work
From the National Association of Social Workers "Press Room Blog," a link to the NASW 2004 national study, "Stress At Work: How Do Social Workers Cope?" plus 15 responses to the study.

NASW 2006 Social Work Salaries
The NASW has posted some fast facts and tidbits from several salary studies.

NASW 2007 Massachusetts Salary Survey
This two part survey provides salary survey information for Social Workers in the Massachusetts area.
Part I
Part II

"The Relationship Between Technology Content in a Masters of Social Work Curriculum and Technology Use in Social Work Practice: A Qualitative Research Study"
This is a research paper by Eric Youn found in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, 2007, Vol. 25 Issue 1/2, p45-58. The aim of this exploratory study is to answer questions regarding the purpose of technology content in MSW curricula, how it relates to social workers' use of technology in the field, and the technological competency of MSWs upon first entering the field.

Picky, Picky, Picky: Ranking Graduate Schools of Social Work by Student Selectivity
Stuart A Kirk, Hyeon Jong Kil, Kevin Corcoran. Journal of Social Work Education. Winter 2009, vol. 45, Iss. 1; pg. 65.
"During the past 3 decades dozens of studies have ranked schools of social work using faculty productivity or program reputation to gauge program quality. These studies are often controversial because they rely on only a few dimensions of schools' performance. This study used publicly available admissions data from the past 15 years to examine how selective schools are in admitting full-time MSW and PhD students. The findings demonstrate that selectivity varies greatly among schools, and that rankings by productivity or reputation are somewhat different from rankings by selectivity. Trends in admissions and contextual reasons for wide variation among programs are discussed."

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