Tips To Enhance Your Career In The Field Of Social Work

Published on: 25 March 2021 Last Updated on: 27 December 2024

Everyone struggles sometimes. While some people might be facing issues in their personal life, others might be unhappy with their careers. There comes a time in your career when you get bored with work. Things might seem monotonous, and you might want to switch gears. Changing things is a natural consequence of routine, and many people switch jobs for greener pastures.

According to research, an adult shifts jobs approximately 11.7 times between 18 and 48. However, doing so is not child’s play. Some professions are even more complicated to navigate.

A career in social work is one of the broadest in the world. Furthermore, it is unhealthy to keep working in a toxic position. And social workers are more vulnerable to burnout and workplace stress. Social work is flexible with an interdisciplinary nature. There are countless career opportunities to help others and improve their lives.

What Do Social Workers Do?

Generally, social workers help others make a meaningful change in their lives. Therefore, they may work in several positions.

There are three subsets of practice for social workers. They may work at the micro-level to focus on the issues of individuals. Or they may focus on the big picture and resolve the problems of communities and social groups.

Some social workers help support groups and head task forces. So, they may work in hospitals, schools, or have private practices.

Tips To Make The Most Of Your Social Service Career:

Now that you have entered social work, let’s move on to other matters. How can you advance your career? Read to find out more about this.

1. Get An Advanced Degree In Social Work:

Like all other professions, getting a graduate degree will help you climb the career ladder. With a CSWE online MSW degree, you can become a leader in social health. The best part is that these degrees are available online. So you can manage your course load and study at your own pace. But, do your research before you choose a program.

Look through online rankings and think about the pros and cons of each degree. You can also gain experience while studying. Interestingly, some supervisors even offer stipends and scholarships to their employees.

2. Develop Your Skills:

Research suggests that employers prefer people with transferable skills. However, social workers struggle to develop these skills. Therefore, it is necessary to hone these skills to advance in your career. Employers are looking for people with excellent communication skills, leadership capabilities, and technical skills.

3. Join A Network:

Joining an organization can improve your experience and skill set. These social work organizations connect people to leaders and graduates. Many such organizations host events and seminars for members. Most of them also offer discounts to members. For example, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry serves geriatrics patients and provides collaboration opportunities to professionals.

4. Get Experience To Contribute:

Experience is necessary for career development. This exposure gives you valuable insight into social work and the responsibilities of a social worker. However, you should get a diverse experience. Doing so will contribute to your career prospects. Try out new things, and gain experience in several positions.

5. Do Some Research:

While experience is necessary, research and knowledge are also vital to improve job prospects. Seek out classes in diverse fields and participate in independent studies. You can work with faculty members and researchers to make yourself more employable.

6. Get A Mentor:

It is not possible to do everything on your own. Therefore, you should ask experienced professionals to help you grow further. These people bring many years of experience and have inside knowledge about everything. Furthermore, they can also help your prepare for life challenges.

7. Network And Enroll In Professional Development Opportunities:

Most institutions organize events to increase knowledge and develop skills. You can enroll in workshops and courses to build your network and connect with others. Networking can improve your job prospects as well. Building relationships with other professionals can help you build enduring relations with others.

8. Take Some Time Out To Reduce Stress:

Self-care is vital for the health of social workers. You have to make time for yourself to reduce stress and avoid burnout. Take some time out to connect with friends and family every once in a while.

9. Always Act Professionally:

Social workers are witnesses to many embarrassing and humiliating things about their patients. Therefore, it is vital to follow ethical standards at all times. Handle your patient with dignity and the utmost care.

But, Why Work In Social Services?

If you are thinking of making a career change, then social work is the profession for you. On average, 6.2 million workers make a career change per year. Working in social services can put things in perspective for you. Not only is social work fulfilling, but it is also meaningful.

Social work is a growing field, and it is expanding rapidly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for social workers will increase by 16 percent in the next few years. Therefore, there will be 110,000 new jobs until 2031.

Furthermore, the pay is not terrible either. According to BLS, the average salary is $67,000 per annum. And your wages might improve with additional certifications.

What Is The Next Step?

Now is the time to begin planning for your future. Therefore, start looking for employment opportunities. You can also enroll in graduate programs to improve your prospects. With a specialized degree in social work, you can reach the pinnacle of the career level.

Utilize these tips to make the most of your social work career. However, never forget why you chose to enter this profession.

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Are Commercial Banks A Good Career Path In 2022?

Are commercial banks a good career path in 2022? How many jobs are available in commercial banks? What are the best-paying jobs in commercial banks? Let’s discuss the above-listed queries in detail. A commercial banking career has been providing clients with credit products such as fixed income products, cash management services, syndicated services, revolving lines of credit, term loans, etc. Commercial banking has been divided into two categories: primary and secondary services. Primary services include payment processing, treasury management, cash management, lending money, accepting deposits, etc. On the other hand, secondary services include trustees in the financial transactions, accept tax deposits, dealing with foreign exchange services, etc. What Is Commercial Banking? A commercial bank offers general banking services, mortgages, lines of credit, payment processing, deposit accounts, business loans, and much more. The best benefit of working in a commercial bank is that you can help your community by providing loans to them and still make a good salary. After gaining experience in this career path, you will be able to work in different industries such as basic industries, investment managers, hotels/resorts, real estate investment trusts, finance services, electric utilities, etc. Are Commercial Banks A Good Career Path In 2022? The answer to this question is an absolute Yes. Working in commercial banks can be a very satisfactory job because, on the other side, you would get a chance to help your community. You would also gain experience in credit products such as loans and other finance-related systems. And with proper skills and knowledge, you will end up getting an executive position in the industry. Plus banking jobs are also a source of stability when you think about it. At the same time, you will get different opportunities and rewards with experience. For example, your salary can double with your good work and skills, and you gain the comfort to adjust in any situation. How Many Jobs Are Available In Commercial Banking? There are many jobs available in the commercial banking industry that can interest you. Commercial banking is a thriving industry and is here to stay in the long run. The best part is that you will have tons of career opportunities to explore and learn from the same. Some of the best paying jobs in commercial banking are as follows: i) Loan Officers Loan Officers assess the borrower file and the contract for the same to process his application. This is actually a highly demanded profile as it is actually the determining factor for any loan request. The main duty of a loan officer is to meet the borrower and examine the mortgage and financials available and decide on the proposal whether to be sent for disbursement or not. ii) Branch Manager The Branch Manager manages the entire operations at the bank branch level. There is a limited supply for this role in the market as compared to the demand. The main responsibility of a branch manager is to check end-to-end operations of the bank, i.e., acquiring ancillary services, disbursing loans, and opening new accounts. For this position, you must have a Masters’s in Banking & Finance. iii) Business Development Manager Business Development Manager leads the business development for the banks. Here, you need to generate business for the organization that involves a high bonus at the end of the year. At the same time, you need to source new customers for the banks and retain existing customers with the best possible services. And you must have master's in Banking & Finance for this position. iv) General Manager A General Manager manages a large team under him in care of the duties and the advances department assigned to him. You will get a chance to lead a team of at least twenty people and enhance your team management skills. As a general manager, you are responsible for maintaining the quality of the loans given to SMEs, large corporations, and individuals. v) Credit Analyst A Credit Analyst estimates the creditworthiness of the borrower and judges whether to disburse the debt or not. The best part is that there is always a high demand for this post, and you can get this opportunity with your experience and skills. The main role of a credit analyst is to evaluate the current financial position of the borrower and project future cash flows that are enough to pay the debt. Skills Required For A Career In Commercial Banking! The top skills required to have a successful career in commercial banking are as follows, Communication Skills: Your communication skills are of top-notch priority if you think about it, especially when you are considering a career in commercial banking. If you can't communicate with the bank's existing clients and convert prospects into actual customers, then why will the bank even hire you for the job? Without the right communication skills, it is very difficult to have a successful career in commercial banking. Problem-Solving Skills: You need to know how to solve problems, the ones that are going to arise every day. It is highly possible that customers will come running to the bank due to some problems. Bank employees, as a result, naturally need to be aware of how to solve daily problems faced by customers. Moreover, there could be internal problems that would need solving as well. Customer Service: The power of good customer service can only be understood once you have been in the business for some time. There's no marketing better than the word-of-the-mouth market8ing, which is only possible when your customer service is top-notch. Otherwise, there is no point in hoping that your prospective customers will become actual customers if your existing clients don't say good things about you. Time Management: Time is of essence everywhere and knowing how to manage time is a skill that everyone doesn't have. If you are not good at managing your time, you need to focus on improving the same or give up on commercial banking sector dreams. Think about the number of customers who visit a bank on a busy day. So if you don't work on your time management skills, pursuing a successful banking career will be trickier than you thought. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. Is Banking A Promising Career? Yes, a career in banking is considered to be a very fruitful career, especially in terms of job stability, long-term experience, and even work life. 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How to Keep Remote Employees Productive in 2022

The remote work movement is here to stay. That’s something we can say with confidence at this point, following a rapid shift during the pandemic. Even companies that at one point were very strictly against remote work now have hybrid options, or some are remote-first and remote-only. As companies transitioned, perhaps not willingly, but because they were forced to during the pandemic, they saw real benefits. A lot of employers say that their employees were more productive than they thought they would be and happier in many cases too. That doesn’t mean that it’s all smooth sailing, though. Managers and leaders are still looking at ways to keep remote employees productive and engaged over the long-term with remote work, now that the newness has worn off and the reality of possible downsides has set in. For leadership in 2022, the following are things to remember to keep your remote teams productive and thriving. 1. Give Them the Technology They Need to Succeed You want your remote employees to feel like they can access everything they need to do their jobs quickly and easily. At the same time, in providing that access, you can’t sacrifice your cybersecurity. Many bad actors have taken advantage of remote work over the past couple of years, wreaking havoc on businesses. To keep remote employees productive but also to protect your data and assets, think about investing in an identity and access management (IAM) security strategy. IAM makes it easy for your employees to access everything required to do their jobs quickly and efficiently but simultaneously reduces the risk of an identity breach. The more cumbersome your identity management or cybersecurity tools, the less productive and engaged your employees are going to be. Similarly, ask your employees if there are other apps or resources they might require to be more productive. Using good project management software goes a long way in any organization. Very little thought should be given to how they access the network and the resources they require day-to-day on their part—your focus should be on the provision of a seamless experience so this can happen. 2. Keep Your Employees in the Loop, No Matter Where They’re Working There’s a term that you’re likely to hear more of in the coming months and years, which is remote-first. In a remote-first organization, there is still a physical office space, but it’s not a hub of communication or decision-making. Instead, the online world is. The office may exist as needed or when someone prefers to come in, but managers and leaders make an effort to ensure that everyone who works remotely is in the loop and the conversations are happening digitally first and foremost. If there are any updates that need to be shared, or you need feedback or have company news, make sure remote employees have access to it. Even if you aren’t technically remote-first, keep employees connected through communication. 3. Rethink Your Onboarding Process If you’re hiring new employees right now, how you onboard them is going to have a ripple effect on their productivity throughout the entirety of their time with your company. Remote new hires tend to feel significantly less equipped to do their jobs. They need support, and your onboarding strategy should take into account the remote element. Your employees need access to login credentials and documents, they need training and orientation, and they also need training on less apparent drivers of success. For example, your onboarding program should include things like how your organization members communicate with one another. 4. Recognize If You’re a Productivity Killer Managers and leadership may be killing employee productivity, and they often have no idea they’re the problem. If you’re constantly holding long-winded meetings on video chat, you are killing productivity. Just like in the past few years there has been a big push away from pointless in-person meetings, make sure you’re not creating the same environment digitally. If you don’t need everyone to attend a video meeting, then don’t have everyone participate. Let your employees work in the ways that they think are going to help them meet goals and achieve, without trying to take up too much of their time or micromanage. The real advantage of remote work is that you can think less about how employees get to a certain endpoint. Instead, it’s about results. You’re not monitoring everything they’re doing, so allow employees to thrive and be more productive by meeting objectives you set but doing so in the ways they think are best or most effective. You’ll find if you set measurable, specific goals but then take a step back, it helps your remote employees thrive. Read Also: What No One Tells You About Working Remotely Tips For Calling In Sick To Work 5 Of the Highest Paid Remote Jobs

Ultimate Guide to Interview Prep Mastering the Essentials

We have either been in the same spot a few times, or this is your first interview prep. No matter how often you straighten your tie, prepare yourself with your best answers, and finest smiles, chronic nervousness is common. But why do we get nervous before an interview? Even after understanding all the questions, why do our tongues get tied, and we can be at a loss for words? Or do we? Is there a possibility of this ever happening, or are we overthinking it? The biggest reason behind pre-interview anxiety can originate from the myths and mysteries of a job interview. So, that is precisely what we are going to do today. Debunk these myths and give you the reality of a job interview. Plus, this blog post will also focus on giving you curated advice for interviews to ace any, and most importantly, how to get rid of the anxiety psychologically. Interview #Myths (...and the Truth) As you prepare for your interview, here is some good news. You do not have to perfect. Do not worry; no recruiter is looking for a robot. We must already combat enough AI to take our jobs! Authenticity will always trump any robotic response. So, let's give you a few more good news! Myth #1 – You Should Have All the Answers Undoubtedly one of the biggest myths of job interviews is having all the answers. There is a misconception that your incapability to answer a particular question directly indicates your incompetency. Reality That is simply not the case. In fact, sometimes interviewers ask you bizarre questions to test your practicality or even your creativity. Basically, there might not be a correct answer! They are just trying to understand how imaginative you are. However, you might not have an answer to the question, which is all right. It is even okay to politely decline to respond politely. This shows integrity, as you do not wish to waste their time or your own. Plus, it shows your acceptance of your shortcomings and enthusiasm for learning more. Myth #2 – Interviewer Holds All the Power Since you are the one wanting the job, it is common to misconstrue a power dynamic. Many get nervous because they believe the interviewer holds all the power. You might also place the interviewer on a pedestal, thinking they might know a lot and are probably judging all the questions. Reality Interview prep is always a two-way street. While the recruiter judges your capabilities, you are also assessing whether the job is right for you. Plus, their thought of hierarchy can make you more nervous. If you have confidence in your capability and know you will be suitable for the job, then treat your recruiter as your equal. The conversation can go much smoother from that point on. Additionally, you are also allowed to have unique interview questions to ask your employer. It is not a one-way communication. Myth #3 – You Have to Wear a Suit This is an age-old belief that what you wear will heavily influence your first impression on your interviewers. However, the myth is about wearing a suit and always having a tie around your neck. Reality Not that it will hurt if you wear one, it is not a necessity. Dressing yourself up in formals and looking presentable doesn’t always end with a suit. You can look presentable with a simple button-up & trousers. For ease of understanding, we will pinpoint the ones who are not dressed up. Un-ironed cloths Denim Clothes that do not fit you Hats Ripped or distressed pants Pants with too many revealing pockets Revealing clothes Too many accessories A face full of bright makeup & Open-toed shoes (unless they are strappy heels but prefer closed-toed pumps) or sports shoes. If you have a pressed shirt and trousers that fit with closed-toed shoes, you should be ready. Myth #4 – Your Resume Is the Only Game Changer You will find many prints and place their resume in a new folder for their interview prep. They might even present their resume to the interviewer before allowing themselves to sit (...and without even being asked). Reality They rang up for an interview upon perusing your resume. Therefore, they want to avoid sitting and reading through your resume. So, presenting your resume before presenting yourself is not a game. More than your academic or professional achievements, they are here to assess your personal skills. Believe it or not, other candidates might have the same resume. This is not to demotivate your professional capabilities but to understand that it has already created the impression it could. The rest now depends on how you present yourself. Plus, this is an opportunity for you to make yourself stand out. Myth #5 – You Should Have a Firm Handshake The things people overthink before an interview prep can charge anyone’s curiosity meter. One of them is having a firm handshake. Many believe that a firm handshake can telepathically transfer one's strong will and professional excellence to one's interviewer. Reality Again, a good handshake is a sign of a confident personality. However, correlation is not causation. That is, someone with a slightly weaker one isn't automatically wrong for the job. Shaking hands with the person who escorted you to your interview and your interviewers is a sign of respect. Your interviewers will consider you as a polite being (...irrespective of the firmness of your hand). Plus, there are other factors to assess you, so rest assured they are not overthinking your handshake. Also Read: Red flags of a job interview: 8 reasons to turn down an offer Things To Remember While You Interview Prep – Advice for Interview While preparing to be your best self in your interviewer’s eyes, do not forget this last-minute advice for an interview. Check The Job Description: Before you sit before answering the questions, remember to go through the job descriptions a few times. It doesn’t matter if you can’t answer one question, but you should know what job you are interviewed from. Plus, offering you a different job role other than the one in the description is also a major red flag you should look out for. Research The Company: Do not give your interviewers the impression that this is just another interview. Show them that you want the job and start having personal communication about the company. Knowing that you know about the company creates a steady impression. Non-Verbal Communication: 70% of communication in your job interview is non-verbal. When you start your job interview prep, do so in front of a mirror. Finding your best presentation posture, a pleasant smile, and firm eye contact. The entirety of you should be communicating with your recruiters. Especially if you are in a video interview, your non-verbal communication skills will be scrutinized more. Keep In Mind the Timing: You should always be early enough for your interview. This was the interviewer’s understanding of the candidate’s conceptual skills. nature, heavily influencing your acceptance rate. Make it a habit to be 10 minutes before the assigned time for your corporate interviews. Interview Doesn’t End After You Leave: Always send a thank you mail expressing your gratitude. You can also give a better reply to a question asked during the interview. This will show your enthusiasm towards the job, and the fact that you are carrying your research forward even after the interview. Bizarre Interview Questions (...and Their Answers) Interview prep is indeed a serious matter. However, sometimes, interviewees can even ask bizarre questions to cut the tension and add some witty humor. The wittier your answers to these bizarre interview questions are your recruiters will be impressed. Here are some of the common questions whose answers you should prepare. 1. “What’s The Color of Money?” A company once asked their financial candidates this question. This can either be a trick question or a question to test someone’s creativity & knowledge. While the obvious answer would be green, one candidate answered “it depends on the country. While US dollar is green, Japanese Yen could come in blue, green, and purple based on the currency amount.” Can you guess who was hired? Yes, the one with a worldly knowledge about currencies from all over the world. Now, that is someone with a keen interest in finance. 2. “If you were shipwrecked on an island with no food, water, or internet connection, what is that one thing you would like to have.” Now, this is a question that has no right or wrong answer. The recruiter is just trying to assess your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. One candidate answered “a kindle” which seemed like a dreamy answer. While another candidate said “a boat” which was quite logical. The candidate who got the job said a hammer & a knife. Truly, you will need two important tools to fashion any tool out of whatever’s left. This was the interviewer’s understanding of the candidate's’ conceptual skills. 3. “If you could fly or be invisible, what superpower would you choose?” This is another interview question that recruiters use to break the ice. Through this superpower question, they are just trying to determine whether you are a spotlight person, or someone more willing to work behind the scenes. Oddly, many choose flying over being invincible. However, for candidates who choose invincibility, recruiters can get an idea about their introversion or extroversion nature. Therefore, when preparing for an interview, remember to choose these items wisely. The End of Every Interview Prep No matter how your interview was, always end it with a good note. Remember to shake their hands and express your gratitude for their time. Do not rush the recruiters for a reply. Try waiting for 48 hours, and then send them an email asking for the result. Your interview prep doesn’t end after the interview. A follow-up can always be a game-changer! Hopefully, this blog post was able to calm you down. If you have more words of wisdom for our audience, please add them in the comment section below. Read Also: How Interviews With Industry Titans Motivate And Elevate Company Teams Red flags of a job interview: 8 reasons to turn down an offer

Tips To Enhance Your Career In The Field Of Social Work

What Do Social Workers Do?

Tips To Make The Most Of Your Social Service Career: