My Personal Message to Social Work Students
By Mary Pender Greene, ACSW
April 2004
In 1974, I sat as a graduate student in the NYU masters’ program in Social
Work. How different the world is now.
In 1974, Vietnam was still in the news. Watergate was heating up. The median
household income was $11,197. The TV favorites dealt primarily with families,
where the male heroes took charge, but girls were finally allowed in Little
League. We as females had not yet crashed through the glass ceiling, but we
were certainly making cracks.
I recall my last months at school as well as my job search. My first job paid
$11,500, a nice sum at the time; however, I stayed only 3 months because of
poor supervision, a serious lack of professional and clinical care of clients,
and terrible staff morale. I have learned a few things since then that I would
like to share with you.
I strongly believe that crafting a satisfying career path begins before graduation
and must continue throughout a successful career. This is not an easy time to
be a Social Worker. Terrorism, 9/11, welfare reform, managed care, diversity
issues, demoralization, inaccurate portrayals and unrelenting criticism of social
work make us wonder why we chose this profession. Yet we are willing to do the
work. I see social work as a calling. However, being called alone is not enough;
succeeding in our profession today also requires a “professional strategic
plan” which you would be wise not to try to develop on your own. Your
career should be consciously crafted by finding out what is important to you
and getting help in achieving your goals.
I would like to share five “keys to becoming a successful professional
social worker” with you as you are about to embark on your new or renewed
career path.
Select Many Mentors
Choose and cherish mentors, and many admirable persons, whom you can call on
for different types of information and support. Use them to create your personal
“Board of Directors” that will oversee your career. Look for people
you admire and who have skills that you need, e.g. experts in law, personnel,
clinical matters, job development, money management, budget, negotiations, etc.
Continually seek new and valued additions to your board. Understand that this
board is “virtual”, so its members need not know about it or the
role that they play on it. The goal is to develop varying kinds of relationships
with many people who can help shape your career. As a student you are uniquely
situated to begin the search for your board among your supervisors, workshop
leaders, presenters, field instructors, professors and fellow students (remember
that every successful social worker was once a student). Where possible obtain
home information that will allow you to keep in touch despite career moves.
These contacts will be useful for future credentialing, references, building
your professional network, profile and portfolio. Make a point of keeping in
touch with these folks at least annually - ideally a few times a year. It could
be as simple as an email or a note.
Obtain Necessary Credentials
In times past, a CSW was not necessary, but currently, it is most critical.
In September 2004, licensing will be required to work in NYS as a professional
social worker. Do not hesitate; take the CSW exam as soon as possible following
graduation, since that is when you are most prepared for the exam. As licensure
unfolds, supervision by a licensed social work professional will continue to
be crucial to the process and also necessary for advanced credentials.
DO NOT ACCEPT OR REMAIN ON ANY JOB WHERE YOU ARE NOT SUPERVISED BY A PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKER.
That would be a severe impediment to qualifying for advanced credentials.
Have an Open Mind
Today it is necessary to have a broad array of skills, especially at the beginning
of your career. You can specialize after learning a variety of different modalities
and being exposed to a wide range of populations. You will find your niche and
become an even more desirable employee. Eleanor Roosevelt said that one should
do something that frightens you every day. My own philosophy is that growth
begins where comfort ends. The early years in one’s career should be focused
on growth, not comfort. We often seek comfort and end up stifling our growth
and potential contributions. Encourage yourself to risk growth. You may be surprised
at the outcome.
Assess your Potential Work Setting
Before you take a job, ask questions, and remember the interview process is
a two way street. There are a number of questions you should explore.
• What is the organization’s philosophy and approach to the work?
• How many social workers are on staff?
• How many are CSWs?
• Do they offer training and expect their workers to enroll in ongoing
training?
• What is their retention rate? (You can learn this by seeking out those
who have worked there and asking your own network).
• Is this setting only for clinical students?
• Do they have a commitment to clinical excellence? (You can discover
this by listening carefully to what your interviewer talks about, what is emphasized
and under-emphasized.)
• Listen with your third ear (or with your “gut” as you would
in a home visit).
• Gauge the “health” of the interviewer and the feel of the
environment. Is it warm, comfortable? Watch the staff interactions with each
other and with you. How did they receive you? What is their attitude towards
the clients?
Know Yourself, Take Care of Yourself
Get help in sorting out who you are, what you want and where you are heading.
You are overburdened when you haven’t sorted out what is yours and what
belongs to others. Supervision can go only so far. Friendships and mentors and
your Board of Directors can go only so far. I am talking about personal therapy,
and I advocate this help for all of us who seek to move on - and up - in this
field of service to others. It is the “sine qua non” in the task
of caring for the self, and ultimately the task of caring for others.
I love this profession, and for me it is indeed a calling! I wish you much success
and fulfillment as you embark upon your career. Welcome to the field, you are
indeed needed! r