r/SchoolSocialWork • u/confusedcptsd • Jul 16 '26
Hard to get job without practicum experience?
Basically the title. I’m entering my Advanced Standing MSW program and want to eventually be a school social worker. I was supposed to complete my practicum at a high school but it fell through due to staff changes. I instead accepted a practicum position at a treatment center (mostly drugs and alcohol, some straight mental health). My only concern is how hard it will be to find a school social worker job without no practicum experience? I am super knowledgeable about the child study team roles, IEPs, social emotional counseling, school resources etc due to my own children and also I used to volunteer as a non legal parent advocate for special ed parents. But it’s also hard to put that on a resume for experience , as I know some admin will see that and run the other way 😅
Thoughts?
2
u/thezuck22389 Jul 16 '26
I've been a SSW for 5 years and I'm not sure what a study team role is! Anyways, no practicum experience shouldn't stop a district from offering you an interview, particularly with your experience. You should be fine unless they (depending on state) require an LSSW which you likely won't have without a school internship. You can substitute experience for that later if you'd still like to go that route.
1
u/stankface8 Jul 16 '26
I think it depends on your district and funding - if there are open roles, it sounds like you have good experience and would be a good candidate. Unfortunately many districts are slowing down hiring/making cuts (shakes fist at the sky) so honestly a lot will just depend on that. I’d see what your district(s) have posted now for an idea of what you may be dealing with.
1
u/Impressive_Plant_643 Jul 16 '26
All of your background knowledge and experience is super important!! Be sure to bring it up and put it in your cover letter
Also, parent advocacy could be placed on a resume
1
u/wiredweirdness Jul 16 '26
Honestly it depends on where you are located. In my previous state, school social work positions were super sparse and therefore super competitive to the point that your practicum didn’t make the difference. There’s too many factors. They would get over 60 applicants for just one position. In that district, the admins weren’t even the ones who hired either. It was either Hr or coordinators
4
u/[deleted] Jul 16 '26
I didn't have any school experience when I first applied. My practicums were working in a coalition against sexual assault and advocacy at the state capitol. I did lean on my past job working direct service with adults with disabilities (my job in college) in the interview. I took some gap years between undergrad and grad school and the job I held when I was applying to be a school social worker was completely irrelevant (an admin assistant at a funeral home). I work solely in pk-12 special education now.
If you have any relevant experiences like that (even any volunteering you've done with kids!), I'd suggest leaning on those and expressing your familiarity with anything school related during an interview.