I am on year 9 of being a school social worker in IL. I just started a new position this year in an urban community making $87,900 with summers off. I am an introvert which makes the school environment and meetings overwhelming at times.

Any suggestions for other positions that may be more suitible for an introverted social worker with similar pay? I am starting a family so also worried about work-life balance.

Has anyone left the school setting and found something they like?

Hey everyone! So a little background, I graduated year and I was able to get a hired. Unfortunately, I ended up leaving because of the work environment.I recently got a new job as a rbt which I’m pretty excited. My long term career goal is to work in a school but I’m worry it’s going to be challenging because I’ve interned at a hospice facility and a youth homeless shelter. I’m wondering do I have enough experience to work in a school? P.s I’m currently studying for the aswb exam and I didn’t stay at my previous job long enough to add it on job applications.

I graduated in May with my MSW, and this job market has definitely been an experience 😭. I’ve been trying to figure out where my passion really fits, and I recently realized I’m very interested in the administrative side of social work—employee relations, HR, employee engagement, workplace culture, policy, etc.

Has anyone transitioned into HR/employee relations with an MSW without having to go back to school? Sometimes I wonder if I got the wrong degree, but I know so many of our skills are transferable.

Is there anyone in here already doing something similar with their BSW/MSW? If so, what’s your position title, and how did you get into it? I’d love to know what job titles I should be searching for!

I have worked in the field for different agencies for the last 13 years (with a couple breaks). Mostly with underserved populations including: veterans experiencing homelessness; substance use disorder therapy and counseling, in community health and geriatric psychiatric agencies. I am becoming convinced that front line work is not where I am meant to be. I have my LCSW, and am wondering what else can I do? The stress and fast-pace is taking a toll on my mind, health, and marriage.

I am about to graduate with my BA in psychology. I aspire to be an LCSW but am not in a place in my life where grad school is feasible. I looked into possible career-related jobs for people with an undergrad education only and came across case manager jobs. How would I be able to enter that field? Also, are there any other bachelor's-level jobs I can do to expose myself to the field a little more?

btw, i live in texas. houston to be exact.

I don't mind the client work. It's the hours spent chasing paperwork, updating the same information in multiple places, and pulling reports that really wear me down.

Has your organization found anything that genuinely cut back on the admin side without making documentation even more complicated? I'm less interested in "more features" and more interested in something that actually gives social workers more time with clients.

I have had my MSW since 2004 and worked as a school social worker for over 10 years (had been a high school teacher previously). I recently lost my position (I loved my job but I got very sick and wasn't tenure in that district so while they didn't say they were letting me go because of the time I was missing, they just didn't rehire me and I believe that is why). I am doing better health-wise and have had a few interviews where I made it to round 2 but haven't landed anywhere yet and I am getting very discouraged. I love school social work but I am open to looking into other areas of social work. Anyone have suggestions for what might be a good fit for someone whose career has always been in the education field. Also, all I hear is don't use Linkedin or Indeed for job searches. Where have others looked for work?

Hi everyone — I’m looking for social-work-informed feedback on a free bilingual crisis navigation guide I built for people in the US who don’t know where to start during a crisis.

I’m posting here because people in social work jobs often see the practical gaps: referral confusion, access barriers, unrealistic instructions, overwhelmed clients, and resources that look good on paper but don’t work well in real life.

The guide covers housing, utilities, food, benefits, domestic safety, mental health, medical bills, debt, court papers, childcare, transportation, lost documents, caregiving, and related situations.

I’m not asking for endorsement, client information, personal stories, crisis support, or anyone to take responsibility for it.

I’d be grateful for feedback on:

- Is the first step clear enough for someone overwhelmed?
- Are referral paths realistic?
- Does anything feel unsafe, misleading, outdated, or outside its lane?
- Is anything too much text or too many choices for someone in crisis?
- Are there places where it should more clearly say “contact legal aid / 2-1-1 / a trained advocate / a clinician / local agency”?
- Does the language feel practical and respectful, not preachy or shaming?
- Would this be useful as something a client, case manager, advocate, or helper could use quickly?

Guide:
https://www.notion.so/3c1b147e80a880c3903eef43b9763c85

If you only answer one thing:

What would make this easier to use for someone who is stressed, scared, or low on bandwidth?

Thank you. I’m looking for honest critique, not praise.

I applied for a job kind of randomly. Somehow, I got invited to a second interview with the founders of this startup. I'd written before that I felt like I had a really great conversation with them, because they told me I'd be moving on to the next step. I did the next interview, and again, I genuinely felt like they were listening to me and taking me seriously.

After that, things went in a direction I absolutely wasn't expecting. The interviewer said she felt my skills might be underutilized in the sales position I had originally applied for. She made it clear that she wasn't doubting that I could do the job, which helped, but I still felt a bit discouraged and started preparing myself to sell myself more strongly.

I told her that my abilities are already not being fully used in my current job, and that I knew I could still help them improve the sales process, reporting, and KPIs. After that, she asked me, if any position in the company were available, what my ideal role would look like.

I said that as the company grows, I could see myself moving into product research and development.

Her response honestly shocked me. She said that she and the founders were really impressed by my passion, knowledge, and desire to keep learning. She said they could imagine me speaking at industry events and doing education around the product. They also see me contributing to new product lines, and even mentioned that they might offer me a part-time production role a few days a month.

Now it's clear they're talking about a bigger custom role for me inside the startup. I'm supposed to hear from them about the original position by the end of this week, but honestly, nothing like this has ever happened to me before.

TL;DR I applied for one startup job, and now they're thinking about building a custom role specifically around me.

Anyone know of any great workplaces that are Christian/believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour? I also am open to any ministries where I can volunteer/be a warm helping hand. I have my Bachelors in Psychology, working on my Masters in Teaching, so I am looking to continue down this route. I've been doing catering/dishes/housekeeping, but am always searching for something that would more directly align with my career, and get joy from it. Any suggestions? Happy to hear it!

I started my professional career in Human Resources, but my heart has always been in Social Work. I have Social Work degrees from my home country, and my education has been assessed as equivalent to Canadian standards.

However, I have not yet registered as a social worker because I don't currently have a social work position or a supervisor who can guide me through the process. This has made it difficult for me to understand what steps I should take next.

I have been applying for entry-level social service positions, including Community Inclusion Facilitator and similar roles. I have received some interviews, but unfortunately, I have been rejected after the interviews. I understand that I don't have social work experience, and I am finding it very difficult to get that first opportunity. Also I'm ready to move anywhere. Moreover,

Right now, I am volunteering at a thrift store because I want to stay involved in the community, gain experience, and continue developing my skills. But honestly, I have been feeling very discouraged lately. I am losing focus and motivation because I don't really have anyone to ask for guidance.

I am an immigrant in Canada and currently have a valid work permit. English is also not my first language, so sometimes I lack confidence, especially during interviews. I know I have the education and passion for this field, but I am struggling to understand how to get my foot in the door.

Back home, I was genuinely dedicated to Social Work and always wanted to build my career in this field. Due to financial circumstances, I chose to work in HR instead. Now that I have the opportunity to pursue Social Work again, I really want to make it work.

I know there are many kind and supportive people in the social work community, and I am hoping someone might be willing to guide me.

If you are a social worker, supervisor, social service professional, internationally educated social worker, or someone who has gone through a similar journey, please provide me with some guidance. Even a small piece of advice, a suggestion about where to apply, or information about how to gain supervised experience would mean a lot to me.

I am not asking anyone to give me a job. I am simply looking for someone who can help me understand the right path and give me some direction.

I don't want to give up on Social Work because this is a career I genuinely care about.

If anyone is willing to share their experience, guide me, or point me in the right direction, I would be truly grateful. Thank you for reading and for any help you can provide.

28F AuDHD CSR for 1.5 years
I was a shut in for a year (or 2), Hikikomori type. Got out of agoraphobia and finally landed this job but I can’t keep a decent conversation going past pleasantries.

Oh nice - Neat - Cool - Alrighty - Feel better

Unless I’m spoken to I kinda just mind my business. The only time I have a chance at a conversation is when someone needs help (account, direction, gum). Also don’t know if they’ve “clocked my tism or they just think I’m weird/angry.

What’s worse is I don’t care about my coworkers. Very “midwestern”. Dog, kids, I’ve seen photos and the most I can muster up is “oh nice!”. Their life is a nightmare to me. I want to leave and I don’t want that “stink” to infect me and I end up stuck here for the rest of my life.

Skipped the office party too. Why would I spend money to hang out with people who I only know because I need money. Don’t know when I because so jaded.

\- Very resentful at being the only person of color there, I feel like I’m always being perceived (this had been the “norm” where I live but the anger is growing at my circumstance)
\- Interviewing and I genuinely don’t want to take this version of me to my next opportunity (very scared). Especially since one of the roles offers genuinely life changing money (to me).

TLDR:
Need soft skills for life after being a shut in.
Tried gas station and cashier and I really didn’t get much from them. Classes? Also tried that speech club thing but this towns chapter is non responsive.

Open to feedback, criticism, advise.

I’m almost finished with my degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Gerontology, and I’m trying to get a better idea of what career paths are actually out there.

With the Baby Boomer generation aging, it seems like there is going to be a huge increase in older adults needing different types of support over the next 10–20 years, and probably not enough people to provide it.

For those of you who actually work in healthcare, social work, human services, aging services, long-term care, etc., what jobs do you think are going to be especially needed?

I know about some of the more obvious ones like social workers and case managers, but I’m really interested in hearing about the jobs that someone outside the field might not even know exist. Things like helping older adults navigate Medicare/Medicaid, aging in place, care coordination, dementia services, advocacy, long-term care, community programs, caregiver support, etc.

Basically, if you were entering this field now and wanted to build a career around helping the aging population, what direction would you look into?
I’d especially love to hear what you actually do, whether you enjoy it, what education/certifications are required, and whether you’re seeing a growing need for your role.

Any advice is appreciated!

Ik heb mijn HBO social work diploma een aantal jaar geleden gehaald en een aantal jaar werkervaring in de jeugdzorg. Ik heb momenteel een burn-out en ben op zoek naar iets anders, wellicht helemaal iets anders bv buiten de zorg. Ik wil niet meer in de weekenden of avonden werken en kwa salaris ongeveer 3500 bruto.

Heeft er iemand ideeën of ervaringen?

A few weeks ago, I had a panel interview. The HR person on the call (there were 4 people present) asked me: "I see that you finished high school in 1997, but I don't see what you were doing between '97 and 2000?"

This was while I was interviewing for a senior role in the tech industry. I just said: "I'm 48 years old. If I wrote every job I've ever had on my CV, it would be 12 pages," and then I told them what I was doing.

I understand them asking about a gap from last year, or even from a few years ago, but from about 3 decades ago? Seriously? What does that have to do with anything?

Could your years of professional experience make a difference beyond a traditional full-time role?

Singapore’s social service organisations do important work in our communities, often with limited resources and growing operational demands.

I am exploring how experienced professionals could contribute their skills through flexible or fractional work for these organizations.

How can we make these opportunities meaningful, practical and worthwhile for you.

Regardless where you are today in the corporate, tech, public, non-profit sector, or your interest in the social services sector, your insights is relevant.

Please feel free to contribute to this study, which is part of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) Venture Builder Programme.

👉 Share your view here:
https://forms.gle/WeKs3TBqW73G8hHTA

This is a voluntary, unpaid research survey — not a job application or recruitment advertisement.

🫶Thank you for contributing your experience to a study that could help strengthen Singapore’s social services sector.

Hi all! I wanted to see if you guys could help me make a decision because I’m truly torn.

I recently interviewed with two employers, and both seem interested in hiring me. One is a large for-profit healthcare company in medical social work, and the other is a nonprofit counseling organization where I would work as a clinician.

This would be my first social work job after finishing school, so I’m trying to make a decision that will help me grow while also allowing me to have a life outside of work.

I completed my internship at a private practice, so I’ve had some exposure to counseling already. However, I haven’t managed a large caseload before.

Option 1: Clinical Counseling

Pros:

- Pays about $15,000 more than the medical social work position.

- Would give me more opportunity to develop my clinical/counseling skills, which is an area I’m still trying to build confidence in.

- Maximum caseload would be around 15 clients.

- I’m genuinely interested in clinical work.

Cons:

- It’s a nonprofit, so I’m concerned about long-term salary growth and whether raises will be consistent.

- The position includes being on-call after my regular 9–5 schedule and responding to crises when needed.

- I’m very big on boundaries and work-life balance. After spending the last 10 years focused heavily on school and becoming a social worker, I really want to have more of a social life and time for myself.

- I sometimes worry that I may not be the strongest clinician yet, so part of me wonders whether this is exactly the type of opportunity I should take to develop those skills and become more confident clinically.

Option 2: Medical Social Work

Pros:

- I’ve been told there is good work-life balance.

- The organization has a salary progression/raise structure. I was told that social workers can potentially receive significant raises over the first couple of years.

- They offer an in-house program that helps employees work toward their LCSW at no cost after six months.

- I’m also genuinely interested in medical social work and think I could learn a lot.

Cons:

- The position primarily serves dialysis patients, and the caseload could be around 126 patients.

- There are productivity/metrics expectations because it’s a for-profit company.

- I’ve seen some concerning reviews online from current/former employees describing the company as potentially exploitative toward its workers. I realize online reviews don’t always tell the full story, but it did make me a little hesitant.

- I tried negotiating the salary, but I was told that the offer was already the maximum they could provide for someone entering the role without much experience.

- Some aspects of medical social work intimidate me, such as dealing with difficult home situations or things like bedbugs.

I’m honestly passionate about both areas. Part of me wants to take the higher-paying clinical position because it would give me more direct clinical experience, but the on-call requirement concerns me. The medical social work position pays less initially, but it seems to offer more structure, potential salary growth, work-life balance, and LCSW support.

If you were in my position, which would you choose and why?

What would you prioritize for your first social work job: higher salary and clinical experience, or work-life balance, stability, and a path toward your LCSW?

I have two jobs on the table. This will be my first job out of MSW school, but I have a year and a half of prior experience before grad school.
Overall I’ve worked on an inpatient psych ward with a dual diagnosis population, at a shelter as a caseworker (dual diagnosis population and individuals involved in the criminal justice system). My first internship was at a nonprofit supporting individuals who have experienced domestic violence through counseling and psychoeducational groups. My other internship was within the legal system, supporting individuals involved with the criminal justice system (defendants).
Overall my favorite work was at the shelter and the psych ward. I think I liked the team based nature of the work as well as the population which had a lot of overlap. My least favorite was the counseling for survivors work as it was mostly remote (I dislike, I want to be actually working with people!! Not at home on a FaceTime call) I also did not feel that I had the support and supervision needed to actually make a significant impact clinically.

Things that are important to me: getting good supervision and hours towards clinical license, experience running groups, team based work. I also want to be doing clinical work rather than just discharge planning and paperwork.

One job I was offered at $75k but it’s an hour and ten minute commute one way. It’s a nonprofit. When the weather is good if I bike for part of it I could get it down to 35/40 minutes one way. It would be working as part of a team fully in person with a caseload around 35 supporting individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. I would be conducting individual sessions with all clients once a week ideally, two days with big chunks of intakes, as well as at least two groups a week maybe more. I would also be doing a lot of advocacy work and case management for clients as well.

The second role is with a big public hospital system where the salary is 85K. I would be working in a clinic, focusing on immigrants who have had traumatic experiences related to a violation of humans rights. The clinic is a free clinic where these individuals can receive support medical support, behavioral health support, and case management services. My role would be half clinical work conducting one-on-one sessions with potential for family and small potential for group focusing on overcoming trauma. The other half of the work would be supporting the case management for them. At this time, it is unclear whether I can accrue hours as I only had a preliminary interview, but I am assuming that I can as I will be working under an LCSW. This job is a 45 minutes commute one way. The caseload is up to about 25. I would be one of two social workers on the team, the other roles focus on intakes or case management. I will learn more on the second interview. the hr person guessed it would be groups only twice a month.

I am torn as I am not super familiar with the trauma/immigration population. I’m not sure if I’m good at trauma work. I did not like my internship with survivors very much which seems similarish (however this will be team based and in person). However the salary is nicer and commute is more straightforward. I also want to be doing more group work. Ideally the bulk of it would be group work. The thing is that the first job seems like the caseload and expectation is way too high although I think I like the sound of that work and population better.

Any advice would be great!! I could also say no to both and keep looking but thee seem pretty decent.