Video:Career Profile: Social Worker
with Nazly JordanSocial work is a career for those with a caring personality and drive to help others. Learn more about what is required of a social worker career.See Transcript
Transcript:Career Profile: Social Worker
Hi, I am Nazly Jordan for About.com. I am a social worker and today I am going to tell you what it takes to be one.
Social Work Can be in the Public or Private Sector
As a social worker you can help an individual deal with social problems, relationships problems, health problems, any type of problem that their are unable to deal with on their own. As a social worker you are able to work in the private sector or the public sector. You could work in community centers, hospitals, universities. Anywhere where someone needs the help of a social worker.
Some Areas of Social Work Require Hire Degrees
If you would like to teach and to do research in this field you will need to continue education until a doctorate degree.You can start working as a social worker with a Bachelor degree in social work. However, most jobs will require you to have a Master's degree.In order to be a social worker you need to be caring. You need to be able to have empathy for other individuals and their problems. You also need to be strong. You will be facing a lot of difficult situations.
Social Workers Can be a Part of an Agency
If you work in an agency you also have be able to work in a team. Career opportunities will vary depending on where you work. You can remain a social worker or you can become the clinical director of an agency or you can focus on supervising. It all depends on where you work and what you want.You need to love to be a social worker to work in this field. You need to love to help other people. Social worker's salary is not that high. With a Master's degree you start at $40.000. Depending on where you work, you can go up to $50.000 to $55.000.
Being a social worker has nothing to do with a pay check. It is about helping people. Helping people find their path, helping better communities, keeping families together. That's the reason why most of us became social workers.
Thanks for watching. To learn more about career planning, check out About.com.