Social Work: an Ideal Profession For Those Who Want to Make a Difference?

Social workers help people improve their lives. They work with individuals grappling with poverty, disabilities, illness, domestic conflicts and general life planning. People often have resources available to them that they are not aware of.

Social workers usually specialize in a particular sub-discipline, such as family, public health, mental health, substance abuse and medical services. Those who Excel at social work are often advanced to supervisory roles in the organization. Other social workers choose to enter into teaching or consultation, where they have a potential for higher earnings. Some social workers become policymakers or become advocates for government agencies. Also, those with a master's degree and experience as a social worker can practice psychotherapy privately and receive compensation from clients or through their insurance providers.

Besides obtaining a bachelor's degree in social work, aspiring social workers can volunteer as social work aides, where they can determine whether they would like to work as social workers and also develop industry contacts that can help them secure a job after they finish school.

A bachelor's degree is usually required for social workers. This is typically a bachelor's degree in social work, though those with psychology and sociology degrees can obtain entry-level positions. Social workers help clients who are dealing with emotionally difficult situations, so they need effective communication skills, emotional stability and a high level of maturity. Social workers are often overworked, since they find employment in understaffed offices. They sometimes have to travel to meet with clients.

All states require that social workers become licensed. This requires that they have 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. Individual states can have their own licensing requirements, so social workers should research state regulations.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for this profession in 2010 was $51,500. Some social workers can earn over $77,260, according to BLS data. Some entry-level social workers volunteer for free.