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Social workers help clients handle everyday life problems. They often assist clients who have issues caused by neglect, abuse, domestic violence, mental health, and parental substance abuse. Clinical social workers may also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.
A key to succeeding in this role is the ability to stay calm and empathize with clients when they are upset. You should also be aware of others’ reactions and understand why they react as they do.
01Step
The students are required to complete the 10+2 level of school education in any subject or stream with an aggregate of 50 per cent of marks or equivalent to it from a recognised board. Here, in this article, we will discuss how to become a social worker, social worker eligibility, social worker exams, and social worker salary in India.
02Step
Several universities and colleges conduct entrance examinations to provide admissions. Students are required to prepare and appear in the entrance examinations for social work or related programmes. On the basis of the candidate’s performance in the entrance examination and personal interview (optional) admissions are provided in the respective colleges and universities. Direct admissions are also provided on the basis of the cut-off of 12th passing percentage.
03Step
After clearing the entrance examinations, students are offered admission to various colleges and universities on the basis of rank acquired in the entrance examination. We have mentioned the popular bachelor’s degrees for a travel agent career.
Popular Undergraduate Social Worker Courses
B.S.W. (Bachelor of Social Work)
04Step
There are several options that one can choose post-bachelors to lead their career path. We have mentioned the two major options for social worker career path below:
Option 1: After completion of a bachelor’s degree in the specialization of social work, psychology, or related, the students can further continue their studies and opt for a master-level programme without any gap in the academic year. After completion of a master’s degree, they can join the industry with an entry-level position.
Option 2: After completion of a bachelor’s degree, the candidates can start working in the industry in an entry-level role. After gaining experience of 1-2 years, they can further resume their studies and opt for a master-level programme in the related specialization. A master is considered crucial for senior-level roles. After completion of a master’s in social work, candidates can also opt for a PhD in Social Work. A PhD is considered of higher value and it is crucial for senior roles. A PhD also provides the opportunity to establish an academic career and teach in universities and colleges.
Child and Family Social Worker: The child and family social workers work for social causes related to children and needy families. A child and family social worker works to provide assistance to needy families for housing or other services. He or she intervenes when young children are forced to work or in case of child labour. Individuals in the social worker career path rescue the child in danger or who are being abused. Some social workers arrange adoptions, foster families, or reunite families.
School Social Worker: A school social worker works with teachers, parents, and school administrators to ensure improvement in students. Social workers in India make strategies, and design programmes to improve the learning abilities of students and increase their interest in studies.
Healthcare Social Worker: A healthcare social worker provides guidance to weak and sick people diagnosed with diseases and other health problems. Social workers in India make necessary adjustments for patients related to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare. They help people while they are hospitalized till they get recovered and come back home. They help doctors to understand how a certain disease or therapy has affected the emotional and mental health of the patient.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker: Mental health and substance abuse social workers help patients affected by mental health such as anxiety, or depression disorders. Social workers in India also help patients with addiction. Individuals in the social worker career path provide information and services on call.
| Job Profile | Lowest Annual Salary | Average Annual Salary | Highest Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Worker | INR 3.6 L | INR 3.88 L | INR 17.68 L |
| Project Coordinator | INR 2.87 L | INR 3.90 L | INR 15.72 L |
| Consultant | INR 2.83 L | INR 3.5 L | INR 12.16 L |
| Programme Manager | INR 4.27 L | INR 6.2 L | INR 11.5 L |
| Case Manager | INR 4.2 L | INR 5.0 L | INR 6.44 L |
| Documentation Specialist | INR 2.05 L | INR 3.10 L | INR 4.25 L |
(The following are the top 13 advantages of being a Social Worker.)
One of the advantages of being a social worker is that you can earn your education online. Many benefits come with achieving your education through an online school, such as working at home and getting a degree faster. You will find that it is easier to have full-time employment while attending classes through an online program. Online programs are often very flexible with different deadlines, times, and learning techniques. You will also be able to balance life and work with online school more easily.
As a social worker, you can expect to earn a comfortable income, which will increase as you gain experience and succeed in your career. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the median annual earnings of social workers are $51,760 per year. The highest 10% of earners can expect to earn $85,820 per year. Having a good and steady income is one of the most significant benefits of becoming a social worker. Think about all the finer things in life that this type of career can afford you.
Social work is an in-demand career that will never go out of style. The employment need for a social worker is expected to grow faster than the average occupation. And, it is one of the most flexible careers today. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the job outlook for social workers is expected to increase by 12 percent from 2020 to 2030. This increase is faster than the average and is one of the top pros of being a social worker.
One of the biggest perks of being a social worker is the various places you could work in. This is an extremely versatile career. Depending on your experience, interests, and personality, any one of these settings will be an excellent start for you. As a social worker, you can work with children and youth: foster parents who need help raising their kids, child protective services workers trying to stop abuse or neglect, child therapists, or school. Other examples of where your expertise is needed are in hospitals, rehab programs, and prisons. So, if one place of employment does not seem like a good fit, well, then there are others out there to try.
Did you know that social workers can have their student loans forgiven? After working in social work for 10 years (or 1/3 of your loan forgiveness period), you can apply to have the remainder of your student loans forgiven (not taxed as income). How much can someone save with social worker loan forgiveness? For a brand-new social worker, the remaining amount on their student loans could be over $100,000. Their total salary afterward will be around $50,000. So, they can save approximately $50,000 in taxes from getting a quarter of their student debt forgiven. After the 10 years of work, a social worker will have saved thousands if not tens of thousands on loans and taxes! It's just one of many reasons to consider going into social work. For some people trying to stick out the 10 years to gain loan forgiveness is one of the important things to think about while analyzing the pros and cons of being a social worker. Yes, ten years is a long time, but think of all that money you can save.
As a social worker, you will have numerous opportunities for growth within your profession. Some of these opportunities will include leadership roles on the local, state, and national platforms. You will also have many opportunities to grow your career from a co-worker to a manager and eventually up the chain to an executive. Each of these paths has its own set of requirements and specialized skill sets. However, they all include room for growth.
One of the biggest advantages of being a social worker is that you will have the ability to work anywhere in the United States. Every state has a department or agency in charge of social services, and there is plenty of room for employment. Social workers will always have a job, no matter the temperature of the economy. It also helps that almost 95 percent of all working social workers are employed in educational institutions, health care facilities, government organizations, and mental health centers. If one field doesn't work out, many other socially focused organizations always need social workers. Social workers should not be worried about employment for the rest of their lives.
As a social worker, you will have the ability to lend your service and expertise overseas. Social workers are needed all over the world, particularly in developing countries where there are many challenges. The social work profession is growing in these countries, which means there's a need for more workers. One place you may look to help you figure out where to serve abroad is the Peace Corps website. This website has an extensive list of all the countries that have programs and will help guide you through the process of working overseas. I bet you didn't know that this was a career that could help you tour the world.
There are different populations that a social worker can work with depending on where they are employed. For example, if you work in the school system you would typically focus on children. Other areas that you could choose to specialize in is working with the elderly, and those who have disabilities. Your services would also be utilized in numerous hospital settings to support their patient populations such as those who have been recently admitted or those who just had a baby. Other populations that you could specialize working with are those who have been incarcerated or those who are fostering children. The availability of options of the type of clients you could work with is truly vast. So, suppose you feel pulled towards a particular population where you may have a personal connection. In that case, you might consider this when figuring out where to work.
One of the pros of being a social worker is making a significant impact on other people's lives. Your clients will love you for it. The important thing about social work is that you can make a difference in people's lives by helping them find resources. If your client has financial troubles, your job is to help him find a way to make a living wage. If your client was a victim of rape, you get to help them find support and resources for themselves and their family. You get to be the difference in people's lives, which is terrific.
As a social worker, boredom will definitely not be part of your daily routine. Every day will be different and full of surprises. You will never know what to expect, and that is amazing! Each case you encounter will be a new experience and a new challenge for you. Your day will never be the same, and that is what makes it so exciting. Whether a client tells you a story about domestic violence or talks to you about how addiction has been destroying their family, being able to offer support and solutions is both satisfying and fulfilling.
If you are a social worker who decides to work in the school system, you can end up with a pretty nice schedule. You will have off in the summer and during school breaks. You will also not have to work weekends or holidays. The best part about this is, is that you will get paid for this time off.
One of the advantages of being a social worker is that the work you do will help others and will give you a great sense of pride. Whether you are working with children, elderly people, or families, your work will almost always give you a feeling that you are making a difference in the world. Not many people can say about the work they do.
:(The following are the top 13 disadvantages of being a Social Worker.)
In order to become a social worker, you will first have to earn a four-year college degree known as a bachelor’s degree. Most people who embark on this path of going to college for four years will receive a bachelor's degree in social work or something related such as psychology, sociology, public administration, or child development. You will need to ensure that the Bachelor’s in social work program you choose to attend is accredited by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Four years of your life is a long time to dedicate to any endeavor in your life. That is also four years that you potentially may not be earning an income. This sounds a bit risky to me. If you choose to further your education, you will then need to earn a Master’s degree in social work. This will require an additional two years of education. It will also require an additional amount of your time and money.
Becoming a social worker will require that you earn a bachelor's degree as we have discussed, but do you have any idea how much that is going to cost you? If you're like most people, then probably not. One of the top disadvantages of being a social worker is how much the degree will cost you to earn when all is said and done. The average tuition cost of attending a program to earn your bachelor’s degree to become a social worker will run anywhere between $40,000 to $150,000. Let’s also not forget your cost of living and other additional expenses. That is pretty pricey, in my opinion. So, if you do not have a disposable income, it seems like you may land yourself in some debt.
In order to work as a social worker, you will need a license from the state. Although some states do not require licensure, it is still a good idea to have a social worker license, as it shows that you have the right degree and education for the job. The process of getting your social worker license can take a reasonable amount of time. Most states require you to get a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field, such as sociology or psychology first. Many states also require at least two years of social work experience under the supervision of a licensed social worker. This means that you will need time to complete college and get clinical practice before you can be licensed. One of the disadvantages of being a social worker is that some licenses require you to pass two tests: the first is for the Licensed Master Social Worker Exam (LMSW) and the second for your specialty areas, such as school social worker or clinical social worker.
It's no secret that being a social worker is a tough job. Heavy workloads are to be expected for social workers because there is so much going on all at once. There's no end to the heavy workload that social workers often face because cases are constantly changing and piling up. Even though you're working hard, there will always be more work coming your way.
When weighing the pros and cons of being a social worker you will need to decide if you will have the stamina for the long hours that may come along with the job. As a social worker, your workday and caseload may require long hours of your time each day. You will have a busy day with little breaks. These extended hours of your day will be spent meeting with clients, attending meetings, conducting research on issues in the community, or completing forms and reports to keep up with necessary documentation. All of the time you will need to dedicate to these tasks means spending less time with family and friends. You may end up missing some pretty important events due to work.
One of the disadvantages of being a social worker is that you may be expected to be on call. "On-call" means that you are required to be available by phone at any time of the day or night. Often, this is expected even if you are on vacation or out for an evening together with friends and family. On-call is seen by many social workers as a requirement that does not really give you any extra pay. You may even feel it takes away from your personal life and time to do more fun things.
One of the biggest disadvantages of being a social worker is that you may find yourself in some pretty dangerous situations from time to time. Not only are you exposed to the most vulnerable members of our society, but you also have to deal with some pretty difficult people. Some clients may be so upset that they can become pretty violent, even threatening your life if you don't do exactly what they want. There is a real danger that the person you are trying to help might harm you instead.
One of the biggest cons of being a social worker is that you will be working with some of the worst that humanity has to offer. You will struggle to find any kind of enjoyment when every day is another round of dealing with the mentally ill or criminals. You will face people who have little-to-no regard for your well-being, and you will likely develop a few less than savory coping mechanisms to get by. The job may change you as a person.
As a social worker, you may end up suffering from compassion fatigue. This is often the case if you have been practicing for a long time or have worked with exceptional circumstances. It may be draining and very frustrating. Compassion fatigue is often described as a state of physical, emotional, and also mental exhaustion. It can lead to the person not wanting to deal with any more cases or people suffering; they may find it very difficult to continue their work. The most common cause of compassion fatigue is long-term exposure to traumatic events like violence. So, all of your hard work and money spent will be down the drain.
In certain situations that you may find yourself in, you may not intervene for various reasons. Being unable to intervene may be a stressful and sometimes sad reality for some social workers. In certain situations, you may find that the legal system may prevent you from interfering the way you feel you should. There is a more serious side to this too, and that's the idea of not being able to help someone who really needs it. In certain situations where laws may be broken and harm may be done, you will not be able to intervene as a social worker. This can lead you to feel pretty horrible.
As a social worker, you will be required to complete an extensive amount of paperwork. All of these pieces of paper are extremely important to the success of your work. The paperwork is required by law since you are entering people's lives and changing their welfare status in some way. This paperwork will need a reasonable amount of time and energy on your part. Do you think you will have enough time in the day to accomplish all of your personal and work tasks?
Social workers may find it hard to unplug from work. Your day may repeat in your head over and over again. Social workers leave their workplace with their work, and sometimes they may bring it home to unload or think about it more. They also have to ensure service users receive the help they need during the day, so checking up on their clients is a big part of their job. This might mean checking phone calls and texts from other team members, other workers, and work emails or online chat. As a social worker, you may be used to being available at all hours.
As a social worker, you may find that you have to deal with some challenging people. This can make your work very difficult. Some of these problematic people may include clients who are abusive, aggressive, or confrontational. Other difficult people you may encounter throughout your day will come in the form of colleagues. So, if you are not somebody who can grin and bear it, well, this may not be the line of work for you. So, when evaluating the pros and cons of being a social worker, you will need to figure out if you can play nice in the sandbox with all the personalities you will come across. Unfortunately, getting along with others will be part of the job.
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