| I've been a social worker for more than ten years. | | | | If, on the other hand, your answers included themes |
| During that time, I've worked in the emergency room | | | | of wanting to help people, or at least a specific group |
| of a major trauma center, a skilled nursing facility | | | | of people, or wanting to make your corner of the |
| specializing in the care of people with Alzheimer's and | | | | world a better place, you are probably on the right |
| most recently a hospice. I love my job and even if I | | | | track with a community service job. |
| get frustrated at times, no amount of money could | | | | #3. What are the working hours I'm available for? |
| persuade me to quit social work. | | | | Full-time social workers most often work a 40 hour |
| Just because I love my community service job, | | | | week, however, there may be a need to work |
| however, does not mean that community service is | | | | evenings or weekends to meet with clients or handle |
| the right career choice for everyone. If you are | | | | emergencies. In voluntary nonprofit environments, |
| considering a career in community service, ask | | | | part-time work is most standard. While most time is |
| yourself the following questions: | | | | spent in a facility or office, they may be required to |
| #1. What kind of training and background do I have? | | | | travel locally to visit clients, meet with service |
| Social work is a profession for those with a strong | | | | providers or attend meetings. |
| desire to help improve people's lives. Many community | | | | #4. Can I handle taboo subjects? |
| service workers have degrees in social work, | | | | If you are a community service worker, you will have |
| counseling, psychology, nursing, or another related | | | | to deal with issues that make the majority of citizens |
| field. | | | | uncomfortable. For instance, nurses and social |
| But don't despair if you have only a high school | | | | workers were holding the hands of dying AIDS |
| diploma or a GED. You may be able to enter the field | | | | patients years before the president of the United |
| as an assistant or a "designee." Many nursing facilities, | | | | States could bring himself to say the word AIDS. |
| for instance, can not afford to hire social workers so | | | | As a community service worker, you will routinely be |
| they train a person with savvy and people skills to | | | | encountering issues such as death, mental illness, child |
| act as the "social service designee." Although not a | | | | abuse, domestic violence, and substance abuse. You |
| trained social worker, this person takes on most of | | | | will also have to work with people from all sorts of |
| the work social workers do in a facility such as | | | | different backgrounds and lifestyles. Would you be |
| admissions, applications for financial assistance, and | | | | comfortable with a client of a different race? |
| discharge planning. | | | | Religion? Sexual orientation? |
| #2. What do I want from a job? | | | | If you have or are willing to seek out the proper |
| If your answers included themes like money, power, | | | | training, want a job that will allow you to make a real |
| and prestige, you would be wise to give community | | | | difference in the world, and are able to handle difficult |
| service work a second thought. Although you can | | | | subjects and differences, you would probably make |
| make a solid salary as a community service worker, | | | | an ideal community services worker. Best of luck |
| you will not get rich, nor will you find yourself being | | | | with your career! |
| interviewed by Oprah or Dave Letterman. | | | | |