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