cluelesssocialworker

[cluelesssocialworker]

Hoping, praying, wishing that you're still active.

I just got my first job as a social worker and am already on my deathbed. Fresh from uni and not a clue how to do the things they're asking me to do. I'll try though.

Working with seniors, I have to do outreach. We are distributing flyers and trying to make connections for our senior day program for seniors with dementia. I have already reached out to churches, hospitals and medical clinics, community centres, and libraries. But my manager wants me to expand on that list.

I really don't know who else to contact. Do you have any suggestions? And what was your greatest obstacle working your first SW job? ♥️♥️♥️

I'm not really active, but active enough to see this ask!

Oof, frontline social work jobs are tough. I'm assuming you're in the US (though I imagine this would probably be at least somewhat applicable to other countries), so here are some ideas:

First, search your area for social work/mental health worker networking groups. Most of them are on facebook, but some of them might be elsewhere. You can google "[City name/state/region] mental health worker networking group" and see what pops up. I say this both because you'll be able to do some outreach there, but also because you deserve to connect with other mental health workers for support for yourself. Also, try reaching out to your college and see if they have a group for alumni. Again, for outreach and networking opportunities, but also to connect with other social workers for support for yourself.

As for ideas for other places to reach out to: I mean, honestly, you've hit almost all the places I could think of! Try senior centers, if you haven't already. Try other nonprofits serving seniors in your area (try looking for Medicare/Medicaid-funded organizations), assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, and retirement communities, and see if you can find any individual therapists or group therapy practices that may serve seniors.

Also, don't be afraid to stand up and advocate for yourself in your job. If you're fresh out of ideas and your manager is still pushing for more, gently push back. Think along the lines of "I've already tried everything I can think of, including x, y, and z. I'm out of ideas at the moment. Do you have any ideas of other places I can try?" If they don't, and they just expect you to come up with... something, try, "I'm not sure what else to do. If you don't have any other ideas, I'm going to [insert idea of what you can do next that's tangentially related, like, 'follow-up with the places I've already reached out to so I can keep building those connections.'] But I'll talk with you during our next check-in/meeting to see if I come up with any other ideas."

Social work jobs are hard. They are so hard. I struggled with pushing myself too hard and not having the work-life boundaries I need to last long-term. Take your time off, take your sick leave. Turn your phone off (or at least mute work people) after hours. If you can keep from adding any work apps to your phone, do. If they try to give you more work than you can do in a reasonable work week, tell them that. "I'm not able to get x done with y and z, so I'm going to prioritize y and z unless you tell me you'd like me to do something else." And don't be afraid to look for a new job if this one is going to burn you out.

(also AskAManager.org is a great resource for finding ways to advocate for yourself in the workplace. Social workers deserve better than the field gives them. You don't have to put up with it.)

[cluelesssocialworker]

I really like your issue of the week posts! You seem really thoughtful.

Thank you! I haven’t done many lately because they take a lot of time, and between work and grad school and other real life obligations, time is something I’m short of. I hope to do more in the future, though!

[cluelesssocialworker]

I JUST discovered your blog and I'm planning on majoring in social work this fall... your blog is honestly going to help me so much in the years to come! So thank you so much for creating this.

I’m so glad! I wish you luck with your studies, and I’m glad you think my blog will be helpful to you!

[cluelesssocialworker]

I am thinking of doing a goal setting activity with adults. I thought of Daruma dolls, but I figure that it too short. Can you please help me brainstorm a group activity for goals

Hello friend!

Unfortunately, I don’t work with adults, and I never have, so I’m not sure what would be helpful to you. For the teens I work with, when we’re talking about setting goals, I usually pull up scenarios they care about (a class, sports, art, etc.) and go step-by-step through what a goal would look like and how they would achieve it. I’m sorry, I don’t think that’s a very helpful answer! I’m sure if you do a little google research on goal setting activities with whatever kind of adult population you work with, it can give you some ideas!

[cluelesssocialworker]

Thank you so much for your response. I've always been interested in child welfare and I actually do live where I thought there was a pretty good opportunity for jobs like that, I think it's the lack of experience and maybe because I've only been submitting the resumes and not contacting people. I've been looking on career builder, and indeed, and non profit websites that we were referred to in school. Maybe I could contact my old professors, it just seems a little embarrassing haha but at this

(pt 2): At this point I’ll try anything. Someone told me to look into temp jobs or paid internships which was good advice but so far I don’t know how to find anything like that online really. I’ll just have to work harder I suppose. Thank you for the help

Does your school host, or advertise job fairs? Or maybe your social work department? You could also check with the social work departments of other local schools, they may have information on job fairs, or job connections? Off the top of my head, other places you could check: State government website (just google (state) government jobs, should be easy to find!). Places like the Department of Human Services/Department of Children’s Services tend to post exclusively on their own website. Youth Villages and Catholic Charities are two child welfare organizations I know off the top of my head that are nation-wide, so they might be in your area. You can also check out the YWCA, they don’t specifically do children, but they work with women, so you may find some overlap. You can look for [city/town/county] Children’s and Families Services which is pretty common, and not always connected to DCS, depending on where you live.

When you are looking for temp/part-time positions, look for the key phrase “PRN,” which means basically part-time or as-needed. (You may be thinking “no, duh” but I didn’t know what it meant until after I got my job, haha.) Look at county school websites, because while they typically take an MSW for a school counselor or social worker, you may be able to find positions in a family resource center or support center that you would qualify for.

You could even look for positions in day cares or after school care organizations? May not be exactly what you’re looking for, but it would give you experience!

Again, I wish you the best of luck! It sucks to be in the situation you’re in, and I hope that while you’re looking, your stress level is manageable, and I hope you find something soon!

ETA: If you’re looking to/willing to work for a faith-based organization, Bethany Christian Services is also nation-wide.

These website might also give you some ideas: http://www.childrensrights.org/our-mission/our-partners/child-welfare-organizations/

https://www.childwelfare.gov/organizations/?CWIGFunctionsaction=rols:main.dspROL&rolType=Custom&RS_ID=49

http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/nca-members?field_geofield_distance%5Borigin%5D=&field_geofield_distance%5Bdistance%5D=50

http://www.ala.org/alsc/externalrelationships/organizations

[cluelesssocialworker]

As a follow up to the last ask (but I'm a different anon), which populations are tougher to find employment with? Which populations are easier to find employee than with?

Sorry for the late reply! Life got busy.

This is from my and my friends’ and coworkers’ personal experience, this is not scientifically backed, so please don’t take it as such!

In my experience, the populations that are easier to find a job working with are populations like geriatrics, child welfare (state jobs, like being a foster care caseworker), hospice, and drug and alcohol counseling. Those types of places are always hiring (though that doesn’t mean they retain employees well, or pay well!).

Populations that are harder to find a job working with: child welfare (private jobs), school counseling, human trafficking, and macro political work. Those jobs seem to be a) less common or b) more quickly picked up.

It’s also easier to find a job in more urban areas, and harder to find a job in more rural areas. It doesn’t mean it’s impossible, it doesn’t mean that you specifically will have a hard time finding a job in a certain area, and your particular area may have different populations that are easier to find jobs with than what I’ve posted here. (Though I think geriatric care is pretty much nation-wide a big deal right now).

[cluelesssocialworker]

I'm a recent bsw grad and can't find employment. I need advice and encouragement ! How did you get where you are now?

Hi! Congrats on  your graduation–that’s hard work!

I’m sorry you’re having a tough time finding a job. That can be a really sucky, anxious place to be. I was really lucky in my situation; I got a job at the place I was doing my senior field with. I managed to get it by nagging the director for an interview, probably more than I should have! I had the staff I was working with advocating for me to get hired, and about every week I would ask the director if he had received my application, and if he was willing to give me an interview, or if he was considering me. Honestly, that’s how I’ve gotten all my jobs so far: being persistent in calling back.

My typical routine when applying for a job goes like this: Turn in online application. Call/email/or go in person to see the hiring manager, introduce myself as a recent applicant, give them my name, number and resume. If I haven’t heard back in three weeks, I call to check on the status of my application. Then I call every week after that until they either offer me an interview or tell me they aren’t interested. (My dad, who does interviewing for his company, confirms that when it comes to jobs, the squeaky wheel is definitely more likely to get the interview.) Once I’ve had an interview, I send a letter or an email thanking them for their time, stating again that I am excited about the opportunity to work with them, and giving my name and contact info again if they need anything else.

Do you mind if I ask what population you want to work with? It’s easier to get a job with some populations than others. It can also depend on your location and if you’re willing/able to move for a job. If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to casts your job search very, very wide! Apply for all sorts, apply for sorta-kinda social work jobs (like working as an administrative assistant in a nonprofit, or as a help staff at a daycare or hospice) that would give you some kind of experience related to the field you’re interested in. Pull in contacts from your school–do they have a career or alumni center that could give you some help, point you in the right direction, or connect you to someone who could be helpful? Contact old professors you think might be helpful, or if you knew any older grads who are working in the field and may be able to put in a good word for you.

When you’re looking for a job, I know it can be so easy to get discouraged. But keep your head up, and take care of yourself! Know that you are a skilled, wonderful worker, and when you do find a job, they will be so lucky to have you. I wish you the best of luck!

[cluelesssocialworker]

in my experience, us direct support workers spend TENS AND TENS OF TIMES more time with these clients than literally anyone else. we kinda actually DO KNOW what we're talking about. not to mention, we CARE about our individuals and we ACTUALLY ARE ADVOCATING FOR THEM!!!! no one tends to give af about what we have to say cuz we're just entry level staff so we should prolly stfu AMIRITE???? - love a Direct Support Professional who's had the shit beaten out of her @ work 3x so far

Hi friend! I am so sorry, I don’t know how long this has been sitting in my inbox–for some reason Tumblr has decided it doesn’t want to notify me when someone sends me an ask.

I’m sorry you’ve been having such a rough time at work! And yes, it can be so, so frustrating to a direct-care worker dealing with people in management who have either never done direct care, or who have forgotten what it’s like to be in direct care. It can be ridiculous and obnoxious and tear-your-hair-out frustrating. I’ve been there, friend, so many times!

[cluelesssocialworker]

Reading about abusive men and the way they think. Very unsettling and an incredible book so far. Here are my very professional notes.

[cluelesssocialworker]

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit on behalf on people being detained at U.S. airports with valid visas to enter the country. If you are financially able, please donate to the ACLU to help support these Muslim refugees.

https://action.aclu.org/donate-aclu?ms=web_horiz_nav_hp

[cluelesssocialworker]

[cluelesssocialworker]

i’m seeing a lot of people reblogging suicide hotlines and this is just a reminder that this is a suicide help line that works like a text-based instant messenger for people who may need to talk to someone but have trouble/are uncomfortable making phone calls

[cluelesssocialworker]

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.”

- Carrie Fisher

[cluelesssocialworker]

Trying to do “therapeutic listening” when you’re really tired

[cluelesssocialworker]

Walking into a crisis first-thing in the morning

[cluelesssocialworker]

When your team is starting to perform really well, and things are going smoothly...then everyone decides to quit all at once