5 Steps to Prepare for Graduating in Social Work
-
Upload
therapist-development-center -
Category
Career
-
view
171 -
download
0
description
Transcript of 5 Steps to Prepare for Graduating in Social Work
5 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR GRADUATING IN
SOCIAL WORK
STEP 1
Always write down your goals.
“Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.”
THE FIVE YEAR PLAN
– WRITE DOWN
YOUR GOALS
Your plan should include:•A harmonious mix of what is important outside of your career as well.
•It is always important to consider how personal life will mesh with the career side of things as well.
•There is always the option of getting help with creating your five year plan.
This will be your guide to your
future
The goals should outline the kind
of path you see your self on
Take some time to identify what is
important for you to accomplish,
start with the simple steps like:
Getting licensed
Becoming a supervisor
Making a specific amount
of money
Etc.
STEP 2
Know that Your First Job Won’t Be Your Last Job
Think of it as mainly a learning experience
YOU WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF IN
THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF YOUR CAREER THAN AT
ALMOST ANY OTHER TIME
This is the time to learn
your skills, likes and
dislikes.
What environment do
you like to work in?
Take notes on the kind
of leadership that drives
you and is supportive
rather than punitive.
STEP 3
•Never Stop
Learning
-The journey of
learning has just
begun
ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND…
- School is just the tip of the iceberg
- You will learn more through hands on, so
go ahead and challenge yourself
- Pick a topic in your emphasis and
research it with other of the same interests
- Understand that taking on more cases, will
only give you more experience
STEP 4
Get Licensed!
WHY DO YOU NEED
YOUR LICENSE?
QUESTIONS TO ASK TO
GET THE PROCESS
STARTED
You have to have your
license in order to
advance to supervision
More and more jobs
require it before even
hiring
It can mean a pay
increase - upwards of
20% in most states
You will have more
opportunity
What is required to get started?
How many hours of clinical work are necessary?
How many hours of supervision are needed?
Any prerequisites necessary?
In order to accrue numbers, do you have first become an intern?
STEP 5
Start Networking
NETWORKING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
This should be an intermediate step in your 5 year plan
If you are just graduating, take advantage of the relationships you have developed over the years –make a list of 10 people to stay in touch with
Keep your network diverse – you don’t want to compete with fellow social workers
Try to have everyone in your list add an additional person each month to your networking list
Remember, if people need a social worker, they will want someone they know
RECAP
1. Write down your goals – 5 year plan
2. Remember your first job won’t be your last
3. Never stop learning
4. Get licensed
Visit Therapist Development Center here for
more information on state requirements
5. Networking is the key to your success