Social Work Month 2024 Day 20
Social Work Tip of the Day: Social work your social work career
Social Work Month 2024 Theme: Empowering Social Workers!
The opportunities to make money and make an impact in the social work profession are vast, however, both new and seasoned social workers often feel confusion and limitations about how to build a long-term successful social work career.
Why is this so prevalent?
It’s prevalent because of the indoctrination we received in the classroom and in our field placements. It’s prevalent because our first supervisors and coworkers spread the same myths and misconceptions. It’s prevalent because the digital social work support groups we’ve joined perpetuate the same indoctrination from different places all over the country. It’s prevalent because we’ve heard it so often and witnessed it so frequently that collectively we have accepted it as truth.
Indoctrination in social work looks like:
- We’re in it for the income and not the outcome.
- Your career options are limited if you don’t get your license.
- You must work outside of the profession if you want to make real money.
- Social work is exhausting but rewarding.
- Promotion of therapy and child welfare as “real” social work”.
- The Veteran’s Administration is the main federal agency that hires social workers.
It doesn’t have to be this way! I REJECT the indoctrination.
My social work career coaching framework:
- Define social work career success on your own terms
- Social workers do not take a vow of poverty
- Social work skills are high-income skills
- Social work skills are highly transferable
- Professional burnout is not a rite of passage
Social work is the problem and the solution.
It’s time to social work your social work career.
Implement the skills you learned in Introduction to Social Work/Social Work 101 to remove the limitations and advance your social work career.
- Research is an essential social work skill. It’s time to do more intentional career research.
- Assessment is an essential social work skill. It’s time to take inventory of your accomplishments, skills, and talents.
- Resource development is an essential social work skill. It’s time to access appropriate career resources.
- Advocacy is an essential social work skill. It’s time to advocate for yourself and your progression in your career.
- Collaboration is an essential social work skill. it’s time to connect with social workers who are achieving success in the ways that speak to you.
I am committed to sharing my social work journey and offering insight and information to help other social workers at every stage of their career build a long-term, successful career that they love and on their own terms.
Set up a 20-minute consultation and let’s chat about how I can support you on your social work career journey.
Nicki Sanders, MSW, is committed to career development, professional development, and organizational development. As Founder and CEO of Nicki Sanders Leadership Consulting, her mission is simple – to eliminate toxic workplaces by developing skilled, empathetic, and goal-oriented leaders who have the vision, support, and resources to create a culture where business prospers, and employees thrive individually and collectively. Nicki supports high-performing women of color in social work leadership in developing careers that feed their hearts, minds, and wallets. She has an extensive background in nonprofit management leading high-functioning, multi-disciplinary teams, volunteer recruitment and retention, and social impact programming. Nicki is an accomplished professor, coach, trainer, and group facilitator who has combined her gift for authentic relationships, Master of Social Work degree, and over 20 years of diverse work experience to create a life and career aligned with her values and purpose. She is a lover of nature, cupcakes, travel, and 80’s hip hop and R&B music.
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