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Learning Outcomes
By completing this module, you will be able to:
- Evaluate the relationship between social work ethics and job searches/applications.
- Identify the difference between basic and preferred qualifications in employment postings.
- List at list three methods to increase the likelihood of a job interview.
- Determine at least three jobs that fit strengths, skills, and other qualifications.
Foundational ethical principles and standards
The National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics includes competence and integrity in its ethical values, which apply to the process of seeking, applying for, and finding a job. Each social worker must consider the roles and responsibilities of a job and its match with personal traits, professional skills and knowledge, and areas for growth and development.
Competence is “Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise” (NASW Code of Ethics, 2017). At the BSW level, one area of competence is case management. The social work curriculum prepares alumni for this role, which is quite common in communities. Interviewing, assessment, and intervention skills taught in courses then practiced in internships help alumni gain the skills needed for effective and ethical practice.
What BSW programs don’t teach is mental health interventions related to clinical social work. If a person with a BSW applied for a clinical mental health job (which requires an MSW degree), that person is seeking a job which is outside his/her/their area of competence. This is directly related to the practice standard, “4.01 (a) Social workers should accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence.”
Integrity is “Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner” (NASW Code of Ethics, 2017). The application of this value can be seen in what a person includes in a job application and whether it provides an accurate view of the person. Some people may want to leave a job out of a resume because of a poor experience with a supervisor and perhaps being terminated. Doing so would provide an incomplete picture of the person’s experience and work history, and not reflect integrity.
Social Work practice standards guide social workers to continue to learn, which is reflected in the policies of the Minnesota Board of Social Work and other states. Minnesota requires a social worker to complete continuing education hours every two years in order to maintain the license.
Searching for a job
When searching for a job, you might begin with the National Association of Social Work Job Center. While this website includes jobs from across the United States, you can quickly focus in on a specific state. You can search by job, geographic area, degree, and many other search criteria.
A similar job search website is Minnesota Merit System Careers. This website posts careers in county and state governmental positions, such as those that meet Title IV-E requirements.
When looking at a job, note the difference between the minimum qualifications and those that are preferred. Basic requirements are those that an applicant MUST have to be hired for the position. Preferred qualifications are those which are more ideal for the position, and tend to increase a person’s chance for moving forward into an interview. Some social work positions require the BSW (which increases the applicant pool) but then prefer an MSW or additional years of experience. Not all jobs have preferred qualifications.
Applying for a job
Once you determine which jobs you’ll want to apply for, take time to consider what is needed for the application process, including the interview. NASW Career Center Tips and Tools offers specific ideas for how to get then grow in a job. While most jobs offer on-the-job training, you will need to demonstrate during the interview process that you can do the basic requirements of the job in the first week. This means communicating your strengths and abilities in a way that will help you stand out.
Your resume is an important part of the application process. Creating a resume doesn’t have to be difficult, as there are many templates in Word and other programs. Determining what to put in your resume is more difficult. Generally, resumes include your career-related goals and three content sections: education, work history, and skills and abilities. Your campus likely has a career center that provides resume-writing services, and can provide a great start. You might begin with 10 Essential Tips for Writing Your Social Work Resume.
The New Social Worker Career Coach is a great website for useful tips. Check out Prepare for the Questions They’ll Ask at Your Social Work Interview and Minimizing Stress of a Job Search during COVID-19.
Activities
Go to one of the job centers listed. Search for a job that you’re interested in applying for, then determine:
- What are the basic requirements for the job?
- What are the preferred requirements?
- What skills, knowledge, and abilities do you have related to this job? Choose three and review your resume – are they reflected in what you’ve included there?
- What are the questions you would likely be asked at the interview? How would you respond? What examples would you provide of the skills, knowledge, and/or abilities that you identified in Question 3?
