Hello Dear Readers,
As I write this post, I am sitting at home enjoying some much deserved vacation. I hope during the holiday season you are able to get a relaxing break as well!
It felt like I really needed this time off and in the weeks leading up to it, I found myself counting down the days. It's probably because I've been giving a bit too much of myself to work lately. I've been finding that clients' situations are becoming increasingly complex and in my attempt to do all I can to assist them, my buckets' become a little empty. And truthfully, the last year has passed by so quickly that I am scarcely able to grasp if I accomplished any of my personal or professional goals. So I decided during my vacation I'm going to re-evaluate what I want to achieve for next year.
I know the holidays can be a hard time for social workers because we never have down times, compared to some other professions. Then there are the increased family and social pressures to host and/or attend events. Or perhaps you find this an isolating time. Either way, it's like we could use a holiday from the holidays! But, I'm hoping in between the busyness you'll get the opportunity to reflect on all the good you've done in the past year. And, if there's a little time left, you can always think of ways to fill your bucket for year!
As Always,
Patti
Tuesday 27 December 2016
Sunday 13 November 2016
Nutrition and the Social Worker
Hello My Dear Readers,
I am going to talk about a topic that has been close to my heart for the last few years - eating healthier.
Social workers, like many in the helping professions have a lot of responsibility heaped onto them. I'm talking tight timelines, large caseloads and severe repercussions for making mistakes. Sound familiar? So oftentimes, eating healthy gets pushed onto the backburner while quick options take its place.
Each one of us has probably become a victim to this diet of disaster at one time or another. It hit me for sure in my first year as a social worker as I would hit up a drive-thru most nights after work. I just did not have the energy to make my own meals at the end of the day. Or perhaps you've started using unhealthy food as a reward. I just made it through a stressful meeting with a difficult client so I deserve a treat - like a tasty donut!
In the beginning you may not feel the consequences of having a unbalanced diet, but trust me, you eventually will. A lack of energy, having a hard time sleeping, feeling blah etc. will creep up on you. Then it will hit you that something has to change because you can't keep on going like this. Now comes the hard part, changing your eating routine. I recommend starting small. Try making one small change and once you accomplish it, move onto the next goal on your journey to eating better. It may take weeks or months but you will feel a positive difference. But just remember, don't expect to eat perfectly because you'll only be setting yourself up to fail. There will be some treats that you may never be able to eliminate from your diet, however, if you are eating healthy more often than not than what an achievement!
But you can't make the change unless you truly want it. You can't do it for others because if that's your reason you'll never stick with it. Being a social worker can take up a lot of personal energy but don't forget, eating healthy is a sure way to keep you fighting the good fight!
As Always,
Patti
I am going to talk about a topic that has been close to my heart for the last few years - eating healthier.
Social workers, like many in the helping professions have a lot of responsibility heaped onto them. I'm talking tight timelines, large caseloads and severe repercussions for making mistakes. Sound familiar? So oftentimes, eating healthy gets pushed onto the backburner while quick options take its place.
Each one of us has probably become a victim to this diet of disaster at one time or another. It hit me for sure in my first year as a social worker as I would hit up a drive-thru most nights after work. I just did not have the energy to make my own meals at the end of the day. Or perhaps you've started using unhealthy food as a reward. I just made it through a stressful meeting with a difficult client so I deserve a treat - like a tasty donut!
In the beginning you may not feel the consequences of having a unbalanced diet, but trust me, you eventually will. A lack of energy, having a hard time sleeping, feeling blah etc. will creep up on you. Then it will hit you that something has to change because you can't keep on going like this. Now comes the hard part, changing your eating routine. I recommend starting small. Try making one small change and once you accomplish it, move onto the next goal on your journey to eating better. It may take weeks or months but you will feel a positive difference. But just remember, don't expect to eat perfectly because you'll only be setting yourself up to fail. There will be some treats that you may never be able to eliminate from your diet, however, if you are eating healthy more often than not than what an achievement!
But you can't make the change unless you truly want it. You can't do it for others because if that's your reason you'll never stick with it. Being a social worker can take up a lot of personal energy but don't forget, eating healthy is a sure way to keep you fighting the good fight!
As Always,
Patti
Monday 10 October 2016
The Overqualified Social Worker
Hi Dear Readers,
I can't believe how quickly summer has passed by. And now winter feels firmly around the corner!
The topic for this month is especially relevant in a turbulent economy. You may have been let go from a mid or senior level social work position and are now forced to take a job that you would have had earlier in your career. Or perhaps you are transitioning from one area of social work to another and have to start again at the bottom to gain experience. Then there is the group who moved into management but miss the front line or just in general want a less stressful social work job. However, I would argue that all social work jobs carry with them some form of pressure. Nonetheless, you are at a fork in the road in your career, you know what direction you want to go in but you don't know how to get there.
My first piece of advice is to use your network and online job banks to learn about any social work jobs that may be of interest. Then research as much as you can about the role, both officially through the job ad and unofficially from people who work for that agency or do the same job elsewhere. If you believe it meets your requirements then it's time to do some hardcore work on your cover letter or resume. You may have to take off higher level degrees, remove some of your first jobs which shows a longer work history, or downplay the responsibilities you've had in your recent positions. From the human resources advice I have read online, many recommend stating in your cover letter why you are applying for a job which you are clearly overqualified for (i.e. because you want greater work-life balance). However, there could be some resistance from friends, family or potential hiring managers since traditional careers involve moving up the ladder, not down. But if this is something you've decided on then don't let others dissuade you (unless of course you need a higher paying social work job to pay all your bills!).
As an experienced Social Worker my guess is you know by now what roles are not a good fit for you. So if you feel stuck in a higher paying position you don't like I suggest taking a leap outside your comfort zone by trying a social work job which may offer you less financially but will give you more personal satisfaction. And for those of you who feel forced to take a lower qualified social work job due to circumstances outside your control, I'm sorry that your career path has not been able to match your aspirations and goals.
As Always,
Patti
I can't believe how quickly summer has passed by. And now winter feels firmly around the corner!
The topic for this month is especially relevant in a turbulent economy. You may have been let go from a mid or senior level social work position and are now forced to take a job that you would have had earlier in your career. Or perhaps you are transitioning from one area of social work to another and have to start again at the bottom to gain experience. Then there is the group who moved into management but miss the front line or just in general want a less stressful social work job. However, I would argue that all social work jobs carry with them some form of pressure. Nonetheless, you are at a fork in the road in your career, you know what direction you want to go in but you don't know how to get there.
My first piece of advice is to use your network and online job banks to learn about any social work jobs that may be of interest. Then research as much as you can about the role, both officially through the job ad and unofficially from people who work for that agency or do the same job elsewhere. If you believe it meets your requirements then it's time to do some hardcore work on your cover letter or resume. You may have to take off higher level degrees, remove some of your first jobs which shows a longer work history, or downplay the responsibilities you've had in your recent positions. From the human resources advice I have read online, many recommend stating in your cover letter why you are applying for a job which you are clearly overqualified for (i.e. because you want greater work-life balance). However, there could be some resistance from friends, family or potential hiring managers since traditional careers involve moving up the ladder, not down. But if this is something you've decided on then don't let others dissuade you (unless of course you need a higher paying social work job to pay all your bills!).
As an experienced Social Worker my guess is you know by now what roles are not a good fit for you. So if you feel stuck in a higher paying position you don't like I suggest taking a leap outside your comfort zone by trying a social work job which may offer you less financially but will give you more personal satisfaction. And for those of you who feel forced to take a lower qualified social work job due to circumstances outside your control, I'm sorry that your career path has not been able to match your aspirations and goals.
As Always,
Patti
Monday 22 August 2016
The Mediocre Social Worker
Hi Dear Readers,
Today I want to talk about a dirty little secret in the social work profession. Not all of us are die hards - not all of us strive to give our best to our agency and our clients.
It's sad to see a social worker only put in the barest amount of effort required, or even worse, fall short of displaying completely competent practice. I am talking about the social workers where you have to help pick up their slack, but which the quality of their work is not quite negligible. These are the in-betweeners who on the one hand are not likely to be fired and on the other hand are not going to be up for any employee of the year awards.
It can be frustrating for several reasons to have such a social worker in your office. Here is my list of why:
Today I want to talk about a dirty little secret in the social work profession. Not all of us are die hards - not all of us strive to give our best to our agency and our clients.
It's sad to see a social worker only put in the barest amount of effort required, or even worse, fall short of displaying completely competent practice. I am talking about the social workers where you have to help pick up their slack, but which the quality of their work is not quite negligible. These are the in-betweeners who on the one hand are not likely to be fired and on the other hand are not going to be up for any employee of the year awards.
It can be frustrating for several reasons to have such a social worker in your office. Here is my list of why:
- Clients may ask you for assistance before their own worker because they are sure you will be able to help them
- Since the social worker is less committed to their work, they do not feel the same weight of responsibility that the rest of us do
- The social worker is paid the same as their co-workers, even though they do not provide high quality work
- The mistakes they make get reflected on the whole agency and it is often up to the other social workers to rectify them
Now I want to go into the reasons why a social worker might be mediocre:
- They are in the wrong profession
- They are in the right field but the position itself is a bad fit
- They are experiencing ongoing personal issues which are impacting their performance
- They were not given proper training when they started their job
- They are not being provided with regular, adequate supervision
It's inevitable that each of us will make a mistake or have an off-day. However, that does not make us mediocre social workers. It's displaying sub-par work everyday that makes a social worker one.
If you are experiencing this issue in your office, I recommend going to management with your concerns as they might not be aware of the dissension it's causing. Or, if they have already noticed, then this will be a not so subtle reminder that it still needs to be addressed.
And if in reading this post, you recognize yourself as a mediocre social worker, I highly recommend you delve into the reasons why this is so. It may take some deep soul searching and the support of your co-workers, management or a professional to help you but it will be worth rectifying it. You'll likely feel happier and have better professional relationships with your co-workers and clients as a result.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday 31 July 2016
The Underqualified Social Worker
Hi Readers,
Being underqualified is a tough hurdle to overcome, and it effects not only newly minted social workers but seasoned ones as well. You may only have experience in a particular area and you are looking to branch out. Social workers use many of the same skills despite the different fields we occupy but having a perspective employer recognize that can be a challenge.
While pursing your social work education, volunteering and/or having a part time job in your area of interest can be a great way of getting a foot in the door. Your employer may keep you in mind when a future posting comes up because they already know your personality and work ethic. The exposure to social work you gained through your practicum is also an advantage that should be highlighted on your resume.
However, for those of us in mid-career, we face our own particular obstacles when it comes to finding a new social work job. Our years of experience can work against us - especially if we have only worked for a couple of agencies or have held the same position for several years. We feel like it's time to move on but to what? Many job descriptions request experience in specific areas that we don't have, or require certification in treatment methods that we have never obtained because it wasn't applicable in our line of work. So what do we do next?
I wish there was an easy answer I could give, but as you can already guess, it's complicated. I would say to first start doing some soul searching to decide what you want your ultimate career goal to be. Then you need to plan out the incremental steps to get there. It may result in having to take additional schooling, a pay cut or you might have to move. Are you prepared for that? How much is your dream job worth? Plus, if you are already feeling very frustrated at your current job then I'm guessing the only thought you're having right now is I NEED TO GET OUT! That's the exhaustion and burnout talking. But be careful when taking a new job as you don't want to move into an even worse situation. On the other hand (and I hate to say this), to get to a job you're underqualified for now, you might have to take other jobs you don't like in order to gain the experience you need. It sounds counterproductive, I know, but I am quickly learning how much sacrifice it takes for a person to move beyond their current situation.
Careers paths are not always easy as it takes time to get where you want to be. You may look at others who seem so happy and successful, but I assure you, there is something they are struggling with in their position. Maybe they don't like the responsibility of being a supervisor but they don't know how to move down the ladder, or they have been in their current job so long that they don't feel they can learn something new, or they are in a lower level position and want to move up but there are no mid-level positions at their agency. The challenges can seem endless and it can be painful when you keep trying to reach your dream job, which for some reason or another it keeps falling through your grasp.
I don't know what I can say to make you feel better because each situation is unique. However, at least you have a goal and are trying to improve your work situation. Some people just end up giving in in the end. And we have all met people like that - who are no fun to be around! I'd say talk to close family members and friends if you feel they can give you useful advice. There are also career specialists who can give you unbiased information. Whatever your case, I would stay start thinking now about what you want your future job to look like since it will take a lot of soul searching, researching and hard work to get there. However, if you are the type that just goes with the flow and is happy wherever they end up, consider yourself lucky that you don't get to experience the career angst that many of us go through!
As Always,
Patti
Being underqualified is a tough hurdle to overcome, and it effects not only newly minted social workers but seasoned ones as well. You may only have experience in a particular area and you are looking to branch out. Social workers use many of the same skills despite the different fields we occupy but having a perspective employer recognize that can be a challenge.
While pursing your social work education, volunteering and/or having a part time job in your area of interest can be a great way of getting a foot in the door. Your employer may keep you in mind when a future posting comes up because they already know your personality and work ethic. The exposure to social work you gained through your practicum is also an advantage that should be highlighted on your resume.
However, for those of us in mid-career, we face our own particular obstacles when it comes to finding a new social work job. Our years of experience can work against us - especially if we have only worked for a couple of agencies or have held the same position for several years. We feel like it's time to move on but to what? Many job descriptions request experience in specific areas that we don't have, or require certification in treatment methods that we have never obtained because it wasn't applicable in our line of work. So what do we do next?
I wish there was an easy answer I could give, but as you can already guess, it's complicated. I would say to first start doing some soul searching to decide what you want your ultimate career goal to be. Then you need to plan out the incremental steps to get there. It may result in having to take additional schooling, a pay cut or you might have to move. Are you prepared for that? How much is your dream job worth? Plus, if you are already feeling very frustrated at your current job then I'm guessing the only thought you're having right now is I NEED TO GET OUT! That's the exhaustion and burnout talking. But be careful when taking a new job as you don't want to move into an even worse situation. On the other hand (and I hate to say this), to get to a job you're underqualified for now, you might have to take other jobs you don't like in order to gain the experience you need. It sounds counterproductive, I know, but I am quickly learning how much sacrifice it takes for a person to move beyond their current situation.
Careers paths are not always easy as it takes time to get where you want to be. You may look at others who seem so happy and successful, but I assure you, there is something they are struggling with in their position. Maybe they don't like the responsibility of being a supervisor but they don't know how to move down the ladder, or they have been in their current job so long that they don't feel they can learn something new, or they are in a lower level position and want to move up but there are no mid-level positions at their agency. The challenges can seem endless and it can be painful when you keep trying to reach your dream job, which for some reason or another it keeps falling through your grasp.
I don't know what I can say to make you feel better because each situation is unique. However, at least you have a goal and are trying to improve your work situation. Some people just end up giving in in the end. And we have all met people like that - who are no fun to be around! I'd say talk to close family members and friends if you feel they can give you useful advice. There are also career specialists who can give you unbiased information. Whatever your case, I would stay start thinking now about what you want your future job to look like since it will take a lot of soul searching, researching and hard work to get there. However, if you are the type that just goes with the flow and is happy wherever they end up, consider yourself lucky that you don't get to experience the career angst that many of us go through!
As Always,
Patti
Sunday 19 June 2016
Dreams and the Social Worker Part 2
Hi Dear Readers,
Today I want to talk about connecting with our dreams. They could be personal or professional, easy to obtain or seemingly impossible to acquire. I find dreams to be the core motivators in our lives because if you're not working towards something - anything, you might as well be frozen.
There are a lot of generic dreams out there that everyone is expected to have - travel around the world, keep moving up in your field and so on. And as a Social Work just starting out I bought into a lot of goals that I thought I wanted. But as time passed and I faced more challenges I realized what is most important to me. I want to have supportive people around me and I want to participate in a job where I feel like I am genuinely helping others without it taking too much of a toll on me.
The higher the dreams, the higher the costs but it can be worth it. If your dream is deeply embedded in your soul and you feel a calling to pursue it then I wouldn't let anything get in your way of achieving it. But if you have other significant obligations they should be considered first. You don't want one area of your life to be going great while another is neglected. The key is to try and achieve balance while chasing your dreams.
Personally, there is a dream I have that is going to take several years to accomplish. Knowing that, I do feel a pang of disappointment at having to wait for it but I also know that I will truly appreciate the sacrifice it took to achieve it. Since it's a big goal there are a lot of smaller steps involved but after carefully mapping it out I feel like I've got a good plan.
Not many people know about my dream, just a couple friends and my family. However, I want it to stay that way because it's not a traditional goal and I doubt that those who don't know me very well would truly understand why I am pursing it.
Overall, I know it can be hard when we are caught up with our lives to dream. Many goals we have seem too far away or impossible. And it's true, there are some dreams that we have that we'll likely never accomplish. But there are also reasonable goals we can achieve if we only set our mind to it and not let others or our own negative self-talk dissuade us. We often put ourselves last, being in a helping profession and I know I am guilty of letting years pass without never really moving forward on my dreams. Yet, I am finally answering the call and I hope that some day dear reader, you too will grab hold to a long neglected dream.
As Always,
Patti
Today I want to talk about connecting with our dreams. They could be personal or professional, easy to obtain or seemingly impossible to acquire. I find dreams to be the core motivators in our lives because if you're not working towards something - anything, you might as well be frozen.
There are a lot of generic dreams out there that everyone is expected to have - travel around the world, keep moving up in your field and so on. And as a Social Work just starting out I bought into a lot of goals that I thought I wanted. But as time passed and I faced more challenges I realized what is most important to me. I want to have supportive people around me and I want to participate in a job where I feel like I am genuinely helping others without it taking too much of a toll on me.
The higher the dreams, the higher the costs but it can be worth it. If your dream is deeply embedded in your soul and you feel a calling to pursue it then I wouldn't let anything get in your way of achieving it. But if you have other significant obligations they should be considered first. You don't want one area of your life to be going great while another is neglected. The key is to try and achieve balance while chasing your dreams.
Personally, there is a dream I have that is going to take several years to accomplish. Knowing that, I do feel a pang of disappointment at having to wait for it but I also know that I will truly appreciate the sacrifice it took to achieve it. Since it's a big goal there are a lot of smaller steps involved but after carefully mapping it out I feel like I've got a good plan.
Not many people know about my dream, just a couple friends and my family. However, I want it to stay that way because it's not a traditional goal and I doubt that those who don't know me very well would truly understand why I am pursing it.
Overall, I know it can be hard when we are caught up with our lives to dream. Many goals we have seem too far away or impossible. And it's true, there are some dreams that we have that we'll likely never accomplish. But there are also reasonable goals we can achieve if we only set our mind to it and not let others or our own negative self-talk dissuade us. We often put ourselves last, being in a helping profession and I know I am guilty of letting years pass without never really moving forward on my dreams. Yet, I am finally answering the call and I hope that some day dear reader, you too will grab hold to a long neglected dream.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday 1 May 2016
Long Overdue Update
Hi Everyone,
I am sorry it's taken me this long to update but I thought my blog was lost! However, I got a new computer and discovered I still have access to it.
For those of you who are curious, I am still in the same job but I admit it has has gotten easier. It could be because self-care has become a more central part of my life. I am ensuring I take care of myself first and I have been successful at letting the little things go, especially at work. Also, at this point I know the job pretty well so it brings confidence. However, recently I have applied for new jobs that are less stressful and some which involve making a bit less pay but I am alright with that. I figured out the dollar amount I need to make to pay all my bills and save for retirement so as long as I stay above that number I know I will be alright!
I think what has also helped me is learning to stand up for myself, both with the people I work with and my clients. I am becoming more honest and saying what I feel which isn't always easy but I believe others appreciate it. Also, I am eating better, exercising several times a week and I have learnt to take time for myself in the evenings and on weekends. I say "no" a lot more to things that drain my energy and it's been a learn as I go process. I had dreams for myself before I started my first social work job and I have had to accept many are not going to happen - either because the goals were not realistic or they don't really fit with who I have become. I doubt I am going to be some social work super achiever. I can't juggle a lot of things at once and when it comes to a family and career I seriously doubt I could handle both, even though many do. But that's ok because I am living life how I want to and I am as close to achieving balance as I can. It's taken a lot of hard work to get to that point and I have wanted to throw in the towel about a hundred times but I am glad I stuck in there. It's made me a confident, more knowledgeable social worker. It also reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a client who was interested in becoming a social worker. I told them that it can be a challenge to help others when they don't want it but for those you do get to help it's rewarding. Then I finished off by saying that it gets easier over time, which is what I wish I had been told when I was starting out.
I will definitely ensure I post more often when I have interesting ideas. I also appreciate any comments given.
As Always,
Patti
I am sorry it's taken me this long to update but I thought my blog was lost! However, I got a new computer and discovered I still have access to it.
For those of you who are curious, I am still in the same job but I admit it has has gotten easier. It could be because self-care has become a more central part of my life. I am ensuring I take care of myself first and I have been successful at letting the little things go, especially at work. Also, at this point I know the job pretty well so it brings confidence. However, recently I have applied for new jobs that are less stressful and some which involve making a bit less pay but I am alright with that. I figured out the dollar amount I need to make to pay all my bills and save for retirement so as long as I stay above that number I know I will be alright!
I think what has also helped me is learning to stand up for myself, both with the people I work with and my clients. I am becoming more honest and saying what I feel which isn't always easy but I believe others appreciate it. Also, I am eating better, exercising several times a week and I have learnt to take time for myself in the evenings and on weekends. I say "no" a lot more to things that drain my energy and it's been a learn as I go process. I had dreams for myself before I started my first social work job and I have had to accept many are not going to happen - either because the goals were not realistic or they don't really fit with who I have become. I doubt I am going to be some social work super achiever. I can't juggle a lot of things at once and when it comes to a family and career I seriously doubt I could handle both, even though many do. But that's ok because I am living life how I want to and I am as close to achieving balance as I can. It's taken a lot of hard work to get to that point and I have wanted to throw in the towel about a hundred times but I am glad I stuck in there. It's made me a confident, more knowledgeable social worker. It also reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a client who was interested in becoming a social worker. I told them that it can be a challenge to help others when they don't want it but for those you do get to help it's rewarding. Then I finished off by saying that it gets easier over time, which is what I wish I had been told when I was starting out.
I will definitely ensure I post more often when I have interesting ideas. I also appreciate any comments given.
As Always,
Patti
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