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
Sunday, 31 July 2016
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
Saturday, 19 July 2014
Following Your Dreams
Hello Readers,
The summer has been passing by so quickly that I have not written as often as I would have liked to. But I am hoping to make up for it with this post.
Sometimes as Social Workers we focus so much on the hopes and dreams of others that we often forget about what inspires us in our own lives. We may have goals for ourselves but only see them as a fixed destination and not a journey. I also don't believe we should consider our dreams as solitary to one specific area of our lives. Our dreams can have a big impact on our family life, careers and so on.
Few Social Workers I have met who have been in the field for a long time talk about their dreams (other then the obvious retirement)! It's as if having big goals for your life is seen as superior or lofty to others. Or maybe your co-workers are jealous that you have actually been able to identify goals for yourself. As Social Workers we are rarely encouraged to dream, think outside the box and be creative (at least in the work environments I have been in). It's like your whole existence must be about your job.
Fighting the status quo has always been my stance/curse. I am always bringing forward new ideas to do things differently professionally, and personally I have rarely followed the norm. It just isn't in my blood. However, I feel as though I am at a crossroads in my life in taking the traditional path or the road less travelled. Opportunities are opening up to me that I could so easily take but I doubt they would make me happy. Yet, there are also opportunities/dreams that come with some risk and which I will have to battle hard for but they will provide me with a great sense of accomplishment once achieved.
I wish goals and dreams came with a handbook. What do you do when you have several and you don't know which one should be the priority? When do you know that you should let go of a dream when you're fairly certain you're not going to be successful at it? As Social Workers we can be cheerleaders inspiring those around us to reach for their dreams but we can't forget to ask ourselves what we really want in life and how we are going to support ourselves enough to achieve it.
As Always,
Patti
The summer has been passing by so quickly that I have not written as often as I would have liked to. But I am hoping to make up for it with this post.
Sometimes as Social Workers we focus so much on the hopes and dreams of others that we often forget about what inspires us in our own lives. We may have goals for ourselves but only see them as a fixed destination and not a journey. I also don't believe we should consider our dreams as solitary to one specific area of our lives. Our dreams can have a big impact on our family life, careers and so on.
Few Social Workers I have met who have been in the field for a long time talk about their dreams (other then the obvious retirement)! It's as if having big goals for your life is seen as superior or lofty to others. Or maybe your co-workers are jealous that you have actually been able to identify goals for yourself. As Social Workers we are rarely encouraged to dream, think outside the box and be creative (at least in the work environments I have been in). It's like your whole existence must be about your job.
Fighting the status quo has always been my stance/curse. I am always bringing forward new ideas to do things differently professionally, and personally I have rarely followed the norm. It just isn't in my blood. However, I feel as though I am at a crossroads in my life in taking the traditional path or the road less travelled. Opportunities are opening up to me that I could so easily take but I doubt they would make me happy. Yet, there are also opportunities/dreams that come with some risk and which I will have to battle hard for but they will provide me with a great sense of accomplishment once achieved.
I wish goals and dreams came with a handbook. What do you do when you have several and you don't know which one should be the priority? When do you know that you should let go of a dream when you're fairly certain you're not going to be successful at it? As Social Workers we can be cheerleaders inspiring those around us to reach for their dreams but we can't forget to ask ourselves what we really want in life and how we are going to support ourselves enough to achieve it.
As Always,
Patti
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Social Worker and the City
Hello Dear Readers,
I can't believe how fast time has been moving lately. Work is picking up at an incredible pace and I can only forsee it getting busier in the coming months.
A lot of change is happening with my job and many of them are not for the best. The workload is going to be significantly increasing for both me and my co-workers and I see a lot of overtime in the horizon. Add to that the more unfun aspects of my job which I have had to deal with lately which in total makes for a stressed out social worker!
I know I won't be doing this job forever and that thought gives me some solace. Right now it's the burnout that's creeping in and it's not so much physical but emotional. It's the hard aspects of the job that are starting to weigh me down - the nitty gritty things that all helping professionals have to work with. I am getting tired of dealing with unhappy people and having to be "the tough guy." I am normally a pretty upbeat person and I try and surround myself with positive people. But you don't get that choice when you have to work with angry clients. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy being able to advocate or offer support to clients who need it and it makes me proud when they tell me "thank you." However, all of that gets quickly washed away when I work with someone who is the opposite. I know it is all part of being a social worker, especially one who is working in front line but I can't help but think in the moment "why do I do this to myself?"
So, I have begun working on my exit strategy. I have a firm timeline of when I'll likely be leaving this job. It's not right away which is a good thing since I need the time to plan my next moves. I am going to be ramping up my job searching just to give me an idea of what's out there. I did find an interesting job posted this weekend which at face value looks positive but it does still include some elements of front line social work. So now I am doubting it's fit. And as I've been saying since I moved on from my first social work job, the next one needs to be better - lower caseloads, less stressful etc. And in a way they have all been a bit better than the last, however as my Dad reminds me, they are not much better! So this time I want to start fresh, considering jobs I may have never looked at before to help me break the front line cycle. I am especially investigating paperworky job since writing/paperwork is definitely one of my strengths.
I know that I can use my social work experience and education to do many types of jobs, especially in the organization I work for. I am lucky in that they encourage lateral transfers and promotions but not climbing down the ladder. And to be honest, I am not at the point yet where I could even afford to do that. So type of job is one important aspect but also the location of said job is another. Which brings me to the topic of this post...
I work in a city, albeit not in one the size of Toronto or Vancouver. I don't have to worry about crime too much or getting lost. I have friends here and I know what to expect from my city. But, it doesn't have the amount of job opportunities as a bigger city. I've already decided I am going to stay in my province, however I am starting to accept the fact that if I want to move on from front line social work, I have better chances of doing so if I worked at one of our offices in a larger city. I know that there are sacrifices in whatever decisions we make but I am trying to balance mine here. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of moving to a metropolis. The negatives include increased crime, rush hour traffic, having to learn a new city, getting to know new co-workers and making new friends. However, as one person close to me said, your scope of practice is usually smaller in a big city and that would be something I would enjoy. Other positives include more work opportunities in general, more social/creative activities to participate in, more anonymity and less travel for work (which is especially nice in the winter). But the idea of completely starting over - a new job in a new city - it's a big decision that I can't take lightly.
As Always,
Patti
I can't believe how fast time has been moving lately. Work is picking up at an incredible pace and I can only forsee it getting busier in the coming months.
A lot of change is happening with my job and many of them are not for the best. The workload is going to be significantly increasing for both me and my co-workers and I see a lot of overtime in the horizon. Add to that the more unfun aspects of my job which I have had to deal with lately which in total makes for a stressed out social worker!
I know I won't be doing this job forever and that thought gives me some solace. Right now it's the burnout that's creeping in and it's not so much physical but emotional. It's the hard aspects of the job that are starting to weigh me down - the nitty gritty things that all helping professionals have to work with. I am getting tired of dealing with unhappy people and having to be "the tough guy." I am normally a pretty upbeat person and I try and surround myself with positive people. But you don't get that choice when you have to work with angry clients. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy being able to advocate or offer support to clients who need it and it makes me proud when they tell me "thank you." However, all of that gets quickly washed away when I work with someone who is the opposite. I know it is all part of being a social worker, especially one who is working in front line but I can't help but think in the moment "why do I do this to myself?"
So, I have begun working on my exit strategy. I have a firm timeline of when I'll likely be leaving this job. It's not right away which is a good thing since I need the time to plan my next moves. I am going to be ramping up my job searching just to give me an idea of what's out there. I did find an interesting job posted this weekend which at face value looks positive but it does still include some elements of front line social work. So now I am doubting it's fit. And as I've been saying since I moved on from my first social work job, the next one needs to be better - lower caseloads, less stressful etc. And in a way they have all been a bit better than the last, however as my Dad reminds me, they are not much better! So this time I want to start fresh, considering jobs I may have never looked at before to help me break the front line cycle. I am especially investigating paperworky job since writing/paperwork is definitely one of my strengths.
I know that I can use my social work experience and education to do many types of jobs, especially in the organization I work for. I am lucky in that they encourage lateral transfers and promotions but not climbing down the ladder. And to be honest, I am not at the point yet where I could even afford to do that. So type of job is one important aspect but also the location of said job is another. Which brings me to the topic of this post...
I work in a city, albeit not in one the size of Toronto or Vancouver. I don't have to worry about crime too much or getting lost. I have friends here and I know what to expect from my city. But, it doesn't have the amount of job opportunities as a bigger city. I've already decided I am going to stay in my province, however I am starting to accept the fact that if I want to move on from front line social work, I have better chances of doing so if I worked at one of our offices in a larger city. I know that there are sacrifices in whatever decisions we make but I am trying to balance mine here. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of moving to a metropolis. The negatives include increased crime, rush hour traffic, having to learn a new city, getting to know new co-workers and making new friends. However, as one person close to me said, your scope of practice is usually smaller in a big city and that would be something I would enjoy. Other positives include more work opportunities in general, more social/creative activities to participate in, more anonymity and less travel for work (which is especially nice in the winter). But the idea of completely starting over - a new job in a new city - it's a big decision that I can't take lightly.
As Always,
Patti
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Fitting In
Happy April Dear Readers!
It has been a long winter here in Canada and if you can believe it we actually got snow this week where I live! But I am hoping May will be a lot warmer since I am having a harder and harder time remembering what summer feels like!
Work was especially busy this week and combined with a lot of social engagements I found my depression creeping in. I am lucky in that I recognize it and that the negative feelings usually don't last any longer than a day or two. But to me it's a sign there is not enough rest time included in my schedule to relax and recharge. I especially need more quiet time in the evenings when I am having a challenging time at work. Unfortunately, I get both physical and emotional symptoms of stress which can include not being able to sleep, having chest pains, not being hungry, getting headaches, being irritable and so on. I was mentioning some of these symptoms to my Mom and she suggested I just change my way of thinking. I am aware of the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy but to be honest I believe my personality is the greatest factor. I just do not handle conflict well at work (although in my personal life it's not too bad - likely because the issues are more complex at work). I know that I will eventually get through the situation and I'll be professional but it just takes so much out of me. I can see now that I should never have gotten into the field of social work since it involves at TON of conflict but I wanted to help people so badly. Instead I realized I am content to help others in my daily life i.e. standing up for someone when I see an injustice happen or helping friends with career or life issues. I have realized that anyone can make it their mantra to help others and it doesn't necessarily have to involve working in a helping field.
But alas, on to the topic at hand - fitting in at the office. As it goes, with any job in an office setting there are politics at various levels such as between co-workers or with management. Every person has their own agenda - to just put in their time so they can get a pay check, to climb the career ladder and step over whoever is in their way to get there, to gain experience and then move on, or those in limbo who are not quite sure what they want to do next so they stay until they figure out their next move (I fall into this group and I believe many others do as well). And within those groups you get different personality types such as leaders, introverts (me!), extroverts, drama queens, geeks (me!) and so on.
It is challenging when you first start a job since you don't know who fits into which group and what their personality type is. And how you interact with each type is very important so you don't cause any waves. This was a hard lesson I had to learn when I first started at my organization but I have since gotten better at filtering what I say and only showing my quirkiness to the direct group of people I work with (who luckily accept me as I am). But the field of social work in general is full of very social people who flourish in group settings and enjoy debating the world of "grey." To me "grey" refers to the policies which are not firm or clear enough to give you a direct answer as to how assist your client within the parameters of the program you work for. I hate it when "grey" situations come up at the office since I can always see both sides and my opinion can greatly waver depending on the latest point either my supervisor or co-workers make. In general, I hate the feeling of being wishy-washy and it makes me feel like a weak worker. I can sprout historical case facts and other relevant data like nobody else (sometimes I joke at work that I am borderline Asperger's) but for sure the vagueness does not make me feel comfortable.
At these times I just wish I was given a stack of manageable, uncomplicated work to do which I could accomplish independently. But people are messy and when you work in the field of helping others their are emotions and opinions to consider. My Mom suggested to me today that I just leave my organization and get a job working in a back office somewhere (she was not joking and meant it honestly). There are moments when I think she has a point but any jobs like that would require a serious pay cut and a huge reduction in human contact. I still want to have co-workers but I admit it would be nice losing the helpless feeling that comes when you can't help your clients like you want to and on the flip side no longer having irrational or angry clients to deal with. But I have read enough career blogs and articles to know there is no perfect job out there. And some of the best advice I have read lately is to not have a job which you are passionate about (since it can ruin your love of it) but to instead be in a field that caters to your strengths. I have no doubt that I have gained some valuable experience as a social worker over the years and that there might be some higher up jobs (but not management) that would allow me to use this knowledge in a helpful way. Nonetheless, I truly believe I am on the way out of front line social work since there are too many negatives to it, at least for me. But them the question becomes where would I have the better fit? It feels like there is as many possibilities as there are directions.
Happy Pondering,
Patti
It has been a long winter here in Canada and if you can believe it we actually got snow this week where I live! But I am hoping May will be a lot warmer since I am having a harder and harder time remembering what summer feels like!
Work was especially busy this week and combined with a lot of social engagements I found my depression creeping in. I am lucky in that I recognize it and that the negative feelings usually don't last any longer than a day or two. But to me it's a sign there is not enough rest time included in my schedule to relax and recharge. I especially need more quiet time in the evenings when I am having a challenging time at work. Unfortunately, I get both physical and emotional symptoms of stress which can include not being able to sleep, having chest pains, not being hungry, getting headaches, being irritable and so on. I was mentioning some of these symptoms to my Mom and she suggested I just change my way of thinking. I am aware of the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy but to be honest I believe my personality is the greatest factor. I just do not handle conflict well at work (although in my personal life it's not too bad - likely because the issues are more complex at work). I know that I will eventually get through the situation and I'll be professional but it just takes so much out of me. I can see now that I should never have gotten into the field of social work since it involves at TON of conflict but I wanted to help people so badly. Instead I realized I am content to help others in my daily life i.e. standing up for someone when I see an injustice happen or helping friends with career or life issues. I have realized that anyone can make it their mantra to help others and it doesn't necessarily have to involve working in a helping field.
But alas, on to the topic at hand - fitting in at the office. As it goes, with any job in an office setting there are politics at various levels such as between co-workers or with management. Every person has their own agenda - to just put in their time so they can get a pay check, to climb the career ladder and step over whoever is in their way to get there, to gain experience and then move on, or those in limbo who are not quite sure what they want to do next so they stay until they figure out their next move (I fall into this group and I believe many others do as well). And within those groups you get different personality types such as leaders, introverts (me!), extroverts, drama queens, geeks (me!) and so on.
It is challenging when you first start a job since you don't know who fits into which group and what their personality type is. And how you interact with each type is very important so you don't cause any waves. This was a hard lesson I had to learn when I first started at my organization but I have since gotten better at filtering what I say and only showing my quirkiness to the direct group of people I work with (who luckily accept me as I am). But the field of social work in general is full of very social people who flourish in group settings and enjoy debating the world of "grey." To me "grey" refers to the policies which are not firm or clear enough to give you a direct answer as to how assist your client within the parameters of the program you work for. I hate it when "grey" situations come up at the office since I can always see both sides and my opinion can greatly waver depending on the latest point either my supervisor or co-workers make. In general, I hate the feeling of being wishy-washy and it makes me feel like a weak worker. I can sprout historical case facts and other relevant data like nobody else (sometimes I joke at work that I am borderline Asperger's) but for sure the vagueness does not make me feel comfortable.
At these times I just wish I was given a stack of manageable, uncomplicated work to do which I could accomplish independently. But people are messy and when you work in the field of helping others their are emotions and opinions to consider. My Mom suggested to me today that I just leave my organization and get a job working in a back office somewhere (she was not joking and meant it honestly). There are moments when I think she has a point but any jobs like that would require a serious pay cut and a huge reduction in human contact. I still want to have co-workers but I admit it would be nice losing the helpless feeling that comes when you can't help your clients like you want to and on the flip side no longer having irrational or angry clients to deal with. But I have read enough career blogs and articles to know there is no perfect job out there. And some of the best advice I have read lately is to not have a job which you are passionate about (since it can ruin your love of it) but to instead be in a field that caters to your strengths. I have no doubt that I have gained some valuable experience as a social worker over the years and that there might be some higher up jobs (but not management) that would allow me to use this knowledge in a helpful way. Nonetheless, I truly believe I am on the way out of front line social work since there are too many negatives to it, at least for me. But them the question becomes where would I have the better fit? It feels like there is as many possibilities as there are directions.
Happy Pondering,
Patti
Monday, 24 March 2014
Counselling and the Social Worker
Hello Dear Readers,
Well there almost goes another month! Things have been pretty steady for me since Christmas and I just finished up an intense week at work with more travel than usual.
To be honest, I am finding extensive travel as one of the most stressful things about my job. I dread the pile of work waiting for me when I return to my desk and cramming in so many client visits while I am on the road. I also think the break in routine is hard for me too. I like having a steady pace at work and when my schedule completely changes it's difficult for me to cope.
After many years in the field of social work I can definitely see how it is not a match for my introverted, conventional personality type and my anxiety and depression. I still dream about a life after social work in a more supportive role but I am a few years away from that and when I do consider changing the path of my career I get a little scared since all I know is social work. It's how others define me and it's the profession I sacrificed so much for. And I know when I leave this field I'll have to come to terms with the great price I have had to paid for it.
But alas, there is a topic which has become almost a daily part of my life lately. Counselling - and I am not talking about helping my clients. I have had several co-workers who have approached me for social workey advice for their personal issues. I am greatly honoured to be entrusted with their secrets (none life threatening you can be rest assured!) but still serious problems nonetheless. In a way I enjoy getting to use those skills which I don't get to use too often in my current job. In other ways I feel like I am giving biased help since I am friends with these people as well so I try to differentiate by saying 'as a social worker' or 'as a friend' before I give advice so they know where I am coming from. Overall I believe they ask for this help because they are aware of my social work experience and because of the personal challenges I have been able to overcome - with a majority of them occurring while I've been a social worker. The ironic thing is that a lot of these co-workers are older then me which shows me that experience is not dependent on age.
So I am wondering if any of you have had family, friends, co-workers or people in the community approach you for professional advice because you are a social worker.
As Always,
Patti
Well there almost goes another month! Things have been pretty steady for me since Christmas and I just finished up an intense week at work with more travel than usual.
To be honest, I am finding extensive travel as one of the most stressful things about my job. I dread the pile of work waiting for me when I return to my desk and cramming in so many client visits while I am on the road. I also think the break in routine is hard for me too. I like having a steady pace at work and when my schedule completely changes it's difficult for me to cope.
After many years in the field of social work I can definitely see how it is not a match for my introverted, conventional personality type and my anxiety and depression. I still dream about a life after social work in a more supportive role but I am a few years away from that and when I do consider changing the path of my career I get a little scared since all I know is social work. It's how others define me and it's the profession I sacrificed so much for. And I know when I leave this field I'll have to come to terms with the great price I have had to paid for it.
But alas, there is a topic which has become almost a daily part of my life lately. Counselling - and I am not talking about helping my clients. I have had several co-workers who have approached me for social workey advice for their personal issues. I am greatly honoured to be entrusted with their secrets (none life threatening you can be rest assured!) but still serious problems nonetheless. In a way I enjoy getting to use those skills which I don't get to use too often in my current job. In other ways I feel like I am giving biased help since I am friends with these people as well so I try to differentiate by saying 'as a social worker' or 'as a friend' before I give advice so they know where I am coming from. Overall I believe they ask for this help because they are aware of my social work experience and because of the personal challenges I have been able to overcome - with a majority of them occurring while I've been a social worker. The ironic thing is that a lot of these co-workers are older then me which shows me that experience is not dependent on age.
So I am wondering if any of you have had family, friends, co-workers or people in the community approach you for professional advice because you are a social worker.
As Always,
Patti
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)