Mark those jobs that interest you with a "+" sign,
Mark those that you don't know much about with a "?" and
Draw a line through those jobs that you are familiar with and know you have no interest in.
Now find out more about the jobs with a "?" beside them. If you want some suggestions for doing research, contact Career Services.
Then narrow the list of "+" and "?" jobs down to four or five and begin to consider how you can develop the skills to enter those occupations.

Things Students Can (and should) Do NOW to Get a Job in the Field of Social Work:

Get involved with campus activities to find out what kind of things you like to do (example: work alone, with a group, or a combination; lead or follow; participate in planned activities for people or be more spontaneous, etc.).
Think about which broad area you want to enter (research, healthcare, environmental, education, etc.) and research the career path* for each occupation of interest.
Work as a paraprofessional in campus offices such as a lab assistant.
Plan to do at least one internship as a way to get focused experience in your field. Two internships are preferable.
Volunteer your services to a non-profit organization in whose cause you believe. You will get experience, and networking contacts.

*Career path = what jobs are the entry-level point for the occupation – how do I get my foot in the door?, how do people commonly advance in that occupation?

To locate further information about any of the following occupations

Duties
Education and Training Needed
How Hard or Easy it Will Be To Find a Job
Compensation

go to the Occupational Outlook Handbook online: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

You may access the site anywhere you can access the web. There are 2 computers you can use in Career Services for any career-related task, including occupational research. Search by looking for the job title in the alphabetical index, or typing in the occupational name in the search box, or looking in the field/industry list on the right side of the screen.

Social Work
Some occupations may require additional education and/or experience
Academic Advisor/Counselor	Health-Service Administrator
Admissions Counselor	Hotel Manager
Adoption Service Counselor	Industrial Psychologist
Advertising Account Executive	Job Counselor
Advocate (e.g. children, ethnic group members, aging)	Journalist
Affirmative Action Representative	Loan Officer/Bank Employee
Aging Specialist	Marketing Manager
Art Director	Marketing Researcher
Attorney	Marriage and Family Therapist
Bilingual/Bicultural Program Specialist	Media Planner
Bureau of Indian Affairs Researcher	Medical Social Worker
Case Manager	Parole Officer
College Administrator	Peace Corps/VISTA Worker
Community Relations Director	Personnel Interviewer
Compensation Analyst	Physician
Congressional Committee Staff Director/Aid	Probation Officer
Consultant	Professor
Coroner/Medical Examiner	Program Director
Corporate Trainer	Public Administrator
Correctional Center/Program Counselor	Public Health Educator
Crisis Center Director	Public Interest Group Director
Demographer	Rehabilitation Specialist/Counselor
Drug/Alcohol Abuse Counselor	Salesperson
Editor	School Social Worker
Employment Recruiter	Social Movements Organizer
Environmental Impact Assessment Researcher	State/Federal Government Policy Analyst
Executive Search Consultant	Student Services Director
Family Services Specialist	Teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL)
Financial Aid Director	Transplant Registry Database Manager
Foster Parent	Union Legal Counsel
Foundation Program Manager	Urban Planner
Friend of the Court Caseworker	Vocation Teacher (of adults)
Genetic Counselor	Geriatric Care Specialist
Grants Coordinator	Group Therapist
Guidance Counselor	Head Start Program Director

Skills and Abilities of Social Work Students:

As a student of Social Work, you have developed general and technical skills which are applicable to a wide variety of occupational paths. The skills listed here can be used in a variety of careers. These are also the skills to emphasize in your resume and interviews.

Project Development

Planning long-term projects
Recruiting/coordinating research subjects
Writing grant proposals
Evaluating
Maintaining records
Developing project designs

Interpersonal Relations

Interviewing
Understanding group dynamic
Observing human interactions
Recognizing cultural differences/similarities
Surveying and sampling
Identifying value systems

Analysis and Research

Gathering and organizing data
Examining data
Conducting field studies
Applying non-intrusive methods
Reaching new conclusions through comparative study
Utilizing statistical applications

Communication

Summarizing results
Writing clearly
Presenting/defending a position
Communicating across cultures/languages
Understanding societal development

Social Work Career Websites:

National Association of Social Workers http://www.naswdc.org

Social Work Education http://www.cswe.org Council on Provides a listing of accredited social work programs

Association of Social Work Boards http://www.aswb.org Provides information on licensing requirements and testing procedures for each State.

Social Work Access Network http://www.sc.edu/swan Owned, administered, and maintained by the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina, Provides a list of Schools of Social Work, & Links to websites related to many social work related topics, among other things.

Socialworksearch.com http://www.socialworksearch.com A list of social work related links

Socialservice.com http://www.socialservice.com Search for social work jobs by state and degree requirements.

Careerlink http://www.careerlink.org Omaha area job listing site. Search by category, or employer.

Compiled by:
Ann L. Nelson, M.S.
Director of Career Services
anelson@dana.edu
For more information or personal help, visit the Career Services Office:
Monday-Friday:
8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.
Other hours available by appointment
E.C. Hunt Campus Center
(Located next to the Bookstore)
Phone: (402) 426-7258
Fax: (402) 426-7922
Campus Box 1225
Email: career@dana.edu
or telephone for an appointment