? for the 20-somethings

[DCJenn]

OK- I had an interesting conversation with a colleague yesterday. We're both 40 (ok, I'll be there in four weeks) and both have worked in Social Services for our entire careers. We both have Master's degrees in Counseling and work in admin now. She's done primarily mental health and I've done primarily mental retardation.

When we started we were both the youngest people in the system. We are STILLthe youngest people. NO ONE is under 35. and I'm not talking in one aspect of the services we provide. I'm talking about services that employee hundreds of staff. The few people that are under 30 don't stay.

What is up? I thought you guys were the crunchy generation?

Seriously, if things don't change, in 20 years when I retire, there will be no one to take care of other people.

Is it the money? Is it that it's not trendy? Is it the populations we serve?

I'm actually thinking about this because clearly we need to change our recruiting...

Jenn

[Vanquisher]

I have a Bachelor's in Psych. For me, it's the combo of the fact that you pretty much HAVE to have a Master's to get any kind of job, and then when you do get a job, it pays like crap. Plus, all the bad stuff you see really wears on you.

I have thought about getting my Master's in Social Work online to work with children, the foster system, or somthing like that, but it seems so draining for so little money.

Selfish, or what?

[MrsC]

I'll agree with Heidi. I think it's because the jobs in that area are just too difficult and pay too little. Many of my friends are completing Masters at the moment and I know that their intention is to increase their earning power and land a nice easy job. It's very selfist but true.

My best friend is doing her master in social work at the moment. the one thing that puts me off is that you have to have your masters, money is pretty average, but most of all is the frustration that services and care just aren't available out there, you have a kid who's being abused and no foster home or care home places for them to go, you have elderly people on waiting lists for community care waiting for years in a public hospital for another elderly person to die before they can get the service they need. the frustration of being abe to do very little for the most vunerable people in society would eat me up. As a nurse I feel Ican do my job and get satisfaction from it. I know there are loads and oads of different aspects and areas within social work but listening to my friend this is what puts me off.

[DCJenn]

Wow- this is really interesting.

Keep it coming.

and bottom line reality is that salaries can suck, you do have to have a Master's degree and or a license to supervise and it can be depressing.

but holy moly. You don't go into social services to make money, what's wrong with more education and 99% of the time it's more rewarding than frustrating!

Hmmmm. Tell me more!

Jenn

[Malpka]

I worked in social services and public health for my entire short lived career. After getting my Masters, I only worked for 3 years before staying home with the kids.

I find that most of the SAHM's I know were formerly in lower paying education and social services fields. I think when you compare the unfairly pathetic pay of someone in these fields with the costs of 2 kids in daycares, it just doesn't make much financial sense to continue working.

My favorite babysitter (mid-20s) just completed her master's program in art therapy and works at a place for troubled teens. I haven't checked lately, but as of late August, she was the only graduate with a full-time job. One woman moved to Alaska to work with a school system there.

I think she is very committed to it but Rebecca makes a good point. I worked near public health (not really in public health) and would agree that unless you are in a more administrative role, the pay is pretty low, esp for continuing with a young family.

Just thought of the another reason. As a 26 year old I have a lot of friends in their 20's and only myself and one other is in a key worker career (healthcare, police, teacher, fireman, social work) and Myself and that friend will often debrief to each other after a hard day, our other friends just don't want to know. there a lot of people out there that don't want to live in the real world where people die, where there is crime, where there are kids, elderly, mental health problems. It's fine hearing about it on the news or whatever but none of them want to deal with it in their own lives, they feel the can't handle it, How often have you heard 'I couldn't do your job'

[Sheherezade]

I'm certainly not twenty something....but here's what has kept me out of the field. I think it requires the kind of devotion that medicine requires. You can't leave that job in the office at quitting time - and it's got the kind of issues that would compete with a sick child or a kid's after-school tear fest over a fight with friends. I'm not at a place in life to offer that much of myself. If I didn't have children (or when they are grown up) I'd do it. The money is an issue for people dealing with student loans and who want a certain lifestyle -- BUT independent of the money, I think it is an emotionally demanding career. Maybe it's better when you've acheived an administrative position -- but then you have an "on-ramp" problem for people like me starting a second career. I can't put in the time at the bottom in order to get to the more family friendly positions higher up right now -- and if I wait until the kids are out the door, I'll be old and gray.

It certainly is an issue. I think social work has a major PR problem. I actualy considered going in to social work when I was in college - and my mother (the dean of a school of psychology) was horrified. She told me to pursue something else because it was a crappy job. This from a woman who started her second career as a mental health volunteer in social services. :> I suppose she wanted to spare me??

[Stella]

Hmm, as a 20-something, I guess I have to respond. I'm just going to give the pros and cons as I see them and if I sound like a heartless bitch, please forgive me.

Cons:
1) Money - I have loans up the wazoo and I need a well-paying job just to make ends meet sometimes.
2) Status - It is (unfairly, IMHO) not respected in the same way that a white collar business job is. Despite the education requirements (which I wasn't aware of, but will become #3), it doesn't have the reputation of being that "coveted" job. Does that make sense? I'm trying to word carefully.
3) Master's Degree - See above.
4) The Job Itself - Domestic violence, battered and abused kids, etc. It's depressing and I can barely function without depression and anxiety as it is.

Pros:
1) The Job Itself - Saving people from all of those depressing situations. I'm sure it is very rewarding if you are in a situation that is funded well, etc.

sorry... that's all I have.



I've never been in social work, but I have always felt my "calling" is something creative (design, art, writing, academia, publishing, etc.) and so other things never really crossed my mind too much. Except of course the job I'm in now that pays the bills.

Now, I have to redeem myself a little bit. I really respect and value the place of social work in society and I am always impressed by those who are willing to pursue it and do such good work with their lives. (Thank you, Jenn, seriously.) I respect it greatly, similarly to teachers, another underpaid sect of society. I have always been interested in geriatrics and I've had interest in volunteering in this area. I have moved around a lot and don't have a stable schedule, so I haven't done it yet, but I definitely plan on it. I have a lot of ideas for organizations that I'd start to give back to the elderly, but I guess I'm just too timid to get anything going and I don't have enough of myself to give right now anyway.

So, I don't know if that is a clear answer or not. If you have more questions, I'll try to answer them. But please don't flame, I'm very respectful and grateful for the field!! (And someday, if I can convince my SO, I want to adopt too.)

[DCJenn]

No flaming here! I'm just at a loss for what we (the providers) can do to make our 'path' more palatable. I totally hear Angies point about recruiting those who are ready to re-enter the work world. (and really, a lot of 'mom skills' are the ones that we need)

It is a great environment to come and go as you need- stop have a baby, stgay home come back, work part-time, etc.

What's even more interesting is that the men are the serious old-timers. Many (not all, maybe not even most) social services organzations are still run by men who were all inspired by Kennedy. and the Feds and states had programs back then that paid for Master's degrees in exchange for service. Once those guys go, then my generation will be even more in charge- but seriously there is no one to follow.

I couldn't mentor someone to save my life- there isn't anyone.

I know there's also a trend to start families earlier and I'm wondering if that has something to do with it. Back when I graduated from college ('88) you were absolutely nuts if you got married straight out. Like people made fun of you for 'wasting' your education. I waited until I was all of 26 and I was still the first one of my peers (all with Master's degrees) to get married. The deal was- college, grad school, work, find love in your thirties. and 98% of the girls I'm friends with have followed that path. Occasionally it someone slipped getting married and having babies- but that Master's degree was going to happen.

It kind of bothers me that no one wants to do this though because it's an amazing path.

Jenn

[rainbabies]

for me it is too emotional. i could not handle seeing the types of things witnessed in the social work setting. kids, the elderly, the abused. NO WAY! it would eat me up and i would never sleep. that is a job that you have to take home with you and i dont think there are many out there that can or want to do that. i feel like i need to help/comfort/save everyone....it would end up killing me.

[Laker]

My sister is 34 and has a MSW. At 26, after 2 years of social work, quit and now is making close to 6 figures in the business world. She couldn't afford to have a house and pay back her loans with a job starting at 30k as she is still single.

My soon to be sister in law just finished a MSW and is unemployed in Michigan. Can't find a job. Michigan's economy is bad, but still. It has only been a few months so hopefully she can find something soon.

[Vishenka69]

The two reasons I never even considered social work as a career path are money and emotional investment (in that order). There's no way to live in NY on a salary of a social worker (even in a city job) and I know I'd get way too emotionally involved in the cases and become a mess myself.