Being a social worker can be one of the most rewarding careers in the world. Not only do social workers help to change the lives of people in communities, it is also financially rewarding. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average annual salary of a social worker is over $50,000. With unlimited abilities to help people improve their lives, if you are considering a career as a social worker, you should think about how to measure success.
Top tips to assess your success levels
- Know what field you want to work in: The field of social work in the US is growing and there are plenty of jobs available in a wide range of industries. These include local government and federal government. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that there were over 650,000 jobs in social work in 2010 alone. Once you have decided what field of social work you want to undertake, you can start to look for these fresh opportunities.
- Measure the impact you are having on the community: One of the most important things you should do is measure the effect that your social work initiatives are having on your target community. This can be done by doing surveys as well as community outreach work to solicit opinions about the work you are undertaking.
- Know your goals: In social work, it is crucial to have a list of goals that you want to achieve not only for your organization but for yourself. Your organization will have key performance indicators that they will use to assess whether you are doing a good job. Whether you want to rise to the top of social work or you are simply looking for a small promotion, understanding what you want to achieve in social work is vital to build success in social work.
- Keep stress levels low to decrease burn out: Social work is known to be one of the most stressful professions because social workers help people deal with issues that are going on in their lives. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the job outlook from 2010 to 2020 will grow by up to 25%. This means that as more people enter the profession, managing stress and the health of social workers is even more important than before. Organizations can encourage social workers to take regular vacations as well as breaks to keep them as energised as possible when dealing with the rigour and stress of their occupation.
Organizations can offer streamlined methods for promotion which helps to nurture talent in the social work sector. Promoting from within an organization is an excellent way to foster a sense of success in social work because it helps people to feel more valued in the organization. With these tips in mind, use them as a barometer to measure your future success as a social worker in the field that you want to work in.