5 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR GRADUATING IN

SOCIAL WORK

STEP 1

Always write down your goals.

“Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.”

THE FIVE YEAR PLAN

– WRITE DOWN

YOUR GOALS

Your plan should include:•A harmonious mix of what is important outside of your career as well.

•It is always important to consider how personal life will mesh with the career side of things as well.

•There is always the option of getting help with creating your five year plan.

This will be your guide to your

future

The goals should outline the kind

of path you see your self on

Take some time to identify what is

important for you to accomplish,

start with the simple steps like:

Getting licensed

Becoming a supervisor

Making a specific amount

of money

Etc.

STEP 2

Know that Your First Job Won’t Be Your Last Job

Think of it as mainly a learning experience

YOU WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF IN

THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF YOUR CAREER THAN AT

ALMOST ANY OTHER TIME

This is the time to learn

your skills, likes and

dislikes.

What environment do

you like to work in?

Take notes on the kind

of leadership that drives

you and is supportive

rather than punitive.

STEP 3

•Never Stop

Learning

-The journey of

learning has just

begun

ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND…

- School is just the tip of the iceberg

- You will learn more through hands on, so

go ahead and challenge yourself

- Pick a topic in your emphasis and

research it with other of the same interests

- Understand that taking on more cases, will

only give you more experience

STEP 4

Get Licensed!

WHY DO YOU NEED

YOUR LICENSE?

QUESTIONS TO ASK TO

GET THE PROCESS

STARTED

You have to have your

license in order to

advance to supervision

More and more jobs

require it before even

hiring

It can mean a pay

increase - upwards of

20% in most states

You will have more

opportunity

What is required to get started?

How many hours of clinical work are necessary?

How many hours of supervision are needed?

Any prerequisites necessary?

In order to accrue numbers, do you have first become an intern?

STEP 5

Start Networking

NETWORKING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

This should be an intermediate step in your 5 year plan

If you are just graduating, take advantage of the relationships you have developed over the years –make a list of 10 people to stay in touch with

Keep your network diverse – you don’t want to compete with fellow social workers

Try to have everyone in your list add an additional person each month to your networking list

Remember, if people need a social worker, they will want someone they know

RECAP

1. Write down your goals – 5 year plan

2. Remember your first job won’t be your last

3. Never stop learning

4. Get licensed

Visit Therapist Development Center here for

more information on state requirements

5. Networking is the key to your success