Beyond a degree, employers want life-long learners

The question

I'm currently studying for a bachelor of arts degree in social work and would like to know how studying at a masters level would benefit me in the future, and whether I could get a job in management sooner than if I had a BA alone?

The answer

A BA in social work is an entry-level degree for most organizations. A masters-level degree will open more doors for career options with respect to professional and management positions, as well as counselling, teaching, planning, research and advocacy positions. Many large employers set the masters-level degree as a minimum for management and counselling positions. Even many non-profit organizations are looking for candidates with a masters-level degree. Employers are also looking for candidates who are committed to life-long learning. They want employees and managers who will stay current in their fields and continually strive to upgrade their professional and managerial skills.

In order to get an idea of what prospective employers are looking for with respect to degree and professional qualifications, you should take a look at job postings both online and in person. You should also talk to prospective employers about what degrees are required for different positions.

Develop an academic and a career plan. You need to consider what you love doing, why you went into social work in the first place, what courses you enjoy the most, who you like to work with as staff and clientele, where you would like to end up in your career, and what education and experience you will need in order to get there. By clarifying these issues, you to begin to map out your academic and career plans. The clearer you can be on the vision for your education and your career, the easier it will be to focus on taking the steps to make them a reality.

Do your research on the types of jobs and careers that are available to people with masters degrees in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Speak to people in professional, management, teaching, advocacy and research positions and ask them about their careers, their educational backgrounds, what they like about their careers, what they dislike about them, and what they would do differently if they were to do it over again.

Attend professional, business and sector-specific meetings where people with social work or management degrees meet. Consider whether the topics and the people interest you and if these are areas in which you would like to work. Use online social networks to build your contacts and find out more about the career opportunities for social workers and managers.

Be aware that you will have many different careers – not just jobs – in your lifetime. Start building a network of people and contacts in the field that you can use as advisers, mentors and references. Find out what you really want for your career. Listen to the wisdom of others and then determine what is right for you and take action to get the education, experience and contacts you need to succeed.

Bruce Sandy is principal of BruceSandy.com and Pathfinder Coaching & Consulting.

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