(Editor’s Note: Our Social Work Tech Talk columnist, Dr. Gina Griffin, takes a different direction this month to provide some career wisdom for new grads. Of course, technology is a top skill to keep in mind!)
by Gina Griffin, DSW, MSW, LCSW
Dear Graduates:
Photo credit: Pixabay/IowaCommunications
I think that I’m supposed to write something wise. You have made it all this way, toiled through your social work graduate program, and I’m supposed to say something wise to you. But you’re already wise. You’ve done an incredibly hard thing, and you’re committed to spending a big chunk of your life in helping other people. You already sound very wise, and very kind, to me.
But I guess you might also be anxious. New things are scary. And even after your practicum or internship, you may not know what to expect next. And there are lots of decisions stretching out in front of you. But you’re going to be fine. Here are some of the things that I’ve learned along the way, and maybe you’ll find them to be helpful, as well.
1. It’s okay to change your mind.
About anything. Especially about your career. Whether this is your first job ever, or if you’re as seasoned as myself, it’s okay to decide that you want to do something else. Social work is an amazing career. And one of the best things about it is that there is a wide scope of practice, and you can always choose another direction. Nothing is written in stone. And even if you decide to drop everything and open a cupcake shop in Brooklyn, that’s okay, too. You alone know what you need.
2. Learn some technology.
Back when I graduated from my MSW program and dinosaurs roamed the Earth, a lot of social workers were resistant to technology. A lot of that has changed. I still hear whispers about people studying social work because it means they won’t have to do math, or worry about technology. But you’ll be better off if you do. Learn Code. Learn R Programming or Python. Learn the amazing intricacies of spreadsheets. Learn about using AI responsibly. Someone on your team is going to have to run all of those reports, and it might as well be you.
3. Get comfortable with discomfort.
I write and talk a lot about groundlessness, which is the feeling that the rug has been pulled out from under you. The degree to which you can tolerate this feeling will determine how great you are at your job. You will need it as you listen to trauma narratives that break your heart. Or when your client tells you that she went back to the spouse who was abusing her. Or when the client you were trying to help just became homeless, anyway, because the system failed them. If you can manage your own discomfort in those moments, you’ll be able to remain present and deal with whatever has come up. And that means you’ll be able to do a better job for your client, because your own feelings won’t be getting in the way.
4. Yep, we social workers talk a lot about self-care.
Hopefully, you’ve already learned that taking care of yourself makes you better able to take care of other people. This is not selfish. This will help you to avoid burnout, and to stay in your job longer. Stop answering calls after 5 p.m. Schedule a break every quarter, even if it’s a staycation. Don’t stop reading books just for pleasure. Take a whole day off, over the weekend. I mean, a wandering around in your pajamas and turning off the phone type of day off. In the long run, you’ll see how helpful these types of strategies are.
5. Don’t stop learning.
I know that not everyone loves school. But keep learning about social work and anything else that you love. Go to a code writing conference. (R Programming has one every year, for example.) Attend CSWE APM to see what the social work world is up to. Treat yourself to a MasterClass subscription, and download a library or bookstore app. Ongoing learning keeps your mind agile and engaged. This is better for your clients, and better for you.
That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. I could probably go on, but I don’t think I need to. You’ve got this. You’re going to be amazing. Now, go out there and make yourself proud.
Dr. Gina Griffin, DSW, MSW, LCSW
Dr. Gina Griffin, DSW, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In 2012, she completed her Master of Social Work at University of South Florida. And in 2021, she completed her DSW at the University of Southern California. She began to learn R Programming for data analysis in order to develop her research-related skills. She now teaches programming and data science skills through her website (A::ISWR) and free Saturday morning #swRk workshops.