Valerie Arendt, MSW, MPP, is the Associate Executive Director for the National Association of Social Workers, North Carolina Chapter (NASW-NC). She received her dual degree in social work and public policy from the University of Minnesota and currently provides membership support, including résumé review, to the members of NASW-NC.
The New Social Worker magazine presents its top six articles of 2017, plus Editor's Picks, and what will be new in 2018. Read more
In her final column, Valerie Arendt provides 7 tips for your social work résumé, along with some "do"s and "don't"s. Read more
A crucial step in landing a social work job is lining up references. Who should you ask? Who should you avoid? What exactly are you asking them to do, and how do you present them? Read more
You have most likely heard these before, but we can all use a reminder. Why? Because social workers keep making these easily avoidable job search errors. Read more
If you have spent the last five years working with children, this doesn’t mean you can’t successfully switch your area of practice to aging adults or program administration. You need to successfully articulate your skills that will transfer. Read more
Do you know the difference between marketing yourself and selling yourself? Marketing is about knowing your value and being able to articulate it to others. These tips will help you market to social work employers. Read more
Leaving your social work job can be a difficult decision. Figuring out if and when you should leave will have an impact on your career and your family. Read more
We spend more time at work with our co-workers than we do with our own families or personal support networks during the week. So, if you don’t have strong, healthy relationships at your place of employment, work can be stressful. Read more
Some undergraduate and graduate social work programs require their students to have an academic portfolio as part of graduation requirements. Is this the same as a professional social work portfolio? No, not really. Read more
A few months (or more) of unemployment can feel like an eternity. Here are some tips to help you stay strong. Read more
You have your social work degree(s), and you have a job. What else do you need to sustain a long and healthy career in social work? Here are some of the tools you should have in your “Professional Social Worker Toolkit.” Read more
The moment you have been waiting for is here! You have been offered a social work job! There are several factors to consider when deciding to accept or decline an offer. Read more
It is great to be excited, especially if this is the social work job offer you have been waiting for. But it is very important that you take time to do research before and after the offer, so you can be prepared to negotiate an acceptable salary. Read more
The interview is not just about letting the employer know you are qualified. You need to make a connection, so the employer wants to hire you. Read more
Networking isn’t about being in a secret club, and it’s not just for business professionals. It is for all professionals. Social workers are great at building relationships and trust with their clients. Networking really isn’t that different. Read more
Whether you are a clinical or macro social worker, student, new professional, or have been in the field for 30 years, these essential tips will keep your résumé ready to send out to your future employer. Read more
Should you submit a cover letter when one is not required? The answer is yes. Cover letters are essential to getting an interview. They are a concise way to communicate your value to an organization, and hiring managers use them to winnow candidates. Read more
Valerie Arendt
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