As a social work major, you most likely have a love for people and helping others! If you are not a people person, perhaps you have picked the wrong major. But, that is a different story! Social work majors are friendly, loving and put up with ALOT! Because our profession will have us working with different populations and different scenarios daily. Future social workers are prepared and ready for what the world has to throw at them. However, it is hard to grin and be happy go lucky when you constantly are being told that your future job is going to make little to no money. More than likely, if you ask a social work major why this is their chosen major, they will tell you they enjoy helping others. They might even tell you a social worker influenced their life in some way and this is their way of giving back to the help they once had.
Below is a list of things social workers are tired of hearing! Believe me, we get asked these all the time and it is getting old real quick!
1. "Clearly, you are not in the social work profession for the money. Because you know that you are going to be broke, right?"
Well, Suzy Sunshine, I actually will make a decent income for myself. Please educate yourself on the hundreds of professions I can obtain with my bachelor's degree, and then consider how much more I will make with my master's and even Ph.D For the love of all that is holy, please do not tell a social work major they are going to make no money! Even though this is a rewarding career, we still plan to make a living and make a difference!
2. "Oh, so you are going to be a baby snatcher?"
Not all social workers work in child protective services (CPS), and the term baby snatcher is offensive and incorrect. We prefer doing what is best for the child's lives rather than snatching them!
3. "What do social workers even do?"
Have you ever put your grandparent in the nursing home? Have you ever met someone that needed help with addiction? Has a loved one ever passed away in a hospital? Have you ever been to counseling? Do you have someone you know in jail? We do a lot, look around and you will most likely find a social worker everywhere you go.
4. "Good luck finding a job!"
Where there are people, there will be a need for social workers.
5. "Is there really a growing need for social workers?"
People need help every single day, so yes there is a growing need! Social workers are in high demand.
6. "What an easy major!"
Yes, it is so easy! I have a 30-page research paper, assessments to evaluate a client's needs, a 400+ hour internship where I have my own clients, and a whole bunch of ethics I follow daily. Yes, do tell us how easy you think that is and get back to me.
7. "You must be a real people person."
If I did not like people, I would most likely be in the wrong major. Seeing as social workers help people.
8. "So, you must really like working with poor people?"
Social workers work with all populations. Not everyone is poor. Middle and upper-class people might even need our help. Example: placing a loved one in a nursing home, death of a family member and individual or marriage counseling.
9 ."Why do you want to help people that who clearly cannot help themselves?"
This question makes us angry. Everyone at some point in their lives becomes vulnerable and need help. Think of that next time you need help.
10. "Oh, so you want to work with kids?"
Social workers do not just work with kids. We work with all ages!
Next time you want to ask a social work major a question, please refrain from the top 10 listed. We do so much more than "snatch babies" and if you want to Google our income, feel free because it is probably more than you thought!
