Stepping Out of Traditional Social Work Roles
This post is authored by Carly Trill, CSW Collective Partnerships Manager. You can reach her at carly@cswcollective.com.
Social Work Redefined
While only some pursue the title of Social Worker, all people hold the power to shape the world and help others. Donating to causes, volunteering, participating in awareness campaigns for social issues, and lending a listening ear when someone needs to be heard are examples of how each one of us can invest in the happiness and well-being of other people. While this might seem innate for some people, these actions are what Social Workers are trained to do — we are experts in people. We understand how relationships and systems intersect and impact each other. We strive for justice and equity. We bring attention to important issues that others ignore.
Every sector of the workforce needs employees with Social Work skills. Whether it be a nonprofit, a government agency, a small business, a corporation, or a political movement, every type of organization can benefit from knowing how to invest in people and advance social justice.
I entered college with the same notion of Social Work as most of the world — that the jobs were mostly focused on counseling and casework. I did not realize how diverse our field is, specifically the breadth of careers that can be achieved with a degree in Social Work. On my journey so far, my focus has shifted from supporting individuals to changing pieces of the world. Let’s look at some of the career paths considered less traditional within the world of Social Work.
Policy and Research
Social Workers focused on Policy and Research fight for justice and ask the world questions such as: how do air and water quality vary by zip code, and how does this impact individuals? We know that people are inevitably impacted by their environments; therefore, a Social Worker in policy or research can fight for environmental equity. Through building key relationships and partnerships, they can influence environmental regulations in business, local, state, or even federal governments.
At the same time, policy and research are embedded in all roles. I currently work for a health equity coalition, where we expand access to things such as healthy food options and recreation opportunities for the community that we work in. My role falls somewhere between Micro and Macro Social Work. It is very much based on principles of research — the coalition’s blueprint for action was built from a concept many learn about in their Social Work education called ‘the Social Determinants of Health.’ Simply put, a person’s health depends on much more than their ability to see a doctor (although this does play a part). This research-based concept is inspiring social change across the world regarding population health and healthcare. Social Workers who pursue roles in policy and research are able to make actionable changes that impact individuals on all levels.
Corporate and Business
When done right, businesses are places that elevate the well-being of people. There are many different access points where this can happen within a company - Human Resources, Corporate Giving, Corporate Social Responsibility, Change Management, Diversity Equity & Inclusion to name a few. As we hear in the news too often, a heavy focus on profit often draws companies away from what is most important — the well-being of their employees, the people they serve, and the communities they operate within. The irony is that when the well-being of people is overlooked, the bottom line eventually suffers too.
What can we do to intercept this injustice with our Social Work degree? A lot. In more traditional roles, we are often on the receiving end of grants. Imagine being on the other side, where you can guide where and how foundations disburse their funds? Or working in Human Resources to resolve conflicts, create policies, and support the learning and development of employees? Personally, I aspire towards a career in Corporate Social Responsibility, a sector of business that helps a company examine its impact on the world and improve upon it. A Social Worker in this role may ask what unintended harm is their company having on the surrounding community, and what needs to change to improve this? Our Collective is a great resource to learn more about these types of careers.
Another example of Social Work redefined is the path of creating a Socially-Driven Enterprise, a profitable business that is used to address a social problem. Maybe it is a restaurant that hires at-risk youth and trains them in dining and hospitality so that they can successfully start their own career and secure a source of income. There are so many examples and variations of this type of structure — this is yet another avenue for Social Workers to shape the world into a better place.
Consulting and Entrepreneurship
Other avenues we’ve seen Social Workers explore are of consulting and entrepreneurship. The social work profession offers profound insights into individual, societal, and political systems. This experience sets social workers up well for exploring opportunities in consulting and entrepreneurship because simply put, we can see the interconnectedness of the world and the problems that need to be solved. When considering consulting, it is important to understand what your key areas of expertise are. Perhaps you have extensive clinical, case management, policy, or DEI experience; how can you package your experience in a way that will be additive to other organizations or companies? Mental health, societal well-being, financial health, and many other topics span how companies are now looking at employees holistically. These holistic topics are your entryway into the world of consulting; you simply need to start by building your brand and responding to the Request for Proposals (RFPs) that companies share out.
If you’re not interested in the consulting route, fret not, as you could become an entrepreneur, and possibly even a social entrepreneur. Very similarly to consulting, when exploring opportunities for social work entrepreneurship it is important to consider what your Unique Value Proposition is, or what unique product or service you can bring to your potential customers. What are you offering the world that is new, exciting, disrupting, or useful? As social workers, social entrepreneurship is an ideal route for those interested in providing a product or service that both make a profit while making a positive difference in the world. Social Enterprises are a way of using business tools to address a social need. Social Enterprises can be nonprofits, where the revenue generated goes directly back into the mission. An example of a nonprofit social enterprise would be Daily Table which is a “community of grocery stores with a mission to provide nutritious, delicious food for 30% less than other supermarkets.” There are also impact or socially responsible businesses. Businesses like Toms Shoes that provide a “buy one, give one” model are good examples of this category. When exploring social entrepreneurship, it is important to start off by developing a business plan that will help determine what type of social enterprise your business will become. Start by exploring the lean business model and developing prototypes with the help of IDEO templates.
And so much more…
Don’t forget that in any realm, Social Workers are leaders too. We are people-people. Whether in business, public, or non-profit roles, many with our Social Work degrees become managers and directors, or even founders or CEOs of organizations. I hope that sharing some of what I have learned can help you imagine even more possibilities for yourself and for your colleagues. I believe that each one of us brings something special to the field of Social Work. While our ability to empower people remains, the spaces we can do this in are ever-evolving.
Carly Trill is a Macro Social Worker, passionate about changing systems to promote equity and justice. She currently works for Neighborhood Connections to Heach (NCTH) - a coalition that addresses culture, environment, and lifestyle as the main influences on health. The focus of her work is health equity; ensuring that every individual has access to what they need to optimize their health and well-being, whether that be healthy food, opportunities to socialize, or safe housing. She believes that to uplift people, we must first build strong communities that provide access to fundamental goods and services. While earning her MSW at Monmouth University, Carly took interest in macroeconomics, recognizing that the economy has a ripple effect and is, therefore, a factor in solving any social issue, as well as creating a just world. Being an innovative spirit, this sparked her interest in the cross-section of social work and business. Carly is the Partnerships Manager for the Corporate Social Work Collective, which has empowered her to look towards careers that combine corporate practice with social missions.
