Leaving the safety net of attending school can seem exciting, yet scary. You’re finally ready to begin taking on your own clients. It’s a time that’s full of excitement and nervousness, that carries its own unique difficulties. There are several tips that may help you work through your first year as a professional caseworker.
Keep Your Books Nearby
You studied hard for years, and now you have a degree to demonstrate that you’ve completed specific courses and are ready for a career as a caseworker. This doesn’t mean, however, that you have all the answers. If you feel like you need a reminder about anything, or if you’re just confused, don’t be afraid to look back at your books for reference. You may even want to purchase additional reading material to help you work through any additional problems that you may come across.
Talk to Your Mentor or Supervisor
As you work through your career as a caseworker, you’ll have individuals like supervisors and mentors that can assist you with tricky situations. Don’t be too anxious to seek out their help with any specific situations that are unique or that feel a little overwhelming. Whether you’re feeling nervous, or simply having a bit of self doubt, speaking to a supervisor will help you gain the confidence that you need. Don’t just hold it inside and hope that you’re doing the correct thing when you’re in a tough situation. Instead, check in with your mentor. Speak to them as freely as possible about any issues you’re having, and be sure to ask as many questions as you’re able. This will help you to clear your mind of anxiety, and over time you’ll feel more confident that you have the right instincts for the work that you’re doing.
Connect with Coworkers
In addition to supervisors and mentors, there are other individuals in the office that can assist you during your first year. It is helpful to have a group of coworkers to support you throughout your career. Can can also decide to join online networks of your colleagues who can give you emotional support as you begin your new career. These individuals can assist you if you find yourself in a tough situation, or if you need to eventually look for a new position in the field. It’s always important to connect with others in your field and network, so that you feel less alone.
Avoid Getting Overwhelmed
In your first year, you’re going to want to impress your supervisor while proving yourself. It’s far too easy to get swept away in the enthusiasm of being out in the real world applying the information you’ve learned while studying. It’s important to start slowly and do your best to not take on too many cases at one time. Otherwise, you could have serious issues if you become overwhelmed and burn out. Your performance reviews will clearly reflect it if your workload is too heavy. Speak to your supervisor about the amount of work you can take on without feeling overwhelmed. After all, you can always take on more cases as you build experience.
Pay Attention to Opportunities
Your first job out of school is only the beginning of your career as a caseworker. It’s not likely that you’ll have the same job forever, so keep your ears and eyes open for additional opportunities. It’s important to give your current employer two weeks’ notice, but they’ll understand if you need to move on to another job. However, there will always be jobs, but there will only be a few jobs that you really love and enjoy. If you find one of these, do your best to hold on to it.
Your first year working as a caseworker can be overwhelming, exciting, and incredible — all at the same time. Be sure to take it slow, while making sure you learn as much as you can from your peers during this time.
So, if you want to be a social worker and are interested in knowing more read this blog from Service Care Solutions.