https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 07:44:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710742 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 18:32:44 +0000 swedishfish 1710742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babyjmama: the need for social workers vs. psychologists vs. guidance counselors completely depends on the area. My home district employs many psychologists and guidance counselors. The district I work in employs more social workers and psychologists. The school psychologist and one of our school social workers are in our teachers union so they are paid the same salaries as the rest of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710565 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:15:04 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1710565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boogs: no, just a standard university (MSU).<br /> But they had an advanced track, a standard and a part-time (I took part-time). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710560 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:12:52 +0000 Boogs 1710560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CupQuakeWalk: Was your program through an online school?</p> <p>@babyjmama: I wish I could be of more help to you, I feel like I could have written your post. I find kids more enjoyable to work with also, but with my own kids now I'm finding that a good schedule and good pay is more important to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710549 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:06:23 +0000 Rocker2014 1710549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The state where you live makes such a huge difference in whether a more specific or more general degree makes sense for you. I have an MSW in Massachusetts and have found it a very flexible degree that has opened up a lot of options for me. I worked for a number of years in a special education school as a clinician and needed no additional courses. However, guidance counselors/school social workers in Mass need to take the teacher's exam, not extra social work classes! Also, a lot of schools are outsourcing those positions to local agencies, so instead of "school social workers" employed by the school, community mental health centers are placing people in the school system, being paid by insurance through the community mental health center. So the positions are still there, just financed differently. The pay is low and the demands (on call, hours) can be very high in the field, but after 10+ years I've gotten to a point where I'm making decent money and am working almost reasonable hours :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710532 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:57:25 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1710532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: what are you switching to? (If you don't mind my asking).</p> <p>I think a graduate degree earns "enough". It is comparable to teachers and summers off/ benefits/union type work is usually a more family friendly lifestyle, so that's how I came to terms with pay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710523 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:53:51 +0000 Boheme 1710523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My social work degree totally isn't worth the money, stress, and baggage. The pay can be stupidly low, but that might not be a big deal to you. It didn't used to matter to me because I loved it. I'm actually back in school with the intentions of switching fields! Write me on FB if you have any questions :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1710026 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:01:40 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1710026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, my master's program was super manageable (school social work). I take many classes online and the ones I do take in class are from 6-8:45pm, one maybe two days a week. And I take 2-3 classes a semester for 3 years. It is easy to fit in.<br /> That being said, of course there is a workload:) but again, very doable.<br /> THAT being said, just because you have a SSW degree doesn't tie you down to only working in schools. I worked in a foster home for children (NB-17). I have also worked (on the side) as a paraprofessional (assistant teacher) to a child with autism in a pre-k classroom (so, not a school but a Montessori center). Also, in mental health (but meh...didn't like it).<br /> Point is: you can get in ANYWHERE with a masters (substance abuse, family counseling, private practice, housing and subsidies, mental health case management, and of course DHS and CPS).<br /> I don't know about KC, but, our SSW market is low. But I still got my degree because I want to EVENTUALLY get there. But in the meantime, I plan to wok and use my degree in similar areas. Eventually, I will own a private practice and do adolescent and family counseling and I want to work (part-time) as a SW professor (I'll be getting Ph.D, but you can do that with a master's degree, too)</p> <p>Life is short...go for it if you want it. Maybe now while your expenses are less (1 young child). Once you've got 2 who are in soccer and swimming and dance...ah! You and R will both want to be settled into the careers of your choice by then.</p> <p>P.s: school social work is only an extra 3 courses anyway. So master's req+3=school social worker. And for us, 2 of those 3 were required anyway;) so I took a whopping ONE EXTRA class to receive my SSW certification. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1709941 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:37:27 +0000 lawbee11 1709941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have my bachelor's in psychology, too. I applied for a master's program in school counseling and was accepted, but I backed out to go to law school instead at the last minute because I didn't see it being worth it after talking to people and hearing that (as you said) it's a dying breed. I think getting a degree in social work will give you more opportunities than a degree in school counseling (because if you can't find a job within a school you'll still have a lot of options with social work). </p> <p>It also just depends on how much money you're looking to make (if that is a factor). Another reason I backed out of the school counseling program is because I didn't want to incur student loan debt for a job that wasn't going to pay much at all. But I know salary is less important to some people if it's something you're passionate about! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1709902 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:29:14 +0000 cmomma17 1709902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always tell people that even if you can only take one class, you're still one class closer to your degree! So if you want to go back to school, go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1709895 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:28:29 +0000 Mrs. Taco 1709895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a HS English teacher....a few questions. What are do you live in? What is the demand for school jobs there?</p> <p>For example, here in FL, most counties have a variety of openings each year....honestly, it's not too hard to find a job. However, where I grew up in NY, it's very competitive to even find a teacher job (which there are 100s of).</p> <p>I think it would be smart to look at your county's current postings of jobs. Since this is the prime hiring window for schools districts, it would give you a good idea.</p> <p>GL with w/e you choose...FWIW, I think school counseler would give you the best prospects. We have 5 at our school while we have one social worker that visits once a week (rotates throughout the county!). Feel free to wall me with any questions! :heart: :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1709880 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:24:19 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1709880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say it sounds like a worthwhile investment! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/work-advice-1#post-1709869 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:21:57 +0000 doodlepoodle 1709869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay I need some advice/feedback/whatever you have to offer! :)</p> <p>Here’s a little background:<br /> I have my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I took a lot of child development classes and loved it. When I graduated I was in the process of applying to grad school for School Social Work but DH was laid off and decided to go back to get his bachelors degree. I was offered a job in HR and here I am 4 or 5 years later…I don’t like my job. I love working with people and I have a great team, but I’m not passionate and I’m honestly pretty jaded. I find myself getting really frustrated and disliking people more every day HAHA!</p> <p>DH has 3 years left for his bachelor’s degree (he changed majors and universities so it’s taking longer) and I WOH full time. We can’t afford for me to not work, but I’m throwing around the idea of going back to school one or two classes/semester to get started. I’ve always been drawn to working with kids. How I ended up in HR I’ll never know! :P Totally by chance. I don’t know that I would have the classroom management skills to be a teacher, but I know I want to work with kids in some capacity. </p> <p>That being said. I know that social workers/counselors/school psychologists are kind of a dying breed and they’re combining them and sharing them within districts. Is it even worth it to consider going in to this field at this point? I don’t want to work really hard to get a degree that I won’t even be able to get a job with when I graduate, but I feel like that is where I’d do best. I have SO much more patience with kids than I do adults. Haha! ;-)</p> <p>What are your thoughts? And for the record, I’m not just wanting a career change because I want summer off! I’m not one of “those” people, this is what I initially was going to do but life has its way of changing along the lines! </p>