Social workers labor tirelessly to help those who need it, without much glamor or glory.
Tell us about your current position and how long youve been at it.
My name is Kate Abramson.
I have been a social worker for seven years.
At the start of my 7thyearlucky sevenI joinedLung Cancer Allianceas the Support Services Manager.
What drove you to choose your career path?
Ever since I was a child I had that cliched desire to help people.
My parents were very active volunteering with social service agencies when I was younger.
How did you go about getting your job?
What kind of education and experience did you need?
Did you need any licenses or certifications?
Most social workers have a Masters in social work from an accredited school.
Each state has its own individual licensing exam and process.
After graduate school, you take an exam to be a licensed graduate social worker (LGSW).
What kinds of things do you do beyond what most people see?
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
The truth is that people have no idea how broad our work can be.
Those skills never change.
The professional possibilities are endless and are only limited by personal interest and skill set.
What are your average work hours?
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
Ive learned to embrace the uncertainty and adjust on the fly.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
What do they do instead?
Im not sure I do anything different than my coworkers since we all have the same primary goals.
You are affecting change on a daily basis, whether it be big or small.
Also, your daily to-do list can change every day.
I dont think Ive ever said that I was bored doing a social work job.
Whats the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
I imagine this work can take an emotional toll.
Sometimes being a social worker can just be straight up exhausting.
There are really good days and there are also really bad days.
Obviously taking time for yourself and knowing your limits is the best.
Whats the most enjoyable part of the job?
The most enjoyable part of the job is probably developing meaningful relationships with patients.
Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?
I think sometimes people see a social worker when theyre not really ready.
If you dont have any desire to change it will be very hard for us to work with you.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
You will never become a millionaire as a social worker no matter where you work.
How do you move up in your field?
As I mentioned before, there is no set social work job which actually is a very good thing.
The profession offers multiple opportunities for long-term advancement and strong growth potential.
For me, Lung Cancer Alliance was an excellent transition and move up for my field.
What do people under/over value about what you do?
I think that people undervalue the importance of one-on-one interactions that happen daily between social workers and their patients.
We really are working to lay a foundation to actually make progress.
Its a normal response to stressful circumstances.
People need us to be there in the moment with them to fight through problems.
Its important that they know they are not alone when they reach out to us.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
If youd like to share your career, email us at[email protected].
Photo byChameleonsEye(Shutterstock).
