HELP! Options for jobs *unrelated* to my Master's degree?

Question

I will soon be finishing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. I originally went into social work with the intention of becoming a therapist with my own private practice.

Although I love the work and I love my clients, I am really not cut out for this field due to the low pay and high demands/burnout. I have SO much respect for people who do this work but I know it's not for me. The degree is teaching me a lot, though--about health care, communication, systems, etc.

I am asking for serious and encouraging answers to the following. 1. Will having a Master's degree--even if I work outside of social work--be to my benefit and help me get a higher paying job than I would have with only a bachelors? 2. Besides for HR, what are different directions I can go with this degree (outside of social work)?

Thank you.

Dr. Adventure: I'd be happy making 45 for a starting salary, but in my area the salary is about 10,000 less...with a Master's degree. I'll have major loans...plus the city where I live is *very* expensive (and relocation isn't an option).

Dr. Adventure: I'd be happy making 45 for a starting salary, but in my area the salary is about 10,000 less...with a Master's degree. I'll have major loans...plus the city where I live is *very* expensive (and relocation isn't an option).

Answer 1

Having a master's degree will be beneficial regardless if you have it in your career field or not. You might have to do a little more work to get to where you want to be (like an internship) but in the long run it's never a bad thing to have a master's degree.

My suggestion for a field is go with something that you're interested in (regardless of your degree). You can go anywhere you want. Can you list some things that you think you might be interested in? Browse some major job websites and see what kinds of things are open, that might spark your interest.

Answer 2

I'm sure it has to be frustrating to be thinking your plans and the reason you went to get your MSW are not the best choice. You don't indicate if you don't want to do private practice anymore or any work in the human services. I'll comment on both. Also you don't indicate exactly when you will done (e.g. this semester or in May).

Social work as you hopefully have been exposed to is much broader than private practice and therapy (in fact though this is where many social workers have worked in the past, it is quickly becoming a flooded market and competition for clients is really challenging.) So if you look more broadly at the degree within human service work, the first place to consider is administration (e.g. executive director or program manager) - you might consider taking courses in your remaining time in this are (grant writing, administration, etc). Also consider policy work and other forms of indirect or macro level practice. You might also look at jobs that combine direct and indirect work so it is not so focused on individual psycho therapy. You don't say what your salry requirements are but average salary for a new MSW is 30-60 K depending on where you live and what you do.

Now out side of social work - Human resource management is a good one. Beyond this...Real Estate is a very common one. The skills you have developed can be very useful in running your own business.

You might also look into being a consultant in terms of grant writing, running trainings, doing workshops or other trainings. Also being a trainer for an existing company is a good options as well. Jobs in planning, can be good.

You could always get a job in the corporate sector.

DA

Answer 3

My Mom was a prof. of SW. I am an MSN Family Nurse Practitioner. Yes, having the Masters will help no matter what you do. Most employers respect all the stuff it takes to get that degree.
If you want to go into an interesting quasi-medical sort of practice work with alcohol and drug patients in rehab. You can do outpatient , private pay counciling with the addition of a course or two to become an Lic Alcohol and drug councilor.
The pay is not bad and you have a lot of autonomy.

MSW's are really finding a lot of fulfillment with working with patients in Palliative care and End of Life Care and Home Health. I can see no end to fields that can use an MSW.

You are very right a lot of MSW jobs, esp. in the public sectors, pay awful and the work is brutal. But explore your options via asking people and the also in the research section of the library. Sit down and do a 'cost benefit analysis' based on salaries available of fields you might be interested in. Good Luck and congrats on your MSW !

Answer 4

I do not know why you would not want a PhD once you have a masters degree. You have had your ticket punched to het the highest degree available and you really should do a PhD instead of another masters, My daughter will have her masters in the spring and already has offers for fully funded PhDs from several schools and can't wait to start. At least with a PhD you will always be able to teach if you cannot find any other work.

Answer 5

Terra,

You are not alone and you should not feel as if you have "wasted" anything. Education is always a wonderful thing, whether you persue a career in your masters field or not!

That said, it is never too late to change to something new if you are not satisfied with your results. If this is not something you would like to devote the rest of your career life to then find something else and just be grateful for the knowledge you have attained.

If you would like an article that will help, you can email me at [e-mail] and I will be glad to email you a copy as it is too long to send through answers messaging. Just let me know that you would like the article in helping you find a career change that is suitable for you.

I wish you all the best in whatever path you travel and I look forward to helping you.
Bonnie Ramsey

Answer 6

This site is very helpful in answering career related questions. There are links on the left side of the page that will take you to research options.
Hope you find what your looking for!!

Answer 7

You completely WASTED your time & money going to school for what turns out that you don't even like it & don't even want a career out of it. Why did you even pursue to get your Masters for it??? especially since you don't even know what good it will do for you in an unrelated field. The companies will think your indecisive & change your mind a lot. You will not look stable or reliable.