One of the most dreaded searches is one that consists of finding a job that you either qualify for or would be interested in entertaining. Unfortunately the working economy has plummeted over the last few years, leaving college graduates at a standstill when hoping to work with their newly earned degree. In May, I will hopefully be one of those newly graduated college student indulging in the dreadful search of a job, hoping to finally leave the employment I have been holding for the last six years, since i was 16 years old.
Immediately after undergraduate school, I hope to apply to graduate school, but for a different degree. In May I will be obtaining a BA in English but recently have had a change of heart and hope to then work for my MSW, Masters Degree in Social Work. When looking on the Internet for job ads, I decided that I would find on for my BA in English and look to see what I could hope for with an MSW.
Monster.Com is an easy site when searching for jobs that can be agreeable to your skills and needs. I first chose to look up Social Worker occupations and put that I had good communication skills in. In Massachusetts, the website located 13 Communication Skills Social Worker jobs. The first one i read about, interested me immediately, for a hospice care service. For the last six years i have worked in a nursing home as a Certified Nurse's Assistant, and unfortunately, i have had my fair share of experience with hospice, death and dying. My desire to be a social worker is just another avenue i could take to continue gaining experience helping families at a very difficult time in their lives. The requirements listed by the agency are all I either already have experience with, or hope to have once my MSW is completed. Monster.com also offers a link for you to click if you would like to explore similar jobs which could be useful, had i been ready to explore. Finding this specific job ad, makes me look forward to my completion of my degree in the next few years to come.
Taking a more reasonable job search route, I explored possibilities i could look into for my BA in English this coming May. Editing is just one of the many job opportunities that opens up with a degree in English. I chose to look at assistant editing job opportunities with a skill in writing which produced only two ads but one seeming sufficient and interesting. This ad featured an Editorial Assistant job at an entry level with a Bachelor's degree requirement. It requests someone with strong organizational and time management skills, sharp eye for detail as well as excellent proofreading skills, with a possible medical interest. Although UpToDate, Inc. is not as detailed as the social worker ad, it does inform the prospective applicant of the benefits that come along with the job.
My desire to obtain and MSW does not rule out my interest in my BA in English. Both jobs are equally interesting to me because they both offer the oppurtunity of excersising skills, interests, and exoperiences i have obtained and would like to use and perfectioning them further.
Looking for a new job, though dreadful, is necessary. The fear of graduating with a degree that you will not be able to use, is present in every student approaching graduation. This classroom excersise made me realize that i could entertain the possibilities of working with both degrees or either one but still use my medical background.
Riveting read classmate! Even though English and Social Work are different fields I like how you are keeping a very open mind about your options even though you got interested in Social Work late in your college career. I can definitely see where the passion for social work comes from as I also work at Medical Center in Boston and not a few times i have thought about changing to a health care related field.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really good post. Having two degrees in such diverse areas is good in this economy. If the therapy industry isn't doing to well, you still have an English degree. It would also give you the opportunity to try out both types of jobs to see which you can see yourself in for a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, I think both of your degrees will be pretty helpful in employment. Previously, I did not think that an MSW would pair well with an English degree, but it's good that it does for you.