My dear young friends who are interested in the social work profession and plan to work in this field,
Social work education in our country started in 1961. Today, many universities have social work departments and social workers graduate.
Social work is dedicated to different groups of needs from different segments of the society, who are in different life situations and need social services due to problems that arise out of their control. In addition, this profession has the authority to intervene.
In the development process of social change; The problems and characteristics of client groups of social work are changing. In occupational interventions, the need for both multidisciplinary interventions and professionals with advanced intervention knowledge and skills on specific issues is also increasing.
Social work is a difficult profession because its scientific literature is very extensive, it synthesizes the theoretical knowledge from different disciplines and the knowledge of evidence-based practices and uses them in professional practice. For this reason, it will be important to research evidence-based information throughout his professional life, to do readings, to receive postgraduate training, to constantly be renewed with evidence-based professional scientific information according to the conditions of the day, and to follow scientific studies on the subject.
When it comes to professional career in social work, the first thing that comes to mind is the academic career. Relevant conditions must be met for an academic career and relevant postgraduate degrees such as master's and doctoral degrees must be obtained. Scientific studies, projects and practices to be carried out in the following years will be decisive for the academic career.
Taking part in related public institutions in social work is another important career field. Working in different application areas of social work and having professional experience, being a manager in relevant social work institutions and organizations, making important contributions to the development of new service models with policy-making roles and taking part in these processes can also provide valuable career opportunities.
One of the important areas within the scope of career opportunities in social work is the establishment and operation of private social service institutions and organizations; is entrepreneurship. Non-governmental organizations, which are structured for different need groups serving in the field of social work, can also offer opportunities for the employment of social workers from time to time.
Career in social work, regardless of which field, sector, position; evidence-based scientific knowledge and intervention skills that will be gained by synthesizing with family and couple therapies, cognitive therapies, psychodrama or psychotherapy trainings developed in different styles to be taken after graduation will require in terms of quality professional interventions in the services carried out for certain need groups.
Because it is clear that the client systems we work with should be studied with this information for the life situations they are in. For this, there is a need for postgraduate programs that will provide information and intervention skills for different need groups, and the strengthening and dissemination of clinical-oriented social work perspective.
The regional characteristics of each department that provides social work education can also determine the areas of specialization in a sense. Family-focused interventions in social work, industrial social work, human resources, military social work, social work in disasters and war, community development community organization, school social work, forensic social work, gerontology, international social work, migration issues and so on. The opening and dissemination of postgraduate programs will also provide graduates with different career opportunities.