Review: 101 Careers in Social Work - Third Edition (2019)

101 Careers in Social Work - Third Edition (2019) by Jessica Ritter, Ann Obermann and Kirstin Lindsay Danhoff, is an expanded career guidebook that addresses the breath of the social work profession and the different career options available with a social work degree. The goal of the book is to help readers assess whether they are suited for a career in social work, describe more than 100 distinct career paths for social workers, and provide readers with the tools and resources they need to plan their social work careers, based on their skills and interests. It builds upon the second edition with updated information and new features, such as:

• Fifteen new personal narratives describing the rewards and challenges of different social work practices
• A new section highlighting important social and political issues relevant for each social work practice
• New data on employment opportunities and salaries from the U.S. Department of Labor
• New resources (books, essays, films and websites) for additional career exploration

The book begins with dispelling myths about the social work profession and how it is different from related fields and disciplines, such as psychology, sociology and counseling. The book is categorized under three sections: a) The Profession of Social Work (which includes an overview and future outlook of social work); b) Careers in Social Work (featuring 14 practice domains); and c) education and job hunting tools and websites (from earning a degree in social work to preparing your future career). 

The featured practice domains comprise of the following:

• Child Welfare
• School-Based Social Work
• Social Work with Older Adults (Gerontology) 
• Social Work in Healthcare 
• Mental Health and Addiction
• Crisis Intervention
• Criminal Justice and the Legal Arena 
• International Social Work and Human Rights
• Poverty and Homelessness
• Advocacy and the Political Arena
• Community Practice
• Human Service Organizations
• Research and Academia
• Nontraditional Careers in Social Work (including Dual Degrees) 

Each practice domain chapter includes a wealth of information about various job titles and career paths (e.g., nonprofit agencies, research, and government), core competencies and skills, educational and licensing requirements, best and challenging aspects of the job, compensation and employment outlook, self-assessment questionnaires and checklist to see if the job would be a good fit based on interest and skills.

I enjoyed the section on nontraditional careers in social work because the social work degree is versatile in a variety of professional settings. Social workers can be found as filmmakers, consultants, mediators, journalists, attorneys, and much more! Social workers can pursue a myriad of dual degrees in fields such as law, public health, public policy, nonprofit administration, education/higher education, and so forth. Part of my blog has been to highlight nontraditional careers in social work, particularly for those who specialized in macro practice as administrators, researchers, and advocates/organizers. The social work profession is deeply committed to social justice and helping those in need regardless of practice. 

As a macro practice social work student, this career guidebook was a wonderful resource to help me plan my career path. Social workers can be found creating positive change with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.  I highly recommend this new edition to prospective and current students as well as working professionals and practitioners who want to explore the array of career options in social work.