For individuals who enjoy working closely with others and helping to make a difference in their lives, social work offers enormous personal rewards. Social workers gain satisfaction by knowing that they are helping people to overcome difficult problems and to find real solutions. This may be done by offering clinical help, such as therapy or counseling, or by helping the individual locate needed social, mental health or medical services.
Professional growth is a major personal reward for a social work career. Social work provides opportunities for long-term career advancement and growth. For instance, professional social workers are not only required to have a master's degree but also must meet specific requirements for independent licensing after they complete school. Licensing allows the social worker to take on supervisory roles and to work in independent practice. Social workers who become licensed must continue to grow professionally and take professional courses and workshops to maintain their license.
Social work offers personal rewards such as broad range of job opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2011, employment opportunities in social work are growing faster than other occupations on average. Individuals interested in a career in social work can expect to have ample employment opportunities, particularly in comparison with other fields in the current economy. Opportunities are particularly widespread for social workers who specialize in the areas of child, family and school social work as well as medical and public health social work.
Many social workers choose the field because of an enjoyment of feeling fully engaged in the work that they are doing. Social work often requires the individual to balance many different tasks at one time, work long hours and have many clients. In addition, social workers specialize in helping people with many challenges, such as substance abuse and mental health issues as well as poverty, homelessness and severe physical disabilities. Although these aspects of the work provide many challenges, they also can be highly rewarding, particularly for the individual who enjoys problem solving in a busy environment.