Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, and you can become one of them. Serving the people is a blissful work that removes you from a constant corporate spiderweb of promotion and demotion and puts you into the hands of yourself, where you can not just help yourself but help others too in the process.
India has dedicated programs and training regiments for social workers. While it may not be as challenging as a doctor or entrepreneur, it still has its own version of hurdles, and in this article, we will see how to tackle all of them. Sit tight as we guide you through how to become one of the best social workers in India along with social service courses in India that you should be aiming for.
What is Social Work?
Social work basically refers to helping society by any means necessary. For example, finding a suitable home for the homeless, guiding a drug addict to a life free from addiction, helping clean up the neighborhood, and so on. Think of it as a bunch of odd jobs that no one else wants to do, and that's where social work comes in.
People who work in such jobs are called social workers. They are known for their kindness and are expected to lend a helping hand whenever they can. But remember one thing: sometimes people voluntarily join in to help others; that is social work too, but we cannot call them Social Workers. The term “Social Worker” is reserved for those who do it for a living, not as a temporary measurement. And that basically wraps up our scope of social work.
Steps to Becoming a Social Worker in India
If you came this far, then that means you have a heart of gold that aims to share its wealth with others. Social workers are loved by everyone, making it a perfect starting point for entering into a world of helpfulness. So without any further ado, let's see what you need to do to achieve a position as a successful Social Worker in India:
1. Take a Career Counselling
We will always recommend getting a career counseling session first before making a lifelong commitment. Sometimes students do not think clearly and just go with the flow, only to regret it later on and start all over again in a different stream. Social work is definitely a viable career path. But, as in any stream, it has its ups and downs. Make sure to discuss everything thoroughly with a counsellor and clear up your path to success.
2. Complete your Education
Social work doesn't have a complicated education path. All you need to do is either complete a bachelor's degree for low-to-mid-level positions or a master's for high-level ones. Either way, here's a quick summary of all the paths that you can take to become a social worker in India:
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- A three-year-long undergraduate program.
- Requires passing of CUET-UG, SAT, or other university-level entrance exam.
- Aims at providing fundamental knowledge about social work in the public and commercial sectors.
- Average Annual Fee (AAF): ₹20000
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- A two-year-long postgraduate program.
- Requires passing of CUET-UG, CPGET, or any other university-level entrance exam.
- Aims at providing professional-level knowledge to equip students with clinical social work, community organizing, child welfare, mental health, and so on.
- Average Annual Fee (AAF): ₹25000
- BSW + Social Science courses
- Students with a social science background can achieve MSW-level positions with just a BSW.
- The final decision depends on the person hiring.
- An MSW certificate will always have more value than a BSW + any Social science stream.
3. Start Exploring Career Options
BSW & MSW career options are massive right now. A lot of prestigious colleges can hire you directly; meanwhile, there are tons of government and private non-profit organizations that always look to hire qualified candidates throughout the years. But that's not the only thing; hospitals, NGOs, schools, and even international brands can hire you on the spot. This world can never have enough social workers anytime soon, just like doctors or even engineers.
And no one can deny that great minds like Vinoba Bhave, Jyotiba Phule, Irom Sharmila, etc., have made social work look more charming to the masses. There are a lot of famous social workers in India, and each and every one of them is considered a priceless gem of modern society.
The Good and the Bad Sides of Social Worker in India
There are almost zero downfalls to picking this line, almost. While this particular article aims to showcase the best things about social work, it would still be inconsiderate to not share those flaws that every social worker eventually faces:
The Challenges
- Dealing with tough situations: Social workers are often faced with traumatic situations like poverty, physical abuse, and disfigured bodies due to accidents. These things can be horrifying, and eventually, they can take a toll on the social workers themselves.
- Heavy Workload: Social workers are often told to do overtime. There is no guarantee something bad won't happen anytime soon. Cases like that can tire you physically by working additional hours or continuously over months and even years.
- Suspicious Payslips: It's given that social workers are paid through donations of others. If your organization gets good donations, you'll get good pay. But let's be honest, that rarely happens. So most social workers even face low-pay months in their lifetime numerous times.
- Systematic Limitation: There is a limit to what a social worker can do. Sometimes these limitations can make you frustrated, as the patient or the person you are helping keeps suffering from his past experiences. Some cases can even lead to court, further proving that social work in India still has a long way to go.
The Rewards
That's why taking career counseling at the right time is so important. Because the challenges listed above can be a deal breaker for most. But there are also good sides that every social worker eventually enjoys and savors every bite of it. Here are a few of them just for reference:
- Emotionally Rewarding: Most ordinary workers hate their job, but still they do it. But in the case of social workers, they love their job, and that's why they do it. Helping others rewards you from the inside, giving a sense of fulfillment that keeps you hanging in the field despite its challenges.
- Flexible Career Paths: Social workers have the chance to work in virtually all kinds of places. Schools, hospitals, NGOs, or even flying abroad! There is no limit to where they can work and how they can work.
- Deep relationship: Social workers connect with people's hearts, making new friends and companions along the way. They can make as many friends as they want and maybe fill their entire year with invitations to birthday parties from all sorts of people.
- Stable Career: Social workers are never laid off. They always stay in their position, and there's only one way up. They enjoy a stable cash flow and get exposed to many money-making opportunities due to their nature of work. Meet strong people and create strong wallets!
How to find jobs as social workers in India?
After completing your social service courses in India, you can start applying for jobs through any online job portal you want. There aren't any specific steps for social workers in particular. So, here's a list of cumulative ways of finding social jobs in India:
- Use online job hunting websites like Naukri.com, LinkedIn, Foundit, and so on.
- Contact NGOs directly via call, in-person visit, or mail about your availability for job opportunities.
- Keep a lookout for international NGOs and non-profit organizations as well as regional ones.
- Make more connections during your education so you can find opportunities through word of mouth.
- Enhance your resume with relevant information and update it regularly.
- Attend webinars and conferences and try to volunteer in workshops. You can find many opportunities through exposure.
- Consider completing MSW. The scope of MSW is massive, and you are guaranteed to land a high-paying position right after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are social work occupations good?
Ans. Yes, absolutely. In fact, it's not just Good, it's Very Good. The impact that a social worker dishes out is like a miracle for those in need, and they will remember your face and your warmth forever.
Q2. Why do social jobs in India pay less?
Ans. That is an unfortunate truth that most social workers are underpaid in India, at least for the first few years. That's why you should always try to find other ways of making money.
Q3. What is the scope of MSW in India?
Ans. The scope of MSW in India, or the entire social work scene as a whole, is massive. The demand is growing steadily, as more and more youngsters are carelessly getting addicted to drugs, porn, and alcohol. It is not a good thing, which makes it even more serious to keep hiring qualified social workers who possess an MSW degree.
Q4. What kinds of things will I be doing in social work?
Ans. As a certified social worker, you will be helping people through therapy, counseling, advocacy, research, and so on.
Q5. How to become a social worker in India?
Ans. In order to become a social worker, you must complete your class 12th first with a minimum of 45% total marks. Pursue a Bachelor of Social Work, or BSW, afterward, and even an MSW if your aim is to directly apply for a higher position.
