leadership adders:STEPS TO A GREAT CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK

the value of social work mentoring

Mentoring is an invaluable component ofevery social worker’s career. Manyindividuals choose the profession of socialwork because they have been inspired oradvised by a social worker or a mentor(Whitaker, 2008). After choosing theprofession, though, social workers mustcontinue to make career choices andrespond to a variety of unanticipatedchallenges. A social work mentor canprovide support and perspective in multipleaspects of your career:

› Understanding of practicespecialization opportunities. Thebreadth of the social work professionappeals to many people. That samebreadth can prove challenging to astudent or emerging professionalstruggling to find a niche. A socialwork mentor can provide informationnot only on working with variousclient populations, but also on thediversity of settings and roles in whichyou can serve specific clientele.

› Insight on career transitions.Direct practice is but one of manysocial work career choices. Mentorsalso support social workers inadministration, education, policy,research, and community organizing.A social work mentor may beespecially helpful if you areconsidering a switch from directpractice to a mezzo- or macro-levelrole. The perspective of a mentormay also be useful for social workersnearing retirement or wishing todecrease their work hours to focuson personal priorities.

› Identification and enhancement ofprofessional strengths. Though manysocial workers have some qualities incommon, each professional possessesa unique combination of assets. Amentor can reflect those qualities andhelp you consider how to use yourstrengths to create and maintain afulfilling social work career.

JULY 2012

mentor: a trusted counselor or guide (Merriam-Webster, 2012)

NASW

National Association of Social Workers750 First Street NE, Suite 700Washington, DC 20002-4241

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REFERENCES

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2008).Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary(11th ed.). Springfield, MA: Author.

National Association of Social Workers.(2010). 2010 Social Work Congress:Final report. Retrieved fromwww.socialworkers.org/2010congress/documents/FinalCongress-StudentReport.pdf

National Association of Social(2008). Code of ethics of theAssociation of Social WorkersRetrieved from www.socialworpubs/code

Whitaker, T. (2008). Who waa social worker? Career influetiming. NASW Membership WStudy. Retrieved from Nationalof Social Workers website,http://workforce.socialworkerstudies/BeaSocialWorker.pdf

› Recognition of, and strategies toaddress, professional developmentneeds. Every social worker finds someaspects of practice more difficult thanothers. You may thrive in one-on-oneinteractions but have difficulty withpublic speaking, for example. Amentor can provide feedback on yourlearning needs and help you identifystrategies to meet those needs.

› Navigation of workplace dynamics.Social workers often anticipateclient-related stressors but mayunderestimate other challengesinherent in the work environment.A mentor can help you maximizeyour effectiveness in the midst ofcomplex workplace dynamics.

› Identification with the profession.Many social workers work in hostsettings or interdisciplinary teams inwhich client’s psychosocial well-beingis not regarded as primary. You mayeven be the lone social worker in yourorganization. Such situations poseunique challenges for social workers,who must educate their colleaguesand advocate for clients whilemaintaining collaborative relationshipsand supporting the mission of theiremployers. A social work mentor canhelp you stay connected to theprofession.

» FINDING A SOCIAL WORK MENTORMany social workers develop andmaintain trusting relationships withsupportive professors, field instructors, orclinical supervisors. Other social workersfind mentors through structured programswithin NASW chapters, organizationsdevoted to their practice specialties, orsocial work alumni networks. Suchprograms are often tailored towardrecent graduates. Some employingorganizations even offer mentoring fornew employees. A mentor may also bea peer, such as a respected colleague,or someone working in a role thatappeals to you.

» MENTORING RELATIONSHIPSSome mentoring relationships arestructured, with regularly scheduledmeetings or conversations; others areflexible and may vary in intensity. What’simportant is to find a balance that worksfor both your mentor and you and torecognize that the relationship maychange over time in response to one orboth of your circumstances. You may alsofind that you develop mentoringrelationships with more than one socialworker at a time or over time. Forexample, one colleague may provideguidance in professional publishing, andanother when you transition from directpractice into administration.

Don’t overlook the value of informalmentoring. A person need not hold thetitle of mentor to be a valuable asset inyour professional development. The socialwork profession is replete with dedicatedindividuals eager to help their colleaguessucceed. If you approach your careerwith that mindset, you will find multiplesocial workers who enhance yourprofessional growth.

» PASS IT ONHaving and serving as a mentor need notbe exclusive; as your career progresses,you may want to consider becoming amentor to another social worker. Not onlydoes mentoring promote the social workprofession—a mandate of the NASWCode of Ethics (2008)—but it alsosupports social work retention, anoverwhelmingly popular imperative of the2010 Social Work Congress (NASW,2010). Check with your local NASWchapter or alumni network about volunteermentoring opportunities. If no mentoringprogram exists in your area, considercreating one, or just take the time tonurture a supportive relationship with aless experienced social worker or acolleague in transition. When you do,you’ll realize how much your ownmentors have taught you.

Having andserving as amentor neednot beexclusive;as your careerprogresses,you may wantto considerbecoming amentor toanother socialworker.

©2012 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reser

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REFERENCES

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. (2008).Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary(11th ed.). Springfield, MA: Author.

National Association of Social Workers.(2010). 2010 Social Work Congress:Final report. Retrieved fromwww.socialworkers.org/2010congress/documents/FinalCongress-StudentReport.pdf

National Association of Social Workers.(2008). Code of ethics of the NationalAssociation of Social Workers (Rev. ed.).Retrieved from www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code

Whitaker, T. (2008). Who wants to bea social worker? Career influences andtiming. NASW Membership WorkforceStudy. Retrieved from National Associationof Social Workers website,http://workforce.socialworkers.org/studies/BeaSocialWorker.pdf

tion of, and strategies to, professional developmentEvery social worker finds someof practice more difficult thanYou may thrive in one-on-oneons but have difficulty withpeaking, for example. Acan provide feedback on yourneeds and help you identifys to meet those needs.

tion of workplace dynamics.workers often anticipateated stressors but mayimate other challengesin the work environment.r can help you maximizeectiveness in the midst ofworkplace dynamics.

ation with the profession.ocial workers work in hostor interdisciplinary teams inient’s psychosocial well-beinggarded as primary. You maythe lone social worker in your

ation. Such situations posehallenges for social workers,st educate their colleaguesocate for clients whileing collaborative relationshipsporting the mission of theirrs. A social work mentor canstay connected to the

on.

A SOCIAL WORK MENTORal workers develop andsting relationships withprofessors, field instructors, orervisors. Other social workerss through structured programsW chapters, organizationstheir practice specialties, oralumni networks. Suchre often tailored towarduates. Some employingns even offer mentoring foryees. A mentor may also beh as a respected colleague,e working in a role thatyou.

» MENTORING RELATIONSHIPSSome mentoring relationships arestructured, with regularly scheduledmeetings or conversations; others areflexible and may vary in intensity. What’simportant is to find a balance that worksfor both your mentor and you and torecognize that the relationship maychange over time in response to one orboth of your circumstances. You may alsofind that you develop mentoringrelationships with more than one socialworker at a time or over time. Forexample, one colleague may provideguidance in professional publishing, andanother when you transition from directpractice into administration.

Don’t overlook the value of informalmentoring. A person need not hold thetitle of mentor to be a valuable asset inyour professional development. The socialwork profession is replete with dedicatedindividuals eager to help their colleaguessucceed. If you approach your careerwith that mindset, you will find multiplesocial workers who enhance yourprofessional growth.

» PASS IT ONHaving and serving as a mentor need notbe exclusive; as your career progresses,you may want to consider becoming amentor to another social worker. Not onlydoes mentoring promote the social workprofession—a mandate of the NASWCode of Ethics (2008)—but it alsosupports social work retention, anoverwhelmingly popular imperative of the2010 Social Work Congress (NASW,2010). Check with your local NASWchapter or alumni network about volunteermentoring opportunities. If no mentoringprogram exists in your area, considercreating one, or just take the time tonurture a supportive relationship with aless experienced social worker or acolleague in transition. When you do,you’ll realize how much your ownmentors have taught you.

©2012 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.

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