Thrown into the Water: Early-career Social Workers’ Job Challenges and Time Management Coping Strategies

Abstract

The present study examined the early-career experiences of Israeli social workers in their first years in the profession. The study also sought to examine the participants’ coping with the challenges posed by entering social work. Using a qualitative methodology, two focus groups of eleven social workers with eighteen months of work experience were conducted. The participants were asked about their professional role and workplace experiences. The findings pointed to two main challenges: stress and emotional overload, and dissatisfaction with organisational and employment conditions. The participants felt that social work education had not prepared them adequately for the complex reality of their practice. At the same time, they also described coping strategies related to time management. The implications discussed include requisite preparations of social work education and employing organisations to support early-career social workers.

Post-Master’s Career Progression of Social Workers

“…Early career social workers often feel emotionally overwhelmed by blurred boundaries between work and home life, a lack of supervision, and a strong disconnect between their perception of the world during their MSW programs compared to the reality seen from a professional perspective (Segev et al, 2022). Social work is portrayed to students in MSW programs as a helping profession that makes great strides in enhancing human well-being.…”

“…Social work is portrayed to students in MSW programs as a helping profession that makes great strides in enhancing human well-being. However, common hierarchical and bureaucratic barriers often inhibit or slow progression of systemic change, disillusioning new workers who now realize making real differences in the lives of their clients and broader changes among communities, is likely to be more difficult than they initially thought due to factors beyond their control (Segev et al, 2022). Given that social workers are particularly susceptible to burnout (Grant & Kinman, 2014), building resiliency skills in the early stages of a social work career helps social workers better navigate the emotional and mental demands of the profession.…”