Relevant work experience?

[blueled]

I'll be graduating from undergrad this spring, but I don't think I have any relevant work experience...and I don't know if I can get any. You see, I was previously under the impression that I wanted to go into public interest law. I have 2 internships, one of them was with a law firm and the other was with AmeriCorps at a courthouse. I'm sure I can use the AmeriCorps experience for my personal statement as I worked with many families and children going through custodies and divorces and such.

However, I'm also taking a year off from school. I'm having a hard time finding any "children's social worker" relevant work experience as most of those positions require an MSW. Based on my resume, the best type of job for me to realistically get is like a legal assistant or paralegal type of job. I need to make some money to pay off some of my UG debt, but at the same time I want to try to at least get some relevant work experience. If I decide to apply for legal jobs, do you think this will hurt me significantly in my application?

[mtdvr]

I actually used my Americorps experience when applying for programs. There are lots of programs with children and young people, some of them in social care settings. Mine was working on creating programs at an after school center. I don't think there is so much on an expectation that you'll have been a case worker, more that you've had experience with clients in a community care setting. I have had an especially positive reaction to involvement with the Americorps program, so I think you're probably headed in the right direction. Good luck!

[jules162]

Youth workers do not needs MSWs depending on the nature of the job. Even residential counselors. If you feel the job you find is not relevant, you can always do some volunteer work to put on your resume.

[Wishing]

My advice would be to get a job as close as possible to your interests and then add additional volunteer hours/experience on top of that. Take inventory of what skills you can realistically get from the job you procure and then look for volunteer positions in areas your paying job maybe doesn't touch on. The admissions teams are not going to want to see you doing the impossible - getting a job with a BA that you should have an MSW for - but they will look at what experience you have and how you're able to talk about your experience. IMO they also look at initiative and like to see volunteer AND paid experience because it shows you're dedicated and interested.

[blueled]

I agree, you're better off finding a more closely relevant job for the next year. You can talk up your family court experience- that's great background for a children's services worker. Almost all Department of Human Services (or whatever it's called in your state) offices hire Bachelor's level workers- either as a visitation monitor, case manager, etc. If you can't find a job in the field, see what kinds of volunteer experiences you can rack up. See if Guardian Ad Litem is a volunteer position in your state, that looks great on a resume and lines up with your court background.

Imperfect (but generally accessible) fits include residential care, developmental disabilities, school programs, daycare. Broaden your categories and be willing to take a little less money for a year so that you can get your degree and make more money later. If you have to, you can defer your school loan for a year.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm trying to be realistic. Working in the jobs as you described, like a visitation monitor or case manager, are extremely hard to get right now and realistically I might not even hired for it until months later. I only have from June until December or whenever I submit my apps to do what I can.

I guess all I can really do is try to get some volunteer experience.