60 Alternative Careers for Social Workers Who Are Burned Out
Social workers deal with a lot in their daily job. Burnout and emotional exhaustion are common, and it’s ok to consider a career change for this reason. In fact, many social workers have changed jobs by using their current skills in a new role. Here, we aim to offer you some options for a career change, as well as practical advice to make the switch.
A career change is possible for social workers, it might take some work though.
Why Social Workers Consider a Career Change
Many social workers experience stress at their jobs. Crown Counseling says, "Studies show that 55% of social workers suffer from secondary traumatic stress." Changing jobs is personal. Remember, there is no bad reason to change careers, and you’re not alone.
In social work, you may change careers for these reasons:
Emotional Burnout: You may feel stressed helping others with their problems. This can impact you emotionally.
High Caseloads: High work volume can make it feel as though you never have any time for yourself.
Low Pay: Depending on your role, you may be getting underpaid for the work you’re doing.
Lack of Support: A support system is a must for social workers. If you don’t have others to help with your needs, you may get more and more stressed at work.
It’s not quitting to want a job change; it’s an opportunity to use existing skills in a new way. If you need help along the way, career coaching services like Hidden Gem Career Coaching can help you with the transition.
Free Career Consultation
Feeling stuck in your career? Let our transition experts help you take the next step with a personalized strategy session.
Schedule Your Free ConsultationTransferable Skills of Social Workers
You may not realize it, but as a social worker, you’ve got some in-demand skills. These skills can help you find jobs like social work that pay better or lead to non-traditional social work jobs:
Empathy & Active Listening
Crisis Management
Strong Communication Skills
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Case Management and Organization
These skills are in almost every field. LinkedIn supports this, saying that hiring managers look at soft skills as much as technical skills. With these, right off the bat, you’re well-equipped to succeed in a professional setting.
Top Alternative Careers for Social Workers
1. Clinical and Therapeutic Careers
Mental Health Therapist
A social worker connects people to resources. A mental health therapist deals more with mental health. In this role, you will help individuals improve their emotional well-being.
Substance Abuse Counselor
A substance abuse counselor helps people cope with addiction. They help struggling people overcome substance abuse.
Marriage and Family Therapist
A marriage and family therapist works with couples and families. They help manage relationships and usually focus on family systems.
Trauma Therapist
A trauma therapist helps people who have experienced trauma recover. They help identify triggers, and teach coping mechanisms to heal.
Grief Counselor
A grief counselor helps people who have had a distressing experience. They allow the person to express their grief and learn coping mechanisms to work through it in a healthy way.
Psychiatric Social Worker
A psychiatric social worker is part of a psychiatric team to help people with mental problems. They may assist patients struggling with disorders by gathering data. This is so they can develop treatment plans.
Crisis Intervention Specialist
A crisis intervention specialist helps families in a crisis. This is by offering therapy, solving problems, and advocating on behalf of the client.
Why It’s a Good Fit
Thanks to past experience, the transition from social work to therapy or crisis intervention can be easy to make. Social work-adjacent jobs allow you to use skills in crisis intervention jobs.
2. Educational and School-Based Careers
School Social Worker
A school social worker helps students by connecting them with social resources. That's often with the goal of academic achievement or social development.
Special Education Social Worker
Special education social workers help special needs students. They may connect these students with the resources they need to excel or advocate on their behalf.
Guidance Counselor
A guidance counselor works to help students achieve. They provide academic resources and plan for their future academic success.
Why It’s a Good Fit
These careers similar to social work focus on supporting students and families. This gives the resources and guidance needed to succeed.
3. Healthcare and Medical Careers
Medical Social Worker
A medical social worker helps individuals and families cope with illness. They offer community resources, guidance, and emotional support. to help families manage during a difficult time.
Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker
This worker helps sick patients and families. They navigate the stress of a terminal diagnosis. They may also provide resources to the family. And they can teach coping skills, and arrange palliative care with the family.
Patient Advocate
A patient advocate works with patients to meet their needs. They share these needs with healthcare providers. That includes financial and legal support. It also includes day-to-day planning for appointments and tests.
Case Manager (Healthcare)
A case manager coordinates care for a patient on their behalf or on behalf of their family/caregiver. They help patients understand what they are going through, how to cope with it, and what resources are available to them.
Oncology Social Worker
Oncology social workers counsel cancer patients. They also help their families. They give support for families to make healthcare choices. These workers also manage day-to-day patient needs.
Geriatric Social Worker
A geriatric social worker evaluates the needs of a patient and makes sure they get the services they need. They also coordinate care and help with end-of-life planning.
Why It’s a Good Fit
These alternative social work jobs call for empathy, patient care, and advocacy. As a social worker, you can transfer your current skills into a familiar role in a medical setting.
4. Community and Public Health Roles
Community Outreach Worker
A community outreach worker helps those in need to thrive. This is by providing support and connecting them with local services.
Public Health Educator
A public health educator informs people about wellness. They help people learn about diseases through programs. They can also conduct research about health problems.
Housing Coordinator
A housing coordinator works in an administrative role to assign residents to housing. They also delegate maintenance jobs, and help residents with issues.
Community Health Worker
A community health worker serves as a liaison between health services and the community. They help the community adopt healthy habits and advocate for its needs. They may represent underserved groups to help them access health resources.
Nonprofit Program Director
A nonprofit program director oversees programs. They hire and supervise teams. They ensure the programs align with the nonprofit's mission.
Why It’s a Good Fit
These other jobs for social workers let you promote community health. If you enjoy advocating for others to bring about positive health change, then these jobs could be for you.
5. Child and Family Services Careers
Child Welfare Case Manager
A child welfare case manager evaluates the best interests of kids in the welfare system. This involves working with the child, family, and court system to advocate and provide resources for the child.
Foster Care Social Worker
Similarly, a foster care social worker advocates for the interests of children in the foster care system. They aim to help children find permanent homes, keep families together, or reunite them if possible.
Adoption Specialist
An adoption specialist connects families with children in need of homes. They guide the adoption process. They advise families and serve as mediators between the birth parents and adoptive parents. They also make sure the home is a good fit for the child.
Child Protective Services (CPS) Worker
A CPS worker takes action to protect children from abuse and neglect. This includes investigating and intervening on behalf of the child.
Family Support Worker
A family support worker helps families and children manage issues. They may manage cases, provide support, and offer resources to tackle tough problems.
Youth Services Coordinator
A youth services coordinator creates programs for kids and teens. They aim to boost their development and education. You will set up programs, manage budgets, and determine success in this role.
Why It’s a Good Fit
These are jobs similar to social worker roles that focus on child welfare and family advocacy. Since social workers already have experience in these areas, segueing to this role might be a good fit for you.
6. Forensic and Criminal Justice Roles
Probation Officer
A probation officer monitors offenders. Their goal is to help probationers reintegrate into society. They may investigate and supervise to ensure they follow their probation.
Parole Officer
A parole officer helps rehabilitate ex-inmates. They may also help parolees find jobs and housing. They can provide info and support to access community resources.
Forensic Social Worker
Forensic social workers develop public policy in relation to the legal system. This involves knowing legal and criminal dynamics. The goal is to improve rehabilitation, welfare, and other issues.
Victim Advocate
A victim advocate helps victims with crisis intervention. They address present and future concerns. They may address safety concerns. They may also recommend counseling or provide resources.
Juvenile Justice Social Worker
Juvenile justice social workers help at-risk youth avoid crime. They may recommend treatments, manage cases, and advocate for rehab.
Why It’s a Good Fit
Social workers are trained in advocacy and crisis intervention. As such, you may find that these skills transfer to the criminal justice system.
7. Military and Veterans Support Roles
Veterans Affairs (VA) Social Worker
A VA social worker helps veterans in various ways. They can help in primary care, rehab, and counseling. They may also coordinate special services for veterans.
Military Family Counselor
A military family counselor helps veterans and their families. They counsel, consult, and conduct outreach. They may help the family with stress, deployments, and other interpersonal issues.
Readjustment Counseling Specialist
Readjustment counseling specialists help veterans go back to civilian life. They provide mental health services for this.
Why It’s a Good Fit
These roles offer alternative jobs for social workers. In them, you can use your social work experience to help veterans and military families.
8. Corporate and Occupational Roles
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Counselor
An EAP counselor offers confidential help to employees. This is with personal issues, including relationships and work. They may refer clients to external resources for further help.
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
A diversity and inclusion specialist runs programs to promote workplace diversity. They may gather data, work with HR, and implement training to make company policies inclusive.
Crisis Response Specialist (Corporate Setting)
A crisis response specialist helps employees in a crisis. They may offer counseling, referrals, and other treatments.
Why It’s a Good Fit
These roles use social workers' skills in corporate settings. If you are good at managing professional business relationships, these roles might suit you.
9. Policy and Advocacy Careers
Policy Analyst
A policy analyst looks at current policy. They spend time researching to propose improvements. They may also raise awareness about issues, and suggest solutions.
Advocacy Coordinator
An advocacy coordinator makes sure initiatives work. They may manage advocates, create new initiatives, and handle issues with clients.
Social Work Lobbyist
A social work lobbyist uses their social work experience for good. A lobbyist might gather and present this data. This is with the goal of influencing lawmakers.
Program Evaluator
A program evaluator considers programs to see if they’re any good. This involves researching and analyzing programs. A program evaluator might suggest changes or report on performance for a company or non-profit.
Why It’s a Good Fit
Social workers spend time in the trenches helping real people with real problems. As such, you can use that experience to influence policy and advocate for systemic changes.
10. Administrative and Management Roles
Social Services Director
A social services director manages services to help people in need. They may research programs, manage the budget, and oversee operations.
Nonprofit Executive Director
A nonprofit executive director helps an organization. They often work with fundraising goals. They work with the board of directors and oversee department heads.
Case Management Supervisor
A case management supervisor oversees case administration. They support daily operations and ensure compliance. They may also solve problems and train on new programs.
Grant Writer for Social Services
A grant writer generates proposals to local, state, and federal funding agencies. This role ensures prerequisites are met and represents their agency to seek funding.
Why It’s a Good Fit
Social workers manage programs and cases. As such, you may be well equipped to tackle administrative or management roles in jobs similar to social work.
11. Research and Academic Careers
Social Work Researcher
A social work researcher collects data on social work programs and initiatives. They analyze data to draw conclusions. Then, they present their findings to clients and stakeholders. It's usually to try to improve things.
University Professor of Social Work
A social work professor passes on the torch of social work to students. Teachers give students knowledge of social work and help them grow.
Field Education Coordinator
A field education coordinator helps students learn in the real world. They may coordinate with agencies and instructors. They may also assign students to field placements.
Why It’s a Good Fit
As a social worker, you’re familiar with research and learning. If you’re interested in academia or research, these roles may be perfect for you.
12. International and Humanitarian Careers
International Aid Worker
An international aid worker helps people in need worldwide. Some areas of focus are countries with war, natural disasters, or development issues. They may provide labor, emotional support, and resources.
Refugee and Immigrant Services Coordinator
Refugee coordinators advocate for refugees and immigrants. They vet refugee requests and set procedures in affected areas. They may also seek funding for services and programs.
Human Rights Advocate
A human rights advocate fights for human rights. They may research issues, educate people about human rights issues, and aim to shape laws to ensure equality.
Why It’s a Good Fit
As a social worker, you’re familiar with advocating on behalf of individuals or families. In this context, you can apply your advocacy skills on a global scale.
13. Specialty Areas
LGBTQ+ Services Social Worker
LGBTQ+ services social workers support people with diverse sexual orientations. They may also advocate for affirming policies, programs, and laws.
Disability Services Specialist
This job involves helping disabled people. They will assess their needs, coordinate services, and provide help with daily tasks.
Homeless Services Coordinator
A homeless services coordinator works to manage a shelter. This may involve providing guests safety and comfort. It may also involve creating new initiatives and programs, as well as managing difficult cases.
Elder Care Specialist
This job provides holistic care for elderly people. This could include day to day jobs like bills, food, and transportation.
Substance Use Disorder Specialist
A substance use disorder specialist checks if patients are ready for treatment. They work with patients to create treatment plans. They identify triggers and avoid negative thoughts. This is to help the person recover.
Why It’s a Good Fit
Social workers often get trained for specific groups. You may be well-equipped to support them in these jobs for burnt-out social workers.
14. Entrepreneurial and Private Practice Careers
Private Practice Therapist
A private practice therapist runs their own business. They provide mental health services to clients. This job allows you to manage your own office space, bills, and clients.
Clinical Supervisor (Private Practice)
A clinical supervisor oversees the day to day operations of a private practice. They make sure clients get quality care, manage staff, and support therapists.
Social Work Consultant
A social work consultant gives guidance to other social workers based on their own experiences. They may assess programs and policies for effectiveness. They might also provide insights to help with tough cases.
Why It’s a Good Fit
Many social work jobs can transition to a private practice or business. If you want to help others on your own time without as much oversight, these careers might be for you.
Free Career Consultation
Feeling stuck in your career? Let our transition experts help you take the next step with a personalized strategy session.
Schedule Your Free ConsultationTips for Transitioning to a New Career
Swapping jobs can be stressful, but it’s well worth the leap. Here are some helpful tips to navigate the change:
Get Support: Seek out career coaching services to clarify your goals and plan your transition.
Use Your Network: Learn about other fields' opportunities through your connections.
Update Your Resume: Emphasize transferable skills. Tailor it for new industries.
Consider Extra Training: Some roles may need certifications or short courses. Look into programs that align with your new career goals.
Be Patient: Transitioning to a new career takes time. Celebrate small wins along the way.
Conclusion
If you feel stressed in your job, you’re not alone. Wanting to change jobs isn’t a failure on your part. It shows that you’re ready for something new. Take your time and explore these options. One of them could be your first step toward a new, fulfilling career. If you need help along the road, we can offer you personalized guidance and support on your career journey. Ready to Make a Change? Contact Hidden Gem Career Coaching for a free consultation today!
