CareerInterviewProject:SocialWork

PreparedbyShaylieFunderburk
PreparedforBillKilpack
April10th,2014

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TableofContents

Report
ExecutiveSummary Page3
IdentifyingSubject Page3
WhatILearned Page4
Conclusion Page6
WhatIWouldChange Page7

Appendices
AppendixA:TitlePage Page8
AppendixB:TableofContents Page9
AppendixC:Checklist Page10
AppendixD:Questions Page12
AppendixE:ContactLog Page13
AppendixF:ThankYouLetter Page14

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ExecutiveSummary
IinterviewedMarlin,anEmployeeAssistanceProgramManagerattheSaltLakeCountyGovernment
Centerabouthislineofwork.HeisalsoaLicensedClinicalSocialWorker.Withinhislineofwork,he
hastolistenandgiveadvicetoaboutfiveclientsaday.Hedoespaperwork,readingandtakesphone
callsbetweenpatients.Hetriestodiversifywhathedoesbyworkingwithothercompaniesandby
doingquarterlypresentations.
Marlinknowsthatittakescertaintypesofpeopletobeasuccessfulsocialworker.The
workloadcangettoughduetolossofpatienceorbybeingtooemotionallyinvolved.Thejobfulfillshim
becauseheknowsthatheischangingpeoplesandexperiencingamazingopportunities.Heisveryhappy
hegetstohelppeople,sincehegrewupinafamilythatabusedalcoholwherehewasalone.
Ittakesamastersdegreeinsocialworkandtestingeverytwoyearstoobtainyourlicense.He
suggestsdoinginternshipsandresearchtoseeifyouareinterestedinthisfield.Youneedtohaveafull
understandingofthejobresponsibilities,orelseyoumightbeweededoutduringtheinternship.Ifyou
arepassionateaboutyourschoolworkandcanhandletheresponsibilitiesofthisjob,heguaranteesit
willbefulfillingtoanyonewhocantakeiton.

IdentifyingSubject
IcontactedMarlinthroughmymother,Lisa.MymotherhasworkedattheSaltLakeCounty
GovernmentCenterforover20years.OneofthebenefitsofworkingthereishavingaLicensedClinical
SocialWorkerthere.MarlinspecificallymanagestheEmployeeAssistanceProgram,orEAP.Ihave
beentoLisasworkbeforetospeakwitholdEAPmanagerstohelpmanageanxietyandotherissues,
butneverspecificallyMarlin.Havingsomeonetotalktowhileworkingisverybeneficial.
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IchosetouseemailandphonecallstocommunicatewithMarlin.Iunderstandthatpartof
workingatthegovernmentcenterisbeingabletousecertainsoftwareprogramsandcheckingyour
emailperiodically.IknewthattheemailwouldreachMarlinfaster,especiallyconsideringhewasout
oftownwhileIwastryingtocontacthim.Ileftmyphonenumberforhimtocallmebackassoonashe
wasbackatworkandhecalledmeathisearliestconveniencetoscheduletheinterview.Afterwards,I
senthimanemailthankyouletterbecauseIneededittoreachhimquickly.Herespondedwithavery
kindemailbacksayinghewashappytohearfromme.
IhadverylittletonoproblemscontactingMarlinatall.IwaswarywhenIdidnthearback
fromhimforacoupleofdayswhilehewasaway,butotherwisehewasveryquicktorespond.Another
issueIcameacrosswasthechoicetomailthethankyouletterortoemailit.Afterestablishinga
relationshipwithMarlinviaemail,IonceagaindecidedtogothatroutebecauseIfeltthatitwouldbe
comfortableforbothofus.Heseemedveryhappywhenheresponded,whichmademefeelbetter
aboutmydecision.

WhatILearned
WhenIfirstinterviewedMarlin,IthoughtIwasinterviewingapsychologist.WhatIfoundoutwasthat
MarlinwasaLicensedClinicalSocialWorkerandhisjobtitlewasEAPManager.Istartedtofeelwary
becauseIwantedtointerviewapsychologist,butIdecidedtogothroughwiththeinterviewanyway.
Tomysurprise,inMarlinslineofwork,theyhavealotofthesameresponsibilitiesthatpsychologists
do.AtypicaldayforMarlinconsistsofaboutfiveclients,whichtakesupaboutfivehoursofhisday.
Aboutanhourandahalfofhisdayconsistsofpaperwork,whilethelasthourofhisdayincludestaking
phonecallsanddoinganyreading.
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Hisbiggestresponsibilityistakingcareofhisclients.Hehelpsthemwitheverythingfrom
relationshipadviceandcommunicationtechniques.Hetoldmeabouthowoneofhisclientshad
alcoholismandphysicalabuseintheirfamily.Heexplainedhowharditisforhimnottotakeallofthat
stressandsadnesshomewithhim.SometimesMarlinwilljustcrywithhispatientsbecausehecaresso
muchaboutthem.Youcanoccasionallyfeelaburntoutfeelingfromhearingsuchnegativethingsallday.
Itsimportanttobeemotionallyhealthysothatyoucancontinuetohelpotherswithoutbringingyourself
down.
AnothersimilarityIfoundwasthathehasnosupervisorabovehimandthereisalsono
advancementinthecompany.Youcangetraises,butyourjobtitlewillstaythesame.Hesayshetries
todiversifywhathedoesasmuchaspossible.Someotherresponsibilitiesincludedoingquarterly
presentationsorbrownbagpresentations.Anotherwayhediversifieshisworkisbyworkingasasocial
workerfordifferentcompanieswhenhesnotatthegovernmentcenter.Healsosaysthathispractice
canbedoneoutofhome.Havinganofficeathomewhereyoucancontinueyourpracticemaybeideal
forthosewhohaveretired.
Marlinenjoyshisjobformanyreasons.Afterexplainingtomethathegrewupwithanabusivealcoholic
family,hedecidedthatsocialworkwouldbebestforhimbecausehewantedtohelppeopleinthose
typesofsituations.Hesaysthatthebestthingabouthisjobisbeingabletochangelives.Hefindsthat
heexperiencesmanyincrediblymovingopportunitiesthathaveaffectedhiswholelife.Hispatientsoften
givefeedbacktohimthatreassureshimthatwhatheisdoingisallworthit,eventhroughtheheartache
hegoesthroughathome.
Somepersonalitytraitsthatmightbenefitsomeoneinthislineofworkwouldbepeoplewhoare
socialandkind.Youneedtobeabletounderstandthatpeoplehandlegriefandissuesindifferentways.
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Gettingfrustratediseasywhenyourethepersonontheoutsidelookingin.Beingabletolistenandnot
jumptoconclusionsisalsoidealbecauseassumptionscanbevolatileinthesesituations.Theabilityto
handlestressandstaycalmisalsogreatbecauseyouneedtobesupportingthepatientandmakingsure
thatyouarenttooupsetwhileyouareawayfromwork.
Theeducationrequirementsareextensive.Typically,youcangetabachelorsdegreein
almostanything,however,itmightbenicetomajorinaspecificareasuchaspsychology.After
obtainingthat,youmoveontogettingyourmastersdegreeinsocialwork.Everytwoyearsyouare
requiredtotakeatesteverytwoyearstorenewthelicense.WhentryingtobecomeaLicensedClinical
SocialWorker,theywillconsideryourgrades.Itsimportanttotryhardinschoolandmakesureyou
arepassionateaboutwhatyouredoing.
Healsorecommendeddoinganinternship.Marlinwasabletodoaninternshipandgetpaid
practiceforit.Hisjobdoesnotofferit,buttherearemanyplacesouttherethatdo.Whiledoingyour
internship,youllfindoutwhatkindsofthingsyoucancomeacrossduringyourlineofwork.Sometimes
thenegativityandfrustrationwilloverwhelmsomepeoplesomuchthattheydecidetheycanthandleit.
Itsagreatwaytoweedpeopleoutofthejobiftheyarentsureaboutit.

Conclusion
AfterinterviewingwithMarlin,Iultimatelydecidedthatpsychologyinanyformwasnotforme.My
biggestreasonisthatIamaverysensitiveandemotionalperson.Itshardformenottofeelupsetfor
othersandittakesawhileformetoshakeoffthenegativity.Whenmyfriendsaregoingthrougharough
time,Iempathizewiththemforweeks,longaftertheyvegottenovertheissue.
Ialsotendtogetfrustratedwhenpeopledontlistentoorfollowmyadviceverbatim.Icantseemto
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understandwhypeopledontchangethenegativesituationsintheirliveswhentheyhaveallthepowerin
theworldtodoso.IhadatherapistwhomustvefeltthesamewaybecausewhenIdidntlistentoher,
shelostherpatience.Iwouldneverwanttomakesomeonefeelthesamewayshemademefeel,
especiallybecauseIneversawheragainafterthat.Marlinwasrightwhenhesaidittakesaunique
persontoperformthisjobbecausenotalotofpeoplecanhandleit.Irespecteveryonethatisinthis
fieldwhocankeepliftingtheirclientsupevenaftertheyfeelliketheyvehitrockbottom.

WhatIWouldChange
IwouldchangehowquicklyIrespondedbacktotheinterviewee.IshouldletthemknowhowmuchI
appreciatetheirtimealotsoonerthanIdidbecausethesetypesofexperienceshavebeeneyeopening.
IwilldomoreresearchonthepersonbeforehandtomakesureImactuallyinterviewingsomeonewith
thecorrectjobtitle.Ialsowouldbemoreorganizedwithmynotesandquestionsratherthanjustwriting
themdownquicklyandoutoforder.

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AppendixA:TitlePage

CareerInterviewProject:SocialWork
PreparedbyShaylieFunderburk
PreparedforBillKilpack
April10th,2014

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AppendixB:TableofContents
Report
ExecutiveSummary Page3
IdentifyingSubject Page3
WhatILearned Page4
Conclusion Page6
WhatIWouldChange Page7

Appendices
AppendixA:TitlePage Page8
AppendixB:TableofContents Page9
AppendixC:Checklist Page10
AppendixD:Questions Page12
AppendixE:ContactLog Page13
AppendixF:ThankYouLetter Page14

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AppendixC:Checklist

XPreviewChapters6and7intheclasstext

XKeepalogofallactivitiesconnectedwiththeasntandallcorrespondence(includingphonecalls,
addressandphonenumber)

XIdentify(below)anappropriatecontactinthefieldbyname,positionandtitle.Alsoincludename
oftheorganization,itsaddressandphonenumber(ifdifferentfromthatofthecontact).
MarlinAndrus
EAPManager
SaltLakeCountyHumanResources
2001S.StateSt.SuiteN4406
3854680594

XDescribe(below)howyoulearnedofyoursubjectanddescribetheresearchfindingsyou
gatheredaboutyoursubjectandhis/herorganizationandfieldbeforemakingcontact.
Tookapsychologyclass.Iresearchedsocialworkdutiesandeducationrequirements.

XMakeapreliminaryplan(below)fortheinterviewbydescribingyourgeneralandspecific
purposes.Planhowtocontactthepersonandrequestaninterview.Inyourlog,indicatethechannel
(communicationmedium)youplantouse,suchasphone,letter,email,etc.whenyoumakecontact
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withtheindividual.(Note:includeacopyofwrittencorrespondenceforyourwrittenreport.)
IplanoncontactingMarlintogetmoreinformationontheresponsibilities,challenges,andeducation
requirementsforsocialwork.Attheinterview,Ihopetoaskquestionsthatsparkinterestforhim.I
wanthimtofeelcomfortableansweringmyquestionsthatwillultimatelyhelpmeinmycareerchoice.I
plantousephonetosetuptheinterviewandemailifthereareanyfurtherquestions.Iwillfollowup
withathankyouletteraftertheinterview.

XAttachyourlistofquestions(atleast20)

XJustifyyourchoiceofchannels(below)

XTrytoscheduleinterviewsatleasttwoweekspriortotheDueDate(above).Soonerwouldbe
better.
February12th,2014at10:00AM

XTurninthischecklistformyevaluationontheChecklistDuedate(above).

Fulfillingthischecklistispartoftheoverallgradeonthisassignment.IfcompletedbytheChecklistDue
date,thechecklistisworthupto25ofthe150pts.possibleforAssignment#6.

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AppendixD:Questions

1.Whatarethequalificationsandeducationrequirements?
2.Whatkindofqualitiesdoestheidealcandidateneedtohave?
3.Whatstheentrylevelsalary?
4.Doofficestypicallyutilizeinterns?
5.Whataresomefactorsthatmightmakeonesucceedorfailinthisjob?
6.Whataretheprosandconsofgettingintothisfield?
7.Arethereanychallengessomeonemightface?
8.Whatmadeyouwanttobecomeapsychologist?
9.Whatisatypicaldaylike?
10.Doesyourworkaffectyourhomelife?
11.Whatareyourdutiesandresponsibilities?
12.Canyouadvanceinyourcareer?
13.Doyouhaveasupervisor?Whatistheirjobtitle?
14.Howmanypeopleareinyourdepartment?Aretheirresponsibilitiesdifferentfromyours?
15.Canyouworkfromhome?
16.Whatisthenatureofthejobmarket?
17.Whataresomechallengesfacedbytheindustry
18.DoyourecommendIcheckoutanywebsitesorbooks?
19.DoyouknowanyoneinthefieldthatIshouldcontacttogetmoreinformation?
20.Doyouhaveanyadditionaladviceforsomeonejuststartingoutinthisfield
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AppendixE:ContactLog

EmailedMarlinFebruary6th,2014askinghimtogivemeacallathisearliestconvenience.
HereturnedmyphonecallFebruary10th,2014andagreedtosetuptheinterview.
MetupatinterviewFebruary12th,2014at10:00AM.
SentthankyouletterApril8th,2014.
ReceivedanemailonApril10thfromMarlincheckinguponmeandlettingmeknowhesent
thefeedbackformin.

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AppendixF:ThankYouLetter

DearMarlinAndrus:

Igainedalotofinformationfromyouduringourinterview.Iwasabletogetatrueunderstandingofthe
socialworkfromapersonalperspective.AllofthishashelpedmedecidewhichfieldIwanttogointo
andhasansweredmanyquestionsthatIdidnteventhinkaboutbeforehand.Iappreciateyoutakingthe
timetositdownwithmeandspeakaboutyourpersonalexperiences,opinions,andjobresponsibilities.

Ithoughtalotaboutyouradviceonhowpeoplewhowanttobecomesocialworkersneedtobepatient
andgreatlisteners.Youalsomentionedhowtheyneedtobeabletohandlethestressthatcomesalong
withthejob.Afterthinkingforawhileaboutthesequalitiesonepersonmightbenefitfromhavinginthis
jobfield,Igainedatrueappreciationforyouandalltheotherworkersinthisfield.Iknowthatittakesa
lotofstrengthtohelpothersandhandlethestressofthejob,too.

IveattachedtheformthatisneededtoevaluatemebasedonhowIdidinterviewingyou.Ifyoucould
pleasesendittotheaddresslisted,myprofessorwillbeabletofinalizemygradeontheassignment.

Thankyouagainforalltheinformationandresources.Ilookforwardtoseeingyouagainsoon.

Sincerely,

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ShaylieFunderburk
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