Professional Interview Paper
Each student will be required to interview a professional / Masters level social worker and prepare a written report based on the interview. These assignments reflect course objectives 1-10.
Each written assignment must be type written (minimum 12 font and maximum 14 font) and double spaced using APA format. Points will be deducted for errors in grammar, syntax and sentence structure. You are welcome to use SmartThinking for assistance and review prior to submission.
Keep in mind that these are just a few of the questions you could ask, but some possible questions you might ask the person you are interviewing are:
How did you become a social worker? Degrees, schools, etc.
Why did you become a social worker?
Do you think your degree in social work has helped you to meet the goals of your job today?
What is your job today and what is it like?
Do you have to have an MSW to do your job today?
What is the one class that you took in school that you feel helps you most today?
What is one thing that you did not learn in school that you wish you had?
Do you think that social work is a good profession for new graduates to go into today?
Be sure to remember to thank them and if you think this might be somewhere you would like to complete a placement, ask them if they take students and to whom would we need to call. It will only be a year until social work majors are ready for practicum!
The preferred method of interview would be to make an appointment and do it is person. However, due to time constraints of both the student and the practitioner, email and/or telephone communications can also be used to conduct the interview.
If you have a major that is outside of the social work/human services arena, you still have to interview a social worker, but you could ask them how they think knowing the various roles of social work could help you in your chosen field in the future.
This paper should be at least 3-5 pages (3 pages the cover page and reference page).