could I take this job?

[BlueRubies]

My question is that this job I interviewed for this morning entails going to problem family houses and aid in getting them past their problems and reunited - the problem is some of these problems include molestation and drug dealing parents, families with “6 dads” as the lady told me.

Could I even take a job in which I have to bring back together a family of a mother, 12 kids, and 6 fathers, or a parents who did something horrible like sexual abuse?

 

[drafdog]

I’m assuming that you are a college graduate with a degree in psychology or sociology and that you will be working with a department of social services. There is nothing wrong with the goals of the program, the execution of the process by which the goals are achieved is not usually in the hands of the case worker. There are agency policies and procedures for the assessment of progress and resolution. If you follow these guidelines to the best of your ability, you can be reasonably sure that you are engaged in a good work. The only question I have at this point is how does it occur that you are only now considering the actual application of the knowledge and skills learned in earning the degree? Shouldn’t you have considered this before spending all that time, effort and money?

Matthew

 

[BlueRubies]

Matthew, you are right, but I want to say something about my education - it sucked. For a lack of better words.

Really, I think the school system, at least in my area, is screwed up - there is no teaching for one common goal - what I mean is it was really crazy - you’re learing here about child’s psychology and then there about the biology of psychology, and here trauma. I mean, it is not professors sitting there saying this is what the jobs you are interested in are going to be like and we’re going through these courses in this order to get you to your ultimate goal of doing X. When i graduated, I was like that was nice that I learned about biology, trauma and loss and mental illness and how children think, but how is this helping me get a job - it didn’t prepare me for any job in the way an accounting major or teaching major is prepared in a systematic way to get them to be an accountant or teacher. It was like a blob of material they gave to us without any direction.

For the record also, when I went though there, I had other avenues on my mind - such as being involved in psychological studies, or being an assistant to a counselor/psychologist - which I found out, there are not too many of these jobs out there. I learned after graduation that instead the only thing I am good enough to do is bank teller or some other job that doesn’t even need a degree in the first place (I am not slamming those professions, it’s just as you said, why did I spend that money when I didn’t need it to do the jobs I’m qualified of doing?)

After you’ve I’ve gone through 2 years of general classes and a year of psych, it’s not like I can just change my mind at that point. The counselors there really need to spend time with the kids and let them know what the options are for what they are intereted in. You think my counselor gave a dang? I met with him once when I started and never saw him again - he didn’t care - none of them did.

That’s why I wasted thousands of dollars on an education that did me no good.

That’s a lesson to parents. My parents never talked to me about what my choices were - they just let me go off and do what I want, and I wasn’t mature enough to decide what’s best - what is going to make me money, what is going to fulfill me. Parents need to be involved and have meetings with their children and their school counselors - even if they kids are embarassed. They have the duty to make sure their kids are informed and clearly want to do A or B.

 

[mommyof4]

Blue Rubies, quick word of advice- go to grad school and get your degree in Ed. Psych. Lots of jobs out there in that field. And yes, you will be trained to do a job when you’re out. And come to Iowa- we need you here!

Back to report writing…

 

[lovesMary]

This job sounds as if it will be an excellent learning experience. Many people who are as dysfunctional as you describe will be practically unreformable, but occasionally you might really touch some lives.

The fostercare system is totally overwhelmed and these kids get shuffled around, it’s heartbreaking. Maybe you can do some good? If the parents are truly unreformable, you can identify that and be an advocate for these children whose lives are so bleak. Meanwhile, you’ll get valuable experience!

I say, go for it!

 

[cam100]

When i graduated, I was like that was nice that I learned about biology, trauma and loss and mental illness and how children think, but how is this helping me get a job - it didn’t prepare me for any job in the way an accounting major or teaching major is prepared in a systematic way to get them to be an accountant or teacher. It was like a blob of material they gave to us without any direction.

BlueRubies, in the field of psychology, nearly all employers require schooling beyond a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, the education one receives in an undergraduate psychology program will not be tailored toward any specific job, but will simply provide you with a body of general knowledge about the field. It should give you a sampling of the various branches of psychology and teach you how to think critically and clearly, as well as how to express your thoughts verbally and in writing. It is assumed by the college that you will seek further schooling if you want to continue in the field of psychology.

Many graduates of psychology bachelor’s programs accept a job in another field, realize they like it, and stay there. There are a number of careers that you can get into with your degree because in many situations, the employee just wants to hire a college grad, regardless of the degree. At one time, a college degree was rarer and those who had one had an advantage. Now, with student loans so easy to get, college degrees are commonplace and are often just expected by employers, who also want experience. Today, it seems that a college degree is something you just have to have, and experience is what will get you the job.

What I’m trying to say is that your degree is not useless, but it is just one of the boxes to check on the road to employment. It no longer guarantees a job, but without it, you would be at a disadvantage.

 

[ProVobis]

Blue Rubies, quick word of advice- go to grad school and get your degree in Ed. Psych. Lots of jobs out there in that field. And yes, you will be trained to do a job when you’re out. And come to Iowa- we need you here!

Back to report writing…

I agree. Go to grad school by all means. And, because you do have a bachelors degree in something, it doesn’t mean you should continue in that same field. A college degree should make you well-rounded enough so you could pursue a masters in teaching, business, or even accounting. A degree is only a first step in the career process. I’m sure you’re not going to spend all your life in just one field anyway; move on to something that suits you better. Some of us have had to bounce through many tough jobs before we found the one we love. Hopefully you’ll find a good one soon. (And one where your employer may actually pick up a portion of your tuition even.)